HEALTH NOTES: How acupuncture could relieve pain of chemo patients 

HEALTH NOTES: How acupuncture could relieve pain of chemo patients

Millions of cancer patients left in excruciating pain from chemotherapy could find relief in acupuncture, researchers say.

Nerve damage is a common side effect of the treatment, causing debilitating numbness and severe pins and needles. Now a study at The Christie NHS Trust in Manchester – believed to be the largest of its kind – suggests acupuncture could help.

A three-year trial involved 120 cancer patients with severe neuropathy. Half of them were given ten weekly acupuncture sessions in addition to standard medication.

They reported a 68 per cent improvement in dexterity and mobility compared to 33 per cent among those who did not have acupuncture. Lead investigator Professor Andrew Wardley said he hoped the results would help improve the lives of millions.

Millions of cancer patients left in excruciating pain from chemotherapy could find relief in acupuncture, researchers say (stock image)

With the ski season in full swing, researchers are warning that safety kit may not be as effective as people think – with skiers wearing helmets up to twice as likely to suffer life-threatening injuries.

The US study looked at more than 700 skiers and found much higher rates of bleeding on the brain among helmet-wearers.

They were also 80 per cent more at risk of spinal damage and 60 per cent more likely to suffer chest injuries, according to findings in the Journal Of Trauma And Acute Care Surgery. One theory is that helmet-wearers are more likely to take risks.

Researchers are warning that safety kit may not be as effective as people think ¿ with skiers wearing helmets up to twice as likely to suffer life-threatening injuries

Researchers are warning that safety kit may not be as effective as people think – with skiers wearing helmets up to twice as likely to suffer life-threatening injuries

Fake news about staying hydrated is risking the lives of older adults, researchers warn.

As many as half of frail older people are thought to be affected by dehydration, which increases the likelihood of falls, strokes and hospital admissions.

University College London researchers found many misconceptions among over-75s about staying hydrated. One was that thirst is a reliable sign of dehydration, which isn’t always the case, while others believed only plain water eases dehydration.

NHS guidelines recommend adults drink between six and eight glasses of fluids daily.

Revellers feel the burn

One in ten Britons overindulged so much last Christmas that they were forced to go to bed with heartburn. The condition is caused by stomach acid travelling up to the throat, and is often triggered by rich food and alcohol.

A survey of 2,000 people carried out by Nexium Control found that nearly two-thirds of adults experienced it during the last festive period. Meanwhile, 12 per cent said they had deliberately left parts of their Christmas lunch in an attempt to avoid developing symptoms.