Health
Cancer, cystic fibrosis treatments in new PBS listings
3 January
Medicines to help treat infants with cystic fibrosis along with new therapies for patients with advanced ovarian cancer will be subsidised under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Multiple new treatments were added to the scheme on January 1, which...[Read More]
‘The perfect gift’: thousands wanted in Xmas blood push
20 December
Thousands of blood donors are being urged to roll up their sleeves and give the gift of life over the Christmas period. An extra 830 donations per day are needed nationwide between Friday and the start of January to meet hospital demand, Australian...[Read More]
Festive cheer can bring stress for overwhelmed Aussies
20 December
Every year, Australians are bombarded with a sleigh-full of commercials showing well-behaved families sitting down to the ideal Christmas lunch. The fact not every family lives up to such expectations means more Australians feeling let down or...[Read More]
Why taking a break during the festive season is important
14 December
There are countless countdowns everywhere, whether it’s for Christmas or the new year, and yet, when the festive season happens, it always comes as a bit of a surprise. Some people experience a touch of panic and get lost in the holiday rush....[Read More]
Activity levels linked to lower breast cancer risk
13 December
Being more active could reduce the risk of women developing breast cancer before menopause, a study has suggested. Researchers analysed data based on the amount of exercise women reported doing during leisure time – such as walking, cycling or...[Read More]
MS breakthrough could mean treatments halt progression
29 November
A treatment for progressive multiple sclerosis could be on the horizon after a researchers found injecting stem cells into the brains of patients could potentially stop the disease advancing. The study said the procedure was “safe, well tolerated...[Read More]
Ban on disposable vapes imports to kick in soon
29 November
Australians will soon find it harder to access vapes, as the government attempts to prevent the industry creating a new generation of nicotine addicts. About one in seven 14- to 17-year-olds and roughly one in five 18- to 24-year-olds vape. While...[Read More]
Reversing ‘zombie’ brain fog after COVID-19 infection
22 November
Scientists have uncovered how to reverse the ageing effects of ‘zombie’ cells in COVID-19 patients, sparking fresh hope the findings could be used in Alzheimer’s research. Senescent cells, also known as zombie cells, occur naturally as people...[Read More]
TikTok videos and online games could boost youth health
15 November
TikTok videos, anime role-playing activities and interactive scenarios on popular online game Fortnite are among the ideas put forward by high school students to improve the health of young people. Groups of Sydney students came together this week...[Read More]
Financial boost for GPs to increase bulk billing
1 November
GPs will be given a greater financial incentive to bulk-bill vulnerable patients under changes to Medicare. The new financial rewards, which kick in from Wednesday, triples the incentives for the bulk billing of pensioners, concession card holders...[Read More]
Sneaky salt shock prompts calls for mandatory limits
1 November
Australians have a killer diet, prompting calls to restrict the amount of salt in certain foods. The average Australian consumes almost double the recommended daily salt level and it’s costing the healthcare system $10 billion a year, according to...[Read More]
Mammograms a game of Where’s Wally for dense breasts
25 October
Up to half of older Australian women have such dense breasts, detecting cancerous tumours becomes as difficult as finding “a polar bear in a snow storm”. Breasts are made up of a combination of fatty tissue and fibroglandular tissue, which...[Read More]
How does building a lasting friendship with a total stranger just happen?
19 October
Building a lasting friendship with a total stranger is a unique and beautiful journey that often begins with a simple act of kindness when someone least expects it. In Australia, a country known for its friendly and welcoming culture, these...[Read More]
Australian-first stem cell trial tackles rare condition
18 October
Young children born with an extremely rare genetic condition will be treated as part of an Australian-first trial. Babies diagnosed with RAG-1 deficient severe combined immunodeficiency, or RAG-1 SCID, are born without infection-fighting immune...[Read More]
COVID-19 third-leading cause of Australian deaths, ABS
4 October
COVID-19 has emerged as one of Australia’s deadliest diseases, surpassed only by heart disease and dementia. Nearly 10,000 Australians – 9859 people – died from the virus last year and COVID contributed to a further 2782 deaths, according to...[Read More]