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23/08/2010

Smoking in China, stress and conceiving, mental health problems five years after Hurricane Katrina, strange objects in people鈥檚 airways and an experimental treatment for the eye condition keratoconus.

This week the Chinese Centre for Disease Control released the results of its Global Adult Tobacco Survey, which reveals that more than 300 million people in China smoke. The 大象传媒's reporter in Hong Kong, Angharad Law, went over to Shenzhen in the south of China for the launch of the survey. 聽

New research just published suggests high stress levels may delay women getting pregnant. Researchers measured the levels of two different stress hormones in the saliva of more than 250 women who were trying to conceive. Dr Cecilia Pyper, a researcher at Oxford University, explains what the results revealed.

Five years ago, Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast of the US, killing more than 1,800 people and flooding 80% of the city. In the years since the storm the region has slowly been rebuilt, but for many it is the mental scars which have been hardest to heal. As Laura Sheeter reports, the mental health services in New Orleans were washed away along with everything else, so the city has had to find new ways of helping people.

You might have heard on the news this week about the extraordinary story of Ron Sveden, who feared he had lung cancer, but turned out to have a pea plant growing in his lung. How was this possible? Sherry Myerson, Professor of Thoracic Surgery at the University of Arizona, explains.

A new experimental laser treatment has been developed for keratoconus, an eye condition which can lead to blurred vision in young adulthood and in severe cases vision loss. Claudia Hammond went to the Accuvision clinic in London to meet optometrist Vikash Patel and Hardeep Jhutti, a patient who has just had the treatment. She also spoke to ophthalmologist John Dart at Moorfield鈥檚 Eye Hospital.

Available now

28 minutes

Last on

Sun 29 Aug 2010 21:32GMT

Chapters

  • A new Chinese survey reveals that over a quarter of its population smoke

    Will China ever lower its rates of smoking? The 大象传媒鈥檚 reporter in Hong Kong Angharad Law went over to Shenzhen in the south of China for the launch of the Global Adult Tobacco Survey

    Duration: 05:32

  • Being relaxed may help women get pregnant

    New research just published suggests high stress levels may delay women getting pregnant. Dr Cecilia Pyper, a researcher at Oxford University, tells the 大象传媒 what the results revealed.

    Duration: 05:09

  • Long lasting mental health problems five years after Hurricane Katrina

    In the years since Hurricane Katrina the region has slowly been rebuilt, but for many it is the mental scars which have been hardest to heal. Laura Sheeter reports from New Orleans

    Duration: 06:51

  • Strange objects which have turned up in people鈥檚 airways

    The extraordinary story of Ron Sveden, who had a pea plant growing in his lung. Health Check spoke to Sherry Myerson, Professor of Thoracic Surgery to find out how this could happen

    Duration: 03:08

  • A new experimental treatment for Keratoconus

    A new laser treatment has been developed for Keratoconus, an eye condition which can lead to blurred vision in young adulthood and in severe cases vision loss. Claudia Hammond reports from London

    Duration: 04:58

Broadcasts

  • Mon 23 Aug 2010 09:32GMT
  • Mon 23 Aug 2010 14:32GMT
  • Mon 23 Aug 2010 19:32GMT
  • Tue 24 Aug 2010 00:32GMT
  • Sun 29 Aug 2010 21:32GMT

Podcast