Health

A common and effective painkiller, acetaminophen, may impede the brain’s ability to detect errors, scientist have found for the first time. The research from the University of Toronto and University of British Columbia in Canada is the first neurological study to look at how acetaminophen could be inhibiting the brain response associated with making errors. “Past research tells us physical ...

The Zika virus is “scarier” than first thought and its impact on the US could be greater than predicted, public health officials have admitted, reports BBC. A wider range of birth defects has been linked to the virus, said Dr Anne Schuchat of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And the mosquitoes that carry the virus could travel ...

Tower Hamlets residents who are at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes are invited to join a programme to help them  make healthy changes to their lifestyle as part of a new national The east London area is one of 27 areas across the country to be chosen, to be part of the first stage of the Healthier You: ...

A strike affecting all care by junior doctors will “irreparably damage” trust and the profession’s reputation, NHS England’s medical director has said. Writing in the Observer, Sir Bruce Keogh said the planned walkout in England on 26 and 27 April would put significant strain on services. Action in the row over a new contract has not affected emergency care so ...

NHS Wales can be among the world’s best for cancer care if big changes are made in how quickly it is diagnosed, says an international expert. Wales and the other UK nations have some of the worst cancer survival rates in the developed world. But Prof Frede Olesen said lessons can be learned from Denmark, which has improved how patients ...

‘One You’, a ground-breaking new campaign to help adults across the country avoid future diseases caused by modern day life reaches out to South Asian communities across England. One You’s aim is to encourage adults from these communities, in particular those in their middle age, to take control of their health to enjoy significant benefits now, and later in life. ...

Do you lather yourself with sunscreen to keep out that tanning? Beware! According to a new study, sunscreens are likely to impair sperm cell function, acting as a male contraceptive and lower a man’s chances of parenthood. The findings of the study showed that many ultra-violet (UV) filtering chemicals commonly used in sunscreens interfere with the function of human sperm ...

Ever wondered why we remember certain scenes from films or books without much effort, while forgetting others despite paying attention? New research suggests that people tend to remember only those things better that they expect to have future relevance. Much of what a person can remember is based on their expectation of the information they will need to recall, the ...

In a boon for trauma and emergency transplant patients, a new revolutionary technique promises to give results of complex blood tests in just 10 minutes – helping save precious lives, and also unwanted blood transfusion. The technique, developed by a German research firm, is currently being used in several European and Asian nations, including in neighbouring Sri Lanka. The technique, ...

“Rogue” beauticians who offer teeth whitening and people who sell illegal kits should face tougher penalties, councils in England and Wales say. Some kits contain 300 times the legal limit of hydrogen peroxide, the Local Government Association said. This would be like “brushing with bleach” and could cause blistering, burns and other damage, the LGA added. The government said it ...