HEALTH notes
DEMENTIA ‘BIGGEST FEAR’
DEMENTIA is the biggest concern among over-55s, with more than half fearing they will develop it.
Nine in ten dreaded old age, a quarter lost sleep over money, and similar numbers worried about ending up in a care home, research by Mintel found. The market analyst’s Jack Duckett said fear of dementia posed a “real risk” for public health.
He added: “It could mean people delay seeking a diagnosis should they be concerned they are experiencing symptoms.”
JUNK FOOD CANCER RISK
WOMEN who eat junk food but are not overweight are still increasing their risk of cancer, a study has found.
Previous research said the chances of getting the disease went up because processed foods, such as burgers and pizza, made people obese.
But a new study found such high-energy, low-nutrient foods contributed to a 10% higher risk of developing cancer in women even if they were of normal weight.
The study looked at 90,000 postmenopausal women in the US, assessing their diet and any cancer diagnosis. The study focused on high “dietary energy density” (or DED) foods, such as biscuits and confectionery. The more calories per gram of weight a food has, the higher its DED.
Prof Cynthia Thomson, of the University of Arizona, said: “Among normal-weight women a higher DED may be a contributing factor for obesity-related cancers.”
A possible explanation for the study was that women who ate higher DED foods would be more likely to smoke and less likely to have active lifestyles.
An estimated 30% of cancers could be prevented through changes in diet.
THROMBOSIS AWARENESS
AROUND one in every 1,000 people is affected by venous thrombosis in the UK each year. One in three surgical patients can develop a DVT if no preventive measures are taken.
Of all the preventable causes of hospital deaths, Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is the most common. Thrombosis UK, thrombosisuk, org, is dedicated to promoting awareness, research and care of thrombosis.