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Round-Up of Global News In Health and Complementary MedicineWeek Beginning 21 October 2002
Mother Stress And Baby WeightLower birth weight and slower weight gain early in life may be associated with poorer psychological health in adulthood, according to new research. The study, conducted by scientists at the National Cancer Centre in Singapore, followed more than 9,700 UK adults from birth and found that, as birth weight increased, the risk of psychological distress in adulthood declined. However, the researchers also found that relatively rapid weight gain after birth may compensate for the potential ill effect of low birth weight on later psychological health. The Guardian Elderly Alcohol Problems RisingMore than 1 million pensioners in the UK are drinking excessive quantities of alcohol, and the problem has increased by 75 per cent among women aged over 65 during the past decade, according to a new report. Anne Jenkins, of Alcohol Concern, said many of the heavy drinkers took up the habit because of stress later in life, for example after the death of their partner. The report also says unsafe drinking among women aged 16-24 has more than doubled over the last 10 years and that a million children live with parents who have a drink problem. The Daily Mail Poor Car Design Increases Whiplash RiskDesign flaws in many of the most popular modern cars expose drivers and passengers to potentially crippling whiplash injuries, a survey has found. More than a quarter of the 250 models tested failed to give adequate protection against neck and back injuries. The main problem is poorly designed headrests that cannot be adjusted to suit individuals, according to the survey by Thatcham, the motor insurance research centre. The Times Childhood Learning Not Affected By Ear InfectionsChildren who have frequent or long-lasting middle ear infections, known as otitis media, seem to have language and academic skills on a par with their peers when they reach elementary school, according to US researchers. The home environment, such as whether or not parents read to a child, was found to be a more important predictor of language and maths skills than a history of ear infections. The finding should help allay parents’ fears that such infections will interfere with their child’s ability to learn, according to the researchers from the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute of the University of North Carolina. The Times Dust Mite Claims For LandlordsUK landlords could face compensation claims from tenants who have developed asthma because of dust mite infestations in their homes, according to researchers in Scotland. A four-year study carried out at Strathclyde University has proved that dust mites can trigger asthma attacks and that removing them from bedding and carpets, and introducing mechanical ventilation to circulate air and reduce humidity in modern homes, can help reduce symptoms. The Times
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