Hand washing stops infections, so why do health care workers skip it?

May 18, 2016 08:19 am UTC| Health

Hospital infections affect almost two million people in the United States every year, 100,000 of whom die. Up to 70 percent of these infections could be prevented if health care workers follow recommended protocols, which...

Lyrica, the epilepsy drug that treats chronic nerve pain

May 18, 2016 07:21 am UTC| Health

Lyrica is the brand name for a prescription medicine called pregabalin. Although it is an anticonvulsant, or an anti-epileptic drug, pregabalin is commonly prescribed to alleviate nerve or neuropathic pain a type of pain...

Hypertension: why the approach has changed to tackle the silent killer

May 17, 2016 16:43 pm UTC| Health

Traditionally, someone who suffered from hypertension or high blood pressure would only receive treatment when his or her blood pressure was measured and the reading was found be higher than normal. But this meant that...

Nanoparticles in baby formula: should parents be worried?

May 17, 2016 16:34 pm UTC| Health Science

Theres a lot of stuff youd expect to find in baby formula: proteins, carbs, vitamins, essential minerals. But parents probably wouldnt anticipate finding extremely small, needle-like particles. Yet this is exactly what a...

What stressed humans can tell us about keeping animals happy

May 17, 2016 16:05 pm UTC| Health Science

Its hard to avoid stress, and the expectation that we are camels with unbreakable backs. I know this from personal experience as part of the squeezed generation with young children, an old parent and a demanding job. Often...

Ketamine: painkiller, party drug – and possibly next-generation antidepressant

May 16, 2016 13:41 pm UTC| Health

Ecstasy, methylenedioxy-methamphetamine or MDMA, is well known as a recreational drug today, but its first use was as a therapeutic aid for couples attending marriage guidance counselling. LSD, the potent psychedelic...

Supplements are an expensive and potentially toxic lucky dip

May 16, 2016 13:20 pm UTC| Health

The vitamin and supplement industry is big business in Australia. An estimated 75% of the population use some form of complementary medicines, including vitamins, minerals, herbs, aromatherapy and homeopathic...