insert_link Health / Medical Climate change behind Africa’s cholera increase The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has tied the worst outbreak of cholera in three years to climate change, saying adverse weather is raising the risk of this disease faster than in the rest of the world. That’s as floods in the Democratic Republic of Congo — and across southern Africa — stretch already fragile health systems. The increase in cases comes even as Africa is the region […] today1 February, 2024
insert_link Health / Medical Eating disorders are the most lethal mental health conditions – reconnecting with internal body sensations can help reduce self-harm An increased disconnect from your body can make it easier to harm yourself, whether by disordered eating or suicide. Maskot/Maskot via Getty Images April Smith, Auburn University Did you know that anorexia is the most lethal mental health condition? One person dies from an eating disorder every hour in the U.S. Many of these deaths are not from health consequences related to starvation, but from suicide. Up to 1 in […] today1 February, 2024
insert_link Health / Medical How does cancer spread to other parts of the body? Pexels/Michelle Leman Sarah Diepstraten, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute and John (Eddie) La Marca, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute All cancers begin in a single organ or tissue, such as the lungs or skin. When these cancers are confined in their original organ or tissue, they are generally more treatable. But a cancer that spreads is much more dangerous, as the organs it spreads to may be vital organs. A […] today1 February, 2024
insert_link Health / Medical Your skin is a mirror of your health – here’s what yours might be saying Acanthosis nigricans can cause skin to become thickened and velveteen to the touch. TuktaBaby/ Shutterstock Dan Baumgardt, University of Bristol Skin accounts for around 15% of our body mass. It is the largest and most visible organ in the human body. Yet many of the skin’s functions are often overlooked. It’s a sunscreen, a shield from germs, a reservoir of vitamin D and a means of tightly regulating our body […] today31 January, 2024
insert_link Health / Medical Eating leafy greens could be better for oral health than using mouthwash Eating nitrate rich vegetables like lettuce and spinach could hold the key to better oral health. BSIP/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Mia Cousins Burleigh, University of the West of Scotland and Siobhan Paula Moran, University of the West of Scotland Over half the adult population in the UK and US have gum disease. Typical treatments include mouthwash and in severe cases, antibiotics. These treatments have side effects, such as […] today31 January, 2024
insert_link Health / Medical Measles is on the rise around the world – we can’t let vaccination rates falter fotohay/Shutterstock Jaya Dantas, Curtin University In recent weeks a series of measles alerts have been issued around Australia, including in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland, after the identification of a small number of cases in travellers returning from overseas. Meanwhile, places such as the United States and the United Kingdom have been contending with larger measles outbreaks. In fact, the World Health Organization reported a 45-fold increase in measles […] today31 January, 2024
insert_link Health / Medical Cancer Association of Namibia Expands Treatment Services to Weekends In a move to accommodate the growing number of cancer patients, the Cancer Association of Namibia has announced the extension of its cancer treatment services to include weekends at House Acacia, the interim home for cancer patients. Starting from February 1, 2024, this initiative aims to provide continuous care for cancer patients residing outside Windhoek who undergo treatment in the capital. CAN CEO Rolf Hansen highlighted the significant increase in […] today30 January, 2024
insert_link Africa Neglected tropical diseases persist in the world’s poorest places: four reads about hurdles and progress By Nadine Dreyer, via The Conversation It’s sobering to reflect that “neglected tropical diseases” are referred to as “neglected” because they persist in the poorest, most marginalised communities even after being wiped out in more developed parts of the world. A variety of pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi and toxins, cause neglected tropical diseases, which include dengue, chikungunya, leprosy, lymphatic filariasis and yaws. They inflict tremendous suffering because […] today30 January, 2024
insert_link Africa Kenya’s healthcare workers abuse a third of teen mums from informal settlements – study By Anthony Idowu Ajayi, African Population and Health Research Center and Caroline W. Kabiru, African Population and Health Research Center Adolescent pregnancy is a global public health concern: in 2022, about 13% of girls and young women gave birth before the age of 18. Compared with women in their early 20s, adolescents are more susceptible to maternal deaths. Pregnancy-related complications are among the leading causes of death […] today30 January, 2024
