Experts predict death rates from all cancers for the EU and UK for 2024 Overweight and obesity are contributing to rising death rates from bowel cancer among people aged 25-49 years in the European Union (EU) and the UK, although death rates from this type of cancer are decreasing overall across Europe. These findings are […]
Winding down the window, drinking tea and coffee, turning the radio up and singing while driving could be signs of a dangerous snoring condition
Frequently using more than three strategies to stay alert while driving could be a sign of excessive sleepiness due to obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), according to a study published in ERJ Open Research [1]. People with OSA often snore loudly, their breathing starts and stops during the night, and they may wake up several times. […]
Nationwide study suggests link between medical cannabis for chronic pain and abnormal heart rhythm
People taking medical cannabis for chronic pain have a slightly increased risk of arrhythmia, according to research published in the European Heart Journal [1]. Arrhythmia is when the heart beats too slowly, too quickly or irregularly. It includes conditions like atrial fibrillation. Recreational use of cannabis has been linked to cardiovascular disease but there has […]
Beetroot juice supplement lowers blood pressure and improves exercise capacity in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
A 12-week course of daily beetroot juice supplement for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) lowered blood pressure and improved how far patients could walk in six minutes in research published n the European Respiratory Journal [1]. COPD is a serious lung condition affecting around 400 million people worldwide [2]. COPD which includes chronic […]
Aid agencies are failing patients with breast cancer in war zones meaning more will develop advanced disease
Lisbon, Portugal: Patients with breast cancer in conflict zones around the world are being “massively under-served” by governments, UN aid agencies and other non-governmental organisations (NGOs), Professor Richard Sullivan told the Advanced Breast Cancer Seventh International Consensus Conference (ABC 7) in a video presentation from the Rafah crossing where he is working with the United […]
People with advanced breast cancer are forced out of work with a cost to themselves and the economy
Lisbon, Portugal: The majority of people living with advanced breast cancer give up working against their will, according to research presented at the Advanced Breast Cancer Seventh International Consensus Conference (ABC 7). [1] As well as the personal costs of being out of work, the new study shows that there is a significant overall cost […]
Latest results from PHOEBE trial show patients with advanced HER2-positive breast cancer live longer on pyrotinib
Lisbon, Portugal: Patients with HER2-positive breast cancer that has started to spread to other parts of the body survive for longer if they are treated with a new drug called pyrotinib, according to results from the longest follow-up of the PHOEBE randomised clinical trial in China. Presenting the latest results at the Advanced Breast Cancer […]
Job loss is linked to increased risk of miscarriage and stillbirth
Researchers have found a link between a pregnant woman or her partner losing their job and an increased risk of miscarriage or stillbirth. The study, which is published in Human Reproduction [1], one of the world’s leading reproductive medicine journals, found a doubling in the chances of a pregnancy miscarrying or resulting in a stillbirth […]
Patients who quit smoking after percutaneous coronary intervention do as well as non-smokers – unless they had smoked heavily
Patients who quit smoking after undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for narrowed arteries have similar outcomes as non-smokers during four years of follow-up after the procedure, according to a large study published in the European Heart Journal [1]. However, if they had been heavy, long-term smokers, no improvement was seen. The study of 74,471 patients […]
Identifying sepsis: only two out of four recommended screening tools are useful
Paramedics and emergency doctors almost never suspect sepsis Barcelona, Spain: Two out of the four internationally-recommended screening tools used by emergency medical services are inadequate for recognising sepsis, according to new research presented at the European Emergency Medicine Congress. Mrs Silke Piedmont, a health scientist at the Department of Emergency Medicine Campus Benjamin Franklin Charité […]