10 health stories that got people talking this year
Here are just some of our stories that dominated the news in 2019 and got people talking in Sydney and around the globe.
1. The new exercise trend that is made for everyone
You鈥檝e heard of HIIT but what about HIIPA? From washing the car to climbing stairs or carrying groceries, each of these activities is an opportunity for short, sharp bursts of 'High Intensity Incidental Physical Activity', according to an international research team.
2.聽Increased Q-fever vaccination needed for rural residents
Researchers are calling for increased Q-fever vaccination for rural residents as a new study finds people who are not in recognised high-risk groups are still at increased risk of catching the highly infectious disease.聽
3. What is Ligandrol and how does it work?聽
Australian freestyle swimmer Shayna Jack tested positive to the聽banned substance聽Ligandrol before the聽world swimming championships聽in South Korea. An expert from the University of Sydney Pharmacy School explains the history of Ligandrol and how it works.聽
4. Brain disease found in former league players
For the first time, a brain disease linked with repetitive head injury reported in American sport has been identified in the brains of two former Australian rugby league players.聽
5. Eating a bit less reduces heart attack risk, study shows
The link between obesity and cardiovascular disease is well known but in what is believed to be the first study of its kind, an international team has found even restricting calorie intake moderately, by people only marginally overweight, can significantly reduce the risk of a heart attack.
6. Preeclampsia risk may be reduced by a healthy high-fibre diet
New research suggests gut bacteria could have an impact on the outcome of pregnancies, with a high plant-based fibre diet recommended.聽
7. Is it safe to use an electric fan for cooling?
New research published in聽Annals of Internal Medicine聽calls into question current guidelines from most public health authorities that suggest fans may not be beneficial when the temperature rises above 35 degrees Celsius.聽
8. What happens when students call an aged-care facility their home
Student Hannah and Scalabrini resident Neville. Credit:聽
It's not every day your neighbours are 160 older people with dementia or age-related care needs, but four health sciences students from University of Sydney students are very happy to call an aged care facility their home.聽
9. Codeine misuse in Australia reduced by prescription-only changes
The move to prescription-only codeine in Australia has seen a 50 percent reduction in the monthly rate of codeine-related poisoning calls and halved codeine sales, finds new research led by the University of Sydney.聽
10.聽DNA time capsule reveals birthplace of modern humans
A landmark study, published in聽Nature, pinpoints the birthplace of modern humans in southern Africa and suggests how climate change may have driven the first migrations. The study was featured in the Altmetric Top 100 list of the most-discussed works of 2019.聽
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