Author: David C. Gaze, Senior Lecturer in Chemical Pathology, University of Westminster

ClareM/Shutterstock.com Millions of people have a heart rhythm disorder called atrial fibrillation, which causes the heart’s upper chambers or atria to beat chaotically rather than in a smooth, coordinated rhythm. For many, the symptoms can be mild with palpitations, fatigue or breathlessness, but the greatest danger is something far more serious – a stroke. Tucked […]

A roster of high profile advocates, including sportsmen, actors, two previous prime ministers and over 100 MPs, have recently joined patient groups and charities in calling for a UK national prostate cancer screening programme. However, the UK National Screening Committee (UKNSC) has announced its draft decision to advise the government against routine population screening for […]

Most of us think of orange juice as a simple breakfast habit, something you pour without much thought. Yet scientists are discovering that this everyday drink may be doing far more in the body than quenching thirst. A recent study has shown that regular orange juice consumption can influence the activity of thousands of genes […]

For generations, medicine treated the heart and brain as separate domains. However, a new study suggests the two are more closely connected than we thought, especially as we age. A 25-year study of nearly 6,000 adults found that subtle heart muscle damage in middle age predicts dementia risk decades later. The research, known as the […]