Health: Vital Signs
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Puppy fat is exactly that
Fat babies rarely turn into fat adults. A US study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that only 8 per cent of obese infants were also obese as adults. By contrast, the study found that children who were obese at 10-14 years had a 75 per cent probability of remaining so in adult life.
Not a fungi to be with
A tonic drink made from mushrooms and on sale in healthfood shops has been associated with toxic side effects by US researchers. Writing in the Journal of Internal Medicine, they describe four cases where people were admitted to hospital after drinking Kombucha tea, which comes from the mushroom of the same name. One woman developed jaundice; another reported dizziness, nausea, vomiting and headaches.
Cancer treatment risks
According to studies by epidemiologists in Europe and the US, of 29,000 testicular cancer survivors, 1,406 developed a second cancer - 1.43 times the expected number. Writing in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, they link second cancers in the stomach and bladder to radiotherapy treatment for testicular cancer, and cases of leukaemia to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. They raise particular concern about cisplatin, a drug in use for testicular cancer, as it persists "in numerous tissues long after treatment is completed." They stress the need to monitor the carconogenic effects of treatment, as a preventive measure.
Cherrill Hicks
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments