The arts are a shadow health service – here's why

Nov 08, 2018 17:20 pm UTC| Insights & Views Health

The UKs Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, has said that doctors should prescribe dance classes and trips to concert halls as well as pills and physio and set out plans to make this social prescribing a reality. He clearly...

Salt: how to cut back without losing that delicious flavour

Nov 08, 2018 17:19 pm UTC| Insights & Views Health

One of the targets of the UK governments new health strategy is salt. Your body needs salt to function normally, but an excess leads to raised blood pressure and an increase in the risk of stroke and heart disease. Since...

Concussion prevention: Sorting through the science to see what's sound

Nov 08, 2018 16:56 pm UTC| Insights & Views Health

As his helmet collided violently with his opponents shoulder, Luke Kuechly looked like a life-size bobblehead doll. In an instant, the Carolina Panthers star linebacker suffered yet another concussion. His season, and...

Why inability to cope with uncertainty may cause mental health problems

Nov 08, 2018 16:55 pm UTC| Insights & Views Health

Not knowing is an uncomfortable experience. As human beings, we are naturally curious. We seek to understand, predict and control it helps us learn and it keeps us safe. Uncertainty can feel dangerous because we cannot...

Students with hearing loss get a raw deal: a South African case study

Nov 08, 2018 16:51 pm UTC| Insights & Views Health

Hearing loss is the fourth highest cause of disability globally. The World Health Organisation estimates that there are currently 466 million people with a disabling hearing loss. Two thirds live in low and middle income...

Stressed? Your relationship with your boss may be playing a role

Nov 08, 2018 16:49 pm UTC| Insights & Views Health

Everybody knows how horrible it is to be stressed out at work. Sadly, across the world, employees are being subjected to increasing work demands and, as a result, work stress is on the rise. As we try to understand the...

Pain isn't just physical: why many are using painkillers for emotional relief

Nov 08, 2018 16:45 pm UTC| Insights & Views Health

Australians are increasingly using prescription or over-the-counter painkillers to ease emotional, rather than physical, pain. Our cultural understanding of pain is changing, and as a result its becoming more difficult to...