Young people who vape more likely to report chronic stress

Milan, Italy: Young people who have used e-cigarettes are more than twice as likely to report experiencing chronic stress, according to research presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress in Milan, Italy [1]. The study was presented by Dr Teresa To, a senior scientist at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto, Canada. […]

Genetic evidence shows that smoking can cause us to age faster

Milan, Italy: A study of nearly 500,000 people has shown that smoking shortens the end fragments of chromosomes in the white blood cells of our immune systems. The length of these end fragments, called telomeres, is an indicator of how quickly we age and our cells’ ability to repair and regenerate. In her presentation to […]

City living raises the risk of respiratory infections in babies and young children

Research also shows day care, damp homes and traffic pollution are risk factors. Milan, Italy: Young children growing up in towns and cities suffer from more respiratory infections than those who grow up in the countryside, according to research presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress in Milan, Italy [1]. A second study, presented […]

Treatment for dangerous snoring prevents deaths from heart disease

A small patient trial also suggests CPAP may be more effective than a weight-loss drug in tackling clogged arteries.  Milan, Italy: People suffering with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) can reduce their risk of dying from cardiovascular disease if they use a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine at night, according to research presented at the […]

Healthy guts containing diverse and mature bacteria are linked to less allergy-related wheezing and asthma in early childhood

Milan, Italy: Babies and young children with more mature communities of bacteria present in their gut are less likely to develop allergy-related wheezing or asthma, according to research presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress in Milan, Italy [1]. These communities of bacteria, known as microbiota, develop in the human body during the early […]

Colour of phlegm can predict outcomes for patients with the lung disease, bronchiectasis

Milan, Italy: The colour of the phlegm from patients with the lung disease bronchiectasis can indicate the degree of inflammation in their lungs and predict their future outcomes, according to new research presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress in Milan, Italy [1]. The study of nearly 20,000 patients from 31 countries is the […]

Mums exposed to air pollution give birth to smaller babies, but living in a greener area may mitigate the risks

Milan, Italy: Women exposed to air pollution give birth to smaller babies, according to research that will be presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress in Milan, Italy [1]. The research also shows that women living in greener areas give birth to bigger babies and this may help counteract the effects of pollution. There […]

Treating high risk heart patients with immediate double cholesterol-lowering therapy could save thousands of lives each year

Patients who have suffered a heart attack should immediately be offered a combination of cholesterol lowering drugs with statins and ezetimibe, according to research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association [1]. The study showed that people with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), which includes those who have experienced a heart attack or unstable […]

People with lung conditions face extra risks from climate change

Respiratory experts call for lower limits on air pollution People living with lung conditions, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), face even greater risks from climate change, according to an expert report published  in the European Respiratory Journal [1]. The report brings together evidence on how the effects of climate change, such […]

Treatment for problematic snoring can also reduce night-time heartburn and respiratory symptoms

A treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) can also reduce night-time heartburn, coughing and wheezing according to a study published in ERJ Open Research [1]. People with OSA often snore loudly, their breathing starts and stops during the night, and they may wake up several times. Not only does this cause tiredness, but it can […]