Behind the Headlines

Breast cancer enzyme may slow tumour growth

Friday May 24 2013

"Cancer cell enzymes shown to act as 'good cops'," is the headline on the BBC News website. The BBC reports on laboratory research into an enzyme called MMP-8 and its effects on breast cancer…

Could open plan offices be bad for your health?

Friday May 24 2013

Open plan offices make employees “less productive, less happy, and more likely to get sick” reports the Mail Online website. The article is actually based on a number of studies…

Research could lead to 'universal' flu vaccine

Thursday May 23 2013

“Scientists create new flu vaccine that works against many different strains of the virus,” The Independent reports. This headline, and several others like it, is based on early stage research into the development of alternative flu vaccine technologies…

Do iPads and electric lights disturb sleep?

Thursday May 23 2013

"Terrible night's sleep? Blame your mobile phone" is the advice on the Mail Online website, as "exposure to artificial light 'fools' the brain into staying awake." This – and similar headlines in the Daily Express, The Guardian and Metro…

Cold weather may increase blood pressure

Wednesday May 22 2013

'Bad weather could raise your blood pressure and even kill you,' is the unnecessarily alarmist headline in the Daily Mail. It reports on a large, complex study that looked for any association between changes in weather and blood pressure…

Could a mother's lack of iodine harm her child's IQ?

Wednesday May 22 2013

“Mothers’ diets may harm IQs of two babies in three,” warns The Independent. The newspaper reports on its front page that iodine deficiency is widespread among pregnant women…

Claims vitamin B prevents Alzheimer's are unproven

Tuesday May 21 2013

'Should you be taking vitamin B to protect against Alzheimer's?,' asks the Daily Mail. Its question is prompted by new research into whether a daily dose of vitamin B could reduce the loss of brain tissue in people with mild cognitive impairment…

Sharing a bed with your baby ups risk of cot death

Tuesday May 21 2013

"Bed-sharing 'raises cot death risk fivefold'," BBC News reports. The news has featured in much of the media, with headlines based on a large study that analysed previous studies into the risk of cot death…

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Job stress may raise our 'bad cholesterol' levels

Monday May 20 2013

'A stressful job really can kill you – by raising your cholesterol,' reports the Mail Online website. This headline is based on Spanish research that looked at the relationship between job stress and lipid (fat) levels in the blood of more than 90,000…

Vitamin D may help treat severe asthma

Monday May 20 2013

”Sunshine vitamin 'may treat asthma'”, BBC News informs us, as a new lab-based study suggests vitamin D could help control symptoms of severe asthma. Asthma is caused by inflammation of the airways, related to malfunctioning…