Headlines on health

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.

There has been a breakthrough finding for Australia's most prevalent cancer. New markers in cancer cell molecules can be used to provide a more accurate picture of the prostate cancer, and help determine the most appropriate treatment.

Researchers behind one of the first comprehensive investigations of sleep habits of young Australians say it shows low sleep satisfaction may be a strong indicator for low mental and physical health. Sixty per cent of more than 1,200 young adults surveyed reported irregular sleep patterns, with a third sleeping less than the recommended seven to nine hours a night.

In the midst of historic heatwaves in the northern hemisphere, Europe now faces the peril of unrelenting high temperatures and forest wildfires adding to the global climate crisis. The United Nations has issued a warning on the severe impacts on human health, including increased cases of heart attacks and deaths.

A treatment for Alzheimer's might be getting closer. An international study has found an experimental drug can slow progression of memory and thinking problems. But the medicine works best when patients are treated early.

What people do when they reach the age of 70 can be crucial to their mental health. This is the result of research from Monash University has found when investigating the risks of developing dementia in later life.

A new national initiative has been launched which is looking to fill the gaps in genomic data for First Nations Australians. This data is vital in developing personalised treatments for a range of chronic diseases. But the lack of genomic data for First Nations or non-white peoples is actually a global problem.