Health
Blood supplies inadequate in many countries
Globally, many countries don't have enough donated blood to meet their needs, a recent study suggests. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that for every 1,000 people in any country, 10 to 20 blood donations are needed to provide adequate supplies. Blood transfusions save lives and improve health, and the… Read
Diet for healthy people, healthy planet too costly for some
At least one in five people could not afford science's "ideal diet" designed to feed 10 billion people without hurting the planet, according to a new study. The EAT-Lancet report first made headlines when it was unveiled in January because it proposed the first scientific targets for both a healthy… Read
An extra 15 minute daily walk could boost global economy:study
The world economy could be boosted by as much as $100 billion a year if employers successfully encouraged their staff to meet World Health Organization guidelines on exercise, according to an analysis of the economic impact of activity. Adding an extra 15 minutes of daily walking, or jogging a steady… Read
Takeda's dengue vaccine effective overall in study but with major limitation
Takeda Pharmaceutical Co's experimental dengue vaccine was highly effective at preventing the mosquito-borne disease in a late stage study, but it failed to protect against one type of the virus in people with no prior exposure to dengue. Takeda's vaccine was 80.2% effective at preventing dengue among children and teens… Read
E-cigs may damage the heart, study says
Vaping devices and the chemicals they deliver -- increasingly popular among teens -- may damage the cardiovascular system, a study says, adding to a growing chorus of concern over injury and deaths related to e-cigarettes. The latest findings, published in the journal Cardiovascular Research, come after the US Centers for… Read
Brain-scanning helmet helps track children in motion
Scientists have used a modified bike helmet to create a device that can monitor brain activity in children in realtime. The technology may eventually be used on patients with neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and epilepsy, they reported Tuesday in Nature Communications. Researchers inserted a wearable magnetoencephalography (MEG) device into… Read
Tailored treatments could help athletes with eating disorders
Athletes face an increased risk for eating disorders, and a treatment program tailored to their specific needs can help them regain a healthy relationship with food, a small study suggests. Researchers tested a program developed to focus on psychology and nutrition in helping athletes with their body image - as… Read
Getting measles 'resets' the body's immune system
Measles, the contagious childhood disease that is once more on the rise globally, is more harmful than previously thought. A new analysis of 77 unvaccinated children from the Netherlands carried out by an international team of researchers led by scientists at Harvard has found that the virus erases the body's… Read
How daylight saving time affects health
Office workers bemoan driving home in the dark. Night owls relish the chance to sleep in. As clocks tick toward the end of daylight saving time, many sleep scientists and circadian biologists are pushing for a permanent ban because of potential ill effects on human health. Losing an hour of… Read
Direct-to-consumer genetic test results may be unreliable
Genetic tests sold online or in stores may produce false results, warn genetics experts in the UK. When one of these tests indicates a “health risk,” it doesn’t necessarily mean someone will develop the health problem, and conversely, “reassuring” results may be unreliable, they caution in the medical journal BMJ.… Read
