Health Check - 17/08/2011

UN SUMMIT ON NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

By 2020 it's predicted that 70% of cancers will occur in the developing world and heart disease, stroke, respiratory diseases and diabetes are all on the increase too. In September the UN will hold its first ever high-level summit on non-communicable diseases. But advance talks to agree the outcome of the meeting in one month's time have already broken down. The situation is so serious that an alliance of more than two thousand organisations has written to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to attack the state of the negotiations. Rebecca Perl, Associate Director of the World Lung Foundation talks to Claudia Hammond.

EFFECTS OF SMOKING MORE HARMFUL IN WOMEN

New research published in the Lancet this week shows that for women the harmful effects of smoking are even higher than for men. When it comes to coronary heart disease smoking is 25% more dangerous for women. Rachel Huxley, an epidemiologist at the University of Minnesota in the USA explains possible reasons for the increased risk.

TO NAP OR NOT TO NAP

Is it bad for your sleep at night if you take a quick nap during the day? Professor Matthew Walker, neurologist at University College London explains the power of naps.

MALTREATED CHILDREN AND DEPRESSION

Worldwide, one in ten children is neglected or abused psychologically, physically or sexually. By combining the results of a number of long-term studies researchers have found that not only are these children more likely to suffer from recurrent persistent depression as adults, but they are also less likely to respond to the best treatments. Andrea Danese, clinical lecturer in child and adolescent psychiatry from Kings College London explains.