News Articles
Lasting COVID effects on UK wellbeing detailed by data
Date of Posting: 10-03-2025
People's experiences of poor health and loneliness in the UK have not improved five years on from the first COVID-19 lockdown, new figures suggest, with a charity warning "lasting" effects of the pandemic are continuing to leave "m Read More...
Endometriosis - a life sentence 'no man' would tolerate
Date of Posting: 09-03-2025
It's not just a period and the pain isn't normal - endometriosis leaves one in seven women in often excruciating pain and threatens their work, their health and their fertility. But all too often it is overlooked, misdiagnosed or not taken Read More...
US measles outbreak now in the hundreds of cases
Date of Posting: 09-03-2025
A historic measles outbreak in West Texas is just short of 200 cases, Texas state health officials say while the number of cases in neighbouring New Mexico has tripled to 30. Most of the cases across both states are in people younger than 18 and p Read More...
Swapping butter for plant oils may cut early death risk
Date of Posting: 09-03-2025
Swapping butter for canola or olive oil could slash the risk of an early death, new US research suggests. Experts examined data for more than 221,000 adults, who were followed up for 30 to 50 years, and found butter actually seemed to drive up the Read More...
Healthier sperm linked to longer life expectancy
Date of Posting: 06-03-2025
Men with the best quality sperm live two to three years longer than those with the lowest quality, according to a study. Testing semen in this way could one day be used to predict and prevent future health problems, researchers suggest.[subscribe] Read More...
Medications out of reach for women as living costs bite
Date of Posting: 06-03-2025
Women are twice as likely as men to say they cannot afford a prescription for themselves or their families, data reveals as pharmacists urge greater funding to help patients access life-saving medication. One in four women could not afford a scrip Read More...
Alarm at rise in suicide rate among Indigenous people
Date of Posting: 06-03-2025
The true scale of an "alarming" rise in Indigenous Australians dying by suicide may still be under-reported, with concerns about gaps in data and barriers to culturally safe care. Some 27 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people died Read More...
Lifting weights can help older people tackle insomnia
Date of Posting: 05-03-2025
Lifting weights helps older people beat insomnia, research suggests. Experts found that resistance or muscle-strengthening exercises - such as lifting dumbbells or using gym equipment - helped cut sleeplessness.[subscribe] Taking aerobic exerci Read More...
Health alert as mosquito virus spreads in three states
Date of Posting: 05-03-2025
A deadly mosquito-borne virus is spreading across three states, with a second confirmed case identified in Victoria. Japanese encephalitis has infected a second northern Victorian resident this mosquito season, Chief Health Officer Tarun Weeamanth Read More...
HIV risk for clients of cosmetic clinic using vet gear
Date of Posting: 05-03-2025
Clients of a beauty clinic are being urged to test for serious blood-borne viruses including HIV after health officials uncovered the use of vet equipment and other alleged malpractice. The warning to clients of the Ketthip Beauty Clinic in Sydney Read More...
'Monumental social failure': global obesity rates soar
Date of Posting: 04-03-2025
Rates of obesity and overweight are spiralling due to a "monumental societal failure" to tackle the problem, with more than half of adults and almost a third of children and young people set to be affected by 2050, according to a new study. Read More...
A child dies of Ebola in Uganda, raising concern
Date of Posting: 03-03-2025
A four-year-old child has become the second person to die of Ebola in Uganda, in a setback for health officials who had hoped for a quick end to the outbreak that began at the end of January. The child had been hospitalised at the main referral fa Read More...
Medicare clinics vow: 20 minute drive or less from care
Date of Posting: 03-03-2025
Most Australians could be living within 20 minutes of a bulk billing urgent care clinic, under a federal Labor pre-election promise. The government has vowed to open an extra 50 clinics by the end of June 2026 if it secures a second term, with the Read More...
Sniffer dogs deployed as pill testing trial begins
Date of Posting: 02-03-2025
Festival goers using NSW's first pill testing service won't be subjected to sniffer dog searches but that doesn't apply to people on their way to have their substances checked. Authorities warn taking drugs remains illegal and police h Read More...
Pathway eases the stress for young people finding jobs
Date of Posting: 02-03-2025
Tailored work and study support can improve the mental health of young people and get them into jobs and university, despite concerns related stress has a negative impact. One in five family members are concerned pressure from work or study has a Read More...
Careers, education casualties of domestic violence
Date of Posting: 28-02-2025
Domestic violence must be recognised as a workplace and university issue, with victim-survivors experiencing a lifetime drop in earnings, employment and education. That's according to a report on the financial damage perpetrators unleash on wo Read More...
Measles spreading locally as cases spark exposure alert
Date of Posting: 28-02-2025
Measles is spreading locally within Australia after two people caught the highly contagious viral infection without travelling overseas. Two people likely acquired measles in metropolitan Melbourne as they had no history of overseas travel or know Read More...
Private health premiums to rise as hospitals cry poor
Last Updated: 27-02-2025
Millions of Australians will soon be paying more for private health cover following the approval of premium increases for insurers, who say the rise is as low as they can go. The federal government has signed off on an average industry premium inc Read More...
AI can use eye scans to predict kidney disease risk
Date of Posting: 27-02-2025
Artificial intelligence (AI) can predict whether someone with type 2 diabetes will soon develop kidney disease based on changes in their eye scans, according to a study. People with diabetes should be offered eye checks every one to two years wher Read More...
Stolen IVF patients' personal data shared on dark web
Date of Posting: 27-02-2025
IVF patients' personal information stolen in a cyber security breach has been published on the dark web. An investigation following the February 14 cyber attack on major IVF provider Genea has found patient management systems were accessed by Read More...
Smokers' death risk spiked for 23 common causes
Date of Posting: 26-02-2025
It kills dozens of Australians every day and now smoking has been linked to increased chances of dying from 23 common causes. Researchers from The Australian National University followed 178,000 people and explored detailed evidence on smoking and Read More...
Key to tackling rheumatic heart disease in Australia
Date of Posting: 26-02-2025
Culturally safe health care is key to tackling rheumatic heart disease in Australia, with researchers saying Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led prevention programs need to be prioritised. Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is an acquired, but pr Read More...
Emergency doctors raise alarm on escalating crisis
Date of Posting: 25-02-2025
Punching, kicking, spitting, biting, verbal abuse and threats - physical violence against emergency doctors is pushing them to "breaking point". Experts say the abuse is happening so often, it needs to be dealt with as a matter of Read More...
Biggest investment in Medicare in more than 40 years
Date of Posting: 24-02-2025
Australians will have access to an extra 18 million bulk-billed general practitioner visits a year as part of a major election pledge from the federal government. The election date has yet to be announced but Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has pr Read More...
Disease deaths, cases rise as new flood menace surfaces
Date of Posting: 24-02-2025
Three people have died from a disease linked with heavy rain since a clean-up began in a region devastated by flooding, sparking health concerns. North Queensland is recovering from weeks of wet weather that caused record-breaking flooding from Ma Read More...
Controversial hospital on notice after toddler's death
Date of Posting: 24-02-2025
The family of a toddler who died in hospital after critical failings in care were "catastrophically let down" by its operator, prompting a pledge to overhaul systems in place under a controversial private-public model. Two-year-old Joe M Read More...
Death toll rises from disease with heavy rain link
Date of Posting: 23-02-2025
Another person has died from a disease linked with heavy rain in a flood-hit region that may soon be on cyclone watch. Queensland Health confirmed an elderly person had died of melioidosis in Townsville while three new cases of dengue virus had al Read More...
Mental health plan to protect both doctors and patients
Date of Posting: 23-02-2025
Long hours, complex operations, competition to succeed at the highest level and looking after the lives of patients exact a heavy mental toll on Australian doctors. So the profession is set to examine itself with a new medical initiative to remedy Read More...
'Blow for women' as hospitals shut maternity wards
Date of Posting: 23-02-2025
Maternity wards at two private hospitals are set to close in a move labelled a "disappointing blow" to women seeking maternity care. Healthscope announced it would cease maternity services at Darwin Private Hospital and Hobart Private Ho Read More...
Major change to Australia's first euthanasia laws
Date of Posting: 20-02-2025
WHAT ARE THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO VICTORIA'S EUTHANASIA LAWS? * Doctors able to raise the issue of voluntary assisted dying with terminally ill patients, previously they could not[subscribe] * Health practitioners who conscientiously object Read More...
Hospitals shut maternity wards citing low births, staff
Date of Posting: 20-02-2025
Maternity wards at private hospitals in two jurisdictions will close after the operator cited staffing challenges and declining birth rates. Healthscope announced it will cease maternity services at Darwin Private Hospital and Hobart Private Hospi Read More...
State moves to bin assisted dying 'gag' on doctors
Date of Posting: 20-02-2025
Doctors will no longer be muzzled from initiating voluntary assisted dying conversations with terminally ill patients under long-called-for law changes. A "gag clause" that banned Victorian practitioners from initiating a discussion on v Read More...
Pregnant women can avoid insulin with diet
Date of Posting: 19-02-2025
A reduced-calorie diet can help pregnant women who develop gestational diabetes avoid the need for insulin injections, according to a UK study. Gestational diabetes is a condition that develops during pregnancy and happens when additional hormones Read More...
Woman sues IVF clinic after having other couple's baby
Date of Posting: 19-02-2025
Krystena Murray became pregnant after undergoing in vitro fertilisation in 2023, and said she was unaware until she gave birth that the fertility clinic had made a fateful mistake. In December 2023, Murray delivered a healthy baby boy. But she als Read More...
US states grappling with a measles outbreak
Date of Posting: 19-02-2025
A measles outbreak in Texas has grown to 58 cases and eight people in neighbouring New Mexico also have been diagnosed with the highly contagious disease. Public health officials in New Mexico have said they suspect some of the state's cases a Read More...
Children among seven injured as burnout goes wrong
Date of Posting: 18-02-2025
An eight-year-old and a 10-year-old have been seriously hurt and another five onlookers injured in a dangerous burnout gone wrong. The 18-year-old driver lost control while performing the burnout in front of a crowd at Abermain, west of Newcastle Read More...
Rarer dementia a rollercoaster of debilitating ailments
Date of Posting: 18-02-2025
Two years ago, Annette was running a thriving small business and planning her next solo holiday. Today she's mostly confined to her aged care facility, unable to go out unchaperoned.[subscribe] She can no longer trust her legs to keep her u Read More...
Range of symptoms signal onset of Lewy body dementia
Date of Posting: 17-02-2025
Lewy body dementia is a disease associated with abnormal protein that eats away at the brain and causes issues with thinking, movement, behaviour and mood. There is no cure and little is known about the disease, with no definitive way of making a Read More...
Double mental health beds, coroner tells government
Date of Posting: 17-02-2025
"Bed block" in the NT health system led to death of a Tiwi Island mother, a coroner has found, recommending that NT government urgently fund the doubling of mental health beds to address an ongoing crisis. Following days of sedation in t Read More...
Vaccine critic Kennedy clinches top US health job
Date of Posting: 17-02-2025
Robert F Kennedy Jr, a vaccine critic who has pledged to tackle chronic disease, has been named US Health Secretary after overcoming resistance from the medical establishment and members of Congress with promises to limit his role in vaccination poli Read More...
