What’s making the news in Healthcare
The world of medicine and healthcare is constantly changing and if you want to stay ahead it pays to keep up to date.
Medical breakthroughs and groundbreaking initiatives like HealthChoice's private health insurance means it is important to keep abreast of what's happening - so you can make the choices that are right for you.
Which is why if it's making the news in private healthcare, here's where you'll find it.
Research: It is never too late to make lifestyle changes
Posted: 31/12/2009
New research has found that making lifestyle changes can reduce people's chances of developing eye diseases even in old age, health insurance customers have been told. Read more...
Diabetes leg amputations increase on 10-year period
Posted: 30/12/2009
Diabetes comes with many side effects, but one new study has suggested that the risk of limb amputation associated with the condition is rising. Read more...
Cervical cancer vaccine drug trial shows encouraging results
Posted: 30/12/2009
A new drug study for cervical cancer patients could help cancer insurance holders in the future, after positive results were seen. Read more...
Healthcare discovery 'may hold key to obesity treatment'
Posted: 29/12/2009
With western nations continuing to suffer from the problem of obesity, healthcare experts are constantly striving to find a way to combat the problem, though it seems specialists in the US may finally have an answer. Read more...
Childhood tobacco exposure 'leads to emphysema'
Posted: 29/12/2009
Smoking has long been linked to some of the world's deadliest diseases, including lung cancer and emphysema, but new research has shown that even passive smoking as children can substantially increases the risk of developing these conditions. Read more...
Tumour discovery signals new hope for breast cancer treatment
Posted: 29/12/2009
Healthcare experts have long held the belief that cancer tumours grow in size until metastasis occurs, when cells leave the tumour and infect other areas of the body. Read more...
Switching off hormone 'may cure drinking problems'
Posted: 24/12/2009
Recent reports have revealed how excessive drinking is continuing to elevate cancer incidence and lead to premature death, and a factor in this is alcoholism. Read more...
Typical Christmas dinner 'has 1,400 calories'
Posted: 23/12/2009
Every year people look forward to tucking into their Christmas dinner, but a new study has revealed that the average meal on December 25th contains a significant number of calories. Read more...
Parents 'should study food labels carefully'
Posted: 23/12/2009
With one in ten children expected to be obese by the end of 2105, parents are doing all they can to ensure their offspring eat healthily, but many are unknowingly feeding them food which is not as beneficial as they believe, a new report has revealed. Read more...
Diet and avoiding sunlight 'the best way to keep skin healthy'
Posted: 23/12/2009
With recent figures showing that the number of young women using sunbeds continues to rise, experts have been warning about the dangers of skin cancer and now one specialist has given tips on how to protect against it. Read more...
Mushroom drug 'may lead to cancer treatment'
Posted: 23/12/2009
Cancer is expected to become the biggest killer in the world by next year and experts are constantly striving to find a cure for the disease, but scientists in the UK claim that a new drug may offer hope to the millions of sufferers worldwide. Read more...
Campaigning 'will not reduce alcohol consumption'
Posted: 22/12/2009
Many recent studies have pointed out that the increase in alcohol consumption across the UK has led to massive rises in the number of cancer incidences and other deadly diseases and stronger campaigns have been suggested to combat excessive drinking. Read more...
Women offered nutritional tips on how to conceive
Posted: 22/12/2009
Couples who are trying for a baby could follow nutritional advice to enhance their chances of conceiving, according to one expert. Read more...
Deadly bacterial infection 'more common than thought'
Posted: 22/12/2009
Though not a well-known condition, staphylococcus aureus can lead to severe diseases and even death if it inhabits the body and is becoming more common than first thought, according to a new study. Read more...
Cervical cancer drives 'essential in poorer areas'
Posted: 22/12/2009
Each year almost 3,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer in the UK, a figure which is slowly falling, though there are still areas where women are more at risk. Read more...
Tinnitus risk 'needs to be highlighted'
Posted: 21/12/2009
Over ten per cent of adults have experienced tinnitus at some point in their lives, a figure expected to rise in coming years, though not enough is being done to highlight the risk factors of the hearing problem, one expert has said. Read more...
Appetite hormone 'the key to dementia prevention'
Posted: 21/12/2009
There are currently over 700,000 people in the UK suffering from dementia, a figure expected to soar to over one million in the next 15 years, but specialists claim that the human body may already hold the key to defeating the condition. Read more...
Cancer discovery 'may lead to personalised treatment'
Posted: 21/12/2009
Cancer is expected to become the biggest killer in the world by the end of next year and healthcare experts are constantly striving to formulate new treatments for the condition, but a recent discovery may possibly lead to personalised treatments, one expert has suggested. Read more...
Gene 'may cause rare male deafness'
Posted: 18/12/2009
Experts in the US have discovered a gene which they believe is connected to a rare form of deafness, a development which may be promising for sufferers. Read more...
Overweight people 'find it harder to exercise'
Posted: 18/12/2009
With more people being diagnosed as obese every year, healthcare experts are constantly striving to promote the benefits of regular physical actviity, but for those who are classed as overweight, there are boundaries prevnting them from doing so, a new survey has found. Read more...
Self-help 'can tackle depression'
Posted: 18/12/2009
Over one in four people will experience mental health issues over the cause of a year, with mixed anxiety and depression two of the most common condition. Read more...
Umbilical cords 'may help with stem cell treatment'
Posted: 17/12/2009
Umbilical cords, although essential during pregnancy, are usually discarded following birth, but new research has suggested that they may have multiple benefits. Read more...
Breakthrough lung transplant offers hope for organ surgery
Posted: 17/12/2009
A breakthrough medical procedure in Newcastle may change the way in which damaged organs are transplanted, according to experts. Read more...
Unemployment 'creates emotional distress'
Posted: 17/12/2009
With unemployment predicted to rise further in the new year, the number of young people struggling to find jobs is set to be higher, and this is likely to have a negative impact on their mental wellbeing, according to one expert. Read more...
Cancer survival 'much worse' in dementia sufferers
Posted: 17/12/2009
Every year over a million people worldwide are diagnosed with breast cancer, though healthcare advancements have ensured that 80 per cent of sufferers in the UK now survive the disease. Read more...
Does breast cancer heighten risk of fatal heart attack?
Posted: 17/12/2009
Women who find out that they have got breast cancer may be at an increased risk of suffering from a fatal heart attack. Read more...
Common amino acid 'may increase Alzheimer's risk'
Posted: 16/12/2009
An amino acid commonly found in many UK foods may increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, a new study has discovered. Read more...
Dangers of mp3s 'need to be highlighted'
Posted: 16/12/2009
It is common to see people walking down the street with earphones in and the age of digital media has only served to increase the number using mp3 players, but one expert has warned that these devices may actually be damaging to health. Read more...
People 'will try to get fitter' in 2010
Posted: 16/12/2009
A new report has revealed that 22 per cent of people in the UK can no longer climb the stairs without feeling out of breath at the top, but one expert has claimed that this will spur some on to be more active in 2010. Read more...
Psychotherapy 'effective' at preventing obesity
Posted: 16/12/2009
As the obesity epidemic sweeps the western world, more and more people are being diagnosed as overweight, with children increasingly being classed as obese. Read more...
Exercise 'improves cancer survival'
Posted: 16/12/2009
Each year over 37,000 people are diagnosed with colorectal, or bowel, cancer, the equivalent of over 100 per day, but new research has shown that sufferers may be able to improve their chances of survival by doing one simple thing - exercise. Read more...
Lowering blood pressure 'better for preventing heart disease'
Posted: 15/12/2009
Heart disease is the single biggest killer in the UK, accounting for almost 400,000 deaths each year, but new research has suggested that regularly drinking wine can have a reverse effect on the development of the disease. Read more...
It is 'too soon to make alcohol and breast cancer link'
Posted: 15/12/2009
Recent studies have highlighted the risk which excessive alcohol consumption can pose to people's health, but one expert has now claimed that it is "too soon" to make a direct connection between drinking and breast cancer. Read more...
Herceptin combined with chemotherapy 'can help to beat breast cancer'
Posted: 14/12/2009
A new drug is offering hope to cancer insurance customers across the world, as a major pharmaceutical firm released the impressive findings. Read more...
Swine flu risks 'vary for different age groups'
Posted: 14/12/2009
This year has seen the media become awash with reports of swine flu and many Brits began stockpiling vaccinations for the disease. It took weeks for pharmaceutical companies to create specific vaccines for the condition, which led to a surge of people ordering it on the internet and visiting their GP. Read more...
Two glasses of wine can increase breast cancer risk
Posted: 11/12/2009
Many ladies have a glass of wine or two in the evening or on the weekend, but new research has found that this may lead to an increased risk of breast cancer. Read more...
Managing lifestyle and admitting problems 'can help to manage stress'
Posted: 10/12/2009
Health insurance customers need to make sure that they manage their lifestyles and days so they do not suffer from stress. One expert has advised that people focus on the positive aspects of their life to control the stress in it and avoid it leading on to other illnesses. Read more...
Could the pistachio nut help lung cancer patients?
Posted: 09/12/2009
A lot of research has come out lately showing that natural foods, herbs and spices are helping to cure diseases, with the humble pistachio nut being the latest that health insurance customers should try. Read more...
Omega-3 'reduces risk of colon cancer'
Posted: 08/12/2009
Healthcare experts are constantly highlighting the benefits of eating lots of oily fish and new research in the US has added weight to the argument. Read more...
Lifestyle changes 'can make people healthier'
Posted: 08/12/2009
Every Christmas people tend to over indulge and then make vague promises about becoming a 'new you' in the new year, but actually going ahead with the promise can help to improve a person's health, according to one sector authority. Read more...
Spices 'may stop breast cancer'
Posted: 08/12/2009
For years, healthcare experts have been promoting the medicinal benefits of herbs and spices, but new evidence has suggested that they may actually be able to prevent breast cancer. Read more...
Rise in cancer rates 'caused by 24-hour drinking'
Posted: 07/12/2009
In the past few years, 24-hour drinking has been named as the major cause of the rise in liver disease, but now experts are claiming that it is also a significant factor in the increase in cancer incidences. Read more...
Dundee university given £190,000 to research Parkinson's
Posted: 07/12/2009
Health insurance customers and the public may soon know some of the elements which cause Parkinson's disease, after a university was awarded funding to research it. Read more...
Low birth weight can lead to early puberty
Posted: 07/12/2009
Babies who are born smaller may then go on to experience puberty at an earlier age, new research has discovered. Read more...
Dairy products 'may prevent uterine cancer'
Posted: 04/12/2009
Each year, over 7,000 UK women are diagnosed with uterine cancer, a condition which kills almost 1,800 people, but experts in the US believe they may have discovered a way to reduce mortality rates. Read more...
Expert: Seek advice before getting a mammogram
Posted: 03/12/2009
Younger cancer insurance customers should discuss screening options for breast cancer with their healthcare experts, new research has found. Read more...
Seasonal flu 'could be a silent killer'
Posted: 03/12/2009
Each year, thousands of people across the UK get seasonal flu, a condition which can be debilitating, particularly in fragile individuals. Read more...
Passive smoking 'may cause breast cancer'
Posted: 03/12/2009
It is a well-known medical fact that people who smoke are more likely to develop lung cancer, but new research has linked the habit with a different form of the disease. Read more...
Information on sunbed dangers 'should be accessible'
Posted: 02/12/2009
New regulations have come into effect in Scotland which govern the way tanning salons operate, restricting the use of sunbeds to the over 18s. Read more...
Late cancer diagnosis 'costing thousands of lives'
Posted: 02/12/2009
Healthcare experts predict that cancer will become the world's biggest killer by next year and a large factor in this is late diagnosis. Read more...
Expert: We are all eating too much salt
Posted: 01/12/2009
Eating too much salt can increase a person's risk of developing heart disease, the biggest killer in the UK, but too many people continue to eat excessive amounts, one expert has claimed. Read more...
Exercise 'cannot undo alcohol damage'
Posted: 01/12/2009
As binge drinking is worse than ever in the UK and cheap alcohol is commonly available, healthcare experts are constantly striving to reduce the number of people falling ill due to alcohol-related problems. Read more...
Cervical cancer screening 'saves lives'
Posted: 01/12/2009
Each year, over 2,800 UK women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, making it the sixth most deadly form of the disease, and healthcare experts are constantly striving to raise awareness of preventative measures which can be taken. Read more...
Mushrooms help to reduce tumour growth
Posted: 01/12/2009
The humble mushroom has created a storm in the medical world, after it has been found that it could shrink the size of tumours. Read more...
Research: Early intervention can help autism patients
Posted: 01/12/2009
Children with autism can boost their IQ, language ability and social interaction if the illness is detected early and they are given treatment, new research has claimed. Read more...
Early breast cancer diagnosis 'could save thousands'
Posted: 01/12/2009
Up to 10,000 people each year could be needlessly killed by cancer as the disease is not diagnosed quickly enough, a new report has claimed. Read more...
