International health news

Half of adults and a quarter of children consume artificial sweeteners every day, according to the Journal of Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Several reports have concluded that artificial sweeteners are linked to higher blood pressure and a higher BMI, conditions that can increase the chance of Type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance.

Scientists have claimed that a third of dementia cases could be prevented by taking some simple steps in life, such as continuing education past the age of 15. Also, treating hearing loss in middle age, enhancing social contact and treating depression can help to prevent the disease.

A new study has suggested that taking antidepressants during pregnancy increases the risk of autism. The prevalence of autism is 45% higher amongst children whose moms took antidepressants during pregnancy than those born to depressed mothers who didn’t take medication.

Country updates

Research by doctors in Britain has found that alcohol misuse will cause almost 63,000 deaths in the UK over the next 5 years. The Alcohol Research Group predicts that 32,475 of the deaths will be the result of liver cancer and the remainder will be caused by alcoholic liver disease. These numbers are shocking – if nothing changes, 35 people per day will die from alcohol abuse.

According to a study undertaken to highlight the risks of not vaccinating children against measles, there has been a 5 percent decline in measles vaccination rates. This means that the number of children contracting measles in the US could triple.

Health advice

A new study suggests that combining sugary soda with your burger makes your body store more unused fat. . People who drink sugary soda use less energy and burned less energy from their food, suggesting that it is better to eat a burger with a sugar-free beverage.

Having a dog is beneficial for your happiness and activity, a report by the University of East Anglia and the Center for Diet and Activity Research has shown. It also reduces the risk of asthma in children and is linked to having lower blood pressure. In addition to this, dog owners take 2,760 more steps per day on average compared to non-owners.