Doctor James Wright - the original TV medic shares the latest health and medical news.

Regular breast screening for women 50 and over has been advised for years. However, a shock report in the British Medidical Journal now says there are dangers seldom explained to women. Repeat screening may in fact cause breast cancer.

If 2,000 women are screened yearly for 10 years, one woman will be saved from death from cancer At the same time,10 health women will develop breast cancer, undergo surgery radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Another 200 women will undergo false alarms with the enormous psychological stress this causes.

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Doctor James Wright - the original TV medic shares the latest health and medical news.

We now have proof laughter reduces stress, relaxes tense blood vessel walls – a common cause of blood pressure, and decreases the bodys stress chemicals.  A new study is published in the “British Medical Journal”. A group of 18 persons were exposed to a very funny film for 30 minutes. The  pulse wave velocity – an indication of arterial stiffness, was measured, and found to relax. The same group, exposed to a very stressful film,   the velocity surged, and body stress hormones also rose.  Indicating laughter is good for you, stress is bad.

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Doctor James Wright - the original TV medic shares the latest health and medical news.

Australia is in the midst of a political storm about taxing alcopops, the popular way teenagers are lured into drinking.

With thousands of lives lost or damaged and billions of dollars wasted every year, the MJA is urging governments to take a hard line, keep the $400-million tax already collected, further increase taxes and run vigorous anti alcohol publicity campaigns.

It has succeeded with tobacco – the same can happen with alcohol, societys worst enemy.

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Doctor James Wright - the original TV medic shares the latest health and medical news.

Vast numbers suffer from chronic cough. At least 15% of people cough for at least half the days in a year.

There are many known issues: smoking heads the list, so stop smoking. Heart and BP medication – ACE inhibitors common cause – change treatment. Often due to undiagnosed asthma (must be treated) Acid inhibitors (goes into oesophagus and lungs) Whooping cough (now common in adults).

All are treatable and fixable.

Go to docwright.com.au for more information and details.