Probiotics found to be helpful for sufferers of IBS
Sitting in medical practice brings me in contact with people with a wide variety of symptoms and condition, though some things are commoner than others. One of the most common conditions I see is irritable bowel syndrome. This gut condition, characterised by one or more symptoms such as abdominal discomfort, bloating, wind, constipation and/or diarrhoea, [...]
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What can be done about the muscle-related side-effects induced by statins?
Over recent weeks there has been a flurry of research that has challenged the notion that lower levels of cholesterol are always better. In particular, there is evidence linking lower cholesterol levels with an increased risk of cancer (see here, here and here for more on this). In the light of this, it seems reasonable [...]
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Review finds ‘publication bias’ endemic in medical research
Before a new drug is unleashed onto the market, it must first be determined that it is, broadly speaking, beneficial and safe. The drug’s sponsor, usually a drug company, submit relevant studies to an appropriate body made up of doctors, scientists, statisticians, toxicologists and the like who assess the evidence and then decide whether to [...]
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Mobile phone use associated with increased risk of brain tumours
I don’t have a brilliant memory, but occasionally something someone tells me does somehow stick in my mind. One such memory I have concerns a patient I saw some years ago. He had had a brain tumour (I forget what sort) removed, and was interested in supporting his convalescence and general health through nutrition. During [...]
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What alternatives to fish oil are there for those who don’t eat fish?
The omega-3 fats found in oily fish such as mackerel, herring, sardine and salmon appear to have broad-ranging benefits, particularly with regard to the health of the cardiovascular system and brain. Omega-3 fats in fish come in two principle forms: eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). While these fats can be found abundantly in [...]
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Why warning of the heart risks associated with high cholesterol doesn’t tell the full story
The idea that high levels of cholesterol in the bloodstream puts us in mortal danger is perhaps one of the most firmly entrenched medical ‘facts’ of our time. Repeatedly, consistently and frequently we are warned that the cholesterol in our blood will bung up are arteries and increase our risk of heart disease. Another reminder [...]
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Britons failing to get their recommended amout of fruit and veg each day (and what to do about it)
I read today that we Britons are failing to eat the recommended 5 portions of fruit and vegetables each according. According marketing organisation TNS just 12 percent of people in the UK are getting their recommended quota. Plus, another 12 percent, apparently, eats no fruit and veg at all. On average, we’re only getting half [...]
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How effective is arthoscopy for osteoarthritis of the knee? (Not very)
Perhaps compared to many other doctors, I take the view that conventional medicine is less effective and more hazardous than we are generally led to believe. But I most certainly don’t dismiss it. There is no doubt in my mind that things can be done with conventional medicine that other forms of therapy cannot do. [...]
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Letter in BMJ draws our attention to profiteering by the pharmaceutical industry
Driving in my car on Monday I had the radio on and was listening to a discussion on, among other things, pharmaceutical drug costs here in the UK. Obviously, they’re sky high. Well, of course, drugs are generally expensive to develop, test and market, but could other factors be at play too? One of the [...]
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Does the flu vaccine really reduce risk of death in the elderly?
Flu vaccination was in the news last week. Apparently, some scientists at Oxford University in the UK have developed a vaccine that might protect us against all strains of the flu virus. Clinical trials are just getting underway now. This news was greeted with much excitement from the press, as expected. The British Medical Journal [...]
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