Are we ignoring the psychological impact of skin conditions?

If you had acne as a teenager, you’ll likely know that skin problems aren’t just a cosmetic issue, they can also massively affect your self-esteem. And chronic dermatological conditions, from psoriasis to eczema can have a huge impact on psychological health. But until recently, this hasn’t been talked about much. The British Association of Dermatologists considers the need for more psychological support for dermatology patients to be pressing. But with many trusts facing significant budget cuts, this is proving a tricky prospect. There’s a lot of stigma around certain skin…

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Anxiety, depression in young people could be early symptoms of bipolar disorder

A study has recently found that early anxiety and disorders of attention or behaviour are two patterns of psychiatric symptoms that may help to identify young people at increased risk of developing bipolar disorder (BD). According to researchers, early signs of BD can fall into a relatively characteristic “homotypic” pattern, consisting mainly of symptoms or other features associated with mood disorders; or a “heterotypic” pattern of other symptoms including anxiety and disruptive behaviour. Environmental risk factors and exposures can also contribute to BD risk. The team analysed data from 39…

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This unusual use of blueberry extract in boosting cancer therapy will surprise you

Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that occurs in the cells of the cervix – the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina. Researchers from the University Of Missouri-Columbia, United States explained that one of the most common treatments for cervical cancer is radiation therapy and that it not only destroys the cancer cells, but also the nearby healthy cells, which proves to be a hazard. “For some cancers, such as late-stage cervical cancer, radiation is a good treatment option. However, collateral damage to healthy cells…

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Ladies, are you facing abnormal hair loss? You may be at risk of developing fibroids

Beware, a study has recently warned that women with a common form of hair loss, are at an increased risk of developing non-cancerous tumours that grow along or within the walls of the uterus. According to researchers, the medical records gathered on hundreds of thousands of African-American women suggested that women with a common form of hair loss have an increased chance of developing uterine leiomyomas, or fibroids. The results suggested a five-fold increased risk of uterine fibroids in women with CCCA, compared to age, sex and race matched controls.…

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Readers’ best travel discoveries of 2017

Calm waters … lake near the Buerbreen glacier, Norway. Photograph: Getty Images Winnig tip: Buerbreen glacier, Norway Looking for a walk to complete the day before tackling the mammoth Trolltunga hike in April, we decided on the trail to Buerbreen glacier. The starting point was a 20-minute drive from our base in Odda. The walk was brilliant: three hours of streams, rickety-looking bridges, ropes and scrambling brought us to the glacier. With the added beauty of having the trail to ourselves, this was a wonderful hike seemingly bypassed by those aiming…

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Study Shows Education Can Reduce Risk Of Alzheimer’s Disease

According to the Centers for Disease Control, over 5.4 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease. As a result of the country’s aging population, this progressive brain disorder has grown to be the the sixth leading cause of death among all adults and the fifth leading cause for those aged 65 or older. Although there is no cure for this debilitating disease, a new study has found a way to reduce the risk of developing it: education. A Cambridge University study of over 54,000 people found that every year spent in school reduces the chances of…

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