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The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has warned people that their insurance could be invalidated if they lie to get cheaper premiums.

"People are increasingly putting their insurance cover at risk by cheating to get a better deal," the organisation told its members.

The ABI claimed that there is an increasing trend of people committing front-line fraud in order to reduce their premiums on everything from car insurance to life insurance.

Common deceptions include fronting, which is when people add themselves on to their parents’ motor insurance despite being the main user of their car, and underestimating tobacco and alcohol consumption when applying for life insurance.

Nick Starling, the ABI’s Director of General Insurance and Health, stated: "Honesty is the only policy."

"Cheating to get cheaper insurance puts your cover in jeopardy, with potentially disastrous consequences," he added.

In related news, new rules on alcohol consumption from insurance companies could push up the cost of premiums for even moderate drinkers, claims the ABI.

The Insurance Helpline specialises in obtaining cover for people living with alcohol and drug addiction.

Smokers are at a significantly increased risk of developing bowel cancer, according to a review of numerous studies.

After comparing studies of more than 40,000 bowel cancer patients, researchers at the European Institute of Oncology in Milan identified a link between smoking and the onset of the condition.

The team stated that smoking "significantly" increased the risk of contracting this form of the disease.

Furthermore, the bigger a smoker’s habit, the more likelihood there is of dying from the disease.

Ed Yong, of the charity Cancer Research UK, said: "The list of cancers caused by smoking - already very long - has just become a bit longer."

Around 100 people in the UK are diagnosed with bowel cancer every day.

In related news, a recent study conducted by the World Cancer Research Fund suggested that just one pint of beer can significantly increase the risk of developing liver and bowel cancer.

The Insurance Helpline specialises in obtaining cover for people living with cancer

Around 20 per cent of people carry a gene variant which raises the risk of high blood pressure, according to a new study.

New research at the University of Maryland School of Medicine examined the genetic coding of hundreds of people across the United States and Europe, reports the BBC.

Those people found to be carrying the STK39 gene variant were found to have raised blood pressure – or hypertension – compared to those carrying different versions.

Several genes have been studied for possible links to hypertension, but STK39 has been pinpointed as the most commonly occurring in those with the condition.

It is believed that one in people from western countries have high blood pressure, which often goes undiagnosed.

Dr Yen-Pei Christy Chang, one of the researchers, said: "This discovery has great potential for enhancing our ability to tailor treatments to the individual - what we call personalised medicine."

In other health news, a new vaccine that can prevent asthma-like symptoms has recently been developed.

The Insurance Helpline specialises in obtaining cover for people living with health conditions

One pint of beer can significantly increase the risk of developing liver and bowel cancer, new research has suggested.

According to a study conducted by the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) , two units of alcohol a day raises the risk of bowel cancer by 18 per cent , while the likelihood of liver cancer is increased by a fifth.

This unit measurement is equivalent to one pint of beer or a large measure of wine or spirits.

Dr Rachel Thompson, of the WCRF, said: "It might not seem like a lot but it is clear that small amounts of alcohol can make a significant difference."

According to the group, alcohol can also increase the risk of other forms of the disease, such as breast, mouth and throat cancer.
The Department of Health said: "This study appears consistent with known estimated risks."

Elsewhere, a recent study by Japanese scientists claimed drinking one cup of coffee a day could half the risk of developing mouth cancer.

The Insurance Helpline specialises in obtaining cover for people living with cancer

Obesity surgery for overweight patients in Yorkshire is set to increase by 40 per cent, it has emerged.

NHS chiefs will boost such operations to nearly 900 in 2009-10 amid fears over rising levels of obesity in the region, reports the Yorkshire Post.

According to new figures, obesity levels have almost doubled in the last 14 years, with Yorkshire having the highest proportion of overweight people in the UK.

Some 71 per cent of men in and 62 per cent of women in Yorkshire were overweight or obese in 2007.

A large-scale government-backed programme is set to be launched in the New Year which will target lifestyle-related health problems including poor diet and lack of exercise.

The recent EarlyBird Diabetes study suggested that childhood obesity is determined before the age of five.

David Haslam, of the National Obesity Forum, noted that it is "never too early" to step in to prevent the onset of the condition.

The Insurance Helpline specialises in obtaining cover for people living with obesity

Decisions on funding for kidney cancer patients are under review after a study highlighted inconsistencies in prescriptions across Wales.

The medical director of NHS Wales has asserted that some areas approve the vast amount of requests for Sutent, while other regions hardly grant any.

Of 73 requests for the medication, 48 were rejected, however in Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend, every patient who was recommended the drug by their consultants received it.

However, it was a different situation in Cardiff and Swansea, where one and zero patients were given the drug respectively.

Health Minister Edwina Hart has ordered a clinical audit of each case to ensure consistent criteria were applied.

Earlier this week, it was reported by the Times that scientists at the British Sanger Institute have begun a new study of cancer that will "mix and match" tumours with drugs to develop personalised therapies for patients.

The Insurance Helpline specialises in obtaining cover for people living with cancer

The condition known as lymphedema is more common in obese women than those of normal weight, according to new research.

Characterised by a painful swelling of the arm or shoulder area, it often develops after breast surgery which involves the removal or damage to the lymph nodes in the armpit.

A recent study of 193 breast cancer survivors at the University of Missouri-Columbia indicated that women who were overweight or obese were at a 40 to 60 per cent higher risk of developing the condition.

Writing in the Journal of Lymphoedema, Dr Jane M Armer and colleagues noted that approximately two-thirds of cancer survivors are at risk of developing the condition in the 30-month period following surgery.

"Lymphedema has a profound impact on health and well-being, but often goes undiagnosed and untreated by physicians and patients," Dr Armer said.

Elsewhere, a study recently conducted by Japanese scientists claimed drinking one cup of coffee a day could half the risk of developing mouth cancer.

The Insurance Helpline specialises in obtaining cover for people living with cancer

Children whose mothers took acid-suppressant drugs during pregnancy are at an increased risk of developing asthma, according to new research.

A recent study conducted at Children’s Hospital Boston indicated that such a group was at a 1.5 times higher risk of developing the condition than those whose mothers had never taken the medication.

Lead researcher Elizabeth Hait and her team examined data from some 585,000 children born between 1995 and 2004, reports Bounty.

According to the findings, there was a 43 per cent greater likelihood that the 5,600 children who had been exposed to acid suppression medication would require treatment for allergic conditions in later life.

Patients who suffer from acid reflux or heartburn are often prescribed the suppressant medication.

Ms Hait noted: "Some pregnant women have such severe acid reflux that they can’t eat because they are in so much pain."

Meanwhile, a new vaccine which represses asthma symptoms by boosting the cells which control the body’s protective mechanisms has been developed.

The Insurance Helpline specialises in obtaining cover for people living with asthma

Defective stem cells can encourage bowel cancer by rapidly multiplying to form tumours, scientists have discovered.

According to a study by British and Dutch researchers, stem cells are the main cause of most cases of this form of the disease.

Scientists have long suspected that such cells - which can develop into a range of different tissues - play an important role in bowel cancer.

The team aimed to identify whether the defects that lead to cancer occur in the stem cells themselves.

Study author Dr Owen Sansom, from Cancer Research UK’s Beatson Institute for Cancer Research in Glasgow, said: "When we studied the effect of blocking the APC gene in the ‘parents’ - or stem cells - the results were striking and the cells started to transform within days. It was clear the ‘ignition point’ for the disease was to be found in the stem cells."

Meanwhile, a new study conducted by Japanese scientists suggested that drinking one cup of coffee a day could half the risk of developing mouth cancer.

The Insurance Helpline specialises in obtaining cover for people living with cancer

Emergency calls made by diabetes sufferers are always genuine, a leading charity has advised.

The ambulance service in the UK has warned that it is struggling to cope with high levels of calls and has asked people to call 999 if it is absolutely necessary.

London ambulance workers have seen an increase in calls in the last few weeks from around 3,000 to nearer 4,000.

However, Douglas Smallwood, chief executive of Diabetes UK, said the 100,000 calls made by diabetes sufferers last year were all genuine emergencies.

"For people with diabetes, illnesses such as flu can play havoc with diabetes management causing blood glucose levels to fluctuate. This can leave people with diabetes at higher risk of DKA and more exposed to the complications of flu such as pneumonia and bronchitis," he said.

Peter Bradley, the national director for the ambulance services, told the Daily Telegraph that the last ten days have been the busiest he has seen in the last ten years.

The Insurance Helpline specialises in obtaining cover for people living with diabetes