Telling it like it is: Many people do not know the meaning of words such as hypertension, diuretic, antihistamine or decongestant, according to a New Zealand survey on the level of understanding of common medicine-related terms.
Only three words - orally, allergic and inflammation - were defined correctly by more than half the respondents. This survey highlights the importance of health professionals using patient-friendly language, particularly for those for whom English is a second language, and of checking that patients have understood the information given to them.
Breast is best: Babies breastfed for 13 weeks showed a significantly reduced incidence of gastrointestinal and respiratory illness during the first year of their lives. Children fed exclusively with breast milk for more than 15 weeks had a reduced risk of respiratory illness during the first seven years of their lives.
These findings from the Dundee Infant Feeding Study will be discussed by Dr Stewart Forsyth, consultant paediatrician at a National Conference on Breastfeeding on Friday in Dublin Castle. The conference is the principal event in National Breastfeeding Week which begins tomorrow.
Learning disabilities: Fragile X is the most common identifiable hereditary cause of intellectual disability yet in Ireland, it remains largely undiagnosed, according to the Irish Fragile X Society. Dr Lesley Powell, Fragile X researcher and educational consultant for children with learning disabilities in Perth, Western Australia will address a day seminar on Fragile X on Saturday in Lecture Theatre C110, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4. Admission free. Email info@fragilex-ireland.ie for more details.
Holy Yoga: Dominican priest Louis Hughes combines yoga postures and breathing exercises with Christian meditations in his body-mind meditation day and weekend programmes. The next body-mind meditation weekend takes place from October 4th to 6th at the Dominican Retreat Centre, Tallaght, Dublin (Tel: 01 4524911). In November, programmes go ahead in the St Dominic's Retreat Centre, Montenotte, Cork city (November 1st-3rd, Tel: 021 502520) the Dromantine Retreat Centre, Newry, Co Down (November 9th, Tel: 048 30262823) and Mount Saint Anne's Killenard, Portarlington, Co Laois (November 23rd, Tel: 0502 26153). Email relax@bodymindmeditation.ie for more details.
Lifelines is compiled by Dr Muiris Houston and Sylvia Thompson
lifelines@irish-times.ie