The AnswerBank Articles

Does where you live influence your levels of happiness

asks Jarnorld:A. Yes it does. Ed Diener, a psychologist with a special interest in 'subjective well-being' (happiness to you and me) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, discovered that00:00 Mon 17th Sep 2001

I keep reading that some fats are good for you - which are they

asks mayastar:A. When you're constantly warned about the dangers of eating too much fat, you'd be inclined to think that all fats are bad - they aren't. In fact, you need to have fat in your diet. 00:00 Mon 17th Sep 2001

What causes high blood pressure and what does it do to the body

asks Ksail: A. Your blood pressure depends on how vigorously your heart is pumping blood around your body, and how narrow or relaxed your blood vessels are. High blood pressure - or hypertension -00:00 Mon 17th Sep 2001

Now that more and more women are going to work, are men doing more of the housework

asks Modge:A. Erm, no. The biggest-ever study of male behaviour (carried out by the Office of National Statistics recently) shows that your average male does about as much housework as he did 30 years00:00 Mon 10th Sep 2001

Which is cheaper/more ecologically sound - disposable or washable nappies

asks tonyb:A. Disposable nappies are convenient, quick and easy to use, and they are used by most mothers now. However, updated versions of the old Terry nappies are becoming more and more popular00:00 Mon 10th Sep 2001

What's the problem with having the vaccinations for measles, mumps and rubella separately

asks admason:A. A survey for the Today programme on Radio 4 recently demonstrated that there is still widespread alarm about the triple (MMR) vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella. Two-thirds of00:00 Mon 10th Sep 2001

Is there a new test for prostate cancer - to save going through the other, off-putting one

asks bronskiA. The 'off-putting one' you refer to is the digital rectal examination (DRE). Although it may not be the most agreeable of tests, it's painless and effective. Before it comes to that,00:00 Mon 03rd Sep 2001

What happens to you if you are struck by lightning

asks Bronski:A. Chances are you'll survive. About 20% of all people hit by lightning will die. Men are struck four times more than women. However, this may be because they are more likely to be00:00 Mon 03rd Sep 2001

I've always been very sensitive to criticism, even when it's not directed at me personally - is there any technique for dealing with it

asks rtell:A. Most people feel free to criticise those around them - their friends, family, colleagues, even complete strangers. The amount of harm this criticism can cause depends on your individual00:00 Mon 03rd Sep 2001

Are henna tattoos dangerous

asks Sander: A. Painting henna patterns on the body is a tradition in India, where it is called mehndi, and also in Morocco and Fiji. It became popular in the West after Madonna had her hands00:00 Mon 27th Aug 2001

Is it true that panic attacks are caused by a faulty gene

asks jayne b-t:A. Panic attacks are a reaction to a stressful situation - triggers can be anything from a crowded room to a spider. They can last seconds or up to half an hour. During this time the00:00 Mon 27th Aug 2001

I have a very bloated tummy. What can I do to stop it

asks Stephanie: A. There are many reasons why you could have a bloated tummy. For example, it could be a symptom of a condition, such as an ovarian cyst or fibroids (growths in the uterus) both of00:00 Mon 27th Aug 2001

How can I improve my child's hand-eye co-ordination

asks M Scott: A. There are lots of ways - ball games, building bricks, cutting paper... Ball games are probably a good way to start as they are physical, and inactivity is a growing problem with young00:00 Mon 13th Aug 2001

What's the best way to avoid jet lag

A. Jet lag happens when you travel out of your normal time zone and suddenly it's morning in the middle of what is your night back home, or you have to go to bed when normally you'd be having lunch.00:00 Mon 13th Aug 2001

Do aphrodisiacs work

asks Johnjo: A. There's no evidence that they do work, but that doesn't mean to say they don't. The reputation of, for example, oysters and champagne, is a powerful aphrodisiac in itself. Add a lovely00:00 Mon 13th Aug 2001

Are there exercises specially for toning up your face

Are there exercises specially for toning up your face asks Sporty: A. Yes, there are facial exercise routines which have been specially designed to tone up the face. Q. Why do we need to exercise00:00 Mon 06th Aug 2001

My friend seems to be having a recurrence of temporal lobe epilepsy, but the only symptoms are occasional collapses with an associated muscle weakness. She exhibits none of the other symptoms of TLE - any ideas please

asks Snailspace:A. It sounds like a form of epilepsy called 'atonic' seizures, where all the muscle tone is lost and she simply drops to the ground, but is able to get up straight away. However, a00:00 Mon 06th Aug 2001

I keep hearing about measles parties as a way to immunise your child. Is this a good idea

asks H Gray:A. The 'measles party' originated in the 1950s and 60s as a way to give children immunity from childhood illnesses, such as measles and mumps, which were more serious if caught as adults.00:00 Mon 06th Aug 2001

What is more beneficial to a child - being an easy-going or a very strict parent

asks johnjo:A. Recent research confirms that it's the 'firm but fair' approach that works best. Researchers who are currently following 4,300 young people in Edinburgh as part of a 20-year study for00:00 Mon 30th Jul 2001

What is the best exercise for firming up breasts

asks djtaz:A. Breasts are composed of fatty tissue, not muscle. Their only natural supports are Cooper's ligaments - finger-like ligaments that project horizontally from the breast wall. If stretched00:00 Mon 30th Jul 2001