Our round-up of the health headlines on Tuesday 2 August.
The Guardian reports that ‘Most eight-month-old babies consume too much salt', according to a study by University of Bristol researchers. They found that 70% were consuming more than the recommended amount of salt and some up to double the advised level, with bread, cows milk and tinned pasta the main culprits.
Imagine being able to hear your eyeballs? The Metro tells the story of Stephen Mabbutt, who over 6 years, could hear sounds such as chewing, talking and even his eyeballs moving so loudly that it was driving him to distraction. A CT scan found perforations inside his ear and he was diagnosed with superior canal dehiscence syndrome (SCDS).
The BBC went onto explain that the ‘operation to cure the problem involved a 5cm (2in) incision behind the ear, making a channel through the bone to find the balance organ and using the patient's own bone to create a seal around the defect.' So there you go.
The Daily Mail tells the story of Elsie Campbell who ate four whole lettuces a day, without realising something might be up. Fortunately her husband solved the mystery and consequently saved her life. He worked out that lettuce contains a nutrient missing in breast cancer sufferers. Elsie was then diagnosed with breast cancer but caught it early, and has now been given the all clear. Mr Campbell has gone on to create a website that he says can help identify if users are suffering from a nutrient deficiency caused by something more serious.
Those of you who have just returned from your holidays will probably confirm this story in the Daily Telegraph today. Researchers have found the benefits of holidays fade after two weeks, leaving workers ‘just as tired as they were before they jetted off'. Although it may sound as if there is no point going away at all, but if we didn't escape the stresses would accumulate.
In fact researcher Jessica de Bloom, at the Radboud University in Netherlands has a very appealing solution: ‘The fact that the after-effects are short-lived only emphasises that we should go on a vacation more frequently in order to keep our levels of health and well-being high'.
Did you hear that? Go on holiday more frequently! Yes!
