Taking a waistline measurement has become the recommended way for an individual to gain a snapshot of their health, particularly their risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers. “It’s simple to do and simple to understand,” says Professor Ian Olver from Cancer Council ...

Many diseases that now have a 100 per cent recovery rate were once untreatable. So what medical breakthroughs happening right now will soon be changing lives? The gift of sight By 2013, researchers at Bionic Vision Australia hope to start testing a bionic eye that would help people with macular ...

By Richard Ashmore and Sophia Phan “Mr Gibbs keeps our daughter alive” Like most little girls her age, Alida Knobloch loves to ride her bike and play in the garden. However, the only way she can do this is to carry an oxygen tank with her at all times, due ...

Our world is rapidly becoming devoid of human touch. With scattered families, online shopping, ATMs, Facebook and instant messaging, these days there’s a whole lot less opportunity to reach out and touch someone. But researchers have shown the power of human touch can help babies stay healthier and sleep better. ...

You could be forgiven for thinking that probiotics, or “good” bacteria found in our digestive system as well as in foods and supplements, hold the answer to all our health problems. They are available in a variety of forms, from yoghurts and fermented drinks to powders and capsules, and the ...

Consider the following group of candidates who are still rocking out at an age when many people have been retired for years: Mick Jagger (69), Keith Richards (68), Rod Stewart (67), Iggy Pop (65) and Bob Dylan (71). While certain elements of their lifestyles leave a lot to be desired ...

We arrive into the world with a mixture of DNA from our parents. We may have inherited mum’s dark hair or dad’s fiery temper, but ourgenetic heritage – and what happens to it during our life – could also be the key to avoiding deadly diseases such as cancer and ...

You wake up one morning, feeling perfectly fine. You start your day, hop into the shower and get a shock – you’ve found a lump in your breast. So what should you do? Firstly, don’t panic, says Dr Julie Thompson, resident clinical advisor at the Breast Cancer Network Australia. “Nine ...

Every person diagnosed with breast cancer should become the central focus of a team of medical and allied health experts who meet regularly to discuss the best plan for them – on this point breast cancer experts agree. So why isn’t this happening? This collaborative approach to breast cancer care ...

Despite 73 per cent of respondents exercising outdoors once or more a week and 93 per cent not smoking, the majority of us can see room for improvement in our health. Check the menu While 95 per cent of respondents regularly add vegetables to their plate, most fail to meet ...