Broccoli and cabbage are the only vegetables found to reduce the risk of bladder cancer. A US study of 50,000 men found the higher the intake of these vegetables, the lower the risk of cancer, regardless of the consumption of other fruit and vegetables. As the rate of bladder cancer is three times higher in men than women, the researchers comment these findings may not apply to women.
The season of cold hands and feet is over for many, but for the up to 350,000 Irish people who suffer from a condition called Raynaud's, any drop in temperature can cut off the blood supply and result in numb and painful digits. In severe cases of Raynaud's, painful ulcers may occur and occasionally gangrene may set in. The Irish Raynaud's and Scleroderma Society is holding a public meeting on Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Jury's Hotel, Ballsbridge. Guest speakers include Prof Carol Black, consultant rheumatologist at the Royal Free Hospital, London and Paul Burke, consultant vascular surgeon at Limerick General Hospital. Cost £8 includes lunch. For further information, tel./fax: 01 2350900, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Holiday tip: Avoid late-night searches for a chemist abroad by packing everything you will need to prevent and treat common health problems. Remember to take remedies for sunburn, upset stomachs, insect bites, cuts and travel sickness - not to mention enough of the prescription medicine you usually need. Get your free leaflet "Packing for a Healthy Holiday" from any chemist or by sending a SAE to Seton Scholl Healthcare, 86 Broomhill Road, Tallaght, Dublin 24.
Irish research has found that patients with glaucoma benefit from reading, as it leads to a reduction of pressure inside the eye. Looking at a fixed object, such as a television, does no good. This research, led by Dublin consultant ophthalmologist John Blake, is contrary to previous medical opinion, although it has gained widespread international recognition.
Bladder-control problems affect 250,000 Irish people, it is estimated, and many are reluctant to go to their doctor. A recent survey of almost 8,000 women at the Rotunda Hospital revealed almost one-quarter of young mothers suffer from bladder-control problems after the birth of their first child and among women having their fifth child, this figure increases to one-third. Sufferers are urged to consult a doctor for advice on treatment options. For a free information booklet, leave a message at the Tirim Bladder Control Information Service, tel 1850 476476.
Writing about stressful events can improve the health of people with chronic conditions, say doctors. A US study of asthma and arthritis patients found that 47 per cent of those who wrote down their feelings concerning the most stressful events in their lives showed clinical improvements after four months, compared with 24 per cent in the control group who wrote about their plans for the following day. Previous studies on healthy people have found that writing about feelings can be beneficial for health, boosting the immune system and having a positive effect on heart rate and blood pressure. (BBC)
Osteoporosis, or brittle bone disease, was considered an older woman's disease, but it is increasingly affecting women in their 20s or 30s. It is estimated that by the age of 60, one in three women will have broken or fractured a bone because of osteoporosis.
A new walk-in service to screen for the disease has been launched in Dublin, providing a complete ultrasound assessment which will measure bone density and measure for the risk of fracture. The clinic is on Mondays 5 p.m. 8 p.m. at the J. Marion Sims Clinic, 5 Grosvenor Road, Rathgar, Dublin. Cost £60. Tel: 01 4977774
Women with advanced heart failure live twice as long as men with the same degree of heart failure, regardless of how long they have been ill, according to US research. The study of 331 men and 99 women showed that men were more likely than women to die during the 18 months following heart failure, regardless of race, severity and duration of the disease. (Circulation)