Which of these pictures can trigger a MIGRAINE?
Test your memory of last year’s most fascinating health stories
HOW much attention did you pay to last year’s medical news? Put yourself to the test with our quiz, compiled by HELEN FOSTER — it could give you some ideas for a healthier 2018. Give yourself a point for each correct answer, and see how you rate at the end.
1. Which spread did researchers at the University of York suggest might help brain function? A) Jam B) Peanut butter C) Marmite
ANSWER: C.
In a study, people who were given a teaspoon of Marmite every day for a month used 30 per cent less energy while thinking than a control group given a teaspoon of peanut butter.
The theory is that vitamin B12 in Marmite increases levels of a brain chemical called GaBa, which regulates the activity of brain cells to help the brain work efficiently.
Peanut butter lovers shouldn’t despair, though — a U.S. study linked it to a lower risk of stomach cancer. It is thought compounds called polyphenols in the nuts protect against the disease. Jam’s high sugar content means it has few, if any health benefits.
2. The appendix, rather than being a redundant organ, was found to play an important role in what?
A) Making red blood cells B) Storing gut bacteria C) Breaking down fibre
ANSWER: B.
a STUdy at Midwestern University in the U.S. found that mammals with an appendix have higher levels of tissue that stimulates the growth of beneficial gut bacteria.
‘If you have an appendix you may recover more quickly when you get sick, especially if the illness is gastrointestinal,’ says Professor Heather Smith, who led the research.
However, when the appendix is removed it is usually to avoid the risk of it bursting and spilling infectious bacteria into the abdominal cavity, which can lead to peritonitis, a serious inflammation of the abdominal lining.
In this case, it’s better out than in.
3. A surprising trigger for migraines and epilepsy was highlighted — what was it?
A) Pink flowers B) Zebras C) Ginger cats
ANSWER: B.
ReSeaRCHeRS at the University Medical Centre, Utrecht, in the netherlands, found that looking at pictures of black and white striped objects such as zebras can trigger migraines and seizures in sensitive people.
This type of pattern causes large numbers of the brain’s neurons to fire at the same time, which can lead to seizures and migraines, says Professor arnold Wilkins, a psychologist at the University of essex.
Covering one eye or putting on dark glasses when you see a trigger may help prevent an attack.
4. According to the University of Nottingham, what can make the flu jab more effective?
A) Lifting your arm afterwards B) Drinking coffee C) Doing something that puts you in a good mood
ANSWER: C.
PeoPle in a good mood on the day they had their flu jab had a more powerful immune response to the vaccination — meaning greater protection from the virus.
The researchers measured how many antibodies — proteins that fight off bacteria and viruses — the recipient created after the jab and asked how they felt on the day.
There are two theories as to why this may be: ‘either positive mood can reduce the release of hormones such as cortisol that negatively affect the immune system, or people with positive moods may engage in healthier behaviours in general to boost the immune system,’ says Kavita Vedhara, a professor of health psychology, who led the research.
5. Which exercise can help stop snoring, regardless of whether it leads to weight loss?
A) Sit-ups B) Calf raises C) Bicep curls
ANSWER: B.
THe theory is that snoring is caused by fluid that builds up in the legs during the day because we sit for long periods.
‘When we lie down to sleep, this fluid redistributes to other parts of the body, including the throat, and the narrowing this causes will lead to snoring,’ explains Professor Bhajan Singh of the University of Western australia.
His study found that working the calf throughout the day by walking and doing calf raises reduces fluid build-up in the legs — potentially reducing snoring.
6. Which blood type is associated with the lowest risk of impotence?
A) Type A B) Type B C) Type O
ANSWER: C.
ReSeaRCH from ordu University in Turkey found that men with type o (the most common type) were four times less likely to experience impotence than those with type a, B or aB. exactly why isn’t known.
Something about type o blood may actively protect the vascular system; or there may be a compound in a, B or aB blood that damages the arteries and so restricts blood flow to the penis, leading to erectile dysfunction.
7. What do women do/ experience twice as often as men each day?
A) Blink B) Take a step C) Heartbeats
ANSWER: a.
WoMen are prone to drier eyes, especially as they age, because oestrogen levels decline and the hormone is needed to stimulate production of eye lubricants. an Italian study found that women blink twice as often as men.
not only that, but female hearts beat between 78 and 82 times a minute, compared with 70 to 72 beats on average for men — this is thought to be because women’s hearts are smaller, so they must beat more to make up for it.
Women take, on average, 4,908 steps a day, men 5,982.
8. What health problem can be worsened if you don’t shower before you swim?
A) Athlete’s foot B) Conjunctivitis C) Asthma
ANSWER: C.
SHoWeRInG before you swim is not just a question of hygiene.
dr James Hull, a consultant respiratory physician at the Royal Brompton Hospital in london, says ‘chlorinated environments can make people feel as if they are having difficulty breathing’.
It’s not the chemical itself that causes the problem but by-products formed when chlorine reacts with substances on the skin, such as sweat or bacteria. Showering before you swim prevents this reaction by washing these substances away.
9. What treatment is showing results for eczema and inflammatory bowel disease?
A) Swallowing worm eggs B) Snake venom cream C) Leeches on the skin
ANSWER: a.
WoRM therapy, as it’s known, hasn’t been proven by any large placebo- controlled trials, but companies pioneering it say it can help. a U.S. trial on 54 patients with ulcerative colitis, a form of inflammatory bowel disease, saw a 43 per cent improvement in symptoms after worm treatment; a second small trial showed positive effects in Crohn’s disease.
The theory is it works because our bodies mount an immune response to the worms; this prevents the immune system mounting an over-vigorous response against our own bodies, as is thought to happen in conditions such as ulcerative colitis.
10. Lack of vitamin D leads to what odd symptom?
A) Bright yellow urine B) Slow walking speed C) Loss of sense of smell
ANSWER: B.
WHen we are low in vitamin d our muscle strength declines and a knock- on effect can be slower walking, say researchers at the University of angers, in France.
We make most of our vitamin d from sunlight, so in winter many of us have low levels. eating oily fish or taking a daily 10mcg supplement may help.
an excess of B vitamins can make your urine very yellow, while too much zinc can lead to a temporary loss of smell.