HEALTH & WELLBEING

Gluten-free diets are a fad these days and they have taken hold of health fanatics worldwide. According to the reports, gluten-free diet has surpassed all other searches on Google in the US, beating Palaeolithic diets, Atkins and South Beach.

A mushroom that can prove to be fatal if consumed has been found growing in Western Australia for the first time. People have been warned of its poisonous nature and have been advised not to consume it.

A deadly superbug, ancomycin resistant enterococcus faecium (VRE), resistant to even the last line of antibiotics, has made its way to Australia. Australia has the highest rate of the deadly superbug in the world surpassing England, Canada, Sweden, Denmark and Norway.

Recent research has shown that women with advanced ovarian cancer may benefit a lot from immunotherapy right after chemotherapy sessions. Chemotherapy given to women with advanced ovarian cancer boosts ability of tumour cells to protect themselves from the immune system.

Charlie Sheen has been chosen the brand ambassador for LELO HEX condoms. Recently he opened up on how he is dealing with his HIV and how he is hell-bent in finding an HIV cure.

An American man literally lived without heart for more than one and a half years. Stan Larkin, 25, has finally been transplanted a real human heart, 555 days after living without one and just carrying an artificial organ in his backpack.

Smoking marijuana on a regular basis may disrupt the brain’s natural reward process. Researchers have revealed that daily cannabis use could affect a smoker’s ability to maintain relationships and also make decisions as his/her perspectives on rewards and risks get altered.

In October 2012, Myriam Ducré-Lemay died after kissing her new boyfriend. It was found out that the girl was severely allergic to peanuts but did not find time to let her new boyfriend know about her medical condition.

Australian hospitals may be contributing to the creation of antibiotic-resistant superbugs. Results of a survey have revealed some grave figures as hospitals continue to inappropriately prescribe antibiotics to patients. The drug is being wrongly prescribed in up to 20 percent of cases, the survey revealed.

A large study of hospital data has suggested that marriage can improve chances of heart attack survival and even save money by reducing hospital stay. The study found that married people were 14 percent less likely to die after a heart attack than single people.

British feminine hygiene brand Bodyform recently released an ad, named “Blood,” taking a jibe at the stigmas surrounding women’s periods. The ad shows how women are not afraid to bleed, and no blood, not even menstrual blood, should hold them back.

African tarantulas may prove to be the new solution to chronic pain. A toxin in the spider’s venom is offering 10 percent of Australians suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) fresh hope for treating the disease.

The Cambridge Weight Plan, Australia’s new fad diet, is now being investigated by a government regulator to find out if the product can be legally sold in Australia. Health experts have already warned of serious side-effects such as general feeling of coldness, rash, nausea, leg cramps, hair loss, halted periods and even unexpected pregnancy from following a diet so low on nutrients.

Common prescription drug methotrexate, used to treat medical conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis, has been linked to at least seven deaths in Australia since 2000. Researchers have warned of a rise in dosage errors that are leading to avoidable deaths.

California’s marijuana activists believe that cannabis legalisation 2016 has hit a roadblock as advocates are not happy with a pair of bills in the legislature. The bills would impose fees and taxes on medical marijuana to raise costs.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will pledge $20 million to identify the genes that cause childhood cancer.

A Gordonvale resident near Cairns has tested positive to the Zika virus. Queensland health workers have been sent to south of Cairns, in far north Queensland, to check the spread of the virus.

San Franciscans will be able to get high consuming marijuana and at the same time carry out their daily fitness regime at Power Plant Fitness, world’s first marijuana gym.

Scientists claim that their hydrogel-based biochip will help diagnose bowel cancer better. Their method involves simultaneous detection of various substances in a patient’s blood.

Anxious patients who are about to get an eye surgery done may find relief in music. A new study played a particular type of music specifically developed to ease anxiety.

Experts from Edith Cowan University (ECU) have suggested that the popular Paleo diet is more effective in losing weight than the recommended Australian dietary guidelines.

The University of Western Australia (UWA) scientists have revealed that cannabis use may expose a person to serious illnesses by DNA structure alteration that may be passed on to future generations.

A study has revealed that one in 10 people check their phones even while having sex.

Breast Cancer Care, a British charity organisation, has warned that women aged between 50 and 70 are too reliant on mammograms for detecting breast cancer signs.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has lodged an appeal against the size of fine imposed by the Federal Court on Nurofen makers Reckitt Benckiser for breach of consumer laws.

E-cigarettes will be treated as tobacco in Victoria. The Victorian Government is extending the smoking ban to e-cigarettes too.

Health authorities in Tasmania have confirmed three more cases of measles. They were exposed to the illness at Launceston General Hospital’s emergency department. Booster doses have been recommended to stay safe.

In order to combat drug-resistant superbugs, UK farmers have taken the initiative to cut down antibiotics use in agricultural products. A new UK taskforce will reduce antibiotics use in farming.

A South Australian family is desperately waiting for the government to legalise medical marijuana and is not happy with the SA government’s inaction on the same.