1 day agoAbout sharing
Scientists say they may have found the best strategy for calming upset babies.
Forget controlled crying or rocking in a crib.
According to a small but novel study, which asked parents to try a range of methods, walking for five minutes while carrying the infant and then sitting with them in your arms for another five before putting them down to sleep in their cot, is the most successful.
The findings appear in the journal Current Biology.
The Japanese researchers - some who are
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4 hours agoAbout sharingA ban on multi-buy deals for junk food has already been delayed
The government is reviewing its anti-obesity strategy for England, including plans for a ban on TV advertising of junk food before 9pm.
It is understood ministers believe it should be looked at in light of the cost-of-living crisis.
But health campaigners said they were "deeply concerned" about reports the measures could be scrapped.
A ban on multi-buy deals and pre-watershed advertising of junk food had already been delayed earlier
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9 hours agoAbout sharing
Thousands of NHS operations and appointments look set to be cancelled on the day of the Queen's funeral.
The introduction of a last-minute bank holiday has meant hospitals are now postponing some routine treatments which had been booked in for Monday.
A host of leading hospitals told the BBC there would be some disruption to their services.
The NHS said patients should be contacted by hospitals to let them know whether their appointment is on or not.
Patients are being asked not to contact hospitals directly.
Some trusts also
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By Michelle RobertsDigital health editor
1 hour agoAbout sharingReady-to-eat smoked fish, such as smoked salmon, is too risky for some people to consume because of a rare chance of getting listeria food poisoning, UK food safety experts say.
While most people would not become seriously ill, certain susceptible groups, including the over-65s, could.
There have been eight recorded listeriosis cases so far this year in an ongoing outbreak in the UK, says the Food Standards Agency (FSA).
One was a pregnant woman.
Listeriosis in pregnancy can cause
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By James GallagherHealth and science correspondent
13 hours agoAbout sharingResearchers say they have cracked how air pollution leads to cancer, in a discovery that completely transforms our understanding of how tumours arise.
The team at the Francis Crick Institute in London showed that rather than causing damage, air pollution was waking up old damaged cells.
One of the world's leading experts, Prof Charles Swanton, said the breakthrough marked a "new era".
And it may now be possible to develop drugs that stop cancers forming.
The findings could explain
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By James GallagherHealth and science correspondent
8 hours agoAbout sharingThe plastic sheets sterilise themselves when exposed to lightScientists have developed a virus-killing plastic that could make it harder for bugs, including Covid, to spread in hospitals and care homes.
The team at Queen's University Belfast say their plastic film is cheap and could be fashioned into protective gear such as aprons.
It works by reacting with light to release chemicals that break the virus.
The study showed it could kill viruses by the million, even in tough species which linger on
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9 hours agoAbout sharingPharmacists will be able to sell the tablets over the counter
Women experiencing vaginal dryness as a result of the menopause can now buy a treatment over the counter in the UK.
Estradiol tablets, sold under the brand name Gina10, were previously offered on prescription only.
They will be available to women over the age of 50 who have not had a period for more than a year, as part of hormone replacement therapy treatment (HRT).
Pharmacists have been offered training to identify who needs the tablets.
The Medicines and Healthcare products
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By James GallagherHealth and science correspondent
9 hours agoAbout sharingA malaria vaccine with "world-changing" potential has been developed by scientists at the University of Oxford.
The team expect it to be rolled out next year after trials showed up to 80% protection against the deadly disease.
Crucially, say the scientists, their vaccine is cheap and they already have a deal to manufacture more than 100 million doses a year.
The charity Malaria No More said recent progress meant children dying from malaria could end "in our lifetimes".
It has taken
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By Shiona McCallumTechnology reporter
16 hours agoAbout sharingA device to help detect breast cancer has won the prestigious UK James Dyson Award.
The Dotplot aims to help women self-check at home and track any changes they may find on an app.
Breast cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in the UK but many women do not carry out regular self-examinations.
Medical professionals have welcomed the invention but warn it is no substitute for going to the doctor.
Users build a personalised map of their torso by inputting their breast size and
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By Ione WellsPolitical correspondent
10 hours agoAbout sharingThe British Pregnancy Advisory Service has called the new health secretary's record on abortion rights "deeply concerning".
Therese Coffey, appointed by new PM Liz Truss, has previously voted against extending access to abortion care.
Abortion charities have accused Ms Coffey of putting her personal beliefs "above expert clinical guidance".
But Ms Coffey told the BBC abortion access already available in England will continue while she is in post.
Ms Coffey recently voted against making
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By Elizabeth QuigleyBBC Scotland news
16 hours agoAbout sharingWoman who can smell Parkinson's helps researchers create swab test
A Scottish woman who found she could detect Parkinson's through smell has inspired scientists to develop a swab test that could be used to diagnose it.
Researchers in Manchester have created a new method which they say can detect the disease in
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By Michelle RobertsDigital health editor
17 hours agoAbout sharingA sticky tape skin test could help predict if young babies are likely to develop bad eczema, say scientists.
The team - from the University of Copenhagen - used it on a group of two-month-olds to painlessly collect and then examine skin cell samples.
They found detectable immune biomarker changes in the cells that were linked with future eczema risk.
Babies at high risk might benefit from early treatment with skin creams to avoid painful flare-ups, they suggest.
The youngsters with elevated
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