Health, in sixty words

A large study found people with high levels of xylitol in their blood were 57% more likely to have a stroke or heart attack within six years. Xylitol is a sugar alcohol used in many products like chewing gum, toothpaste, and jam. Researchers called for more studies, highlighting how little is known about xylitol's long-term cardiovascular safety.

Cases of mouth cancer, including on the tongue, have risen by over 33% in the last decade, with 9,000 new diagnoses each year. Elaine Sawyer, 54, was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma on her tongue after a GP initially misdiagnosed it as thrush. Doctors say there's no clear reason for the rise, especially in younger people, making vigilance for signs like unhealing ulcers important.

Box breathing, with equal four-second inhales, holds, and exhales, can help balance your nervous system. A breathwork coach says the technique is best used before stressful events, and the US Navy Seals famously use it. Doctors recommend it for controlling your stress response, as holding your breath trains your body to better cope with changing carbon dioxide levels.

NHS managers are warning that care for autism and ADHD faces disruption as service costs spiral out of control. The NHS Alliance, representing health managers, called the current system a "bad deal" for patients and taxpayers. They found some local health boards paying vastly different amounts for similar services, with one seeing costs jump from £4 million to £30 million annually.

At least 15,000 women in the UK each year are missing a diagnosis for post-traumatic stress disorder after giving birth, with the true number possibly much higher. Doctors at the University of East Anglia found GPs often mistake PTSD for postnatal depression, meaning women get the wrong treatment.

Marc Powell, who has a rare MND variant affecting fewer than 100 UK people, could die within a year while awaiting a treatment. Drug maker Biogen offers Tofersen free, but hospitals must cover administration costs, limiting patient numbers. The health watchdog NICE won't decide on NHS funding until next March, too late for many.

Around 200,000 to 300,000 people in the UK could have hypermobility spectrum disorders, but many wait nearly 20 years for a diagnosis. These conditions, like HSD and hEDS, make joints too flexible and can cause pain, fatigue, and digestive problems. Experts say diagnosis is a "postcode lottery" because there are no dedicated NHS guidelines for doctors.

Wiltshire has confirmed two bluetongue cases, a virus deadly to livestock, pushing the total across the UK to 630 since July. Vets in Chippenham are "struggling to get hold of vaccines" for the insect-borne disease, with no deliveries for two weeks. Manufacturers are collaborating with the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to boost vaccine availability.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists has apologized publicly for its approach to mental health care for individuals who were sexually abused as children and seek help later in life for mental health issues in the UK. Senior doctors informed the BBC that mental health professionals have tended to concentrate too much on symptoms rather than addressing past traumatic experiences. As a result, the college is now advocating for mandatory training for all mental health staff and a comprehensive overhaul of services.

A trial tested 2,368 people at four freshwater spots in Hungary, with experts confirming the results apply directly to Britain. University of East Anglia scientists found 2.7% of bathers developed skin complaints, compared to just 1.3% of those staying on land. Stomach bugs also surged in water with high E coli, prompting calls for the World Health Organization to keep tracking the bacteria.

Cases of giardiasis, a parasitic stomach bug causing diarrhoea and bloating, rose to 6,069 last year, a 40% increase since 2016. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) says the rise could be due to more travel since Covid or better testing. They've warned parents and holidaymakers to take extra care, especially around untreated water, and to see a GP for persistent illness.

A new mental health approach, Open Dialogue, makes patients three times less likely to be admitted to a psychiatric hospital. University College London headed a study encompassing 500 patients in crisis across five NHS trust areas. Patients gave higher ratings to their recovery and quality of life, and the duration of hospital stays was reduced by half.

Rhys Hibbert, a father-of-two from Bedfordshire, was the first patient globally to have a brain tumour removed with real-time AI assistance. Surgeons at University College London Hospital used the AI tool to analyse a live video feed of the operation. Mr Hibbert, 48, said his sight has improved and he has his energy back since the surgery eight weeks ago.

Millions of people are missing chances to protect their brain health because they don't know common dementia risk factors. A survey for the Alzheimer's Society revealed that 26% of individuals over 40 were unable to identify a single lifestyle choice or medical issue associated with dementia risk. Preventable factors, like high blood pressure, obesity, or hearing loss, may be linked to 45% of dementia cases.

Vibrio vulnificus, a flesh-eating bacteria, has caused an eighth death in the US this year. The latest death occurred in Bay County, Florida, adding to five deaths in Louisiana and two others in Florida. One in five people who contract vibriosis die, with symptoms including blistering skin lesions and septic shock.

Jessica Zbinden-Webster, who had skin cancer at 26, will present a petition with nearly 100,000 signatures to Downing Street. She argues the 20% VAT makes sun cream too expensive, particularly for families during the cost-of-living crisis. Cancer Research UK states up to nine in ten melanoma cases could be prevented by using sun cream and staying in the shade.

Scientists are looking at how well your calf muscles pump blood back to your heart, as new research links poor function to dramatically increased mortality rates. A Mayo Clinic study found a 17.5% mortality risk over ten years for people with impaired calf pump function, compared to 5.9% with normal function. Regularly moving, walking, or doing strength training can keep these 'second heart' muscles healthy.

About 700 people in the UK with a rare condition called Li-Fraumeni syndrome face a 90% chance of developing cancer. Scientists at the University of Oxford are testing Metformin, a diabetes drug, after US lab studies showed it prevents cell damage by reducing overactive mitochondria. Researchers hope to develop an "off-the-shelf" vaccine to protect people diagnosed with the syndrome.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the US Health Secretary, is looking into new ways to classify vaccine advice, possibly making "routine" vaccinations sound less definite. He published a Request for Information on Monday, asking the public for ideas on altering or replacing the current three categories. The consideration follows a lawsuit that temporarily blocked Kennedy's earlier changes to federal vaccine recommendations and expert appointments.

Researchers at the University of Southampton developed an AI tool called CenSegNet that uncovers previously unseen patterns within breast cancers. The technology analysed over 330,000 cells from 127 patients, finding two types of changes involving centrosomes, cell organising centres. CenSegNet might assist medical professionals in pinpointing high-risk individuals and creating more tailored treatments going forward.

Lillian Smart, a girl from Ruston, died on Saturday after falling ill with Naegleria fowleri, a rare brain-eating amoeba. The Louisiana department of health stated that she probably contracted it following a swim in Lake Claiborne in Claiborne parish. The amoeba thrives in warm freshwater, is almost always fatal, and has only caused about 180 cases in the US since 1937.

Using the common stomach medication for extended periods can change how your body absorbs certain nutrients. Brazilian researchers found long-term use can decrease iron and cause calcium to leach from your diet, potentially leading to anaemia and osteoporosis. The NHS advises not taking omeprazole for longer than two weeks without a prescription.

Experts say that even small lifestyle changes can have huge benefits for your health and longevity at any age. They suggest prioritising exercise, like walking or gardening, and trying tai chi to reduce falls and improve brain function. Also, protecting your hearing, addressing vision loss, eating a Mediterranean diet, avoiding tobacco, and limiting alcohol intake are all crucial for healthy ageing.

Sexually transmitted infections don't always appear in genitals, with 402,000 new diagnoses in 2025 highlighting the need to recognise other signs. Syphilis can cause a non-itchy rash on palms and soles, which can be mistaken for other skin conditions like eczema. Gonorrhoea and syphilis are capable of affecting the eyes and throat, and certain STIs may even result in joint pain.

Professor Dame Uta Frith, an 85-year-old autism research pioneer, suggests many diagnosed people may not actually be autistic. She is worried that those needing more support are overlooked and underrepresented in research. Frith believes a rise in diagnoses is due to a "late-diagnosed group," mostly women, who might have other conditions like anxiety or depression.

A 25-year tracking project of 22,000 Britons revealed that smoking, obesity and excessive alcohol consumption drive this trend. Academics from Keele and Aberdeen universities showed that 17.3% of males with cardiovascular problems contract the illness, compared to 12.8% of women. These male patients also experience higher death rates from stomach, lung and oesophageal tumours than those with healthy hearts.

Around a fifth of British teenagers aged 11 to 17 have tried an e-cigarette, with use jumping tenfold over the last decade. A major review by the country's leading paediatricians linked the habit to severe wheezing, mouth ulcers and intense anxiety. The authors want ministers to rapidly introduce plain packaging and limit sweet flavours to stop a new generation getting hooked.

Okinawan villagers born around 1890 to 1920, who ate a diet of mostly sweet potato, had a very high rate of people living past 100. Researchers found that this diet, also low in calories and animal fat, vanished after 1945 as American foods arrived. Male life expectancy then fell sharply in Okinawa, showing a clear link between diet and longevity.

At least 34 people have needed hospital treatment for the stomach bug, with victims ranging from infants to a 90-year-old. Britain's public health watchdog, the UK Health Security Agency, is working with European authorities to find the exact source of the contaminated shipments. The vast majority of the 207 confirmed infections happened in England, particularly across London and Yorkshire.

New research found that drivers with nerve damage caused by diabetes sometimes pressed the accelerator when they meant to brake. A driving simulator study with 44 licensed drivers showed only those with diabetic peripheral neuropathy made this error. The DVLA already requires drivers to report peripheral neuropathy, which can affect limb function.

Instead of accepting decline, people who age well keep changing the terms of their lives and let go of things that no longer fit. Research in psychology shows that both tenacious goal pursuit and flexible goal adjustment independently lead to higher life satisfaction. Ultimately, it’s about figuring out what is worth fighting for and what can be negotiated as you get older.

Jason Arday, who resigned from Cambridge University earlier this month following a plagiarism scandal, has been found dead in Battersea, south London. The Metropolitan Police said officers were called by London Ambulance Service on Friday afternoon, and no cause of death has been given. Arday became Cambridge's youngest Black professor in 2023, before stepping down over allegations he had fabricated parts of his academic record.

A Greater Anglia train has derailed near Wickford in Essex, the second such incident in Britain in less than a day after 20 people were hurt near Lewes on Thursday. British Transport Police said the rear carriages came off the tracks just after 2pm on Friday but the train stayed upright, with no injuries reported. Network Rail says this summer's extreme heat is straining tracks and putting pressure on the network.

According to physiotherapist Phil Evans, real signs of ageing well involve what your body can still do, not just wrinkles or aches. These include everyday abilities like getting out of a chair without hands, standing on one leg, and maintaining a decent walking pace. He says a vital sign is also having the mindset to keep saying yes to activities, rather than fearing every ache.

Around 7 to 8 million UK adults take statins, with over 5.3 million in England alone prescribed cholesterol-lowering drugs. A Kingston University expert said that common side effects include headache and dizziness, but severe muscle breakdown is very rare. The main risks often come from other medicines, or even grapefruit, blocking how statins are broken down in the liver.

Biohacker Bryan Johnson, 48, has now slept in the same bed as his 30-year-old girlfriend, Kate Tolo, after an experiment she proposed. He had previously stated they had separate beds and homes, only sharing a bed for sex since going public on 2 December. Tolo revealed on 11 August that their initial three-day experiment has now stretched to 15 days.

As people age, their nutritional needs change, making certain foods particularly important to support health and manage conditions. Experts from the American Association of Retired Persons suggest specific foods like dark leafy greens and berries. Registered dietitian Christine Rosenbloom also recommends cottage cheese for its whey protein.

Scientists have warned that vanillin, a common vanilla vape chemical, might "compromise core processes of early human development". Lab studies exposed embryonic stem cells to vanillin, finding even low doses caused them to lose pluripotency. The NHS advises women against vaping during pregnancy, as nicotine can also harm developing babies.

One patient's death and harm to 74 others have been attributed to care failings identified by the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust. The trust, which runs hospitals in Durham and Darlington, has now hired three more surgeons, taking its review team to nine. Approximately 1,000 patient files from the period spanning 2023 to February 2025 are yet to undergo scrutiny.