
Contraceptive ‘mini pill' linked to asthma attacks in younger women
The progesterone-only contraceptive pill may be linked to a higher risk of potentially life-threatening asthma attacks in younger women, research has suggested.
Researchers from Imperial College London have found that women taking the so-called 'mini pill' had a 39 per cent increased risk of asthma attacks compared with women who had never taken the contraceptive.
The mini-pill is a once-daily contraceptive pill taken by approximately 3.1 million women in Britain each year.
• Why are so many women turning away from the pill?
The research could provide an answer as to why women have a higher rate of severe asthma compared with men, the researchers said.
Chloe Bloom, a clinical senior lecturer in respiratory epidemiology at the National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London,
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Independent
11 minutes ago
- The Independent
Glastonbury festival-goers warned over surge in highly infectious measles cases
Glastonbury festival-goers have been urged to check they are vaccinated for measles amid an increasing number of outbreaks of the highly infectious disease. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has warned that measles is 'circulating across the country and festivals are the perfect place for measles to spread'. There are 'ongoing outbreaks' of measles in a number of regions across England and in London, according to the UKHSA's June update. Cases have mainly been in unvaccinated children aged 10 years and under, however, there are reported cases in young people and adults. Glastonbury festival gets underway on 25th June and attracts families as well as other music fans. Dr Alasdair Wood, consultant in health protection at UKHSA South West told ITV: 'We want festival-goers to enjoy their time at Glastonbury and other festivals this year. 'Being aware of the current health risks will help those attending enjoy their time, as much as possible. 'Measles is circulating across the country, and festivals are the perfect place for measles to spread. If you're not fully vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella, please contact your GP to see if you can get an appointment before coming to the festival'. Dr Wood said the agency was also seeing an increase in cases of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), particularly affecting young people. He urged people to get tested early to detect any potential infections early. Measles cases are on the rise worldwide, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) reporting 127,350 cases in Europe in 2024. This was double the number of cases reported in 2023, and the highest number since 1997. Outbreaks have already been seen this year in France, Italy, Spain and Germany, with the UKHSA urging people to get vaccinated before they travel abroad. In England, there has been a decline in the uptake of childhood vaccinations, leaving many thousands of children unprotected. Dr Vanessa Saliba, consultant epidemiologist at the UKHSA, said: 'Measles spreads very easily and can be a nasty disease, leading to complications like ear and chest infections and inflammation of the brain with some children tragically ending up in hospital and suffering life-long consequences.' Glastonbury festival has sold a 'few thousand less tickets' this year in a bid to avoid overcrowding, organiser Emily Eavis revealed this week.


BBC News
20 minutes ago
- BBC News
Hartlepool woman tells of endometriosis struggles to help others
A mother has spoken of her struggles with endometriosis as part of her work to raise awareness and support others with the Ray, 34 and from Hartlepool, was diagnosed in 2021 while she was being treated for a hernia, having suffered monthly pain for gave up her job working for a council in January and now runs a support group for women in the north-east of condition was not spoken about enough, she said, and called for more training for health professionals. It is estimated endometriosis affects 1.5 million women in the UK and can cause chronic pain, heavy periods and extreme condition occurs when cells similar to those in the lining of the womb grow in other parts of the body like the pelvis, bladder and bowel. 'Struggling to survive' Mrs Ray said: "I was in pain all the time, all month long. Every day is just pain, it affects my life."I had to leave my job in January, because I was struggling at one point to survive."She said a lack of awareness meant girls thought "it's a part of life, being in pain and it's not normal".She said she would like to see more training "around what's normal and what isn't" and for doctors to know the warning signs."A lot of GPs are quite dismissive and I think that is what needs to change," she said, "as well as educating young women." The support group, which is supported by the charity Endometriosis UK, runs weekly sessions in attendee is Katherine Elliot, 50, who found the group on Facebook having looked for support for Elliot was diagnosed with endometriosis in 2018 and said despite being a nurse, she had not thought the pain she was suffering was said: "I started to experience symptoms in my late teens whilst I studying at university. I had no knowledge of what endometriosis was, in my mind I expected that it was cancer. "I had an ultrasound and nothing was cancerous. My GP mentioned endometriosis but only in passing. I was put on birth control and that was that."She said it was not until she went back to another GP a few years later over the pain that endometriosis was flagged "in the first few minutes"."If it wasn't for that female GP, I probably would have walked away as I thought it would have been nothing," she said. 'No one symptom' Doctors say being aware of the symptoms of endometriosis is the first step to Dr Pinky Khatri, at Middlesbrough's James Cook University Hospital, said some people felt pain on and off throughout the month, often when going to the some cases there could be was "no one symptom" of endometriosis, she said, but "the more symptoms which are described, the more likelihood" there was of having the condition. Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.


The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Do vitamin gummies actually work and should you give them to your kids? We grilled experts and tested them to find out
THEY'RE sweet, brightly-coloured and come in every shape going - from teddy bears to stars and berries. But do vitamin gummies really do anything? Or are they just another gimmicky wellness product? 10 Vitamin supplements have been around for decades, and the chewable kinds have been on pharmacy and supermarket shelves since the 1990s. They promise to give us more energy, better sleep, thicker hair, healthier skin, stronger nails, improved digestion and boosted immunity. Thanks to TikTok trends and influencer shoutouts, these daily chews have become must-have accessories. And brands are seriously cashing in - the UK vitamins and supplements market is said to be worth £520million. Celebs are also jumping on the gummy train, with many coming out with their own lines. Kourtney Kardashian, for example, created lemme gummies, which are advertised as doing everything from reducing stress to promoting vaginal freshness. And obviously you can't talk about supplements without naming wellness queen Gwyneth Paltrow, who has her own gummies through Goop. With such big-name backing, it's easy to forget boring old pills and assume gummies are the glam way to stay healthy - but is this backed by science? Do we really need to take vitamin supplements? TWO thirds of people in the UK take some kind of vitamin, mineral or supplement every day, according to Mintel. 'But a lot of people take these, especially multivitamins, when they don't actually need to,' Bahee Van de Bor, registered paediatric dietitian, tells Sun Health. 'The only exception is vitamin D, which is recommended for most people in the UK. 'If you're concerned there might be gaps in you or your child's diet, it's always worth looking at how your food choices could be improved first, ideally with the support of a registered dietitian.' Dr Rachel Ward, NHS GP (@drrachelwardGP), adds: 'The best way to get the vitamins we need is through a healthy, balanced diet and this would always be the way I would advise people to stay well. 'However, if you feel this is not possible - if you're excluding certain foods, for example - then supplements can be helpful. 'An exception is vitamin D. We get very little of it in our diets and we produce most of it in our skin when it is exposed to sunlight. 'We know that, especially in winter, many people in the UK become deficient in vitamin D and the NHS recommends that everyone takes supplements during autumn and winter and those at risk take them all year round.' 10 Do vitamin gummies work? 'AS long as the gummies provide the correct dose and the manufacturer routinely tests their levels, they can be just as effective as a vitamin or mineral supplement in powder, spray or liquid form,' Bahee says. 'Gummies are often developed for children with sensory feeding difficulties or picky eaters, who may be more likely to accept them over other formats. 'If a supplement is genuinely needed, tablets or capsules are often preferable as they tend to contain fewer flavourings and other extras. 'Gummies, by design, usually require more ingredients like sugars, flavourings, gelling agents, and sometimes emulsifiers to achieve their chewy texture and appealing taste. 'I don't take gummies myself — I prefer a tablet or spray that I can swallow. 'These formats often contain fewer added ingredients, though checking the label for specifics is always important.' How to choose a healthy supplement ONE of the biggest questions you might have is about sugar and artificial sweeteners. These gummies must contain more sugar than a pill, but is it something to be worried about? According to Bahee, context is everything. It's not just about what's in the gummy, but how often you're taking it and what your overall diet looks like. 'That said, if a gummy is the only form you or your child will consistently take, the good news is that the amount of additives, like emulsifiers, is generally very small,' she says. 'There have been some studies in animals suggesting that high, repeated intake of certain emulsifiers, such as polysorbate 80 and carboxymethylcellulose, may alter gut bacteria or trigger inflammation in the gut. 'But these were at much higher doses than you'd find in a typical supplement, and we don't yet have strong evidence that this is a concern for humans at normal intake levels.' Dr Ward adds: 'Vitamin gummies are very varied in the supplements they contain and the added sugar and colourings and so on. 'Therefore buy them from a reputable pharmacy, who can advise which is best for your needs. 'Always opt for the low sugar version, especially for children.' The top 10 vitamins and minerals Vitamin A - for vision and immune health in children and adults over 50+. B vitamins - for red blood cell formation, neurological function, and DNA synthesis. Vitamin C - for the immune system, collagen production, and antioxidant function. Vitamin D - for bone health, immune function, and calcium absorption. Vitamin E - to protect cells from damage and support immune function. Calcium - for bone health and muscle contraction. Zinc - for immune function, supports wound healing and DNA synthesis. Iron - for red blood cells and oxygen transport in the body. Magnesium - for muscle function, bone health, and energy production. Potassium - to regulate fluid balance, nerve signals, and muscle contractions. My test I'VE always been a die hard vitamin pill taker. Even when I was a kid, my parents would give me the edible teddy bear vitamins which, let's be honest, tasted like chalk. So I was keen to try something a bit tastier — enter gummies. Vitamin gummies are all over my 'for you' page, as I'm sure they are for everyone on #WellnessTok, and I've been dying to try them. When I was thinking about what vitamin gummies to choose from, there were a number of key factors. I wanted something that would: Taste great Benefit my needs as a woman And not break the bank! Because of course, we'd all love to try the Kardashian gummies, but at $30 per bottle it's not the right option for everyone! After a little web browsing, I chose the Nutriburst Women's Multivitamin - a seemingly good all-rounder. They're vegan, sugar free, gluten free, halal certified, kosher permitted, and have no artificial flavours or colours - so basically tick all the boxes! These gummies promise to boost energy, fight fatigue, support a woman's hormonal balance, strengthen bones and boost immunity. A lot of promises for a tiny little chew! Once I got my hands on a bottle (for £12.99 on Amazon), I could see exactly what's inside. 10 Stand out qualities for me? Alongside the usual vitamins and minerals, the gummies contain biotin and vitamin B12, both of which I usually have to take separately, even when using a multivitamin pill so that was a major win for me. However, I did notice they didn't contain any vitamin D - as experts suggest - so it meant I still had to buy vitamin D tablets, which was a shame. Other than the absolutely aesthetic bottle, my first thoughts were: these taste great! I've had candy gummies in the past (not vitamin ones) and these taste even better than those. Move over Haribo, I'll have a Nutriburst gummy. The texture is good and they're not too sweet. You need to have two per day, and I'd happily have more. My verdict PERHAPS surprisingly, I did notice some health benefits. The best for me was sleeping better. I slept like a baby and definitely had more energy! I definitely fell asleep faster, which is something I usually struggle with. I also had more energy to exercise during the day. It was easier to get myself up and about - for swimming in particular - which can sometimes feel like a chore. But I can't promise that wouldn't have happened with a vitamin pill, which feels like it can be better value for money — and like I'm having unnecessary sweets all day (sorry, teeth). Either way though, I think I'm going to stick with taking some kind of vitamin, especially vitamin D! 10 The nasty ingredients hiding in supplements Supplements can help us reach vitamin and mineral recommendations. But Dr Carol Granger, a registered nutrition practitioner with a degree in biochemistry and a masters in microbiology, warns of many additions to supplements, medications and foods that could cause side effects, and suggests doing your research before buying commercial pills. She tells Sun Health: 'Ingredients like talc, E numbers, and gelatin are all used as bulking agents or as colourings and they can have serious long-term health impacts like heartburn, dizziness, fainting and severe allergic reactions." Here are the worst culprits: Magnesium stearate Unlike the name suggests, this ingredient contains no magnesium (which may help with sleep, anxiety and bone health). Dr Granger says: 'This is used as a lubricant - it prevents ingredients sticking together and means the machines that make the tablets don't block.' But she warns that 'high amounts can cause a laxative effect and it can cause inflammation too, especially in those who are sensitive to allergies'. It's unlikely the small amount found in supplements is enough to do harm, but it may be worth reconsidering if you have been taking it for a long time. Ascorbyl Palmitate Ascorbyl palmitate is a form of vitamin C made by combining ascorbic and palmitic acids. It's considered safe in the amounts that are used when added to skincare. Dr Granger says: 'This is used as an antioxidant food additive and preservative meaning things with it in can have a longer use by date.' But she claims 'excess amounts can cause nausea, diarrhoea, and vomiting'. Aspartame You'll may be familiar with aspartame, which is a sugar-alternative often used in things like soft drinks, sweetened diet products or other 'low/no sugar' foods. Dr Granger says: 'This is a sweetener a lot of people have heard of. 'It's a flavour enhancer but because it's an artificial sweetener, it has been linked to weight gain.' Studies have found both that sweeteners like aspartame help people lose weight, but also gain weight by potentially increasing appetite. Several studies have linked high intakes to more serious health problems such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and dementia but there has been much debate about the results. But Dr Granger claims: 'It can affect metabolism so if you see it on any ingredient list, my advice would be to give it a wide berth.' Carrageenans Carrageenan is an ingredient that has long had concern surrounding it. Products with it may be labelled as 'natural' because it is derived from seaweed, therefore it is also found in some plant-based/vegan foods. But Dr Granger says: 'The processing used to make some types of carrageenan makes it into something you definitely don't want to consume. 'They're widely used as gelling agent and thickener. They can be used to prevent powder clumping so may be in powder supplements you add to smoothies. 'But some cause inflammation, are really bad for digestive health and have been linked to ulcers too. 'Some can also destabilise blood sugar and cause problems with blood sugar balance.' Calcium Phosphate Calcium phosphate is a mineral (calcium and phosphate) which are essential for bone, muscle, blood and nerve health. Some may benefit from additional calcium, such as menopausal women with weakening bones. But calcium phosphate is also used as an additive to products, from supplements to toothpaste and fertilizers. Dr Granger says: 'This is used to bulk out and buffer ingredients like vitamin C. 'Side effects can include kidney problems, loss of appetite and weakness.'