Health

Elderly people are at the highest risk of falling, but now they can shout to Amazon's voice-activated service Alexa for help. It works by integrating with My SOS Family, a service which can turn any mobile phone into a personal alarm system for the vulnerable. And now it's become available on Amazon's Echo device, which triggers commands when the user activates it by saying the name 'Alexa'. This innovation has allowed anyone who suffers a fall to simply shout "Alexa, start...

A new study has revealed that as many as four in ten dog owners are feeding their dogs leftovers which could be causing a health crisis for our nation's canines - with almost 30 percent of dog owners admit to substituting dog food with human meals entirely. Researchers found that the most popular offending meal to be consumed by dogs was beef roast dinner, with 39 percent of dog owners admitting to treating their dogs to this dish. Among the...

An 'exercise pill' that boosts blood flow by mimicking the effects of going to the gym could revolutionise the lives of heart failure patients. The experimental drug strengthened the hearts of mice and rats with the condition - and scientists are hopeful the same will happen for humans. It's based on a protein called CT1( cardiotrophin 1) that tricks the heart into thinking it's being exercised by growing healthily and pumping more blood. This is just what happens during a...

One of the UK’s longest-standing organisations that represents dietetics and nutrition has affirmed that a well-planned vegan diet can “support healthy living in people of all ages” in an official document signed by its CEO. The British Dietetic Association has renewed its memorandum of understanding with The Vegan Society to state that a balanced vegan diet can be enjoyed by children and adults, including during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The memorandum is building upon the existing working relationship between the BDA...

UK Addiction Treatment (UKAT) Centres recently released data which shows that admissions across their 6 UK-wide treatment centres for over the counter painkillers has risen by a staggering 22% since 2014, and that over half of those admitted are treated within its Southern centres. Their data shows that 62% of those admitted for Codeine or Benzodiazepine addiction were admitted to UKATs Southern Centres- Primrose Lodge, Sanctuary Lodge, Liberty House and Recovery Lighthouse. The remaining 38% were admitted to the Northern...

By Ben Jackson As millions embark on their summer vacations, most holidaymakers will be seeking a brief refuge from their year round 'always on' status Across the world, luxury-end holidays have learned the value of prising the smart phones from the hands of frenetic Silicon Valley types, while ‘being unplugged’ has been cited as one of the ten top travel trends for 2017. More esoteric breaks, including: monasteries, wellness sanctuaries, country retreats and even activity holidays, all increasingly, offer options...

Green tea could improve learning and help combat memory loss caused by a high fat and sugar western diet, a new study suggested. The drink rich in a chemical that has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and heart protection properties also protects against diabetes and obesity. Green tea has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries to treat everything from headaches to depression. The popular drink is also richer in antioxidants than other teas because of the way it is processed by...

A jab to protect pregnant women's babies against the Zika virus could be on the horizon. Experiments on mice found a single dose of a new vaccine crossed the placenta and protected unborn pups from contracting the disease. While relatively harmless in most people, causing mild fever and joint pains, the effects on pregnant women can be devastating. Last October mums-to-be in Britain were urged to cancel trips to Florida after two UK tourists caught the bug, which can cause...

New analysis of Google data has revealed searches for anxiety and its symptoms have increased significantly over the past decade - and it could be down to one factor. The research suggests people are turning to the internet and its resources to help deal with this mental health condition in greater numbers, with noticeable spikes around terrorist incidents. The latest NHS Psychiatric Morbidity Survey indicates that around 15 per cent of the UK population (some nine million people) suffer from...