Health

A tick capable of carrying a host of killer illnesses has been found in the UK for the very first time, health officials have revealed. The Hyalomma rufipes tick – a small blood-sucking arachnid – is usually confined to Africa, Asia and parts of southern Europe. But Public Health England has now revealed one of … Read more

Volunteering once a week can give you the same ‘high’ as exercising, experts claim as Royal Voluntary Service asks more young people to sign up Volunteering boosts self-confidence, has a positive impact on mental health  Research suggests doing it once a week can elicit the same ‘high’ as exercise The new study has been commissioned … Read more

Virtual reality reduced Parkinson’s symptoms for 10 people: Six weeks of practice helped patients hone their muscle control and balance 10 people with Parkinson’s used the VR system for 30 minutes, three times a week over the course of 6 weeks They were much more adept at walking, turning, staying balanced afterwards By Mia De … Read more

Taking acetaminophen – sold under the brand name Tylenol – may make it harder for us to feel happy for other people, new research suggests.  The common drug belongs to a group of analgesics that relieves pain – though we aren’t really sure why.  Previous research confirmed that when acetaminophen is helping us feel less … Read more

Extra vitamin D may slow the growth of colorectal cancer, a new study suggests.  On average, cancer stopped in its tracks for 13 months for patients on the highest dose of the vitamin supplement (4,000 IU), and for 11 months for those on the over-the-counter dose. Rates of colorectal cancer have been soaring in recent … Read more

Public health bosses will advise hospitals on how to cope with a deadly fungus that has become resistant to most drugs. Candida auris was first identified in 2009 and has since struck hundreds in Britain and the US, among other countries. Hospitals are now struggling to deal with the little-known fungus, prompting health officials in … Read more

Pregnant women who use marijuana heavily to treat morning sickness affect part of the baby’s brain associated with memory Prevalence of pregnant women using pot increased by 62% from 2002 to 2014 Researchers exposed pregnant female rats to a synthetic chemical that acts similarly to marijuana, equivalent to heavy use in humans Baby rats exposed in … Read more

More than 56,000 pounds of stuffed sandwiches recalled over plastic contamination fears J & J Snack Foods Handhelds Corp recalled more than 56,000 pounds of pepperoni pizza and ham & cheese stuffed sandwiches Two customers allegedly found ‘semi-transparent plastic’ in the products on April 3 Packages were shipped nationwide, but it’s unclear which states are affected  … Read more

Hyacinths could lead to a cure for blindness ‘because they contain potent compounds that stop growth of abnormal blood vessels in the eyes’ The unexpected growth of blood vessel cells in the eyes is linked to blindness Tests found homoisoflavonoids can halt the growth of abnormal blood vessels Researchers say they could create synthetic versions … Read more

Teeth whitening products containing hydrogen peroxide can damage the tissue underneath and make them weaker Researchers studied teeth whitening strips and added to damaging evidence Real teeth were exposed to the bleaching agent and the underlying layer eroded Hydrogen peroxide – also used by dentists – is not tightly regulated, experts say By Vanessa Chalmers … Read more