Wearing a face mask in public spaces cuts risk of common respiratory symptoms, suggests Norway study

Effect moderate, but could be a useful measure against infections, say researchers Wearing a surgical face mask in public spaces reduces the risk of self-reported respiratory symptoms, finds a trial of adults in Norway published by The BMJ today. The effect was moderate - a 3.2% reduction in symptoms, equivalent to around ...

2024-07-25T15:31:58+00:0025 July 2024|Press release, The BMJ|

Trusted TV doctors “deepfaked” to promote health scams on social media

The BMJ investigates the rise of videos claiming to be UK’s popular media medics Some of the UK’s most recognisable TV doctors are increasingly being “deepfaked” in videos to sell scam products across social media, finds The BMJ today. Trusted names including Hilary Jones, Michael Mosley and Rangan Chatterjee are being used ...

2024-07-18T10:59:10+00:0018 July 2024|Press release, The BMJ|

Substantial rise in adults vaping for longer than 6 months, especially in young adults

Trend coincides with rapid rise in disposable devices since 2021 and adds weight to calls for tighter regulation of vaping products, say researchers The number of adults in England who report vaping for more than six months has increased substantially from around one in 80 in 2013 to one in ...

2024-07-18T10:54:47+00:0018 July 2024|Press release, The BMJ|

Government’s failure to fortify all flour and rice with sufficient folic acid will lead to avoidable birth defects, warns expert

Current plan will prevent only about 20% of neural tube defects but full fortification could prevent about 80% The UK government’s failure to fortify all flour and rice with the vitamin folic acid “will result in more deaths and birth defects every year that could have been prevented,” argues Professor ...

2024-06-20T16:05:41+00:0020 June 2024|Press release, The BMJ|

Private school and/or ‘higher status’ university education linked to better mid-life health

Alongside level of education reached, institution type may also be influential say researchers  A private (fee-paying) school and/or a ‘higher status’ (Russell Group*) university education may be linked to better mid-life health—at least in the UK—suggests research published online in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health. Alongside the level of ...

Expression of concern placed on research paper published in BMJ Public Health

Following concerns raised with BMJ we are investigating the quality of the research and the messaging used in Excess mortality across countries in the Western World since the COVID-19 pandemic: ‘Our World in Data’ estimates of January 2020 to December 2022”, published in BMJ Public Health on 3 June 2024. An expression of ...

2024-06-18T14:11:24+00:0018 June 2024|BMJ Public Health, Press release|

Number of over 65s with type 1 diabetes has almost tripled in 30 years

More people with type 1 diabetes are living longer, but substantial global inequalities still exist in diabetes care The number of people aged 65 and older with type 1 diabetes increased from 1.3 million in 1990 to 3.7 million in 2019, while death rates fell 25% from 4.7 per 100,000 ...

2024-06-18T14:02:47+00:0018 June 2024|Press release, The BMJ|

Few UK people likely to be suitable for new Alzheimer’s drugs when they come on stream

But many people with memory loss nevertheless likely to be referred for these treatments Few people in the UK with early stage Alzheimer’s disease are likely to be suitable for the latest drugs which aim to halt progress of the condition, yet many are nevertheless likely to be referred for ...

High excess death rates in the West for 3 years running since start of pandemic

Despite containment and COVID-19 jabs; “serious cause for concern,” say researchers Excess death rates have remained high in the West for three years running since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, finds a data analysis of 47 countries published in the open access journal BMJ Public Health. This is despite the ...

2024-06-05T08:42:46+00:005 June 2024|BMJ Public Health, Press release|

Inflight alcohol + cabin pressure may threaten sleeping passengers’ heart health

Combo lowers blood oxygen and raises heart rate, even in young and healthy May be time to consider restricting access to alcohol on long haul flights, say researchers The combination of alcohol plus cabin pressure at cruising altitude may threaten sleeping plane passengers’ heart health, particularly on long haul flights, ...

2024-06-05T08:41:06+00:005 June 2024|Press release, Thorax|
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