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What the Air You Breathe May Be Doing to Your Brain
For years, the two patients had come to the Penn Memory Center at the University of Pennsylvania, where doctors and researchers follow people with cognitive impairment as they age, as well as a group with normal cognition. Both patients, a man and a woman, had agreed to donate their brains after they died for further… -
How do I know if my kid is worrying about food and their body too much? And what should I say?
Eating disorders are most likely to develop in young people aged between 12 and 25. But parents and other close adults can miss the early warning signs. For example, you might notice your child doing more exercise or choosing healthier foods and see these behaviours as normal or even positive. Eating disorders are serious mental… -
5 health benefits of line dancing – according to science
Line dancing is enjoying a global resurgence, rising to a level of popularity not seen since Billy Ray Cyrus’ Achy Breaky Heart topped the charts in 1991. But it’s no longer just for cowgirls and cowboys. While traditionally associated with country music, line dancing has evolved to include variations of waltz, swing, salsa, disco and… -
5 types of ‘wellness woo’ that borrow from mainstream medicine
What we consider “fringe” or “mainstream” changes over time. That applies to health and medicine too. For instance, massage was once considered a fringe therapy but in the 19th century it morphed into what we know today as physiotherapy. Likewise, Swiss doctor Maximilian Bircher-Benner wasn’t taken seriously when he said we should eat oats and… -
I have a stuffy nose. How do I know if it’s hay fever or a cold?
You’ve been through winter lurgies and escaped the start of spring free of hay fever. Now you wake up with a sniffle you can’t seem to shake. How do you know if it’s hay fever, a cold, or something else? And how do these two different culprits cause such similar symptoms? Hay fever is actually… -
Are berries safe to eat? How worried should I be about the pesticide dimethoate?
Australia’s regulator has suspended use of a common pesticide used on blueberries, raspberries and blackberries known as dimethoate. But this year-long suspension isn’t due to any new information about the pesticide itself. Rather, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) says it’s because we’re eating more berries so our potential exposure has increased. In… -
Asbestos has been found in children’s coloured sand. What’s the risk to kids?
Multiple schools and early learning centres in the Australian Capital Territory have shut on Friday after asbestos was found in coloured sand used for children’s art and sensory play. At least one school in Brisbane has also closed due to potential exposure. On Thursday, WorkSafe ACT issued a contamination notice after laboratory testing confirmed traces… -
Living with PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ can be distressing. Not knowing if they’re making you sick is just the start
When we talk about the health effects of PFAS, we commonly think about any physical effects on the body. For instance, does exposure to these long-lasting, per- and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals increase our risk of cancer, liver disease or pregnancy complications? What’s less talked about is the psychological distress of living in a community affected by… -
Breast Cancer and Birth Control: A Huge New Study Shows How Science Can Be Distorted
As misinformation about women’s health spreads faster than ever, doctors say new research on the risks of hormonal birth control underscores the challenge of communicating nuance in the social media age. The massive study, which was conducted in Sweden and tracked more than 2 million teenage girls and women under age 50 for more than… -
As people live longer and healthier, nurse training needs to respond to avoid ageist attitudes
Life expectancy in New Zealand has increased dramatically over the past five decades. In 1970, men lived on average to 68. Today, it’s over 80. These gains reflect major advances in public health and medical technology. But living longer can mean more years with multiple chronic conditions and disabilities, because age is a significant risk… -
How does the hair-loss drug finasteride work? Can it affect my mental health?
For many men the gradual thinning of hair is about more than just their appearance. Finasteride, a drug widely prescribed for the treatment of male pattern baldness has been used effectively for many years for this deeply personal problem. Yet, behind its use are growing concerns about its link to the development of depression, anxiety,… -
Some women start menopause after surgery or medical treatment. Here’s how it’s different
For most women, menopause occurs naturally around the age of 49. In the lead up to menopause, the quality and quantity of eggs declines over time. Then the ovaries stop releasing eggs completely. At this time, the ovaries also stop producing the sex hormones oestrogen and progesterone. This causes menstrual periods to end. When you…
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