Mental Health in the News

Researchers have developed a test "that could spot a curable cause of high blood pressure in thousands of people", the Daily Mirror has reported. According to the newspaper, up to 5% of high blood pressure cases could be due to Conn's syndrome, where benign tumours on the adrenal glands affect the body's hormone levels. The adrenal glands are located above the kidneys. When correctly identified, these tumours can be removed, returning a person's blood pressure to normal levels.

The Daily Mail has claimed that sheds "could help men live longer." The newspaper adds that the "therapeutic effects of pottering around relieves stress, which lowers blood pressure and even boosts self-esteem".

"Pregnant women are putting themselves and their unborn babies in danger by drinking coffee from high street chains," reported the Daily Express. Other newspapers reported the wide range of caffeine levels in espresso shots from different coffee outlets.

"UK experts call for universal HIV testing in a bid to reduce infections," BBC News has said. This widely reported news is based on recommendations in the Health Protection Agency's (HPA) annual report on HIV in the UK. The HPA says that the number of people living with HIV has reached an estimated 91,500, but more than 21,000 of these people may not know that they have the infection. It wants everyone who attends a sexual health clinic to be tested to reduce the number of people who are unaware that they have HIV.

"Fish could protect against Alzheimer's," reported The Daily Telegraph. Several newspapers said that people who eat baked or grilled fish once a week are up to five times less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease.