Health

Both acupuncture and the Alexander technique can improve chronic neck pain, according to a study in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Over 500 UK patients with nonspecific neck pain of at least 3 months’ duration were randomised to one of three strategies: 12 acupuncture sessions plus usual care, 20 one-to-one Alexander technique lessons plus usual care, or usual care alone. ...

Overweight patients treated for a common type of irregular heartbeat are less likely to experience a relapse if they shed those extra pounds, according to a new research. Researchers have found that the recurrence of atrial fibrillation increases in patients who are overweight and decreases when patients are able to lose weight and keep it off, following a cardiac ablation. ...

Public Health England and the Stroke Association are urging South Asians to Act FAST if they spot signs of stroke with the aim of saving lives and improving outcomes for survivors. A person loses 2 million nerve cells every minute that they do not receive medical treatment during a stroke[i] and if left untreated, a stroke could result in permanent ...

Patients and visitors at Whipps Cross University Hospital are now able to immediately identify the senior nurse on their ward following the launch of new ‘Nurse in Charge’ badges. As part of Barts Health’s drive to ensure safe and compassionate care, the distinctive red badge will be worn by the senior nurse on every shift at the hospital.Associate Director of ...

Processed meats – such as bacon, sausages and ham – do cause cancer, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Its report said 50g of processed meat a day – less than two slices of bacon – increased the chance of developing colorectal cancer by 18%. Meanwhile, it said red meats were “probably carcinogenic” but there was limited evidence. But ...

According to a new research, last two decades have seen a rise in the life expectancy in every province of China, but the large inequalities between provinces remain, suggesting that localisation of policies will be crucial to government health reforms Two new studies reveal for the first time how health in different regions of China has changed in recent decades. ...

Federal authorities have confiscated shipments of a lethal-injection chemical that Arizona and Texas tried to bring in from abroad, saying such imports are illegal — a move that compounds the nation’s severe shortage of execution drugs. The Food and Drug Administration said Friday that it impounded orders of sodium thiopental, an anesthetic that has been used in past executions in ...

East London Genes & Health, the world’s largest community based genetics study, is celebrating its first milestone with 4000 local participants taking part so far. The research project has also received a funding boost of £5m from the Higher Education Funding Council (HEFCE) to build an East London Genes & Health Population Genomic Medicine Centre on Newark Street, Whitechapel. Launched ...

Barts Health NHS Trust is delighted to announce that Alwen Williams has been appointed as its substantive Chief Executive. The appointment follows an open and competitive selection process which included independent external assessment. Commenting on the appointment, Chair of the Trust John Bacon said: “I am personally delighted by this appointment and I would like to congratulate Alwen and wish ...

Everyone dies. The goal is to last as long as possible, and to go peacefully and with dignity. For much of the world, dying well is a challenge. A new report from the Economist, dubbed the Quality of Death Index, ranks nations based on the quality of their palliative and hospice care. The United Kingdom tops the list, with the ...