Sleeping pills ineffective for 40%
insomniacs
Suffering
from insomnia? sleeping pills may not work so well for you. A new study has
shown that 40% of insomniacs who used pills to get that good nights sleep, did
not succeed in getting some shut eye. A survey of 20,000 people, according to a
British study. Some 42 percent of the patients currently on medication have
been sleeping badly for over 11 years or more. A further 22 percent had
insomnia lasting two to five years, while one in six had suffered between six
and 10 years, the survey revealed. Experts said the study suggested that
sleeping pills were not combating long-term sleep problems and that cognitive
behavioural therapy has been proven to be more effective.
Around
10 million National Heath Service (MHS) prescriptions for sleeping pills are
issued each year. But NHS guidelines say they should be for short-term use only
– usually for two weeks and up to a maximum of four weeks at a time, the Daily
Mail reports. Findings from The Great British Sleep Survey of more than 20,000
adults in Britain found we are a nation of poor sleepers. The average score of
sleep quality was only five out of 10. Long-term poor sleepers were twice as
likely to have relationship problems, suffer from daytime fatigue and lack of
concentration.
The
survey also showed almost one in 10 with insomnia were on sleeping pills
prescribed by their doctor, with one in five using over the counter remedies.
American research this year found sleeping pills may significantly increase the
risk of premature death. The latest survey was sponsored by Sleepio, an online
sleep improvement programme which uses cognitive behavioural techniques. Andrew
McCulloch, chief executive of the Mental Health Foundation, has campaigned for
the NHS to highlight the importance of sleep.
Source: http://health.india.com
12.09.2012
Pregnancy-related cancers up by 70 per cent
The most common cancers detected were skin melanomas, breast cancer, thyroid and other endocrine cancers, gynaecological and lymphohaematopoeitic cancers.
The
rate of pregnancy-linked cancer is increasing and is only partially explained
by the rising number of older mothers, according to research led by the
University of Sydney, BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
reported.
The
researchers say improved diagnostic techniques, detection and increased
interaction with health services during pregnancy may contribute to the higher
rates of pregnancy-associated cancer, according to a university statement.
The
findings have been co-authored by Christine Roberts from the Kolling Institute
at Sydney Medical School and Cathy Lee,
Masters student in Biostatics at Sydney.
"The genetic and environmental origins of pregnancy-associated cancers are likely to pre-date the pregnancy but the hormones and growth factors necessary for a baby to develop may accelerate the growth of a tumour," Roberts said.
"Although this represents a 70 percent increase in cancers diagnosed during or soon after pregnancy, it is important to note that cancer remains rare affecting about two in every 1,000 pregnancies," Roberts said.
Although the age of the mother is a strong risk factor for cancer, increasing maternal age explained only some of the increase in cancer occurring.
The study also found that cancer during pregnancy was tied to a significantly increased risk of caesarean section.
Source:
www.timesofindia.com
12.09.2012
Right actions in
the future are the best apologies for bad actions in the past
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