(January 14, 2009 - Insidermedicine) From the UK - According to research in the journal Personality and Individual Differences, high caffeine intake may increase the chance of experiencing hallucinations. In a study of over 200 university students, researchers found that having the equivalent of 8 or more cups of coffee a day resulted in a 3 times higher risk of hallucinations, such as hearing voices. While hallucinations are often symptoms of schizophrenia, they can also occur in healthy individuals.

From Boston - According to research in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, women with cardiac symptoms are more likely to experience delays on the trip to the hospital than men. In a retrospective study of over 5,800 patients, researchers found that women were 52% more likely to be delayed 15 minutes past the median time of 34 minutes in EMS care. The researchers suggest that differences in symptom presentation between men and women may be the cause.

And finally, back to the UK - According to research in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, smoking during pregnancy may cause potentially harmful changes in thyroid function. In a study of over 2,300 pregnant women, researchers found that smokers experienced changes in thyroid hormone levels. These changes were also detected in the newborns of these women. The thyroid hormone levels among women who quit smoking during pregnancy were comparable to those of nonsmokers.

For Insidermedicine in 60, I'm Dr. Susan Sharma.