Researchers argue that social media restrictions should be viewed as part of a complex system rather than isolated policies. They suggest using systems mapping to anticipate effects and design more balanced approaches, considering factors such as school engagement, social connections, and industry responses.
Researchers analyzed data from over 500,000 births in Scotland to examine the effects of epidural analgesia on newborn health. The study found no association between epidural use and serious neurological conditions, sepsis, or cerebral palsy in childhood.
Data shows Black doctors are up to 30 times less likely to be offered medical training posts, with some specialties seeing a gap of over 100-to-1, while Asian applicants face similar challenges. The findings highlight ongoing barriers faced by ethnic minorities in the UK health service.
Higher cultural engagement is associated with lower physiological ageing and improved health markers. Adults who participate in frequent cultural activities have a younger physiological age, suggesting that cultural engagement can help support healthy ageing.
A study found that children born during the first COVID-19 lockdown in England had lower executive function skills, including difficulty focusing and regulating emotions. Overall language scores were at or above expected levels, but expressive language skills were below average.
Pedestrian deaths in New York State show that nearly half involved substance use, leading researchers to call for more public health messaging on walking while under the influence. Substance use is particularly concerning when combined with alcohol, increasing cognitive impairment and neurocognitive deficits.
New analysis reveals that most obesity medications do not meaningfully improve quality of life, cardiovascular health, or reduce mortality risk. However, some emerging drugs like tirzepatide and subcutaneous semaglutide show potential benefits in weight loss and reduced heart failure risk.
A study of over 3 million NHS births found that one-size-fits-all charts often misclassify babies, leading to missed cases and unnecessary interventions. Customized GROW charts provide more accurate data, improving safety for mothers and babies.
A pooled data analysis of 44 countries reveals that early menopause is more prevalent in rural areas, but education and delayed childbearing minimize the risk. The overall prevalence was 7% among women aged 30-49, with the highest rates found in Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Myanmar.
Rates of diagnosis after emergency admission are even higher among women who are young, old, frail, or live in areas of deprivation, findings indicate. Ovarian cancer is the eighth most common female cancer worldwide, taking over 200,000 lives every year.
The NHS will divert £45bn from other services to pay for new medicines under the UK-US trade deal. This could increase excess preventable deaths by 229,000 by 2036, mainly due to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and cancer. The government has committed to more than doubling spending on new medicines.
A Danish study found a small increased short-term risk of blood clots among inpatients at psychiatric hospitals who underwent mechanical restraint. The absolute risk remains low, but the findings support ongoing efforts to reduce the use and duration of mechanical restraint where feasible.
A new study found that Australia's Social Media Minimum Age Act has little effect on reducing teen social media use, with many under 16s using platforms despite age restrictions. The study also showed that many teens are actively circumventing age verification checks.
An analysis of family court proceedings found that first-time mothers who faced care proceedings were 21 times more likely to die within 10 years. Most of these deaths (73%) were preventable and related to suicide, homicide, drugs/alcohol, or unintentional injury.
A large study found that hourly movement breaks of just 5 minutes each are the most effective balance between feasibility and effectiveness in mitigating sedentary harms. The breaks significantly improved mood and reduced fatigue, with no impact on work performance.
Using a massage gun on or around the eyes can cause major tearing and bruising to the retina, warns a recent case report. The device's rising popularity highlights the need for clearer manufacturer guidelines and standardised use instructions to prevent such injuries.
A large Danish study found that bending forwards and walking a lot at work during early pregnancy may increase the risk of miscarriage. The study associated each additional hour of forward bending with a 36% higher risk, while walking was linked to an 18% higher risk.
A clinical trial found that low-dose atropine eye drops are safe and effective in reducing myopia progression in UK children. The treatment led to a small decrease in refractive error and eye growth compared to placebo.
Airborne levels of formaldehyde regularly exceed EU limits in 70% of NHS pathology departments, with poor monitoring and control contributing to the risk. The researchers call for national regulatory intervention to protect NHS employees' health, citing increased risks of respiratory and reproductive problems, as well as cancers.
A study of 80 concussed teens found that moderate screen time in the first 3 days after a concussion is linked to faster recovery. The researchers analyzed data and found that an average of 141 minutes of daily screen time sped up symptom resolution by 35%. Balanced use, rather than total avoidance, may be helpful for concussion recovery.
Research synthesis reveals consistent biomarker increases and minor ventricular function changes after marathon running, varying by age, sex, and training level. However, the clinical relevance of these changes remains unclear, warranting further study to determine physiological responses versus long-term adaptations.
Despite overall declines in child mortality, progress has stalled, particularly among newborns and children under 5, who face major causes like preterm birth complications and pneumonia. Renewed commitment and investment are crucial to prevent an unfolding tragedy and meet international child survival targets.
Eight healthcare peers urge MPs to support urgent law reform on assisted dying, citing risks to dying people and public trust. The Bill aligns with best practices from overseas, including assessing capacity, informed consent, and safeguards.
A 30-year study found that 90-120 weekly minutes of strength training significantly lowers the risk of death from cardiovascular and neurological diseases, with added benefits from aerobic exercise. The researchers suggest different amounts of resistance training may be needed to optimize benefits across outcomes.
Analysis of medical records data found that GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs, used for diabetes and weight loss, are associated with a significantly lower risk of knee replacement surgery. The greatest effects were seen with sustained use and newer agents semaglutide and tirzepatide.
The first national audit of advanced heart failure referrals reveals significant gaps in access to life-prolonging therapies, particularly for women. Women represent just 1 in 3 referrals, despite comparable disease burden.
A combination of guava juice and iron supplements is more effective than iron supplements alone in boosting haemoglobin levels, according to a meta-analysis. The study found that regular guava juice consumption can help lower the risk of anaemia in women, particularly those with low vitamin C intake.
The BMJ argues that healthcare has lost its human, moral, and relational foundations. Experts say reconnecting with these values is crucial for improving patient outcomes and staff well-being. By prioritizing kindness, compassion, and leadership, healthcare can rebalance its focus from technical power to individualized care.
A systematic review of 69 trials involving over 153,000 adults found that calcium, vitamin D, or combined supplements have little to no effect on fracture prevention. The findings suggest that routine supplementation may not be necessary, and instead focus should be on interventions like balance and resistance exercise.
Adults should aim for 560-610 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise a week to achieve significant cardiovascular risk reduction. Current guidelines are too low, and individuals with lower fitness levels need more exercise to achieve equivalent benefits.
Patients with breast cancer and low vitamin D levels experienced moderate to severe postoperative pain, while those with sufficient vitamin D levels reported less pain. Vitamin D deficiency was also associated with increased opioid consumption and nausea.
The total cost of emergency admissions for mental health among children and young people in England rose from £22.5 million to £87.3 million between 2012/13 and 2021/22, driven by increases in admission rates and lengths of stay. Eating disorders and self-harm were the two most costly conditions, with over 80% of total mental health co...
A new trial from China finds that giving tranexamic acid to women with placenta praevia undergoing caesarean birth leads to a significant reduction in severe bleeding after delivery. The treatment also showed no evidence of an increase in serious adverse events.
A new UK drug approval pathway is expected to benefit the pharmaceutical industry while prioritizing earlier revenue over patient needs. The pathway, which aligns regulatory review by the MHRA with NICE's health technology appraisal process, has raised concerns about its impact on population health and NHS resources.
Aerobic exercise consistently demonstrates robust reductions in ambulatory blood pressure, while combined exercise and HIIT show promising results. The findings suggest that resistance training should be viewed as a complementary strategy to lower high blood pressure.
A study found associations between mothers' occupations held before conception and ASD diagnosis in offspring, particularly in ground transportation, public administration, and military jobs. The researchers suggest that exposure to toxins and combustion products, as well as high stress at work, may contribute to neurodevelopmental risk.
Researchers estimate that between 3000-3700 cases of avoidable healthcare-associated harm occur every year in English prisons. The study found that prisoners are 41-67 times more likely to experience such harms due to poor healthcare compared to the general public.
A higher dietary intake of soy and legumes is associated with a lower risk of high blood pressure. The optimal daily amount may be around 170g of legumes, which include peas, lentils, chickpeas, and beans, and 60-80g of soy foods.
A systematic review of 59 studies found no association between aluminium-adjuvanted vaccines and serious or long-term health outcomes, including autism, type 1 diabetes, asthma, and myalgia. Persistent nodules or granulomas at the injection site were the most consistently documented reactions.
A large South Korean study found no increased risk of psychiatric or neurodevelopmental disorders in children whose mothers used sedative drugs during pregnancy. The study, published by the BMJ Group, tracked nearly 3.8 million children and analyzed data from the National Health Information Database.
A new non-invasive brain stimulation technique called accelerated continuous theta burst stimulation (a-cTBS) has been shown to improve social communication in children with autism. The study found significant improvements in social communication and language abilities in the a-cTBS group compared to the sham group.
Cancer cases are on the rise among younger adults in England, with a significant increase in bowel and ovarian cancer rates. The study found that excess weight is a key contributor, but it's unlikely to fully explain this trend, as trends in risk factors such as smoking and diet have been stable or improving over the past decade.
An AI model called REDMOD can pick up the very early subtle tissue changes of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, which conventional imaging and the human eye find difficult to detect. The model detected 'invisible' signature of pre-clinical pancreatic cancer an average of 475 days before clinical diagnosis.
A Swedish study found that children adopted into families with better home environments showed improved adult psychosocial outcomes, including lower criminal convictions and higher educational achievements. The benefits also extended into the next generation, with offspring displaying modestly higher psychosocial functioning.
In England, 13,386 patients waited at least three days for A&E treatment in 2025, with numbers spending a whole day in emergency departments increasing by a third since 2023. The prolonged waits are causing harm to patients nationwide, with some saying they'd rather die at home.
Doctors should exercise caution when commenting on public figures' mental health, as diagnoses require direct assessment. The BMJ opinion article explores ethical tensions and the importance of professional standards in such cases.
A comprehensive analysis of UK suicide data from 2019-2024 found a significant rise in cases involving sodium nitrite poisoning, predominantly affecting Gen Z and Millennials. The study highlights the need for urgent action to restrict access to this preservative and provide antidotes to mitigate its effects.
In an analysis of child and teen fatalities from 2019 to 2024, the average age of young fatal stab victims is now 14, with Black ethnicity individuals being 13 times more likely to be fatally stabbed. Children living in the most deprived areas are 7 times more likely to die of their wounds than those in affluent areas.
The FDA is reviewing a petition to revoke the approval of Roche's top-selling drug ocrelizumab for treating primary progressive multiple sclerosis in women due to concerns over its lack of effectiveness and potential increased risk of breast cancer. The investigation highlights internal FDA warnings about the drug's safety and effectiv...
Researchers found that extending vaccination opportunities, involving community members, and providing financial incentives are effective ways to increase vaccine uptake. The study analyzed international trial evidence and highlighted the most effective components across different populations and contexts.