Headlines on health

A new study published by Nature Medicine has inspected multiple biomarkers, or substances in our blood, which help diagnose people with long COVID. Those experiencing the condition are welcoming new research, as they suffer from what is often described as an invisible illness.

The National Disability Insurance Scheme has come under intense scrutiny in recent times, both for its cost and for how challenging some participants have found it to get support. Some of the debate has focused on the support needs of autistic people. But there's concern they're under particular pressure as the NDIS plans for its future.

INTERVIEW: A parasitic roundworm has been pulled from a woman's brain in Canberra in a startling medical first. Researchers at the Australian National University and the Canberra Hospital discovered the live eight-centimetre Ophidascaris robertsi roundworm after detecting an atypical lesion in the brain of a 64-year-old woman who had complained of memory lapses. The doctors believe the woman caugh...

A 25-year-old woman in Germany has become an early-recipient of the world's first medically-approved 3-D printed bionic arm. Dominika Frycz says the arm allows her to do simple things like walk her dog.

Transgender adults say they are worried about finding welcoming spaces to live - not just in the present, but in their later years when they may require more health care. Their concern has grown as a wave of anti-trans legislation is enacted across the United States.

A new study has found communities with poor access to mental health services are eight times more likely to be youth suicide hotspots. It's the first time researchers have been able to show a strong link between service access and higher or lower suicide rates.

Ovarian cancer has the lowest survival rate of any women's cancer, killing roughly one thousand women in Australia every year. But now, there's a new blood test that offers hope for detection, and improving outcomes for the women diagnosed with the disease.

The experiences of children and young people living with an alcoholic or a recovering alcoholic can often go unheard. Alateen is a program which aims to address this silence, providing a safe space for young people to find support.

The results of early-stage research into a procedure developed to treat limbal stem cell deficiency have been published. The disease is a corneal disorder that can occur after chemical burns and other eye injuries. A larger study is underway.

Women affected by polycystic ovary syndrome often say it is difficult to get accurate information - and a diagnosis. Now, Australia is leading the world with a new international guideline and an app they hope will improve the treatment and health of those suffering from the syndrome.

A new study has found children of ethnic minority backgrounds are more likely to be diagnosed with autism. Researchers say the findings highlight the need for greater understanding of the condition, as well as more targeted care to bridge the gaps for minority communities.

Australians will be able to get cheaper medications from September 1 after the Parliament passed the Government's changes to allow 60-day dispensing and a last-ditch effort by the Coalition to block it failed.

A study by Monash University is investigating whether a newly developed diet can reduce inflammation in Crohn’s Disease. Crohn's is a chronic and lifelong condition which affects around 60,000 people in Australia.

Strokes are the number one cause of disability in Australia, with one in four people expected to experience a stroke during their lifetime. During this year's National Stroke Week (7-13 August), the Australian Stroke Foundation is hoping to raise awareness about the impacts they can have in their life and how they can be prevented.

A COVID-19 subvariant named EG.5.1, or Eris, is increasingly appearing in the United States and Britain. Symptoms of the subvariant reportedly include a runny nose, headache, fatigue, sneezing and a sore throat, with experts in Australia saying it will emerge here.

A delegation of hundreds of doctors has converged on Canberra to protest fossil fuel projects in the Northern Territory which may have significant health risks for Darwin locals. The Beetaloo Basin oil fracking plans and the Middle Arm industrial hub form two key pillars of the territory's gas-led economic strategy. But the Northern Territory Chief Minister Natasha Fyles says the economic gains fr...

Younger people are more likely to be lonely than older Australians. That's according to a new report produced by Ending Loneliness Together which surveyed 4,000 Australians to produce a snap-shot of who is more likely to be lonely in Australia.

A new report by the Australian Dental Association shows that three-quarters of Australians never floss their teeth, while one-in-five brush only once per day. The disturbing new data comes to light ahead of this year's Dental Health Week (August 7-13)

They were initially promoted as a tool to help people quit smoking but electronic cigarettes, also known as e-cigarettes or ‘vapes’, have since transformed into a recreational product that's particularly popular among young people. Amid increasing reports of harm to users, the Federal government is now aiming to regulate them and cut the number of youngsters taking up the habit.

Australians could soon have to dip into their savings, use some of their superannuation or be taxed more to fund a better aged care system. A new report from aged care industry stakeholders suggests multiple possible sustainable funding models the government should implement.

The catastrophic bushfires affecting North America, Europe and China are a chilling reminder of the Black Summer of 2019-2020 in Australia. With forecasts of a dangerous bushfire season ahead for this country, medical experts are warning of the dangers from smoke which blanketed many parts of Australia during that summer.

The honeypot ant, found in desert areas in Australia, is being studied by researchers for its medicinal qualities.

It comes as cases continue to rise in Australia, with a 49 per cent increase in the first half of 2023 when compared to the same period last year.

New research has revealed how a frequent line of communication between nurses and patients after discharge can prevent re-admission. A pilot program in Victoria saw the re-admission of at-risk patients decrease by 66 per cent.

The government has released Australia's first ever Wellbeing Framework showing mixed results in people's health and society more broadly. But the report has been criticised for using old data with gaps in information, which the opposition and other groups says results in incorrect conclusions.