Bookmark and Share

Health News


'Birth defect risk' for diabetics

The risk of birth defects increases four-fold if the pregnant mother has diabetes, a study of 400,000 pregnancies in England suggests.


Transplant jaw made by 3D printer

An 83-year-old woman is fitted with a jaw made by a 3D printer in what doctors say is the first operation of its kind.


Campaign to cut smoking in cars

A campaign to stop people smoking in cars when carrying children - and which could pave the way for a ban - is launched by the Welsh government.


Malaria toll 'is twice as high'

The number of deaths worldwide from malaria has been underestimated, according to data published in the medical journal the Lancet.


Brains may be wired for addiction

Abnormalities in the brain may make some people more likely to become drug addicts, according to scientists.


Weekend hospital admission fears

Research which suggests that patients are more likely to die in hospital if they are admitted at the weekend is backed up by a major study.


Legionella Britons die in Spain

Three British men die and three more people remain in hospital after contracting Legionnaires' disease while on holiday in Spain, a tour company says.


Record 'legal highs detected'

A record number of potentially dangerous new legal highs were found in Europe last year, say doctors.


Euro MPs reject new food labels

Euro MPs block changes to food labels that would have allowed claims such as "now contains 15% less sugar".


Sugar tax needed, say US experts

Sugar added to processed foods is as damaging as alcohol and should be regulated, claim US health experts.


Contraceptive pill recalled in US

Around one million packets of birth control tablets are being recalled in the US as they might not prevent pregnancy.


Measures 'reduced suicide rate'

Measures introduced to lower the suicide rate in England and Wales in the past decade appear to have been successful, according to an analysis.


Testicular zap 'may stop sperm'

A dose of ultrasound can stop the production of sperm, according to researchers investigating a new form of contraception.


Science decodes 'internal voices'

Researchers turn brain waves from thoughts of words into actual words, in a breakthrough that could benefit comatose and locked-in patients.


Foetus parties: Womb with a view?

Prof Cathy Warwick, chief executive of the Royal College of Midwives, outlines her fears about the "commercialisation of childbirth"


VIDEO: Cancer overshadowed in DR Congo

The Democratic Republic of Congo faces so many challenges battling diseases such as malaria, AIDS and cholera that cancer has been pushed off the radar.


VIDEO: Pakistan investigates drugs deaths

Professor Javed Akram, who is leading the clinical investigation into contaminated medicines in Pakistan, explained how the problem was identified.


AUDIO: 'Wonderful' to have sight back

Katie Piper told Radio 5 live about being able to see after she was blinded in one eye after an acid attack.


VIDEO: Brains may be 'wired' for addiction

Abnormalities in the brain may make some people more likely to become drug addicts, according to scientists at the University of Cambridge.


VIDEO: Singing teacher's speech problems

A singing teacher - who once auditioned for the Spice Girls, is trying to raise awareness of the rare neurological condition that's paralysed her voice box.


VIDEO: Contaminated drugs given to 40,000

More than 100 people have died in Lahore after taking contaminated heart medicine, Pakistan officials have said.


VIDEO: Mystery illness at US high school

High school students in the small community of Leroy, New York State, have been coming down with strange tics and verbal outbursts, with no obvious cause.


VIDEO: Soldier's mind-control bionic op

A Tyneside soldier travels to Austria for the first stage of a process to fit him with a bionic arm he will be able to control with his mind.


'Cycling gave me my freedom back'

'How cycling helped me fight my brain tumours'


When was the real baby boom?

Why 1920 was the biggest year for


'Swan' family want genetic answer

Mother tries to raise the profile of a "syndrome without a name"


Dutch unease over tobacco lobbying

Are Dutch officials too close to the tobacco industry?


Why do some people never get depressed?

Why do some people never get depressed?


Egyptian mothers take to the internet

Egyptian mothers take to the internet for help and advice