HEALTH NOTES
FUNDING BOOST FOR LYME DISEASE VACCINE
SCIENTISTS have begun developing a vaccine for lyme disease after a funding boost from the US Department of Defence.
There is currently no vaccine for the disease, which eight people are diagnosed with in the UK every day.
The vaccine will be created by researchers at Baylor College and Texas Children’s Hospital.
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection contracted by bites from ticks that live in grassy and wooded areas. It is hard to diagnose.
The infection causes flu-like symptoms and can be treated with antibiotics.
HOW TO KEEP CHILBLAINS AT BAY
KEEPING your feet warm throughout the winter is the best way to fight against chilblains,” says Tony Gavin, podiatrist and founder of Osgo Healthcare (osgo.co.uk).
“If your feet do get cold, it’s important to warm the foot slowly rather than forcing the temperature to rise too quickly. You can achieve this by wearing a well-fitting full shoe, a thermal insole and natural fibre socks.
“There are also a number of products available from your local pharmacy to help increase the blood flow to the skin.”
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AT NIGHT LINKED TO HEART FAILURE RISK
BLOOD pressure measured at home predicts heart problems better than when it is measured in a clinic, according to a study.
The research from Japan also suggests that nocturnal measurements might be better still. Among 6,000 middle-aged people followed over five years, night-time systolic pressure (the higher of the two figures) was strongly linked to the risk of cardiovascular disease and heart failure. People whose blood pressure was higher during the night than in the day were at greatest risk.