Health

Hospitals in Australia’s capital have been ordered to establish an enhanced surveillance program following the outbreak of a dangerous childhood virus in NSW. A nasty strain of enterovirus 71 (EV71) is believed to have killed four young children and put more than 100 in hospital with complications like meningitis and encephalitis (brain swelling) in NSW. […]

A new food labeling system that would give packages a health star-rating has been proposed as part of a federal government campaign to combat obesity. The new scheme would see food packages ranked in half-star steps with a top ranking of five stars, aiming to encourage food manufacturers to make their products more healthful to […]

The number of children being hospitalised with the most severe symptoms of a dangerous virus, blamed for four deaths in a current NSW epidemic, has increased in latest weekly data. NSW Health surveillance data reveals eight children diagnosed with meningitis or encephalitis (brain swelling) — among neurological complications of enterovirus 71 (EV71) — were admitted […]

Pregnant women have been issued with a new list of don’ts as senior doctors recommend they should consider cutting down on make-up and plastic-wrapped food, among other measures, despite having no evidence of their risks. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) has today published guidelines that are already proving controversial among medical experts […]

Suffering from one of the above? Fill your plate with these to fight back.

Here’s a disturbing new trend. More than half of Gen Y (aged 18 to 27) look up symptoms and try to self-diagnose on the internet instead of seeing a doctor, compared to 36 per cent of the rest of us. It is easy to find yourself up a dark alley, getting wrong information about your […]

The deaths of three young children believed to have been infected with a dangerous strain of a virus sweeping through childcare centres are being investigated by the NSW Coroner’s Office. Enterovirus 71 is being blamed for hospitalising at least 36 children with severe neurological symptoms, including meningitis, inflammation of the brain and muscle paralysis. Five […]

Women Australia-wide are buying an illegal tanning substance and injecting themselves. They are putting their health on the line, writes Clair Weaver. When Kelly McDonnell developed a golden tan, lost weight and experienced a surge in her libido, she thought she’d found the Holy Grail of bronzing products. On the recommendation of a friend, the […]

Australia is in the grip of an epidemic: almost half the adult population will suffer from a mental illness at some time in their lives. Anxiety and depression are at the top of the list, but modern treatments can do much to alleviate the pain, writes Michael Sheather. At the height of her life-long battle […]

Tired eyes? Try eating a banana. Acne breakout? Snack on some coconut yoghurt. Need a little collagen boost? Munch on some pineapple. These are the tips from renowned Hollywood nutritionist to the stars Kimberly Snyder, who says it’s easy to get glowing skin and shiny hair simply by eating the right foods. Kimberly, whose client […]