News Articles
Victorians are warned of infectious mosquito-borne Ross River virus
Date of Posting: 06-01-2017
The presence of the infectious mosquito-borne Ross River virus in Victoria's north has prompted a health warning. Victorians are being warned to protect themselves from mosquito bites after authorities detected Ross River virus in the state Read More...
Monsoons boost risk of deadly bacteria found in soil in NT
Date of Posting: 06-01-2017
Authorities are warning Territorians that monsoons are boosting the risks of people getting infected with a deadly tropical disease from bacteria found in soil. Getting stuck in the mud has never been so dangerous in the Top End, as monsoons boost Read More...
Water risk as temperature rises in WA
Date of Posting: 05-01-2017
WA people are being reminded to be careful around fresh water that may infect them with amoebic meningitis, which thrives in water between 28C and 40C. As temperatures rise, getting fresh water up your nose could lead to a potentially fatal infect Read More...
Brisbane children hospitalised with meningococcal disease
Date of Posting: 05-01-2017
Three Brisbane children have been hospitalised with meningococcal disease after a family outing at a popular New Year's Eve event. Brisbane residents are being assured they're not at increased risk of contracting meningococcal after three Read More...
US considers regulating homeopathy
Last Updated: 04-01-2017
The lack of regulation that lets the public self-treat conditions with scientifically unproven homeopathic concerns the medical community. US regulators assessing homeopathic treatments' safety and efficacy could overhaul rules of the multi-bi Read More...
A drug trial to treat patients with severe epilepsy is under way
Date of Posting: 15-12-2016
A pioneering drug trial to treat patients with severe epilepsy is under way at St Vincent's Hospital in Melbourne and holds hope for other brain diseases. A world-first trial to administer drugs directly to the brain of epilepsy patients throu Read More...
Link between Vit D deficiency in pregnancy and autism
Date of Posting: 14-12-2016
Australian researchers have found pregnant women with low vitamin D levels at 20 weeks' gestation are more likely to have a child with autistic traits. The important role vitamin D plays in early human life is back in the spotlight after Austr Read More...
GPs can and must do more to tackle obesity crisis
Date of Posting: 14-12-2016
General practitioners (GPs) can and should do more to tackle the obesity epidemic in Australia, a new study from The Australian National University (ANU) has found. Two in three Australians are overweight or obese but half of patients Read More...
Mental illness has been put on the economic agenda
Date of Posting: 13-12-2016
Poor mental health in Australia has been put on the economic agenda, with a visiting UK economist calling for the focus to be put on early intervention. Early intervention is key to reducing the costly impact of poor mental health in Australia, sa Read More...
Retraining the brain to beat stress is the key to losing weight
Date of Posting: 13-12-2016
We can retrain our brains to prevent emotional eating, says Australian neuroscientist and addiction expert Professor Selena Bartlett Retraining the brain to beat stress is the key to losing weight and keeping it off, a leading Australian neuroscie Read More...
Women born very premature are 2.3 cm shorter on average as adults
Date of Posting: 12-12-2016
Women born very premature, before 32 weeks, are 2.3 cm shorter on average as adults than their sisters born at term, according to a new international study. The researchers from the Liggins Institute at the University of Auckland and Uppsala Unive Read More...
Hundreds of rural nurses speak up
Date of Posting: 12-12-2016
More than 700 rural nurses from across Australia have voiced their professional needs and concerns in a CRANAplus survey. As the peak body for the remote health workforce, CRANAplus CEO Christopher Cliffe said the organisation launched the Rural N Read More...
Antipsychotic medication not good for patients experiencing delirium
Date of Posting: 09-12-2016
Treating patients experiencing delirium with antipsychotic medication is doing "more harm than good", according to the findings of an eight year trial. Antipsychotic medication typically used to treat seriously ill or dying patients with Read More...
Early drug intervention for Parkinson's disease possible
Date of Posting: 09-12-2016
An international study, led by researchers in Australia, on Parkinson's disease has found early intervention before symptoms start to appear may be possible. Early drug intervention before the debilitating symptoms of Parkinson's disease ( Read More...
Study finds medical skin glue can reduce IV drip failure
Last Updated: 08-12-2016
Skin glue which holds IV drips in the arms of patients reduces pain and has the potential to save the Australian healthcare sector millions of dollars. Australian doctors have found a way to make one of the most common medical procedures in the wo Read More...
Men should exercise daily to boost sperm count
Date of Posting: 08-12-2016
Moderate intensity exercise done three to four times a day can help men produce 'healthy swimmers', according to new research. Australian men who spend countless hours on the couch watching the cricket over summer could be jeopardising the Read More...
Fitness trackers do nothing to improve your health
Last Updated: 08-12-2016
A new study has found that the novelty of activity trackers wear off quite quickly and don't lead to any health benefits. Activity trackers or pedometers that monitor daily physical activity do nothing to improve your health, a new study sugge Read More...
Australians are swapping their personal trainers for online workouts
Last Updated: 08-12-2016
Australians are swapping their personal trainers for online workouts, with many admitting cost to be a huge motivation for the change. Personal trainers are being traded in for tablet workouts with the simple click of a button an easy and cheap me Read More...
High-tech rehabilitation to paralysed people
Last Updated: 08-12-2016
Science-fiction is becoming reality as brain-controlled robotic body suits offer high-tech rehabilitation to paralysed people. Germany made its way into the history books by winning the 2014 FIFA World Cup but it will be the sporting event's o Read More...
Better treatment to prevent painful kidney stones
Last Updated: 08-12-2016
A promising discovery has been made in the US that could lead to better treatment to prevent painful kidney stones. Researchers in the US have found a possible new way to prevent kidney stones, a discovery that should have men rejoicing.[subscribe Read More...
Controversial baby with DNA from three people
Last Updated: 08-12-2016
The Australian Mitochondrial Disease Foundation has welcomed the arrival of a baby boy via the controversial "three parent" technique. The world's first ever baby born using the DNA from three people has been welcomed by Australian e Read More...
Electronic device could transform care for stroke patients
Last Updated: 08-12-2016
A new device delivers a weak electrical shocks followed by an audible click to strengthen brain and spinal connections in stroke patients. An electronic device the size of a mobile phone could transform care for stroke patients and help them regai Read More...
New radiation treatment facility replaces earthquake damage
Last Updated: 08-12-2016
A new Christchurch radiation treatment facility, built to replace underground treatment bunkers damaged in the 2011 Canterbury earthquakes, is now treating cancer patients. As the nation continues to assess the damage of this week’s deadly 7 Read More...
Nanopatch inventor awarded Aust science prize
Last Updated: 08-12-2016
Professor Mark Kendall has won the CSL Young Florey Medal for his invention of the Nanopatch, a needle-free vaccine delivery device. Queensland researcher Professor Mark Kendall has been awarded one of Australia's highest science honours for i Read More...
Major improvements for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome diagnosis
Last Updated: 08-12-2016
Major improvement in the diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is expected following the award of $4m in funding to one of Australia’s foremost authorities on the condition. Professors Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik and Don Staines and Dr Samantha Read More...
NASA spacesuits reduces risk of sudden infant death syndrome
Last Updated: 08-12-2016
Spacesuits originally designed for NASA's astronauts have been developed into products to help keep premature babies at a comfortable skin temperature. Technology originally made for astronauts in space is being used to keep premature babies c Read More...
Parents should know trampoline safety guidelines
Date of Posting: 07-12-2016
A survey has revealed most parents are ignoring trampoline safety guidelines and one in two don't know how to properly treat head injuries. Trauma specialists say it's simply not safe for kids to jump on a trampoline together, as a new rep Read More...
Physiotherapist goes the extra mile for rural patients
Date of Posting: 07-12-2016
Growing up on a dairy farm in a small town of Ngongotaha, near Rotorua, Amy Dibley knew how difficult it was for rural residents to access services, such as physiotherapy, in their nearest town. After graduating from Auckland University of Technol Read More...
Stop elderly malnutrition, share a meal this holiday
Date of Posting: 06-12-2016
Australia's peak body for dietitians is urging people to share a meal with older relatives, friends and neighbours this festive season to fend off malnutrition. 'Tis the season to be jolly and tackle the hidden health issue of malnutrition Read More...
Daily nut consumption prevents premature death
Date of Posting: 06-12-2016
A daily handful of nuts, including peanuts, will keep the doctor - and undertaker - away, new international research shows. Eating a handful of nuts everyday will help prevent premature death as well as stave off a wide variety of diseases, a new Read More...
Protein rich food causes nitrogen pollution
Date of Posting: 06-12-2016
Researchers have for the first time calculated Australia's contribution to the environmental and health problem of nitrogen pollution. Protein is a key element for good health but Australia's appetite for meat could be killing us.[subscrib Read More...
On the hunt for stuttering genes
Date of Posting: 06-12-2016
Curtin University researchers are on the hunt for the genes which may be responsible for stuttering, believing genetics, rather than environmental or behavioural factors, may trigger the disorder which affects approximately 11 per cent of Australia&r Read More...
NSW trial of medicinal cannabis to treat chemotherapy patients
Date of Posting: 05-12-2016
The NSW government is hoping to recruit up to 330 people for a world-first trial testing the use of medicinal cannabis to treat chemotherapy patients. If 21-year-old Matilda had her choice, she would have no difficulty tucking into a honey-glazed Read More...
World-first vaccine to prevent and treat gum disease
Date of Posting: 05-12-2016
Melbourne scientists hope clinical trials on their promising periodontitis vaccine to treat chronic gum disease will begin in 2018. Australian scientists have developed a world-first vaccine to prevent and treat gum disease.[subscribe] Clinical Read More...
PMH staff frustrated by lengthy delays moving to the new hospital
Date of Posting: 02-12-2016
Staff at Princess Margaret Hospital are frustrated by lengthy delays moving to the new children's hospital, where lead contamination is the latest hold-up. Staff at Perth's ageing Princess Margaret Hospital are said to be under strain as m Read More...
Reality cooking shows could be a powerful weapon against obesity
Date of Posting: 02-12-2016
Rosemary Stanton says MasterChef has done much to get kids into the kitchen and now a Sydney academic suggests cooking shows could be used to fight obesity. Forget a sugar tax, reality cooking shows could be a powerful weapon against obesity.[subs Read More...
Australians needing eye surgery face the longest waiting time
Date of Posting: 02-12-2016
Amid rising elective surgery waiting times, waiting times have remained relatively stable, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). Australians needing eye, ear, nose or throat surgery face the longest waiting times, a n Read More...
Worlds oldest person credits long life to raw eggs
Last Updated: 01-12-2016
The world's oldest person eats two raw eggs every day, however experts are warning against the 'risky' habit that can lead to severe food poisoning. The world's oldest living human swears by eating them, but raw eggs can cause seve Read More...
Cancer Council warns sun damage can happen in minutes
Last Updated: 01-12-2016
The Cancer Council says it only takes a few minutes outside for sun damage to begin, yet people are still making excuses for getting sunburnt. With summer on it's way most people are looking forward to fun in the sun but it can also pose a hea Read More...
The Dementia Guide, a friend to support people living with dementia and carers
Last Updated: 01-12-2016
The Dementia Guide, a comprehensive, free handbook and online guide released today by Alzheimer’s Australia Vic will offer invaluable information and support options for anyone who has been impacted by dementia. “When my husband Read More...
