Health & Fitness
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Health inequality persists in Europe
Europeans can expect to live longer and their overall health has improved in recent years, but “unjust” health inequalities persist between men and women, East and West and rich and poor, the World Health Organisation said yesterday. In an update...
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Britain shelves plan for minimum alcohol pricing
Britain has shelved a plan to introduce a minimum price for alcohol, a move aimed at clamping down on binge drinking but which was opposed by drinks manufacturers and some senior politicians, British media reported. A consultation on the plan to set...
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Quitting smoking cuts heart perils
People who have quit smoking have a lower chance of suffering a heart attack or stroke than current smokers, even if they put on a few extra kilos in the process, according to an inter-national study. The long-term cardiovascular benefits of...
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Early signs of autism
Early signs of autism can be detected in the brains of four-month-old babies using an advanced scanning technique, research has shown. Currently, the condition cannot be diagnosed until after the age of two, by observing a child’s behaviour. The new...
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Buckle up during pregnancy
Despite some women’s worry that seatbelts or airbags could harm a baby in-utero in the case of an accident, expectant mothers who are not wearing a seatbelt during a car crash are more likely to lose the pregnancy, according to a US study. The...
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Even for sperm, there is a season
Autumn is the time of year most associated with bumper crops of new babies, and according to an Israeli study, there may be a scientific reason for it: human sperm are generally at their healthiest in winter and early spring. Based on samples from...
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Heart disease is an ancient ‘serial killer’
CT scans of 137 mummies spanning four geographies and 4,000 years of history show that hardening of the arteries was commonplace, especially in older individuals, suggesting this key sign of heart disease may be a part of ageing rather than the...
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In search of that perfect body
It would appear that once our basic biological needs are met, when hunger, thirst and shelter are no longer a problem, we become obsessed with minor imperfections in our bodies that suddenly demand urgent attention. Hair transplants have now become...
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When yoga meets dance
Through a powerful blend of yoga and dance Janet Vella successfully recovered from an injury that threatened to end her dance career. She is sharing her knowledge and experience to help others along the path to physical synergy. Janet Vella started...
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Another day at the office
As I arrived at the office one morning I couldn’t help but feel fortunate to work with highly capable colleagues in a productive and efficient environment. As we proceeded to attack the piles of incoming work sitting on our desks, my stomach...
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UK banks insurance mis-selling bill rises again
British banks paid out more to compensate customers mis-sold loan insurance in January than the month before, reversing a declining trend and pointing to a higher final bill than banks have so far allowed for. The Financial Services Authority (FSA)...
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Sturdy US job gains offer bright sign for economy
US employers stepped up hiring in February, pushing the unemployment rate to a four-year low, suggesting the economy is gaining traction despite the blow from higher taxes and deepgovernment spending cuts. Non-farm payrolls surged 236,000 jobs last...
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Injection hope for cancer sufferers
Injecting drugs straight into the abdomen can extend the lives of some women with ovarian cancer, research has shown. Administering chemotherapy in this way increased survival by an extra three years on average – but only in women with a specific...
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The recent rise of breakfast cereal
There has recently been some local interest from readers regarding how healthy breakfast cereal is and what the benefits of eating it are. The rise of breakfast cereal, which is a relatively new addition to our diet, is almost on a par with junk...
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Fight or flight in caring
Stress has its origin in fight or flight. The hormones involved in making the body ready to fight are used to gear up for action. Even if there is refusal to acknowledge stress, eventually the body will begin to show unmistakable signs which can be...
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Put a spring in your step
Twice a year, a celestial phenomenon known as the equinox occurs, whereby the Earth’s axis aligns so that our North and South poles lie equidistant from the sun. Just a few short weeks from now, at the end of March, the next equinox will usher in a...
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Inspired or lost in the technology matrix?
We live surrounded by an increasingly complex matrix of impulses (transmitted via TV, media and the internet) that allow strangers of all sorts to interfere in our mental, emotional and spiritual development. Understanding this intricate network and...
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Mother’s drinking tied to infant deaths
About one in six sudden infant deaths may be linked to heavy alcohol use by their mothers during or soon after pregnancy, according to an Australian study. Researchers writing in Paediatrics found that those deaths may result from babies being...
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Challenge for a smile
Global consumer goods company Unilever and local cancer foundation Puttinu Cares have teamed up to host the ‘Challenge for a Smile’ charity event on April 21. The event is aimed to raise funds for young cancer patients and their families. Money...
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Caesareans raise allergies risk
Caesarean birth greatly increases a baby’s chances of developing allergies, a study has found. Infants delivered by C-section are five times more likely than those born naturally to become allergic to common triggers such as dust mites and pets,...
