HEALTH & WELLBEING

People at Victoria, who are at a risk of HIV, have signed up for a new HIV trial hoping that positive outcomes may force the Federal Government subsidise PrEP drugs as preventative measure.

Australian doctors have slammed celebrity chef Pete Evans for proposing a paleo diet to an osteoporosis suffer that doctors believe could be potentially damaging. Evans advised the sufferer to remove dairy from his diet. Queensland obstetrics and gynaecology specialist Brad Robinson, furious at Evans’ advice, reminded him he is a chef, not a doctor.

Italian experts have claimed that a Mediterranean-styled diet is good for the heart and way better than cholesterol-lowering drugs. Researchers involved in the study said that people following diets rich in fish, nuts, vegetables and olive oil are a third less likely to die early compared to those eating larger amounts of beef, butter and red meat.

A new study has suggested that smoking cannabis can make one lazy. Marijuana users may perform less in education and work because of their reduce willingness to exert themselves.

A study has revealed what the brain actually does when it is deprived of a good night’s sleep. Researchers involved in the German study states that not getting enough sleep may lead to connectivity changes in the brain.

Scientists have developed injectable hydrogels to prevent heart failure. The gels can be injected into the heart that shore up weakened areas after a heart attack and can prevent further heart failure. These gels may one day make open-heart surgeries to prevent heart failures a thing of the past.

Queensland Health is contacting cardiac patients who have undergone open-heart surgery, especially heart valve replacement, as experts are concerned that they may have been exposed to mycobacterium chimaera bacterium in the medical equipment used to perform the procedures.

Australian and Belgian scientists have made a breakthrough in infertility treatment as they have developed a new in-vitro maturation (IVM) method that can eliminate painful hormone injections required in in-vitro fertilisation (IVF).

NSW medicinal cannabis trials for children with severe epilepsy are showing “promising” early signs. They have started taking an experimental cannabis-based drug Epidiolex under the supervision of the NSW government. The trials are a part of the NSW government’s $21 million commitment that will explore therapeutic use of medical marijuana.

Australians returning from the RIO Olympics 2016 are being reminded to practise safe sex in order to prevent the possible spread of the Zika virus. Even though people mainly contract the virus via Aedes aegypti mosquito bites, there is also a low risk of person-to-person transmission through sexual activity, Federal Health Minister Sussan Ley warned.

A spate of heroin-related deaths in recent weeks has prompted the South Australian government to issue a health warning and health services have been put on high alert. As per Substance Abuse Minister Leese Vlahos, 10 deaths have been reported, of which eight have been caused due to heroin use and the rest two from the highly-potent synthetic painkiller fentanyl.

The HIV drug that has led to a significant drop in the number of HIV cases in Australia’s Brisbane will not be included on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Queensland advocates believe that this omission is a big mistake. As per reports, Brisbane HIV infections have fallen 30 percent in five years and this achievement is significant.

The American Chemical Society has uploaded a video on their “Reactions” YouTube channel informing public how peeing in the pool can expose people to major health risks. Taking a leak while frolicking in the swimming pool is not only disgusting but also harmful.

Aussie smokers are helping the government to fill up tax coffers. Cigarettes in Australia already cost a bomb and they are set to become more expensive. Currently, a cigarette contributes 53.7 cents to the Federal Government. In another five years, this figure will go up to 80 cents per cigarette, thanks to a series of planned tax increases.

South Australian health officials are reminding people to use condoms when having sex as there has been a spurt in chlamydia and gonorrhoea cases. As per SA Health, 735 people have been diagnosed with gonorrhoea this year up to now, compared to 523 at this time in 2015. About 3,454 chlamydia cases have been reported so far this year, up from 3,352 in 2015.

A NSW melanoma survivor has revealed how skin cancer specialists at the Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF) Melanoma Laboratories at The Westmead Institute for Medical Research brought her back from the jaws of death.

NSW health officials have warned people of a meningococcal outbreak as the peak season for the disease approaches and five cases were reported last week. This year, nearly four people have died and 40 cases have been reported in NSW this year.

In order to investigate medicinal cannabis use in epileptic children, Australian researchers are reaching out to parents who are willing to break the law to procure marijuana for the sake of their ailing children.

Australian scientists have made a malaria breakthrough as they have found a very effective way to cure malaria by stimulating one’s immune system via a synthetic protein. The protein called PD-L2 has been developed by researchers at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Brisbane. The malaria cure has been highly effective in mice.

A new study has suggested that taking the common pain-relieving medication acetaminophen during pregnancy may be associated with increased risk of multiple behavioural problems in children. Acetaminophen is used by numerous pregnant women for pain and fever and is considered safe during pregnancy.

Andrews government has revealed that an independent medical committee with 16 people will supervise the medicinal cannabis rollout in Victoria. The committee will also advise the next group of patients who will be provided access to the drug. The government committed $28.5 million in this year’s budget to make medical marijuana available next year to children suffering from severe epilepsy.

New research has revealed that a commonly-used anti-inflammatory drug may be used to treat the dreaded Alzheimer’s disease. The researchers used an experimental model of Alzheimer's and found out that the drug successfully treated the condition. The anti-inflammatory drug completely reversed brain inflammation and memory loss in mice.

Australian researchers may solve transplant shortages worldwide after they made a breakthrough in cornea treatment. They developed an innovative cornea treatment that is capable of reducing the need for traditional donor issue transplants. Worldwide cornea shortage may be solved with the hydrogel film developed by the scientists.

Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) has been endorsed by many but new research has showed that it can even slow down cognitive decline in patients. Apart from being good for the heart, the Mediterranean diet is good for the mind too. It may help keep Alzheimer’s at bay.

A Queensland study has found that only a dramatic increase in exercise may allow Australians combat stroke and heart diseases. Moreover, researchers at The University of Queensland that a five-fold increase of the current World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations may also reduce bowel and breast cancers as well as diabetes.

Calcium oxalate crystals, the most common component of human kidney stones, may be dissolved by a natural fruit extract, US researchers have found. The finding may lead to the first advancement in treating calcium oxalate stones in 30 years.

A breastfeeding mother, who is also a maternity ward nurse, almost killed her baby after she went on a raw food only diet. She narrowly avoided jail term after she agreed to provide evidence against her naturopath.

According to a secret study of Australian pubs and clubs, drinkers get more intoxicated at venues with more men. Deakin University researchers have called for lockout laws in Victoria after they found a link between inebriation and proportion of men and young people at a venue.

There is bad news for parents as new research has suggested that head lice have grown immunity to over-the-counter products that are used to treat them. However, the Australian researcher, who carried out the study, also shared an effective tip to combat head lice. The tip to remove lice infestation involves a cheap conditioner, a fine-tooth comb and some patience.