ftraynor 316 posts 0 comments

Breast cancer patients whose tumours have been treated by chemotherapy but remain too large to be removed by surgery have been offered new hope. Doctors at Singapore’s National Cancer Institute say taking the drug sunitinib a week before…

A drug used to treat osteoporosis in women may no longer be prescribed for post-menopausal women in the US. A panel of the US Food & Drug Administration has advised following in the footsteps of the European Medicines Agency, which has…

A drug called Rituxan is offering hope to sufferers of rheumatoid arthritis. The drug, used in cancer treatment, is the latest weapon in medicine’s fight against the debilitating autoimmune disorder. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) occurs when…

The care of individuals with mental health issues has been revolutionised over the last century, thanks to advances in treatment and greater understanding and awareness of psychiatric disorders and illnesses. Even those with only minor…

Consuming too much sugar may increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. A study that examined the rates of type 2 diabetes in 175 countries has revealed that the increased availability of sugar in food is linked to higher rates of the…

A pill taken once a day has been shown in clinical trials to be as good as an inhaler at dealing with the debilitating respiratory condition, asthma. Leukotriene receptor antagonists, known as LTRA tablets, have been in use by asthma…

England’s local authorities have been urged to do more to reduce the rate of sexually-transmitted infections (STIs) and slash the number of unwanted pregnancies. Local authorities are now in charge of public health and must use the budget…

Worried about that spot on your private parts? Too embarrassed to talk to your doctor? Fear not – now there’s an app for that. Anyone with a smartphone can download the iOS app called STD Triage, upload a picture of the problem area and…

A sexual education program has helped to halve the number of HIV infections in teenagers in the South African province of Gauteng in just six years. The program focused on persuading youngsters not to rush into having sex but also pushing…

Undiagnosed cases of type 2 diabetes number an estimated 850,000 cases in the UK. People who have the blood disorder but don’t yet know it are putting themselves at risk of health complications, such as stroke, blindness, kidney failure and…

Taste is often thought only to be found in the mouth through the receptors found in our taste buds. However, scientists have discovered that both the cells of the gut and the cells that line the airways both have taste receptors. And with…

From chicken soup to starving a fever, everyone has a favourite remedy for curing the cold and flu. But how do you separate the old wives’ tales from the reality? Here are 5 myths debunked and facts confirmed. Feed a cold and starve a…

If you want to get pregnant, winter and early spring is the best time to guarantee healthy sperm, according to Israeli researchers. A team from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Beer-Sheva uncovered the seasonal pattern when they…

A drug said to be able to halve the risk of an asthma attack is to be made more widely available to patients in England. Xolair has been approved for use by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) in England since…

A 10k event in York is bringing together the city’s business community to raise funds in memory of cancer sufferer Jane Tomlinson. After being diagnosed with terminal cancer, Jane, an amateur athlete, spent the last years of her life…

Are you getting enough calcium in your diet? This mineral is crucial to healthy teeth and bones, and good for your muscles, nerve function, hormones and blood clotting. But many of us simply do not get the calcium we need through our diet,…

Liver cancer is one of the deadliest cancers with most patients dying within six months of diagnosis. Liver cancer is most common in men with and is the fourth most common cancer in men. The liver itself is one of the most complex organs in…

Low levels of vitamin D3 could put children at an increased risk of developing asthma while also exacerbating the symptoms in those who already have the condition. Asthma is the leading chronic condition in childhood and incidences of…

Aggressive, early treatment for HIV infection could offer a “functional cure” for the virus following a French study in which 14 HIV patients stayed healthy after coming off the anti-retroviral drug regimen essential for suppressing the…

Is there an ideal season in which to lose weight? January is often the focus for many dieters, spurred on by a New Year resolution to shed the pounds. However, there is some evidence that the best time to start watching what you eat is…

The case of a baby born with HIV said to have been cured of the infection because of early treatment has made headlines around the world. But the medical world has urged caution and warned patients with HIV not to stop taking the essential…

Arthritis is often thought of as an old person’s disease. But the joint condition can also strike young people. Known as juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), the condition is the most common chronic rheumatologic disease in under 16s and,…

Alcohol plays a major role in many of our lives and occasionally even the most abstemious of individuals can often be persuaded to partake in a small libation. In moderation, alcohol can even have certain health benefits but if you’re in…

We all need the right amount of calcium in our diet throughout our lives – when we’re growing, we need calcium to build strong, dense bones and as we age, calcium is vital for maintaining strength and health in our bones. This essential…

Garlic is more than just a delicious addition to your food. This most pungent of creations also has renowned health benefits and can boost wellbeing. Garlic has been used in Eastern medicine for thousands of years and its popularity in food…

A German cardinal has signalled a potential change in the attitude of the Catholic Church towards the morning-after pill. The Church is implacably opposed to all artificial methods of birth control and to abortion. However, Cologne’s…

Erectile dysfunction or impotence could hurt more than a man’s pride – it could also increase his risk of developing cardiovascular disease. An Australian study has confirmed previous studies that suggest erectile dysfunction (ED) may be…

A drug used to treat asthma may provide a major breakthrough in the treatment of diabetes. Researchers at the Life Sciences Institute of the University of Michigan used amlexanox in studies involving mice and made the remarkable discovery…

Companies that recognise the importance of a healthy workforce are often at the forefront of workplace wellness programs. Progressive employers understand that their employees are their most valuable assets and when their workers are…

Stents are commonly used in patients suffering from heart disease, inserted into the coronary arteries to open them and increase the blood flow to the heart in a procedure known as angioplasty. Technology has now produced biodegradable…