Health

Updated: 16:33 EST

Formerly conjoined twins celebrate their first birthday

Formerly conjoined twins Ballenie and Bellanie Camacho, from the Dominican Republic, celebrated their first birthday just two weeks after the risky 22-hour surgery that separated them. The girls were born joined at the hip (pictured inset) - an extremely rare form of attachment. They were successfully separated after months of preparation at Maria Fareri Children's Hospital in New York.

A constant stream of news, blogs and social media are causing women to feel vulnerable to 'headline stress disorder.' Therapist Dr Steven Stosny explains what it is and why it's so dangerous.

Experts at Yale University warn one in four teens have tried 'dripping', which drastically increases one's risk of being exposed to toxins and nicotine, normally limited by the device.

Consuming grapes for just six months also helped to boost memory, according to research funded by the California Table Grape Commission - designed to expand markets for fresh Californian grapes.

Whether you are looking to lose weight, tone up or just want to fit back into your favorite dress, try these tips from nutritional therapist Natalie Lamb to help you achieve your weight loss goals healthily.

A new Australian-based study says sitting is not as bad for you as previously believed because of the varied difference between TV sitting time and other sitting behaviors.

Research by the British American Tobacco R&D; Center found lungs exposed to e-cigarettes suffered just two gene mutations - compared to the 123 genes changed by exposure to tobacco.

Some 2,348 appeals for British cancer patients were launched on JustGiving in 2016 - a seven-fold increase in just one year, figures obtained by BBC Radio 5 live revealed.

The arm, created by scientists at Imperial College, London, detects spinal nerve signals rather than current models where the user twitches remaining muscle to move the limb.

London woman releases images of bump after tumour removal

Maria Christofi (left), 42, from north London, was diagnosed with a fibroid - a benign tumour in her womb - a decade ago. But after managing her debilitating symptoms without surgery, she was left carrying a mass that weighed 6lb - the same as a newborn baby. It was 17cm long and had left her with a large bump that lead to strangers assuming she was expecting her first child (right). And after being asked so frequently when she was due, she even made up a due date to save the embarrassment. But after battling against the physical effects of her fibroid - which has worsened since 2014 - she made the brave decision to undergo surgery. And last month, the acupuncturist had the large mass removed (inset).

NHS trusts are not meant to have more than 85 per cent of their beds occupied - but 137 of the 152 trusts are currently operation above this, according to an analysis of figures by the BBC.

Vivienne Swain, 60, from Rochdale, was diagnosed with mesothelioma – a form of cancer that affects the lining of the lungs and is often linked to asbestos exposure - in August 2015.

Iris Sibley, 89, had been taken to Bristol Royal Infirmary last June after she suffered a fall at her care home. It took health officials until January 4 to find her a suitable nursing home.

Yes, that IS me lifting weights... At 74! 

When I joined my first weight-training class, I’d just had my 60th birthday. I’d tried all the classes on offer in the university’s sports centre in Aberystwyth, my local market-town — aerobics, Pilates, yoga, step, Zumba... So it came as a surprise to discover that what suited me was lifting heavy weights to loud music. Quite the opposite of my life as a food writer well on the way to frail old ladyhood. (Elisabeth Luard above)

A trial at the University Hospital of South Manchester suggests 63 per cent of women with the most common form of breast cancer could avoid chemotherapy by using a genetic test.

Sick and elderly patients are being given the wrong drugs, overdoses, or no medication at all. 92 per cent of carers have made at least one potentially serious mistake, according to researchers.

The Brownlee brothers captured hearts when Alastair carried Jonny over the finish line in Mexico, but now they're turning their attention to another kind of support - elasticated flight socks.

Changes to seven English hospitals have been confirmed - and another 17 are in the balance. A&E; units are set to be replaced in east London, West Bromwich and Birmingham.

Flavanols extracted from cocoa help tackle cholesterol levels and blood flow. Now a pill that has contains the anti-oxidant nutrient in its purest form has hit the shelves in Britain

Yorkshireman battling MND keeps accent when he can't speak

Experts have created a voice for Jason Liversidge, of Scarborough, who has been battling Motor Neurone Disease since 2014. His new voice has been created from old recordings of home videos and 'donated' voices, including Jason's best friend, Phil White. Donor voices were needed because Mr Liversidge's speech is already slurred. He has said he wanted to have the voice to keep a form of identity.

Instead of letting health workers track the babies' progress, mothers will have to use weighing scales at children's centres without any supervision. It will be introduced in Nottingham in April.

Breakfast is often touted as the most important meal of the day. But are we really making the healthiest choices when it comes to fuelling our bodies? FEMAIL talks to Australian dietitian Lauren McGuckin

Doctors have welcomed the introduction of a £40 kit which allows expectant mothers to test themselves for Group B Strep, which is harmless in adults but can trigger deadly illnesses in children.

Systems like Slendertone that slimmers use to target muscle groups could be more effective that compression stockings for poor leg circulation, a study by London hospitals shows.

A senior paramedic opens up anonymously about the back-breaking work every day working in the British ambulance services and what lies in store for the future with the increasing pressure on our NHS.

Brain tumours are going undiagnosed in teenagers because symptoms like mood swings and tiredness are mistaken for adolescent angst or exam stress, says a Nottingham University professor.

Twins dealing with double heartbreak opt for mastectomies

Twins Rose and Charlotte Turpie, 27, from Manchester (left) discovered they were carrying the BRCA2 breast cancer gene and both opted to have double mastectomies (right). They had already lost their mother (bottom right) to breast cancer and didn't want their father Paul to see them suffer (bottom right). But they suffered more heartbreak when Paul passed away from cancer months after their surgeries.

A hungover workout can get the heart pumping and increase endorphins after a big night out. But Australian personal trainer Jason Simoes advised doing cardio and skipping weightlifting.

Australian celebrity trainer Michelle Bridges has shared a new Tabata workout for busy women that involves 20 seconds of working out, followed by 10 seconds of rest, for multiple rounds.

Fitness monitors use an accelerometer to arm movements, which can be deceptive. Researchers from the University of Ireland, Galway, found all devices counted 'false positive' steps.

Tessa Dunlop, a BBC Coast presenter, opens up about her experience with equine therapy in Grange Farm, Chapel-Y-Fin on the Welsh borders, that helps her cope with her grief after the loss of her baby.

DR MAX THE MIND DOCTOR: Betty, 77, has dementia and requires specialist care, which they assumed she would get at the Perry Locks Care Home in Birmingham.

Doctors in Germany and Austria interviewed patients about to have surgery about their fear and anxiety and asked if they regularly watched medical TV shows.

Scientists explain why Matt Ryan and Tom Brady are so good

It is the best contest of quarterbacks a Super Bowl has seen in years. Tom Brady, the New England Patriots veteran who has raised the trophy countless times, will face up against Matt Ryan, the less decorated but no less skilled Atlanta Falcons star. Both are 6'4', weighing over 200 pounds. They were the top two quarterbacks for total QBR (quarterback rating) and passing rating (Brady behind Ryan). They also trained at the same exclusive quarterback boot-camp in Los Angeles. And the Atlanta Falcons coach drafted Ryan because he reminded him of Brady. So, what makes them so good? We spoke to diet experts, personal trainers, and neuroscientists to break down their strengths - and challenges - bit by bit. 

A technology company has invented a pacemaker-like device, called vBloc, that alters signals, blocking communication between the stomach and the brain to suppress appetite.

A new University of Florida study has found that people are 10 times more likely to visit the ER following a game day party. But here are some tips and tricks to having a healthy Super Bowl.

A new study from University College London has found that by 'supercharging' antibiotics, they can tear apart and destroy deadly bacteria responsible for superbugs.

BBC's Caroline Wyatt flies to Mexico for an MS operation

Caroline Wyatt (pictured) travelled to a private hospital in Puebla, two hours south of Mexico City, for treatment in January. She returned to London last week and won't know if the treatment was a success for a year. After her treatment (right), Miss Wyatt lost all her hair and felt as 'vulnerable as a newborn'. In the gruelling operation, MS doctors use the patient's healthy stem cells to effectively re-grow their immune system.

Sarah Porter from Maine describes having stroke at age 20

Sarah Porter, from Portland in Maine, was 20 years old, sat in math class, when she suffered her first stroke. At first, she just carried on, scribbling notes to prepare for her finals the next week. But her classmate at the University of Maine looked alarmed. 'I went a bit foggy; I didn't think anything of it, I thought I was a bit tired' Sarah told Daily Mail Online.

A study of 500,000 Chinese people found a 'significant' relationship between number of children and risk of coronary heart disease - the world's leading killer.

Soda consumption among US high school students has dropped by one-third, from 33.8 percent of students drinking the fizzy beverages in 2007 to 20.4 percent in 2015, according to a new CDC report.

Scientists from the University of Helsinki are unsure if there is a safe limit of glycyrrhizin - found in liquorice - for pregnant women due to its harmful effects.

Woman can smile without being scared for the first time

Rebecca Kiernan, 23, from Featherstone, West Yorkshire, was taunted by children at school who named her 'tig beeth' and mocked her speech problems. Her protruding jaw (left) was so severe that she could barely chew - but surgeons managed to correct the problem during a seven-hour operation (right). They implanted four metal plates and 50 screws into her face as they realigned the 11mm gap (pictured in hospital inset). Despite living on liquids for 12 weeks - she said it was all worth it and has even had to apply for a new passport because she looks so different.

But the harm - which could be even worse than second-hand smoke - is completely reversible if the toxic substance is removed, experts from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found.

Midwife and fertility expert Zita West has spent decades helping couples through conception and pregnancy, and Cate Blanchett and Sophie Wessex are among clients who've sought her advice.

Being 'high' off the stimulant causes people to become impatient - possibly explaining why users are more likely to carry an STI, researchers from Johns Hopkins University claim.

Meet the 'butterfly boy' - boy who lives life in bandages

John Dilgen, 14, from Staten New York, was born with a rare skin disorder called epidermolyosis bullosa (EB). It causes the skin to blister and burst, meaning even the slightest touch can make it fall off. Strangers recently pitched in and donated $40,000 to buy John a tub to makes his baths less painful.

New analysis by Cancer Research UK estimates incidences of the disease will rise 3.2 per cent for women until 2035, compared to just 0.5 per cent for men.

A tenth of health trusts, which cover a population of about four million, admitted they were unable to find GPs for overnight or weekend shifts on at least one occasion last year.

Officials will only view the life-changing breast cancer drug palbociclib as cost-effective if its price is cut by 80 per cent, taking it from £2,950 a month to less than £590.

A study found that bacteria thrived on plastic boards overnight but died on wood. The severe dents in a plastic board can also harbour germs. One experts says to use wood for everything except meat.

Although we spend a third of our lives unconscious, scientists have long been baffled by what happens during sleep. But two research papers published today have offered an explanation.

Laundry detergent pods have caused an increase in chemical eye burns among preschool-aged children due to their packaging and candy-like appearance, a new study has warned.

LA mother left paralysed told her pain was from ANXIETY

Genevieve Lopez (left), 34, from Los Angeles, had an eight-foot drop when she misplaced her feet during a hiking trip with her friends in 2015. She immediately developed tingling sensations in her leg and intense pain - but doctors put the latter down to a mental disorder. Sometimes the discomfort would be so much that she couldn't move one side of her body, causing her to seek medical attention. When the pain worsened, a scan eventually showed a large arachnoid cyst (her scar pictured inset) had grown on her spine, leaving her partially paralysed. Surgeons removed it and three of her vertebrae last June (pictured right with her two children), but it was only recently that she was able to take her first steps unaided - despite being left with extensive nerve damage.

The breathalyser, similar to the machines used by cops for roadside alcohol tests, uses sensors to identify biomarkers linked to the virus and indicate if the sufferer has flu or just wants a 'duvet day.'

Scientists at Russia's Higher School of Economics have found evidence to show men with shorter index fingers and longer ring fingers are far more likely to achieve financial success.

New research suggests that over-the-counter painkillers could cause a heart attack - especially when taken during flu and chest infections.

The unidentified 50-year-old patient presented himself to doctors in Pennsylvania earlier this week after suffering from abdominal pain and diarrhoea for months.

Dan Giordano, of Bespoke Treatments Physical Therapy, explains how certain sitting positions and lack of blood flow do far more damage to your body shape than you think.

Liverpool girl almost died after grazing her knee

Abbi Holland (right), from Manchester, was just three-years-old when she fell over in the school playground and scraped her knee. But staff didn't clean the graze properly and, later that night, the youngster became severely unwell with a temperature of 43c. She was immediately rushed to hospital (inset) - which is where she spent the next four months fighting to stay alive. Now seven years old (left), she's recovering after needing life-saving surgery to fix an aortic valve leak which was caused by bacteria entering her cut.

University of Colorado researchers found that a weekend of sleeping under the stars can shift the body's internal body clock by more than 2.5 hours so people begin to feel sleepier earlier.

Mixing numerous medications causes pensioners to become prematurely weak as they affect the body's ability to function, researchers from the American Geriatrics Society found.

In a study on rats by researchers at the Scripps Research Institute, San Diego, the technique was found to encourage them to lower their usage of the deadly drug.

Every five minutes, someone dies of a blood clot or deep vein thrombosis. But what is it and how can it be treated or avoided? Vascular surgeon Mark Whitley explains.

Brave women bare all in a bid to improve their body image

A recent survey found 64 per cent of women were unhappy with their body’s size and shape, and a government-funded study suggested 80 per cent of females over 40 were dissatisfied with their bodies. Pictured (left to right), Susie Mason, a life model who lives in Surrey, Rosamund Barnard, a children’s entertainer from Kent, Yvonne Iles, who is retired and lives in London, Emma Donaldson, a teaching assistant from Leicester, Monica Czyzewska, a model from London, and Maria Madalena, an artist from Wales.

Sleepless nights can bring on asthma in adulthood - more than trebling the risk among chronic insomniacs, according to new research from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.

Public Health England 24 found per cent of people do not know when they should call emergency services. Officials say if anyone is displaying any one of three signs - they should call 999.

Researchers from the George Institute for Global Health in Australia claim the findings highlight the urgent need to look elsewhere for treatments to cure the common cause of pain in adults.

Kathryn Marszalek, five, from Indiana, suffers from a rare genetic condition called AHC. She might be doing homework or playing, but will randomly become paralyzed and unable to move.

Sian Williams reveals tablets she took to ward off bugs

All her life TV presenter Sian Williams has taken vitamin tablets to help ward off bugs and boost her immune system. But after undergoing tests, she learned that the pills had left her with nothing more than 'expensive wee' and produced no health benefits whatsoever. The former BBC Breakfast host (right, pictured with Bill Turnbull) discovered that the vitamins, costing her around £300 a year, were not being absorbed by her body. Miss Williams (left), 52, said she previously regularly took vitamin C if she felt she was getting a cold, as well as an 'immune support' supplement containing vitamin A and vitamin B. But she has dropped the supplements after realising that they were not helping her - and could even have been harmful.

Researchers assessed 200 GP practices in England, tracking 230,500 patients aged 62 to 82 who had visited the doctor at least twice between April 2011 and March 2013.

Scientists measured the air quality on board a ship leaving Marseille and found the concentration of ultra-fine particles was up to 20 times worse than in the city centres of port cities.

Characterised by a high consumption of vegetables and olive oil, Spanish researchers believe the diet - high in fish, olive oil and fruits - stops the attention disorder from manifesting.

Dementia suffering mother forgets who son is

This heart-wrenching video shows a son filming his mother with dementia who forget who he was for the first time. Joey Daley, 45, from Dublin, Ohio, has documented his mother Molly's battle with dementia through a weekly video. Molly was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia at the age of 65. She is now 67 and in a nursing home. She can no longer bathe herself or take her own medication. In the latest footage, he fights back tears as he started asking his mother questions about their family which she could not remember.

Eating a diet rich in vegetable oil could be triggering diseases such as dementia. Nutritionist Dr Catherine Shanahan explains why, and how we can change our diets to avoid further damage.

Sleep expert Sammy Margo has shared the five foods you should eat to rest well, including bananas, almonds and turkey. She has also revealed what you should never have before bed.

Applications for nursing courses have plummeted by almost a quarter in a year after the Government axed bursaries for trainees. Numbers fell by 9,990 to 33,810 in 12 months.

An international team of researchers led by Queen Mary, University of London, analysed the genes of more than 500,000 people to identify the genes that make us little or large.

How to get Emma Stone's body

With stamina and energy needed for her all singing and dancing role in La La Land, Emma has trained with Jason Walsh, founder of Rise Nation, a popular celeb fitness studio. The personal trainer opened his studio last year, and the classes, focused on climbing movement, are popular with Hollywood stars, some of which he has trained one-to-one. His clients include Matt Damon, Jenifer Anniston, and ex-girlfriend Hilary Duff. What are the main principles of healthy living for Jason Walsh? He lets us in on some tips…

Habitual use of electronic cigarettes can increase your risk of heart disease, a new study from UCLA claims. Regular smokers of the products had increased adrenaline levels in the heart.

Susan Johnston, 62, is a health visitor from Weybridge, Surrey. She had 0.75 ml of hyaluronic acid filler injected into each lobe during the procedure.

Following just seven heart-healthy steps could lower your risk of cardiovascular disease and cut healthcare costs in the US by over $41 billion, a report from the University of Alabama says.

EXCLUSIVE: New research, commissioned by Superdrug, shows that 9am on a Sunday is the most popular time of the week for British couples to get busy between the sheets.

Iowa couple overcomes 6 miscarriages and finally have kids

Chad and Stacey Baker, from Des Moines, Iowa, struggled for almost 10 years to have children. The couple suffered six miscarriages and two rounds of cancer that almost killed Chad. But thanks to two surrogates, the couple was finally able to fulfill their dream of having children and are parents to Gavin, 2, and Hadley, 4 months.

The risk of developing depression was found to be higher depending on the number of infections someone had suffered from, researchers from Aarhus University, Denmark, found.

Academics from Queen Mary University of London found that an inherited form of oesophageal cancer, called Tylosis, causes thickening of the palms and soles.

Scientists at Case Western Reserve University's medical school have been granted $2.5 million to try pairing two never-before-combined AIDS treatments in a human clinical trial.

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh found that paracetamol can damage the liver by harming vital structural connections between adjacent cells in the organ.

Vet, 24, 'was dead for 5 MINUTES' after heart attack 

A veterinary nurse was 'dead for five minutes' after suffering a cardiac arrest at the age of just 24. Lora D'Alesio had just arrived home from work with a colleague when she collapsed. With her was revived by paramedics and placed in an induced coma for three days, before spending three weeks in hospital.

In addition to having an excess of saturated fat, it seems America's beloved take-aways may possess other health dangers - after researchers found evidence of toxins in their grease-proof wrappers.

The new study, published in the Neurology medical journal, reveals simply heading the ball is more likely to lead to injury which increase one's risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

Cancer-stricken US doctor's family blocked by travel ban

A US doctor diagnosed with late-stage cancer fears he will not get to see his family - since they are Syrian and barred by President Trump's travel ban. Morhaf Al Achkar, 33, emigrated to the United States from Syria in 2006, before becoming an esteemed primary care physician at Indiana University. In November, he was diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer, which typically carries a life expectancy of four to 10 months.

Being deficient in vitamin E - which is found in nuts - can cause neurological damage to an embryo - which can ultimately lead to the loss of a pregnancy, researchers from Oregon State University found.

The General Medical Council drew up the plans in an attempt to overhaul entry on to the medical register in the UK. It found not all new doctors felt they were prepared to practice after training.

Toxic fumes from cars and power plants are infiltrating brain cells, causing them to swell in response, researchers from the University of Southern California found.

Sex and relationship expert Tracey Cox says knowing the top three places your partner loves to be touched is the only way to be in with a chance of being their best ever lover.

'My GP gave me antidepressants I didn't need for 20 years'

Six years on, Viscount Hinchingbrooke still suffers the effects of his wrongly prescribed medication. Now he is launching a campaign to aid thousands trapped in the same nightmare. 'I have constant nerve pain all over my body, like a burning pins and needles sensation,' he writes. 'I also have tinnitus and can sometimes feel muscles twitching in different parts of my body. I can't have sugar, caffeine or alcohol, as these all intensify the symptoms.'

Research compiled by the National Pen Company has found that your handwriting could be a indicator of your health including problems such as high blood pressure and Alzheimer's disease.

An upcoming paper by the University of Auckland is the first to examine whether something as simple as posture could work for people clinically diagnosed with moderate depression.

British hospitals fail to identify overseas patients or never send them bills, MPs warn in a report. GPs were also found to be doing too little to flag up those who should be charged for care.

Premier League footballer Fabrice Muamba (pictured) collapsed on the pitch in 2012. His heart stopped for 78 minutes and he was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Photographer shares images of mothers nursing toddlers

Photographer Natalie McCain, from Florida, said mothers who nurse their children past infancy, known as extended breastfeeding, are made to feel ashamed. The mother-of-two said she hoped the unretouched photographs, pictured, which show mothers nursing their children over two, would 'normalise' breastfeeding and end the 'taboo' that remains around the topic. She said nursing beyond infancy is both 'natural' and 'beautiful'.

He's known much more for his Tweeting. But it's not too often we get to see a handwritten note by President Donald Trump - and break down what the characteristics say about his personality.

EXCLUSIVE: The rise of supplement taking have grown in recent years. But Rob Hobson, head of nutrition at Healthspan, reveals the questions you need to be asking before you start popping them.

Social isolation can wreak havoc on our cells. Dr Steve Cole of UCLA explains that lonely people are more prone to inflammation and have less activity in genes that fight viral infections.

The Australian author of I Quit Sugar, Sarah Wilson, says getting the day off on the right foot is important, so advises those who are health-conscious to set up a routine.

Bing

Get the Health RSS feed

More RSS feeds...
   

DON'T MISS