Fentanyl, the anaesthetic that may have been used as a chemical weapon on Chechen rebels

Jul 27, 2016 07:35 am UTC| Health

Fentanyl is a synthetic analgesic (pain relieving) drug in the same class as morphine. It is used to treat acute or chronic pain, including for epidurals given to women during childbirth. It is thought that in 2002...

COVID Virus Crisis

The Olympics won't spread Zika around the world

Jul 26, 2016 06:23 am UTC| Health

The opening ceremonies of the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro are just days away. But this year, fears of Zika have cast a shadow over festivities. The Zika virus is the cause of an ongoing epidemic of birth defects...

Climate Change Series

What causes asthma? Clues from London's Great Smog with implications for air pollution today

Jul 26, 2016 06:20 am UTC| Health Nature

Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition with no known cure. It impacts people of all ages through episodic constrictions of the airways, which may be even worse than it sounds. Approximately 334 million people worldwide...

What your pee and poo colour says about your health

Jul 25, 2016 06:33 am UTC| Health

Out of the blue I passed bright red pee. I freaked, thinking it was a sign of terminal disease. Then I remembered the roasted beetroot tarts served at the party the night before so delicious Id eaten three! Beetroot,...

COVID Virus Crisis

Is the end of Zika nigh? How populations develop immunity

Jul 22, 2016 06:15 am UTC| Insights & Views Health

The Zika outbreak, arriving on the heels of Ebola and just in time for the Rio Olympics, has challenged global health agencies to respond rapidly and effectively. Determining the appropriate response is far from...

Explainer: what are women's options for giving birth?

Jul 21, 2016 02:48 am UTC| Health

For many women, getting pregnant is the easy part. After that line appears on the pregnancy test, it can be difficult to work out who to visit for care, and where you should have your baby. The first step for most women...

Scientists are combining forces to tackle the deadly duo of TB and HIV

Jul 19, 2016 08:15 am UTC| Science Health

TB and HIV are, separately, two of the deadliest infections in the world. They kill around 3 million people every year. Combined, they are even more dangerous. Tackling the problem of HIV and TB co-infection presents both...