Milan, Italy: Children with asthma are more likely to be prescribed antibiotics even though there is no evidence that they need them any more than children without asthma, according to research presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress 2017. Overuse of antibiotics is leading to a rise in drug-resistant infections and unnecessary use in […]
Nurses’ regular use of disinfectants is associated with developing COPD
Milan, Italy: Regular use of disinfectants is linked to a higher risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to new research looking at incidence of the disease in over 55,000 nurses in the USA. Dr Orianne Dumas (PhD) from INSERM, Villejuif, France, told the European Respiratory Society International Congress today (Monday) that certain tasks […]
Most common e-cig refills contain respiratory irritants, and people who smoke and use e-cigs are more likely to experience respiratory symptoms
Milan, Italy: Two new studies presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress highlight the risks associated with using e-cigarettes, especially for those who also smoke conventional cigarettes. One study examined 122 of the most commonly sold e-cigarette liquids in nine European countries and found that all contained at least one substance classified as a […]
Respiratory tract infections in young children linked to asthma and worse lung function in later life
Milan, Italy: Respiratory tract infections in young children are linked to an increased risk of asthma and worse lung function in later life, according to new research presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress. An international study of 154,492 European children found that those who had had upper respiratory infections, such as colds, sinusitis, […]
Number of Europeans exposed to second-hand smoke at work rising to more than one in four
Milan, Italy: More than one in four of people who work indoors are being exposed to second-hand smoke at work, according to new research presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress 2017. The study by researchers at Imperial College London, UK, looked at all 28 countries currently in the European Union (EU), the majority of […]
City kids with asthma suffer less if they live near a park
Milan, Italy: Children with asthma who live in the city may have fewer days with symptoms the closer they live to parks and green spaces, according to research to be presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress 2017 on Monday. The study looked at inner-city children with persistent asthma and compared the number of days they suffered […]
Researchers identify a common genetic variant linked to muscle pains in statin users
People who have been prescribed statins to lower their cholesterol levels sometimes complain of muscle aches and pains and therefore stop taking their medication in the belief that it is causing their symptoms. This puts them at higher risk of developing diseases of the heart and blood vessels which the statins had been prescribed to […]
Long working hours increases the risk of developing atrial fibrillation
People who work long hours have an increased risk of developing an irregular heart rhythm known as atrial fibrillation, according to a study of nearly 85,500 men and women published in the European Heart Journal [1]. The study showed that, compared to people who worked a normal week of between 35-40 hours, those who worked […]
Vaccine that lowers cholesterol in mice offers hope of immunising against cardiovascular disease
A vaccine to immunise people against high levels of cholesterol and the narrowing of the arteries caused by build-up of fatty material (atherosclerosis) may be possible following successful results in mice. Now, a phase I trial in patients has started to see if the findings translate to humans. The study, which is published in the […]
China’s mass collection of human DNA without informed consent is contrary to the right to privacy
China holds the largest searchable DNA database in the world; genetic information from over 40 million individuals that is ostensibly to be used in the fight against crime. However, the way in which these data are collected and the protection given to providers leave much to be desired, according to the European Society of Human […]