Medical Brief

Could psychological distress increase your risk of dementia?

Medical Brief finds out:

Psychological distress a factor for future dementia risk - Medical Brief A new study suggests that vital exhaustion – which can be perceived as an indicator of psychological distress – is a risk factor for future risk of dementia. Researchers from the department of public health, University of Copenhagen have, in collaboration with the National Research Centre for th...

Could neck exercises reduce concussions among sports players?

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Neck-strengthening exercises to mitigate concussion risk - Medical Brief Researchers have proposed a way to mitigate risk for football and soccer players and others at risk of concussion: Protect your head with neck-strengthening exercises in the pre-season. A paper by researchers at the Rutgers School of Health Professions, examines previous studies on the role that the...

Is it too risky to take a daily aspirin?

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Aspirin risk in patients without cardiovascular disease — trials review - Medical Brief A systematic review of large trials found that among those with no known history of cardiovascular disease, regular aspirin use was associated with a 11% lower risk of CV events but also with a 43% increase in major bleeding episodes. No effect was seen with on new cancer diagnoses or deaths. The sy...

Does air pollution pose as big a risk for pregnancy as smoking?

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Air pollution as bad as smoking for miscarriage risk - Medical Brief Short-term exposure to elevated levels of air pollutants was associated with 16% higher risk for miscarriage, equivalent to the effect of smoking in first trimester pregnancy loss, a US study found. The Guardian reports that according to the researchers of the study, toxic air must be cut to protect...

Could painting white stripes on the body prevent insect bites?

Medical Brief finds out:

Body-painting protects against bloodsucking insects - Medical Brief A study by researchers from Sweden and Hungary shows that white, painted stripes on the body protect skin from insect bites. It is the first time researchers have successfully shown that body-painting has this effect. Among indigenous peoples who wear body-paint, the markings thus provide a certain....

Why are there so many more c-sections these days?

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Caesarean rates are rocketing in SA - Medical Brief About 26% of babies born in South African public hospitals are born by caesarean, the latest available figures show. Bhekisisa looks at the factors, including fear of litigation, that are driving the caesarean surge. For decades, caesarean sections were a last resort for mothers and babies in distre...

Is the keto diet a socially accepted form of disordered eating?

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A 'myopic focus on weight' drives the popularity of keto diet - Medical Brief This time last year, Google searches for the keto diet outranked those for paleo for the first time. Laura Thomas, registered nutritionist writes in The Guardian that twelve months on, keto recipe books are flying high in the publishing charts, there are emerging permutations (vegan-keto, the vegeta...

Why you shouldn't miss a GP appointment:

Missed GP appointments 'substantially' increase all-cause mortality - Medical Brief Missing GP appointments is associated with early death, and those with long-term mental health conditions are at particular risk, according to a large Scotland study over three-years. Dr Ross McQueenie led the study from the University of Glasgow along with colleagues from Lancaster University and t...

Should we be focusing on upping fibre rather than cutting carbs?

Medical Brief finds out!

'Compelling' evidence for a 'good-fibre' diet over a low-carb diet - Medical Brief A systematic review of studies over almost 40 years, commissioned to inform new World Health Organisation guidelines, found that higher levels of fibre and whole grain intake cut all-cause and cardiovascular-related mortality by 15-30% and reduced incidence of coronary heart disease, stroke, type 2....

Doctors' bad handwriting is no laughing matter.

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Call for doctors to use block capitals in prescriptions - Medical Brief An unnamed Glasgow patient had to be treated in hospital after the pharmacist dispensed an erectile dysfunction cream instead of an eye lubricant, due to the similarity in names. She suffered from blurred vision, a swollen eyelid and redness and discomfort immediately after putting the cream into he...

Could Botox cure migraines?

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Botox jabs reduce frequency of chronic migraines — French meta-analysis - Medical Brief A growing body of evidence supports the effectiveness of botulinum toxin injections in reducing the frequency of chronic migraine headaches, concludes a French meta-analysis. Based on meta-analysis of pooled clinical trial data, botulinum toxin is superior to inactive placebo for preventive treatmen...

Does stroking a baby help to relieve their pain?

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Gently stroking babies 'provides pain relief' - Medical Brief Gently stroking a baby reduces activity in their brain associated with painful experiences, a small UK study has found. Researchers from University of Oxford and Liverpool John Moores University, monitored the brain activity of 32 babies while they had blood tests. Half were stroked with a soft brus...