Inquiry says Iraq war had no mandate

"An inquiry into the Netherlands' support for the invasion of Iraq says it was not justified by UN resolutions. The Dutch Committee of Inquiry on Iraq said UN Security Council resolutions did not "constitute a mandate for... intervention in 2003". The inquiry was launched after foreign ministry memos were leaked that cast doubt on the legal basis for the war. The Netherlands gave political support to the 2003 invasion of Iraq, but has denied having any military role. The report demolishes the Dutch case for supporting the invasion, says the BBC's Europe correspondent Jonny Dymond. It could also be taken to reinforce the international case against the Iraq war, he says."
Read full article on the BBC News website (UK)

Surgical Stockings Do Not Help Stroke Patients to Avoid Blood Clots

BBC News reports that around two thirds of stroke patients are unable to walk on admission to hospital and approximately 15% develop blood clots because of this lack of movement.

A large Lancet study, by the University of Edinburgh, involved over 2,500 stroke patients in the UK, Italy and Australia. They were divided into two groups. All received routine care, including aspirin and assisted exercise, but half were offered surgical stockings as well.

After 30 days there was no significant difference in the blood clot rate in the two groups but the group given stockings experienced more skin breaks, ulcers and blisters than those without.

Researcher Professor Martin Dennis said: "We have shown conclusively that compression stockings do not work for stroke patients.

"The national guidelines need to be revised and we need further research to establish effective treatments for these patients.

"Abandoning this ineffective and sometimes uncomfortable treatment will free up valuable resources in our health services."

If you cut down on salt and salty food you will reduce your risk of stroke and many other health problems.

Lose weight, reduce your risk of most cancers, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, heart attack, vascular dementia, stroke, osteopenia, osteoporosis, hypercholesterolaemia, depression, liver and kidney problems, and improve your health in many other ways without drugs, hunger or expense by eating less salt! - Try it!

See my website www.wildeaboutsteroids.co.uk
The site does not sell anything and has no banners or sponsors or adverts - just helpful information.

Read my Mensa article on Obesity and the Salt Connection

Sodium in foods

Why mobile phones may hurt backs.

Why mobile phones may hurt backs
article on the BBC news website. - The article is from 5 years ago, but I've only just come across it.

Extracts:

"People who chat on their mobile phone while walking could be hurting their back, according to a study. Scientists at Australia's University of Queensland say it's all down to the way we breathe."

"Dr Matthew Bennett, a spokesman for the British Chiropractic Association, welcomed the study.

"This is completely surprising," he told BBC News Online. "This is totally new research.

"It shows that we really shouldn't be talking and walking at the same time. Talking appears to disrupt our ability to walk efficiently.

"This is something we will now have to add to our list. People with bad backs should watch the way they bend to pick things up, shouldn't sit for too long and now it would seem shouldn't talk with someone they are walking with.

"This is particularly important for mobile phone users. We already know that holding a phone to your ear for long periods is bad for you, because it can increase tension across the shoulder and cause pain." "