Health

Indoor pollution is driving an epidemic of asthma and lung diseases in the US and the UK, experts have warned.  Outdoor air pollution is known to be a killer, accounting for 200,000 premature deaths a year in the United States and 40,000 in the United Kingdom. But experts warn we have turned a blind eye to the damaging impact of poor air in the home.

David Carmichael (left), 59, killed his son Ian, 11, (right and inset) during a psychotic episode. A judge ruled he was ‘not criminally responsible on account of a mental disorder’. David has always believed that his psychosis was caused by a type of antidepressant known as a selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI). But it has not yet been proven that SSRIs were to blame.

Rhys Pritchard (right and inset), from Cardiff, had his eyes blister and fill with liquid after he fell over in his garden and bumped his head. Doctors were able to stitch up the cut and sent the toddler home, but hours later the wound became infected and he was unable to open his eye. His mother, Keisha (left), 32, rushed him back to hospital where he was diagnosed with necrotising fasciitis - a serious infection that ravages tissue. Thankfully, doctors were able to spot the bug, which can cause death and even result in the loss of limbs, before it was too late.

Stu Bonsall (pictured right), 45, from Burnley, Lancashire, is urging other parents to trust their instincts, even if they might 'look an idiot' for doing so. Due to his quick thinking, Megan was diagnosed with sepsis at just four weeks old (left). She responded well to treatment and is now a happy, healthy one-year-old (right).

Lisa Kenny (inset before the accident), from Newcastle, was kneeling on the floor getting her belongings out of a locker at work when the large can fell on her head. At first she thought little of it, but the pain gradually spread to her neck, back, arms and legs - stopping her from walking. As well as being reliant on a wheelchair (left), it caused the former administrator anxiety, depression and forced her to retire. She was diagnosed with fibromyalgia - a long-term condition that causes pain all over the body. Doctors said it was sparked by her neck jolting when she was struck by the can The freak accident 'changed everything' in her life, stopping her from attending her beloved Zumba classes. But, on the slow road to recovery, she is now able to walk (right) for the first time in two and a half years and is even able to run in short bursts.

His hairstyle might not be the most popular. But Donald Trump's infamous mane makes him appear more attractive, powerful and successful than his balding peers. That's the conclusion of research by Harley Street hair-loss clinic DHI London, who say attitudes to male pattern baldness haven't changed, even though it affects 85 percent of men by the age of fifty. In a survey, people were asked whether they thought Emmanuel Macron (left), Donald Trump (center), Prince Harry (right) and others looked better with or without hair. Overwhelmingly, they said with hair.

Ria Sharma was moved to help victims after shooting a documentary in India. The 21-year-old Leeds College of Arts graduate started Make Love not Scars. It provides education, job prospects and medical and legal advice for victims. Ms Sharma says it's no longer just young women targeted in vicious attacks. She says babies, elderly and animals are increasingly being attacked.

Carly Pink-O'Sullivan (pictured), 30, from Perth, Australia, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes after a backpacking trip across China, Nepal and Europe. She thought her symptoms - which included hair loss, extreme hunger, needing to drink 12 litres of water a day, numb toes and sweating - were due to her walking for more than eight hours a day and swimming in the sea.

An American baby born three months premature during his parents' 'babymoon' in Mexico has finally arrived back to the states after being 'held hostage'. Larry Ralph and Michaela Smith, who were due October 15, arrived in Cancun last week for a short getaway. On Tuesday July 18, Michaela started to feel sick, and they went to the emergency room to make sure she and the baby were safe.

Despite having met only eight years ago, the bond that 51-year-old Paul Rogers, from Hertfordshire, has forged with retired boat-builder Brett Dingwall is stronger than a lifetime of shared experiences. Just over ten years ago Brett, now 67, was given the devastating news that he had life-threatening acute myeloid leukaemia, a type of blood cancer. His last chance of survival was a stem-cell transplant – but he needed to find a donor with matching tissue type.

Cancer patients' gray hair unexpectedly turned dark while taking new immunotherapy drugs, a new study reveals. While chemotherapy is notorious for making hair fall out, the 14 patients involved in this report were all being treated with a new form of drugs called immunotherapy, which work differently and have different side effects. In patients with lung cancer, Spanish researchers found the drugs had a knack for turning gray hair brown.  

Former ballet dancer and mother-of-two Courtney Wyckoff has been through it, and has since curated a mom-friendly way to ease back into pre-pregnancy workouts. A lot of post-pregnancy health, Wyckoff, founder of 'Momma Strong', argues, is strengthening your pelvic floor, correcting your posture and focusing on deep breathing. While most doctor advise that women who have just given birth give their bodies at least six weeks to heal before they hit the gym, Wyckoff said there's a lot you can do in that time to begin to prepare your body. She claims her workouts can work for anyone, from celebrities like Beyonce, to athletes like Serena Williams, to people who hate exercising.

Jaili Lamb's (left and right), 2, from Pike County, Arkansas, hair constantly stands on end due to 'uncombable hair syndrome' - a condition that is rumored to have also affected Albert Einstein (inset). Her mother Sara Lamb, 29, said: 'She looks like a dandelion. She has a quirky personality and her hair is an extension of that.'

Sarah Pickles (left), 35, from Winsford, Cheshire, gave birth to son Monty despite being told she could not conceive again after her aggressive chemotherapy. Ms Pickles was determined not to lose her battle with cancer (right) and dreamed of adding to her family. She found out she was pregnant (inset) after complaining of back pain to her nurse.

Abhishek Prasad (left), 37, was given the instrument during the the complex operation at Bhagwan Mahaveer Jain Hospital, Bangalore (right), to treat a rare neurological disorder. Before the operation, the musician had cramp in fingers on one hand that had stopped him from playing the guitar properly. The incredible seven-hour long procedure, which completely cured him of his problem, was captured on footage. Surgeons drilled into his skull and attached an electrode that allowed them to pinpoint the part of his brain affected.

Marc and Amy Young, from Rishton in Lancashire, took their ten-month-old Eliza Jane (left) to Malta at the end of May. Within hours of arriving, Eliza was rushed to hospital (right) where she was diagnosed with streptococcus pneumococcal meningitis; a serious bacterial form of the infection that can cause death even with treatment.

EXCLUSIVE: The widely criticised contestant, Olivia, told her partner on last night's episode to 'man up' after he became emotional over their plastic baby. Social media was ablaze with viewers declaring their adoration for the 22-year-old, from Cheltenham, for having to wipe away his tears. His motorsport girlfriend said being upset was the wrong example to set their baby boy. But such comments are fueling the taboo that 'big boys don't cry' and could potentially drive male suicide rates up, experts warn. Some 2.4 million viewers tuned in to ITV2 to see the Islanders take part the challenge to play parents, which has since attracted huge backlash. (pictured: the couple during last night's episode)

Ethan Kranig (pictured center in both photos), 9, of Prescott, Wisconsin, has a rare cleft disorder that makes him unable to cry or sweat, caused by a gene mutation during conception that only happens in one in 10 million people. Ethan was diagnosed with ectrodactyly ectodermal dysplasia-cleft syndrome (EEC) at his birth, a disorder which affects only about 500 families in the world. EEC syndrome is a rare form of ectodermal dysplasia, characterized by clefts to different parts of the body, missing fingers and toes, missing or complete lack of teeth, missing tear ducts, and inability to sweat. Though the symptoms are severe, and will affect day-to-day life, it does not impact life span or an individual's spirit. Ethan's mom, Natalie (pictured far left and far right) said his older brother Wyatt (pictured two from the right) has been a big part in helping him to feel like a normal nine-year-old.

Jayde Greene (left), 27, from Leytonstone, east London, is expected to develop Alzheimer's symptoms when her now one-year-old son Freddie (right) is as young as 15. She worries Freddie may also one day develop the condition or have to cope with her illness like Ms Greene did when her father and uncle became unwell.

Lily Mackey from Marietta in Ohio, has a condition where any friction causes her skin to blister, leaving her with open wounds that could cause deadly infections. She is now receiving a new treatment that dampens her immune system and leaves her more vulnerable to infections.

Robbie Williams has revealed he is suffering from Nocturnal Sleep-related Eating Disorder [NS-RED] – a condition which means he eats in the middle of the night, unaware he is doing so. The former Take That star admits he struggles to control his weight due to his nightly fridge-raids which see him ‘not eating kale, but sugar’.

Joey Daley (pictured right), from Dublin, Ohio, began chronicling his mother's battle with dementia in January, and said he hopes the videos will help others whose parents are suffering. His story went viral after he shared a video of the first time his mother forgot who he was (the heartbreaking scene is in the main image). Molly (top left in 2010, and bottom left in 2017), now 66, was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia (LBD) in 2015, when she began having trouble with simple tasks such as paying bills, driving and made the call to quit her job. LBD is the second most common form of degenerative dementia after Alzheimer's. But unlike Alzheimer's, LBD affects brain regions responsible for vision, as opposed to memory. That means sufferers may start with memory loss, but over time more debilitating symptoms are things like powerful hallucinations, nightmares and spatial-awareness problems. It affects more than 1.4 million Americans.

Amy and Ben Wright, from North Carolina, admit they were scared of raising their two youngest kids Beau, 13, and Bitty, seven, with Down syndrome. Despite their fears, their early years have been incredible. The real challenge comes next. As their children age, Amy and Ben began to worry about their future. People with intellectual and development disabilities – such as Down syndrome, autism, and fetal alcohol syndrome – have an unemployment rate of 85 percent in the US. Now, they have opened a cafe staffed by people with disabilities in a bid to dispel the stigma around disabled people in the workplace. Pictured: Bitty and Beau (right), learning to work (bottom right), and with their mom in the cafe in Wilmington (left).

In 2015, Kirsty Simmons, from Sydney, tipped the scales at 114 kilograms (left and second from left). The 30-year-old had struggled with her weight her entire life and had tried everything to shift it - from fad diets to exercise. But after making the decision to overhaul her diet, lifestyle and priorities in February, 2015, Kirsty was able to shed 60 kilograms in 12 months and is now at her goal weight of 54 kilograms (right and second from right). Here, she shares how she did it with FEMAIL.

EXCLUSIVE: 10-week-old Daisy is battling for breath and needs surgery to fix her heart. Mother Donna Spittles, from Queensland, has spoken of her regret at passing on her genetic disorder. She unknowingly passed genetic condition on to son David, now 5, but then she and her husband Aidan decided to take the risk and have another baby.

Jesse Langford-Daley (top inset), from Watton, Norfolk, who'd been battling a rare peach-sized brain tumour since he was 10 months, stole the show when his parents Anneka and Michelle (right and bottom inset) tied the knot. The tiny cancer patient had been allowed out of hospital for the day, so he could play his part at the wedding - even passing over the rings to the happy couple. But during the morning of June 18, Jesse died in his parents' arms - just three months after driving his red car with go faster stripes and personalised number plate (left). The news followed a devastating scan result a week earlier, which showed additional tumours in his brain, causing unbearable pressure and pain for him.

A mother with ovarian cancer has sold everything she owns to fund potentially life-saving treatment (shown right) that is not available on the NHS. Lisa Harris, 46, raised £30,000 by selling her house, £5,000 from her car and £10,000 from auctioning all of her possessions. The former carer was also able to release £27,000 from her pension to pay for immunotherapy treatment in Germany. But she now has nothing left, prompting her daughter Lori (pictured left and inset) to fundraise online so they can pay for more treatment. Miss Harris, from Gateshead, was diagnosed with stage-four ovarian cancer in 2015. Her daughter claims that she was diagnosed late because doctors had initially thought she was suffering from irritable bowel syndrome. She was given intensive chemotherapy as well as a hysterectomy and went into remission.

'Clean eating' hides being the notion of being healthy, but excluding whole food groups from your diet is anything but, writes Dr Max Pemberton. At best, clean eating is nonsense dressed up as health advice. At worst, it is embraced by those with underlying psychological difficulties and used to justify an increasingly restrictive diet — with potentially life-threatening results. Ella Woodward (left), who extolled the virtues of ‘clean eating’ before distancing herself from the movement, sold 300,000 copies of her book Deliciously Ella. The Hemsley sisters (right), Jasmine and Melissa, who wrote The Art of Eating Well despite holding no formal qualifications in diet, nutrition or cookery, were given their own Channel 4 show. While not directly responsible for encouraging eating disorders, they epitomised the modern trend for charismatic gurus to play on their looks and life stories to influence their audience and make them buy into their food philosophy.

Senator John McCain was hospitalized Friday after a routine physical discovered a blood clot just behind his left eye.  The 80-year-old Arizona politician had a 5cm clot removed via a minimally invasive craniotomy with an eyebrow incision. Though the surgery itself was not considered to be too intrusive, McCain's medical history, recent and bouts of melanoma suggests that the clot could be the sign of a much more serious problem. Additionally, after the Senator's confused questioning of ex-FBI head James Comey in June, a number of people have expressed concern for McCain's mental health and are wondering if the clot could have been affecting him in that way.   

Emma Edwards' (left), 21, daughter Karmen was left with a one-and-a-half-inch scar between her eye and her ear (right) after she was delivered by C-section. Her family claim they were kept in the dark about investigations into the incident. Yet an NHS Highland spokesperson says the family were keep up-to-date on the investigation's progress. Karmen has since made a full recovery after her traumatic C-section delivery (inset).

Seven months after the life-threatening operation, two-year-old twins Erika and Eva Sandoval are flourishing in Antelope, California. One day, they probably won't remember they were conjoined. The girls underwent surgery on December 6 in Palo Alto, California, to untangle their digestive system, a uterus, a liver, a bladder, a pelvis, and a third leg. Before, Erika was almost half the size of Eva, as doctors feared Eva was absorbing most of their nutrients. Now, Eva weights 20lbs while Erika weighs 19lbs 8oz. Eva has a large intestine, a small intestine and a colon. Erika has a small intestine but no more in her digestive tract. It is not clear how doctors separated the uterus. They have one leg each, and have learned to move themselves around using wheelchairs. Within a year, doctors believe they will be able to stand and walk with a crutch. Pictured: Erika and Eva (right) last week, before their operation (top left), and during their surgery (bottom left).