Behind the Headlines

Disappointing results for new TB vaccine

Tuesday Feb 5 2013

The new tuberculosis vaccine MVA85A has been found to be less effective than initially thought, prompting widespread consternation in the press. The Daily Mail reported that the vaccine...

Short bursts of exercise at home good for the heart

Friday Feb 1 2013

'Climbing the stairs or raking the leaves is as good for your heart as a workout in the gym' the Daily Mirror explains, as a new study finds that people who perform short bursts of exercise on a regular basis experience significant health benefits….

Does a veggie diet lead to a healthier heart?

Thursday Jan 31 2013

Most of the media is reporting the findings of a wide-ranging UK study that found that people on a vegetarian diet were 32% less likely to develop heart disease. The reduced risk is possibly due to veggies eating less cholesterol than meat eaters…

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Health benefits of holidays 'exaggerated'

Wednesday Jan 30 2013

'Going on holiday really is good for your health... and the benefits last for months,' declares Mail Online. Despite being listed in the "health" section of the website, the news is based on a report carried out by Nuffield Health...

Women's smoking death risk 'highest ever'

Thursday Jan 24 2013

“Women smokers are five times more likely to be killed by their habit today than in the 1960s,” The Sun has reported, while...

Cleaning jobs linked to adult asthma

Tuesday Jan 22 2013

'People who work with cleaning products risk developing asthma' BBC News warns. The headline is prompted by a study that tracked people over 40 years, which found that jobs involving cleaning products increased asthma risk…

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Body shape stories fail to kill off myths

Monday Jan 14 2013

"Pear-shaped women aren't protected from heart disease," the Daily Mail warns, going on to say that a new study "overturns 'myth' that it's better to have wobbly thighs than a fat stomach." Despite the headline...

Is children's asthma made worse by inhalers?

Tuesday Jan 8 2013

Genetic tests could pave way to 'personalised' asthma drugs The Guardian reports while warning that current treatments may make symptoms worse. They report on a study which found that children with certain genes responded better to specific treatments…

Just a single cigarette a day linked to sudden death

Wednesday Dec 12 2012

Light smoking 'doubles sudden heart death risk in women', BBC News reports. It says women who are light smokers – including those who smoke just one cigarette a day – double their chance of sudden death...

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Does losing your job up the risk of a heart attack?

Tuesday Nov 20 2012

'Losing your job can be deadly, because it increases the risk of having a heart attack by up to two-thirds,' The Daily Telegraph reports. The news is based on a US study that examined the association between different aspects of unemployment...