In brief: Smoking more risky for women

Smoking is 25pc more likely to give women heart disease than men, a study has found.

Toxic chemicals in tobacco smoke may have a more potent effect on women due to biological differences, scientists believe.

US researchers analysed pooled data on around four million individuals from 86 studies.

The longer a woman smoked, the greater her heart disease risk was compared with that of a man who had smoked for the same length of time, they found.

Dr Rachel Huxley said: "Women might extract a greater quantity of carcinogens and toxic agents from the same number of cigarettes than men."

Deportation appeal fails

The High Court has dismissed a legal challenge brought by a Ghanaian father, who claimed he contracted tuberculosis while in prison, aimed at halting his deportation.

Mr Justice Iarfhlaith O Neill yesterday dismissed an application to have a deportation order against the man judicially reviewed.

Lawyers acting for the man had argued his medical condition would not be properly treated in his native country.

Diabetes peril of daily bacon

Eating rashers for breakfast every day can increase the risk of developing diabetes by more than 50pc, say researchers.

A large-scale study found a "strong association" between the consumption of red meat and Type 2 diabetes, especially when it is processed.

Specifically, a daily 50g serving of processed meat -- equivalent to one sausage or two slices of bacon -- was associated with a 51pc increase in risk. Eating twice that amount of unprocessed red meat led to a 19pc greater likelihood of diabetes.