For the first time, a study has shown a clear link between the frequency and duration of unconscious wakefulness during night-time sleep and an increased risk of dying from diseases of the heart and blood vessels, and death from any cause, particularly in women. The study of 8001 men and women, which is published in […]
Air pollution and physical exercise: when to do more or less
Physical activity is important in preventing heart and blood vessel disease in young people so long as they don’t undertake very strenuous activity on days when air pollution levels are high, according to a nationwide study of nearly 1.5 million people published n the European Heart Journal [1]. Until now, little has been known about […]
Stressed brain linked to broken heart
Heightened activity in the brain, caused by stressful events, is linked to the risk of developing a rare and sometimes fatal heart condition, according to research published in the European Heart Journal [1]. The study found the greater the activity in nerve cells in the amygdala region of the brain, the sooner the condition known […]
Could environmental pollution from industry contribute to cryptorchidism increase?
‘Landmark study’ suggests research should focus more on exposure to major industrial pollutants rather than low-level exposure to chemicals in food, says expert commentator Environmental pollution from industries such as coal mining and metal works may play a role in the increasing numbers of boys born with undescended testicles, according to a study published in […]
Twin Peaks: more twinning in humans than ever before
More human twins are being born than ever before, according to the first comprehensive, global overview published in Human Reproduction [1], one of the world’s leading reproductive medicine journals. Since the 1980s the twinning rate has increased by a third from 9 to 12 per 1000 deliveries, meaning that about 1.6 million twins are born […]
Twin Peaks: more twinning in humans than ever before
More human twins are being born than ever before, according to the first comprehensive, global overview published in Human Reproduction [1], one of the world’s leading reproductive medicine journals. Since the 1980s the twinning rate has increased by a third from 9 to 12 per 1000 deliveries, meaning that about 1.6 million twins are born […]
Study suggests wearing a face mask during intense exercise is safe for healthy people
Wearing a protective face mask has only a modest effect on the ability of healthy people to do vigorous exercise, according to a study published in the European Respiratory Journal. Researchers carried out detailed testing on breathing, heart activity and exercise performance in a group of 12 people while they were using an exercise bike […]
Investment needed to bring down pancreatic cancer death rates in Europe
Researchers predict over 1.4 million deaths from top 10 cancers in 2021 in the EU and UK. Accompanying editorial warns of adverse effect of COVID-19 on death rates Researchers have called on European policymakers to make adequate resources available to tackle pancreatic cancer, a disease that is almost invariably fatal and where little progress has […]
Damage to the heart found in more than half of COVID-19 patients discharged from hospital
Around 50% of patients who have been hospitalised with severe COVID-19 and who show raised levels of a protein called troponin have damage to their hearts. The injury was detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans at least a month after discharge, according to new findings published in the European Heart Journal [1]. Damage includes […]
Fertility treatment affects children’s growth patterns but not for long
Children born as a result of fertility treatment have different growth patterns to naturally-conceived children but, by the time they reach the age of 17, they are of similar height, weight and body mass index (BMI), according to research published in Human Reproduction [1]. The study of 81,461 children from the Norwegian Mother, Father and […]