HEALTH

There is growing concern about whether or not they are able to implement a sustainable method in harvesting the plant.

The first licensed imports of cannabis have arrived in Perth, and seriously ill Australians can now access the imported medical marijuana. The drug has been imported Down Under in a joint collaboration between Swiss cannabis company Creso Pharma and Australian wholesale company Health House International.

Researchers have found out that drinkers who mix energy drinks with alcoholic beverages may be more likely to have increased risk of injury.

A method that can bolster memory similar to what champions have was underscored by a team of research scientists.

The Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) has created a budget proposal that would require all high earners to pay a Medicare levy surcharge.

Medibank health insurance has blamed IT glitches for its 102 debit problems in the last quarter of 2016.

Boston University scientists have revealed that they have developed a blood test that can predict lifespans. As weird as it may sound, the scientists believe it is a game-changing blood test though the test needs to be conducted on larger groups of people to confirm the results. This breakthrough will allow patients to identify health risks early on and subsequently modify behaviour to change outcome.

The anti-cancer drug Venetoclax has just received Australia approval. The drug was developed by a team of international and Australian scientists and now it has been reported that the drug can “melt away” certain advanced forms of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL).

A survey, conducted over three decades, has found that more and more Australians are supporting decriminalisation of marijuana. For the first time, more Aussies are supporting cannabis legalisation than those who still want it to be classified as an illicit drug.

Mission Australia, a non-denominational organisation, conducted a survey whose results were published on Dec. 5. The survey found out that mental health is the main issue young Australians face today.

Scurvy, an 18th century disease historically associated with sea sailors, has made a surprise comeback to Australia.

In a major turnaround of events that has baffled medical experts and researchers, a protein that was long believed to cause Alzheimer’s, has proved to be one that actually fights off the degenerative disease.

Victoria is rolling out a revolutionary melanoma blood test that can diagnose the disease within hours, thereby greatly improving patients’ chances of overcoming the disease. This liquid-biopsy is an Australian-first that allows patients to begin treatment immediately. It cuts weeks off the time taken to detect the fatal skin cancer.

Experts are concerned of the overuse of anti-psychotic drugs prevalent nowadays. They say that these may damage brain and will even lead to early death. However, critics oppose the argument, contradicting the theory for lack of scientific evidence. Most of the claims are exaggerations, they say.

University of California-San Francisco Medical Center’s assistant clinical professor of dermatology, Dr. Jenny Eileen Murase, says that people who sweat excessively do not realise that they have a treatable medical condition.

Australian doctors have slammed celebrity chef Pete Evans for proposing a paleo diet to an osteoporosis suffer that doctors believe could be potentially damaging. Evans advised the sufferer to remove dairy from his diet. Queensland obstetrics and gynaecology specialist Brad Robinson, furious at Evans’ advice, reminded him he is a chef, not a doctor.

A new study has suggested that smoking cannabis can make one lazy. Marijuana users may perform less in education and work because of their reduce willingness to exert themselves.

The American Chemical Society has uploaded a video on their “Reactions” YouTube channel informing public how peeing in the pool can expose people to major health risks. Taking a leak while frolicking in the swimming pool is not only disgusting but also harmful.

After more than 80 people were struck down by a national salmonella outbreak in Australia this week and the strain was linked to the “Red Dirt” Rockmelons, sale of rockmelons have fallen drastically. This is despite the rare bacterial strain of salmonella being isolated to the Northern Territory. The outbreak has rocked the industry and cut profits.

Untested stem cell treatments are rapidly increasing in Australia because of a regulatory loophole that allows businesses offer potentially harmful or ineffective treatments. As per a new study, Australia has one of the world’s highest concentrations of stem cell businesses that advertise cosmetic and medical treatments online. There is even lack of evidence about the safety and effectiveness of some of the procedures.

People in Canberra seeking medicinal cannabis will so get the support of the ACT government as it would soon be starting a medical marijuana scheme. The government is developing an evidence-based framework for the scheme, Assistant Health Minister Meegan Fitzharris announced on Thursday.

Scientists at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) have found a link between lower weight and Alzheimer’s disease risk. They have associated lower body mass index (BMI) with greater deposits of Alzheimer's-associated amyloid plaques in the brains of older individuals.

Australian health authorities have warned pregnant women, the elderly and infants to avoid eating a particular brand of watermelons after more than 80 people were struck down by a national salmonella outbreak. The salmonella strain has been linked to the “Red Dirt” Rockmelons.

There is hope that hepatitis C may be eliminated in the next 10-15 years and won’t be a public health threat in Australia anymore. However, study reveals viral hepatitis deaths increased by 63 percent in the last 23 years.

A new study has revealed that only one hour of brisk walking every day may eliminate the health risks commonly associated with long hours of sitting in office. The world-first study by the University of Sydney researchers said that The global cost of physical inactivity for 2013 was US$67.5 billion (AU$90 billion).

Researchers at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California have revealed that e-cigarettes are not as healthy as some people think. They emit harmful chemicals with certain models emitting more chemicals than others.

Researchers from Columbia University Medical Centre have revealed that chronic pain increases the risk of opioid addiction. In fact, significant pain may raise the risk of opioid addiction by 41 percent.

A new study by Australian and US researchers has revealed that it is possible to predict organ failure risk post kidney transplant. In what has been defined as a landmark breakthrough in medical research, the scientists identified several genes holding the key to determining the future outcome of a kidney transplant.

A new study has stated that having cinnamon turns poor learners into good ones. It may also target Alzheimer's disease, mild cognitive impairment, and Parkinson's disease.