Why risk of schizophrenia is three times higher in refugees

Mar 16, 2016 14:10 pm UTC| Health

Much commentary in politics and the media refers to refugees as a problem or threat, without much acknowledgement of their suffering. A large study from Sweden published in the BMJ illustrates part of that human cost. It...

Weekly Dose: Lipitor, the highest-selling drug of all time

Mar 16, 2016 02:54 am UTC| Health

Lipitor is the main drug from a family of medicines called statins, which are used to lower blood cholesterol levels. Other drugs in this class include: fluvastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin and simvastatin. Generic...

How much?! Seeing private specialists often costs more than you bargained for

Mar 15, 2016 22:57 pm UTC| Health

Around half of Australians have private health insurance. Most of us know that if we need to see a private specialist, we may face some out-of-pocket fees between what the doctor charges and the rebate we receive from...

Antibiotics for colds, x-rays for bronchitis, internal exams with pap tests – the latest list of tests to question

Mar 15, 2016 22:54 pm UTC| Health

The problem of questionable treatment and tests which may provide little or no benefit, yet may cause harm, is ubiquitous across all areas of health care. Harm doesnt just come in the form of side-effects or further...

'Poisoning heredity': If we're not careful, epigenetics may bring back eugenic thinking

Mar 15, 2016 15:24 pm UTC| Insights & Views Health

Epigenetics, the study of how environmental factors and lifestyle choices influence our genes, has flourished to become one of the most groundbreaking areas of science over the past decade. Studies have shown that, among...

Could humans hibernate?

Mar 15, 2016 15:20 pm UTC| Health

On cold, dark days it is tempting to imagine shutting yourself away until the warmer weather returns. Many animals do just that by entering a state known as torpor, which reduces their bodily functions to a minimum and...

'Acceptable risk' is a better way to think about radiation exposure in Fukushima

Mar 15, 2016 11:57 am UTC| Insights & Views Health

On March 11, 2011, the Fukushima Prefecture of Japan experienced multiple nuclear reactor meltdowns as a consequence of an earthquake and a subsequent tsunami. The meltdowns resulted in the release of radioactivity into...