Did you make a New Year's resolution to give up smoking? Are you among the 70 per cent of Irish smokers who would like to quit? Are you among the 50 per cent of smokers who have tried but failed to give up cigarettes over the past two years? If so, drop in to the free Stop Smoking session held every Tuesday, 1-2 p.m. at the Education and Resource Centre, St Vincent's Hospital. Or go along to an introductory talk for their six-week Stop Smoking courses, on February 1st (1-2 p.m.) and February 9th (7-8 p.m.). For details, tel 01 2094955. For a booklet and cassette offering practical tips, ring the Quit Plan Helpline, sponsored by Nicorette, at 1850 430 530 (calls charged at local rate).
A glass and a half of wine a day could help improve the grey cells and stop the progression of brain disorders. According to scientists at the Human Institute at the University of Milan the chemical resveratrol, which is found in grapes and wine, helps the enzyme Map-kinase to regenerate neural cells and could help a brain enzyme to function. Experts believe this could help in the treatment of diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, where the links between neural cells break down, causing mental confusion, dementia and muscle problems. (BBC)
The incidence of breast cancer in Ireland is among the highest in Europe, with more than 1,200 cases diagnosed each year. One in 13 Irish women will develop breast cancer and it is responsible for approximately 660 deaths a year. Early detection is important to treatment. A new device, BreastCare, a heat-sensitive pad which measures the temperature of areas of the breast and can alert the doctor administering it that a more detailed examination is necessary, will be available from April. BreastCare is designed for women under the age of 50, who typically have dense breast tissue, and in whom tumour doubling-times can be as short as 80 days. The procedure takes only 15 minutes, involves simply placing the pads inside the bra, and provides instant results.
News for butter-lovers - it could be better for your heart than olive oil, according to US research. Past reports have suggested monounsaturated fats such as those found in olive oil may protect against heart disease, but a new study on mice hints otherwise. Mice fed a diet containing monounsaturated fats appeared more likely to develop arteriosclerosis - hardening of the arteries - than mice fed a diet containing saturated fat (which is found in butter and meat), or mice fed polyunsaturated fat, the type found in vegetable oil.
Headphones may increase the risk of hearing loss, particularly among people who suffered from frequent ear infections as children, according to a French study published in The Lancet. Concerts and loud workplace noise do, it appears, affect hearing - but a major factor influencing hearing loss is use of personal stereos.
Previous studies have shown that regular personal stereo use is linked to an average hearing loss of about three decibels - but in those with a history of ear infections, the use of personal stereos could cause an extra hearing loss of 11 decibels.
More than 24,000 people a month are surfing to the Coombe. The hospital's website provides information on family planning methods and patient services, advice for pregnant women and the Coombe calculator, which helps you estimate the delivery date of your baby. You can even pass on your comments to the Master of the Coombe, direct from the website at www.coombe.ie