"Many patients given beta blockers after a heart attack may not benefit from being on the drugs, suggesting they may be being overprescribed," The Guardian reports. Beta-blockers are drugs used to regulate the heart by making it beat more slowly and with less force. They are often used in people who have heart failure or are thought
“Fitness trackers out of step when measuring calories, research shows,” The Guardian reports. An independent analysis of a number of leading brands found they were all prone to inaccurate recording of energy expenditure. Researchers recruited 60 participants to take part in a range of exercises while having their heart rate and number of calories burned
"Meditation can leave you feeling even more stressed," the Daily Mail reports. The claim is prompted by a study of 60 practitioners of Buddhist meditation in the US which found they’d had a range of "challenging or difficult" experiences associated with the practice. However, it’s not clear how relevant the results are to the majority
"A pot belly is a red flag for cancer," reports the Mail Online after a new study found an increase in waist circumference carries similar risks for developing cancer as raised body mass index (BMI). The study used data from several European studies of more than 43,000 adults aged around 63, who were then followed
"Regularly tucking into a bar of chocolate may actually be good for us," reports the Mail Online. Researchers in Denmark say people who eat chocolate one to six times a week are less likely to get a heart condition called atrial fibrillation than those who eat it hardly at all (less than once a month).
"Just half a glass of wine a day ups the risk of breast cancer by nine per cent, experts warn," The Sun reports. A major report looking at global evidence found that drinking just 10g of alcohol a day – 1.25 units – was linked to an increased risk of breast cancer. The report was
"Simple saliva test for dementia ‘shows promise’ in bid to diagnose the disease early," the Daily Mirror reports. This news is based on a laboratory study that took saliva samples from 12 healthy adults, nine adults with Alzheimer’s disease, and eight with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which is often seen as the stage just before
"Instagram is rated as the worst social media platform when it comes to its impact on young people’s mental health, a UK survey suggests," BBC News reports. The survey asked 1,479 young people aged 14-24 to score popular social media apps on issues such as anxiety, depression, loneliness, bullying, body image and "fear of missing
"Swallowable gastric balloon could help the obese lose weight without surgery," The Guardian reports. The news, which was widely reported, is based on a study presented at the European Congress of Obesity in Portugal. Researchers in Italy found obese patients who used a swallowable gastric balloon lost on average about 15kg over a four-month period.
"The idea that people can be fat but medically fit is a myth," reports BBC News. The story is based on research from scientists at the University of Birmingham, reported at a medical conference but not yet published. The researchers used information from a UK database of GP records covering 3.5 million people, to calculate
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