GENEVA Switzerland (AFP) by Nina Larson Legislation against the promotion of breast milk substitutes must be significantly tightened if global efforts to encourage breast feeding are to succeed, a UN report warned Monday. It is widely recognised that breastfeeding carries huge health benefits, but countries’ failure to crack down on the marketing of substitutes means far too many children are still being reared on formula, said the World Health Organization, the UN children’s agency […]
Health
Spain reports first case of Zika-related microcephaly
BARCELONA, Spain (AFP) – Spanish health authorities say they have detected the country’s first known case of the microcephaly birth defect in the foetus of a pregnant woman infected with the Zika virus. “A pregnant woman was infected by Zika and dengue and the foetus has shown various defects,” the health authority of the Catalonia region said in a statement late Thursday. This was Spain’s first case of Zika-related microcephaly, a severe form of brain […]
Nasal spray device could help those with schizophrenia
A nasal spray device that seems to improve delivery of the hormone oxytocin to the brain may help those with psychiatric disorders such as autism, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder have improved social functioning, according to Norwegian researchers. Scientists at the University of Oslo (UiO) collaborated with OptiNose on a test of the Norwegian firm’s eponymous device on a group of 16 males. Each member at some point received two different doses of oxytocin and also […]
Medical error third leading cause of death in US: study
by Marlowe HOOD PARIS, France (AFP) — Medical error is the third largest cause of death in the United States, according to an analysis published Wednesday in the medical journal BMJ. In 2013, at least 250,000 people died not from the illnesses or injuries that prompted them to seek hospital care but from preventable mistakes, according to the study. That number exceeds deaths from strokes and Alzheimer’s combined, and is topped only by heart disease […]
The truth about juicing
If you’re thinking of detoxing your body or losing weight, a juice cleanse may seem like the perfect way to do it, but know the risks along with the benefits. Jessica Sanchez tells us the good and the bad behind juicing. Reuters
World Food Program provides healthy lunches to struggling students
The World Food Programme (WFP) is feeding scores of school children in Jordan in an attempt to stop hunger from being a barrier to learning. The programme cooperates with local charities and housewives, who come together to create fresh and nutritious meals for children all around the kingdom. “The school meal programme targets poverty pockets in all 12 governorates of the Kingdom. Through this project we targeted all the charities that have a kitchen and […]
Melanoma and pregnancy: A dangerous combo?
Melanoma kills an estimated 10,000 people per year. Researchers are now making a correlation between Melanoma and pregnant women
DOH to establish cancer centers
MANILA, April 26 -The Department of Health (DOH) is set to establish cancer centers to address the need for accessible and quality radiation therapy services. “Given that cancer is one of the top causes of death and sickness in the Philippines, the establishment of cancer centers in strategically located hospitals will help ensure access to radiation therapy for our cancer-stricken patients, especially those who live far from Metro Manila,” Health Secretary Janette P. Loreto-Garin said. […]
Salt – friend or foe?
Your body can’t function without sodium, so is salt really the blood pressure bogeyman we think it is? What we know and suprisingly don’t know about salt.
WHO warns of potential for ‘marked increase’ in Zika cases
PARIS, France (AFP) — The World Health Organization warned Monday of the potential for a “marked increase” in the number of Zika infections in the coming months, and its spread to new parts of the world. With mosquito season arriving in Europe, “the possibility of local transmission combined with the likelihood of onward sexual transmission could see a marked increase in the number of people with Zika and related complications,” WHO assistant director general Marie-Paule […]
Better health through smartphones
You can stay fit without dropping a lot of money on gyms and trainers. There are apps that do more than just count your steps, they can measure your oxygen and blood pressure and even give you your own avatar trainer
Early Diagnosis for Autism
APRIL is National Autism Awareness month, and there’s good news in the fight to cope with it. An encouraging new study shows that children are being identified younger than ever before. And, as a result, critical therapy begins very early. 2-year-old Ali has excelled in an autism-specific early intervention program for seven months. Nearly 10 years ago, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended children being tested for autism as early as 18 to 24 months. Then, […]
