Rugby legend Brian O’Driscoll and his father Frank launched the Gillette Father’s Day campaign in association with the Irish Cancer Society and Tesco. The Gillette Father’s Day campaign aims to raise both awareness and funds for prostate cancer in Ireland. 10 cent from every product in the Gillette male range sold in Tesco stores nationwide [...]

From Reuters Health: People who suffer migraines are about twice as likely as people without the painful headaches to suffer a stroke caused by a blood clot, a new research review finds. The link is not entirely understood, but researchers suggest that if you do suffer from migraines, you should address risk factors: quit smoking [...]

The global death rate for children under five years old has dropped by 2 per cent since 1990, according to a new study in the Lancet. While 7.7 million children are expected to die this year, the figure is dramatically lower than the 11.9 million deaths in 1990. From the Lancet: “Measurement of mortality in [...]

Research recently published in JAMA showed that about 10 per cent of new fathers suffer from postnatal depression, particularly three to six months following a birth. Edward Davies at the BMJ blogs wonders if it isn’t all a bit of common sense dressed up as medical jargon: -Do I have feelings of hopelessness? Yes. (Particularly [...]

The Guardian is reporting that researchers at Liverpool university are exploring whether genetic factors make some animals – particularly Newfoundland dogs – more likely to suffer cruciate ligament damage. This may have practical relevance in the treatment of sports stars with knee injuries. One researcher said: “The disease in humans tends to occur when stress [...]

New Scientist has unveiled a new column devoted to the science of pregnancy, written by a reporter ‘whose bump is getting bigger every day’. Expecting mothers and fathers will find a lot of the most common questions – such as, Does an active baby in the womb mean an active child? – dealt with scientifically. [...]

Parenting expert Penelope Leach says it is now a fact that letting babies cry is potentially harmful to their developing brains. Gina Ford is expected to pounce with more facts soon. A Guardian columnist says stop with the tone of authority.

At the centre of this movement is an organisation called Core Issues, a Northern Ireland Christian initiative run by Mike Davidson, a married man who describes himself as having been “in conflict with unwanted homosexuality . . . before finally seeing the light.” Core Issues has brought a series of high-profile ex-gay speakers from the [...]

From the New York Times: Scientists are taking a new look at hallucinogens, which became taboo among regulators after enthusiasts like Timothy Leary promoted them in the 1960s with the slogan “Turn on, tune in, drop out.” Now, using rigorous protocols and safeguards, scientists have won permission to study once again the drugs’ potential for [...]

A survey investigating the nation’s health habits has revealed that a worrying in five people “don’t bother much about health” – opting to take care of it once they get older. An overview of survey findings: · One in five “don’t bother much about health” · 72 per cent visit the doctor rarely or only [...]