NHS Choices: Behind the headlines

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4-D scans may show babies cry in the womb

6th June 2013

NHS Choices: Behind the headlines

"Babies practise frowning in the womb so they can show when they are unhappy after birth," reports the Daily Mirror. The story comes from a small study that looked at '4-D' ultrasound scans of the facial movements of 15 unborn babies during the later stages of pregnancy. These 4-D scans combine detailed 3-D images over time. They can provide a real-time moving image of the baby while it’s still in the womb. The researchers found that the babies, as they matured, showed more complex facial expressions including more complete signs of pain and distress. These signs included lowered brows, a ...

Paper towels may be more hygienic than hand dryers

6th June 2013

NHS Choices: Behind the headlines

The Mail Online has encouraged readers to "ditch the hand dryers", as "paper towels are more hygienic". The debate on the relative merits of paper towels versus hot air dryers may appear trivial, but the issue can be a matter of life and death. Hand drying is an essential part of the hand washing process, as wet skin helps spread bacteria. In environments where people are vulnerable to the effects of infection, such as hospitals, thorough hand washing and drying could save lives. The Mail reports on a review of 12 studies looking at how hygienic different hand drying techniques ...

NICE publishes guidance on cutting down smoking

5th June 2013

NHS Choices: Behind the headlines

"Smokers urged to 'cut down' rather than quit," The Daily Telegraph reports. The story comes from landmark national guidance on how healthcare professionals should help smokers who find it difficult to give up. The guidance, produced by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), is the first in the world to say that nicotine replacement therapy such as patches and nasal sprays can be used to help hardened smokers reduce the amount they smoke. Quitting smoking altogether is the healthiest thing you can do if you smoke, but this new guidance addresses the fact that many smokers may ...

Controversial advice on chemicals in pregnancy

5th June 2013

NHS Choices: Behind the headlines

The Daily Mail reports on the warning for pregnant women that household chemicals could pose a threat to their babies. ‘Don’t paint the nursery and avoid non-stick frying pans’ the Mail continues. The news is based on advice to pregnant or breastfeeding women in a report from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG). The report, titled ‘Chemical exposure during pregnancy: dealing with potential, but unproven, risks to child health’ warns that pregnant and breastfeeding women could be exposed to harmful chemicals through: food packaging ordinary household products medicines personal care items such as moisturisers It is important to ...

Vegetarian diet linked to longer lifespan

4th June 2013

NHS Choices: Behind the headlines

“Veg diet key to living longer,” reports today’s Daily Express front page headline. Its story is prompted by a large, well-designed, long-term study into vegetarian dietary patterns and their effects on reported mortality (death). The main finding was that vegetarians had a 12% reduction in the risk of death from any cause compared with non-vegetarians. However, the researchers’ definition of ‘vegetarian’ was quite broad and may horrify some vegetarians as it included people who ate meat and fish once a week or less. Dietary patterns were only measured at the start of the study, and these can change over time. ...

Claim that statins damage muscles 'overblown'

4th June 2013

NHS Choices: Behind the headlines

"Statins could lead to muscular injuries, scientists warn,” reports The Daily Telegraph. The headline is based on a new study looking at whether statins – drugs used to reduce blood cholesterol levels – increased the risk of damage and pain to muscles and bones. The study involved US soldiers, veterans and their families, comparing the likelihood of musculoskeletal conditions among statin users with non-users. The study found that musculoskeletal conditions, injuries and pain are more common among statin users than non-users. However, the actual increase was very small; varying between 1% and 3%. On average, 85% of non-users reported having ...

Michael Douglas: 'oral sex caused my throat cancer'

3rd June 2013

NHS Choices: Behind the headlines

The actor Michael Douglas discussed his recent throat cancer treatment in an interview with The Guardian this weekend, and revealed that he blamed oral sex for his condition. When asked by the newspaper if his throat cancer was caused by his many years of heavy drinking and smoking he replied: "No, because without wanting to get too specific this particular cancer is caused by HPV, which actually comes about from cunnilingus." Could he be right? Here are some facts about HPV, oral sex and cancer risk. What is HPV? The Human papilloma virus (HPV) is the name for a group ...

Cocktail of skin cancer drugs 'shrinks melanomas'

3rd June 2013

NHS Choices: Behind the headlines

“A cocktail of drugs can reduce advanced skin cancer tumours by more than 80 per cent,” reports the Mail Online. The news is based on a small early stage trial of a combination of two drugs, nivolumab and ipilimumab, in people with advanced melanoma (an often fatal form of skin cancer). Both of these ‘monoclonal antibody’ drugs work by encouraging the immune system to attack cancerous cells. Nivolumab and ipilimumab work in slightly different ways, so the researchers hoped that combining the two would lead to a more effective treatment. The study found that just over half (535) of the ...

Are short, intense exercise bursts enough to stay fit?

3rd June 2013

NHS Choices: Behind the headlines

'Just 12 minutes of intensive exercise per week is enough to improve your health if you are overweight,' according to The Daily Telegraph. The paper reports on the findings of a study into the phenomenon of high-intensity interval training (HIIT). It's claimed that HIIT can deliver many of the benefits of conventional exercise in a much shorter time. Two groups of overweight and inactive, but otherwise healthy, middle-aged men either followed a programme of: four bursts of intense exercise for four minutes, each separated by three minutes of lower intensity exercise, three times a week (plus a 10-minute warm-up and ...

Fans of bondage and S&M report better mental health

31st May 2013

NHS Choices: Behind the headlines

“Could bondage be good for you?”, is the somewhat surprising question asked on the Mail Online website. This article is prompted by a Dutch study assessing the mental health of people into bondage-discipline, domination-submission and sado-masochism (BDSM) compared to those with more ‘vanilla’ sexual tastes. The researchers make the case that there is an (in their view, mistaken) assumption that people who engage in BDSM practices have some sort of mental health disorder or mental distress. They decided to test this assumption by analysing responses of nearly 1,000 Dutch BDSM ‘practitioners’ to a series of personality and wellbeing questionnaires and ...

No evidence Nordic diet prevents heart disease

31st May 2013

NHS Choices: Behind the headlines

"Roll out the reindeer and berries for Nordic health fix," The Daily Telegraph tells us, reporting that a Scandinavian diet can lower cholesterol and may reduce the risk of heart disease. Meanwhile, the Mail Online website tells us to "forget the Mediterranean diet" in favour of Nordic foods. There is a wide range of evidence that the Mediterranean diet, with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables as well as beans, wholegrains, olive oil and fish, can be good for the heart. But is the same true for the staples of Nordic diets? The current study is not able to answer ...

Avatars may help control 'voices' in schizophrenia

30th May 2013

NHS Choices: Behind the headlines

"Scientists are examining whether computer-generated avatars can help patients with schizophrenia," The Guardian explains. The headlines report on a small study of a novel therapy technique that attempts to tackle auditory hallucinations, where people hear voices in their head. Hearing voices is a common symptom in people with schizophrenia. In most cases, the voices are hostile, rude and often frightening, making statements like "you are worthless" or "if you don't do what I say, you are going to die". The study involved schizophrenia patients who had not responded to medication. The patients created a computer-generated face with a voice (avatar) ...

Avatars may help control 'voices' in schizophrenia

30th May 2013

NHS Choices: Behind the headlines

"Scientists are examining whether computer-generated avatars can help patients with schizophrenia," The Guardian explains. The headlines report on a small study of a novel therapy technique that attempts to tackle auditory hallucinations, where people hear voices in their head. Hearing voices is a common symptom in people with schizophrenia. In most cases, the voices are hostile, rude and often frightening, making statements like "you are worthless" or "if you don't do what I say, you are going to die". The study involved schizophrenia patients who had not responded to medication. The patients created a computer-generated face with a voice (avatar) ...

High-dose painkiller heart risk: small but significant

30th May 2013

NHS Choices: Behind the headlines

"Study links painkillers to increased risk of heart attack," The Independent reports. This major study found that high doses of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) type of painkiller increased the risk of serious conditions such as heart attacks. NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen, diclofenac, naproxen and coxibs, are widely used to relieve pain and inflammation. Many people with painful long-term conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, are prescribed high doses of NSAIDs on a long-term basis. It is thought that these people have an increased risk of serious heart conditions compared with those who just take an occasional low-dose ibuprofen pill for ...

High-dose painkiller heart risk: small but significant

30th May 2013

NHS Choices: Behind the headlines

"Study links painkillers to increased risk of heart attack," The Independent reports. This major study found that high doses of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) type of painkiller increased the risk of serious conditions such as heart attacks. NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen, diclofenac, naproxen and coxibs, are widely used to relieve pain and inflammation. Many people with painful long-term conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, are prescribed high doses of NSAIDs on a long-term basis. It is thought that these people have an increased risk of serious heart conditions compared with those who just take an occasional low-dose ibuprofen pill for ...

No proof coffee causes obesity and diabetes

29th May 2013

NHS Choices: Behind the headlines

'Is your caffeine fix making you fat?' is the compelling question posed by the Mail Online website, which goes on to report that a study 'shows five cups of coffee a day could cause obesity.' But the study in question involved mice, not people, and a chemical found in coffee, not coffee itself. The research explored the effects of a substance called chlorogenic acid (CGA), a component of coffee. The rodents were given CGA to see how it affected their fatness and glucose regulation, which is related to the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Mice given a high-fat diet ...

No proof coffee causes obesity and diabetes

29th May 2013

NHS Choices: Behind the headlines

'Is your caffeine fix making you fat?' is the compelling question posed by the Mail Online website, which goes on to report that a study 'shows five cups of coffee a day could cause obesity.' But the study in question involved mice, not people, and a chemical found in coffee, not coffee itself. The research explored the effects of a substance called chlorogenic acid (CGA), a component of coffee. The rodents were given CGA to see how it affected their fatness and glucose regulation, which is related to the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Mice given a high-fat diet ...

End of week surgery 'has higher death risk'

29th May 2013

NHS Choices: Behind the headlines

The Daily Mail's front page warns that there's “82% more chance of dying in surgery at weekend”, after a major study examined whether death rates following planned surgery changed depending on what day of the week the patient had their operation. The risk of dying after planned (elective) surgery is very small. The researchers looked at more than 4 million elective procedures conducted in NHS hospitals in England between 2008-2011 and there were 27,582 recorded deaths – an overall mortality risk of around 0.67%. However, the researchers found a statistically significant increase in the death risk as the week progressed. ...

End of week surgery 'has higher death risk'

29th May 2013

NHS Choices: Behind the headlines

The Daily Mail's front page warns that there's “82% more chance of dying in surgery at weekend”, after a major study examined whether death rates following planned surgery changed depending on what day of the week the patient had their operation. The risk of dying after planned (elective) surgery is very small. The researchers looked at more than 4 million elective procedures conducted in NHS hospitals in England between 2008-2011 and there were 27,582 recorded deaths – an overall mortality risk of around 0.67%. However, the researchers found a statistically significant increase in the death risk as the week progressed. ...

Molecule limits heart attack damage in mice

28th May 2013

NHS Choices: Behind the headlines

"Heart attack drug may reduce tissue damage," says the BBC. This headline was based on new research in mice. The research showed that a molecule called MitoSNO may be able to reduce the tissue damage that can occur after a heart attack. The heart pumps oxygen-rich blood around the body, but it also needs its own oxygen supply to function properly. When a person has a heart attack, the blood supply to the heart becomes blocked, starving areas of heart tissue of oxygen. This can cause damage to the heart muscles and, in many cases, can result in heart failure ...