What is the coronavirus? A coronavirus is a type of virus which can cause illness in animals and people. Viruses break into cells inside their host and use them to reproduce itself and disrupt the body’s normal functions. Coronaviruses are named after the Latin word ‘corona’, which means crown, because they are encased by a … Read more
People with high blood pressure and diabetes could be at higher risk of serious coronavirus symptoms because of their medications, scientists say. According to a new research letter, certain drugs for these health conditions may change the shape of someone’s cells in a way that makes it easier for the virus to infect them and … Read more
A simple blood test could now be used to diagnose sickle cell disease in unborn babies The test is usually performed by inserting a needle into the mother’s abdomen But now a blood test could be used instead after a study on 64 pregnant women Test provided conclusive results for 60 of them and was … Read more
Prince Harry has blasted Donald Trump in a secretly recorded phone conversation, claiming the US President ‘has blood on his hands’ and is one of the ‘sick people’ running the world. Russian hoaxers telephoned the prince at his luxury hideaway in Canada on two separate occasions earlier this year and duped him into believing he … Read more
A revolutionary 60-minute therapy for high blood pressure could allow patients to throw their tablets away for good. The unlikely remedy involves blasting nerves in the kidneys with sound waves to stop them sending signals to the brain that drive up blood pressure. It could slash the risk of heart attacks and strokes, two of … Read more
New blood test for prostate cancer could help monitor patients without invasive procedure and would reveal if they need urgent treatment Prostate cancer is most common among UK men with 50,000 diagnosed a year Study published in Journal of Clinical Investigation offers hope of a blood test At present the cancer is diagnosed through physical … Read more
Apple Watch could monitor your blood oxygen levels in future as part of new updates rumoured for the wearable smart device this year Apple Watch 6 could give blood oxygen readings with a built-in ‘pulse oximeter’ The feature could even feature on old Apple Watch devices running watchOS 6 It will work just like existing … Read more
Passengers on a Caribbean cruise may have saved a man’s life after they donated blood when he fell seriously ill on board. The American 68-year-old, who has not been identified, had to be evacuated by helicopter from the ship on New Year’s Day. When he became ill the captain of the ship put out a … Read more
Taking on a vigorous hill walk with her husband, or playing with her two lively grandchildren, Rebecca Allison had never felt better. The birth of Nathan, now eight, and Caitlin, six, had given Rebecca — a smoker for more than 50 years — the incentive she needed to quit her 30-a-day habit four years ago. … Read more
A simple blood test can detect Alzheimer’s disease early in people who visit their doctor with worsening memory. Scientists in the US say the test could be used by practitioners within five years, and is more accurate and quicker than current methods. The tool measures levels of a protein called tau in the blood, which … Read more