Behind the Headlines

Even 'light' smoking may raise women's arthritis risk

Tuesday Apr 23 2013

"Smoking just a few cigarettes a day more than doubles a woman's risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis," the Mail Online website reveals. The website reports on a Swedish study that found women who smoke…

Gene that prevents heart regeneration discovered

Thursday Apr 18 2013

Scientists have discovered a gene that "could rejuvenate old hearts" according to The Daily Telegraph. The newspaper goes on to say that "damaged hearts could be regenerated simply by switching off a gene which prevents cells from dividing"…

Beetroot's effect on blood pressure is uncertain

Tuesday Apr 16 2013

"Beetroot 'can lower blood pressure'," BBC News confidently reports. But the truth about whether beetroot can really lower your blood pressure is a little more unclear than the headlines suggest. The news comes from…

Today's adults 'unhealthier than their parents' were

Thursday Apr 11 2013

"Today's adults are so unhealthy they are 15 years 'older' than their parents and grandparents at the same age," reports The Daily Telegraph. This gloomy message is based on...

Hard times in Cuba linked to better national health

Wednesday Apr 10 2013

"The Cuban diet – eat less, exercise more – and preventable deaths are halved," is the advice in The Independent. This is not a new Latin diet and dance fad, but news based on research into how Cuba’s rollercoaster economic history...

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Red meat chemical link to heart disease

Monday Apr 8 2013

'A nutrient abundant in red meat… could raise the risk of heart disease,' the Mail Online website warns. Researchers have found that the chemical L-carnitine, found in red meat, is broken down by bacteria into a waste product that damages blood vessels…

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Running and walking both good for your heart

Friday Apr 5 2013

A brisk walk is "healthier than running", The Guardian reports, while the Daily Mail more accurately claims that walking "is as good as a run for cutting the risk of heart disease". This news was based on a large and long-term study...

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Can potassium in bananas cut your stroke risk?

Friday Apr 5 2013

'More bananas and fewer crisps can help ward off strokes', the Daily Mail reports, saying that a study has found that people with high potassium intake have a 24% reduced risk of stroke...

Balding on the crown linked to heart disease

Thursday Apr 4 2013

"Men with a bald pate are at significantly greater risk of heart disease than their less follicly challenged peers," reports The Daily Telegraph. There are similar headlines across much of the media...

Seven healthy lifestyle tips could 'halve cancer risk'

Tuesday Mar 19 2013

'The seven golden rules for a healthy life: Simple lifestyle steps can help prevent cancer and heart disease,' the Mail Online website reports. This accurate headline comes from a new study that found that people who took steps to reduce...

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