talkhealth Blog

Every week, talkhealth round up the top news stories on the world of health from across the web and condense them into one bitesize read. This week, we’re looking at some new advancements in the understanding of cancer, diet and alcohol research and we take a look at whether “Night Owls” really are at risk of an early death.

New research about cancer

A recent report from male cancer charity, Orchid, has found that 4 out of 10 prostate cancers in the UK are diagnosed late.

The research found that a worrying 37% of all prostate cancers were identified at stages 3 and 4. As with all cancers, the earlier a diagnosis is made the more treatable it is. These statistics shine an alarming light on the current state of prostate cancer awareness in the UK. In comparison, in the US where prostate cancer has a higher profile, only 8% of diagnoses are made at these later stages. On the day this report was released, the government announced a £75-million five-year funding pack for research into prostate cancer, to help combat the condition. As prostate cancer has now overtaken breast cancer, in terms of death figures, more research into the condition is extremely important.

In further cancer news, there has been ground-breaking news around cancer severity and why some cancers are deadlier than others. The study centred around kidney cancer and tracked the development and mutation of cancers through sophisticated genetic work. As more work is done, it is hoped that eventually it will be possible to predict the development of a cancer and treat it quickly and more effectively by providing personalised treatment.

Health news on alcohol and processed food

In the world of food and drink, a new study has found that excessive drinking is not only harmful to your overall health, it can also take years off your life. The study of over 600,000 drinkers concluded that those who regularly drunk between 10 to 15 alcoholic drinks a week could see their lives cut short by as much as two years.

Alongside this, there was some insight into some of the UK’s most popular processed foods, with some rather shocking findings. Eating well and drinking in moderation are extremely important to an individual’s health, so ensuring that you know what you are putting into your body should always be of the upmost importance.

If you have any hints or tips of healthy eating, and drinking in moderation, head to our forums on men’s health, women’s health or weight.

Are night owls at risk?

Finally, there were worrying reports about the link between being a “night owl” and an earlier death, when compared to “early birds”. However, when the research was examined from Behind the Headlines (NHS Choices), it was found that the study doesn’t show a causation factor between the two. “Night Owls” had a tendency to have a less healthy diet and take more risks, which obviously would have an impact on life expectancy.

As the explanation from Behind the Headlines notes, if you’re a “Night owl” there’s no need to worry. As long as you maintain a healthy diet and get sufficient sleep, you should be fine. And, if you do struggle to get a good night’s sleep, here’s some tips to improve your sleep.

That’s it for this week. If you want to continue the conversation about any of these subjects, head over to our forums and get involved!

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talkhealth

This is the talkhealth blog spot, where we post on a wide range of health conditions, topics, issues and concerns. We post when we see something that we believe is of interest to our visitors. Our posts do not reflect any particular view or standpoint of talkhealth, but are merely to raise attention and awareness.