Health news

Over a million people in the UK who are caring for someone with cancer are potentially missing out on vital support and benefits, according to research.

Around 1.1 million people in the UK currently look after someone with cancer, but a survey for Macmillan Cancer Support found that nearly half (49%) receive no support at all.

It may come as something of a surprise, but food allergies may not be as common as you think. The term food allergy is often used to describe any adverse reaction that happens after eating a particular food.

But just one to three per cent of adults and up to eight per cent of children are estimated to have food allergies in the UK.

It’s a uniquely 21st century affliction: iPad shoulder.

But according to new health research, it really does exist.

The number of people dying from heart attacks in England has fallen by half in the last ten years, according to new research.

The greatest fall in heart attacks and deaths was seen in middle-aged men and women, while the smallest decline was seen in younger and older people.

The risk of Lyme disease in the UK is greater than previously thought, scientists say.

A study by researchers at Bristol University found a much higher proportion of ticks infected with the disease-causing bacterium than had previously been reported.

Eating food which has been fried in olive or sunflower oil is not linked to heart disease or an earlier death, a new study has found.

Although the findings debunk the myth that all fried food is bad for the heart, the researchers stressed that the study took place in Spain, where sunflower and olive oil are routinely used for frying, and the results would likely be different for other countries which use lard and other types of cooking oils.

The health of Glasgow's most deprived people could be impaired before they are even born, according to new research.

Scientists from Glasgow University found important differences in the DNA of people who live in some of the most deprived areas of Scotland's biggest city, which could increase their risk of developing chronic health problems such as heart disease and diabetes.

Women appear to experience pain more intensely than men, a study suggests.

US researchers analysed the medical records of more than 160,000 pain scores reported by more than 72,000 patients with 47 different health problems, from cancer to back pain, and found that women reported feeling more pain in nearly every disorder studied.

It is the third most common cancer in the UK, afflicting one in 20 women and one in 16 men.

Yet because of the embarrassment factor, few people are aware of bowel cancer’s risks and symptoms – meaning too many are dying every year.