Our round-up of health news headlines on Friday 12 August.
Forget about rioters, the Daily Telegraph warns of another invasion hitting the streets of the UK - bugs. The number of patients being taken to NHS hospitals because of bedbugs, fleas and mosquito bites has risen by a fifth. Over 3,600 people were bitten in 2010-2011, a 19% rise from the previous year.
Using tanning beds can be as addictive as drugs or alcohol, with users exhibiting similar brain changes and behaviour, according to the Daily Express. Researchers found that users were spurred on by a neurological 'reward-and-reinforcement' trigger, which may be why they still use tanning beds, despite the increased risk of melanoma.
The Daily Mail says that middle-aged women who take antidepressants could be nearly 40% more likely to have a stroke. However, scientists said that it was unclear whether it was the medication or other factors linked to depression that raised the risk.
Scientists have invented a 'temporary tattoo' that could be used to monitor a person's heart rate, body temperature and muscle movements, according to the Independent. The ultra-thin, virtually undetectable and flexible electronic circuit could be stuck to the skin like a temporary tattoo, and performs just as well as more conventional electronic machines, but without the need for wires or bulky power supplies.
