Health Check: what is the common cold and how do we get it?

Jun 20, 2016 06:18 am UTC| Health

The common cold is common. Most of us will have at least one or two per year. Children get sick more often and very young children often get more than five colds per year. Even though its so common theres a lack of good...

Is Medicare facing a cost blowout from 'urgent' after-hours care rebates?

Jun 16, 2016 17:37 pm UTC| Insights & Views Health Politics

Recent news reports have signalled another potential Medicare cost blowout; this time due to the billing practices of GPs providing care after hours at night, on weekends and on public holidays. The reports cite...

COVID Virus Crisis

Global warming to expose more people to Zika-spreading mosquito Aedes aegypti

Jun 16, 2016 16:55 pm UTC| Insights & Views Nature Health

As Americans ready themselves for the arrival of mosquitoes this summer, many may be wondering whether they are at risk for tropical diseases like Zika and whether climate change will raise the risks of infection. My...

Raise a cup -- of coffee; WHO no longer says it can cause cancer

Jun 16, 2016 16:50 pm UTC| Insights & Views Health

Since 1991, coffee has been saddled with the label, possibly causes cancer. As of June 15, coffee got a clean bill of health. The International Agency for Research on Cancer or IARC is the WHO agency that evaluates...

Why the NHS should prescribe wearable fitness trackers

Jun 16, 2016 15:32 pm UTC| Insights & Views Health Technology

Its not yet clear whether wearable fitness trackers, such as Fitbits, Jawbones and Microsoft Bands, really do encourage us to become healthier over the longer term. They might make us move more and eat healthier in the...

COVID Virus Crisis

Why new-fangled mosquito controls should not replace tried and tested methods

Jun 16, 2016 14:31 pm UTC| Insights & Views Health

In the last 40 years of mosquito-borne viruses such as malaria, yellow fever and dengue, scientists have introduced myriad interventions to control the population of mosquitoes. This is because controlling mosquitoes has a...

Is this injectable tanning drug safe to use?

Jun 16, 2016 05:34 am UTC| Health

Most Australians are familiar with the Cancer Councils slogans reminding us to slip, slop, slap, and that theres nothing healthy about a tan. Now a controversial injectable tanning agent Melanotan is growing in...