Overeating at Christmas can cause weight gain – but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s permanent

The holidays are a time of indulgence, with most celebrations centred on having festive food and drinks. It’s no wonder then that most people expect to gain some weight over Christmas. Indeed, plenty of research suggests that people can gain a couple of kilos over the festive period. But whether this weight gain is only […]

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Adding sodium regularly to food increases risk of chronic kidney disease

It’s well known that adding salt regularly to your food raises the risk of hypertension and the resultant risks of heart attacks and strokes. But now, researchers in New Orleans have found that it also significantly increases the danger of triggering chronic kidney disease.  People can get excess salt also from preserved and other foods […]

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Magnets, mating and metallic objects – cautionary tales from the MRI scanner

A 57-year-old woman from Wisconsin recently sustained a rather unfortunate injury to her buttock. She had attended the hospital for an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan and had entered the machine with a concealed firearm. The machine’s powerful magnet caused the gun to discharge. This isn’t the first time in 2023 that a firearm injury […]

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Health funds receiving allocations at start of year in healthcare basket

On Thursday, the Finance and Health ministries decided to add some NIS 4 billion to the Health Services Basket. It represents a real addition of NIS 2b. to the budgets of the four public health funds, compared with 2023. The insurers will receive the money in advance as part of the arrangement for adding […]

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Six ways to look after your eyes in 2024

The World Health Organization estimates that over 80% of all vision impairment around the world can be prevented and even cured. Reducing the risk of eye diseases involves adopting a combination of lifestyle changes, protective measures, and regular eye care. Here are six ways to look after your eyes in 2024. 1. Have regular eye […]

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Educational psychologists said to be needed more than ever

The supply of services by educational psychologists in the schools has been neglected for two decades, and there is now a 30% shortfall in staff, Treasury officials said Wednesday at a joint session of the Knesset Health Committee and the Education, Culture, and Sports Committee. When Treasury officials promised the MKs that “a new […]

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the most neglected part of our body is finally starting to receive attention

We are constantly reminded about how exercise benefits our bone and muscle health or reduces fat. However, there is also a growing interest in one element of our anatomy that is often overlooked: our fascia. Fascia is a thin casing of connective tissue, mainly made of collagen – a rope-like structure that provides strength and […]

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2023 marked by achievements and ‘avoidable suffering’: WHO chief

Reflecting on 2023, which also marked the UN agency’s 75th anniversary, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted key achievements and set out objectives for the coming year. “In May, I declared an end to COVID-19 as a public health emergency of international concern. This marked a turning point for the world following three years of crisis, […]

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What viruses can trigger juvenile diabetes?

Type-1 diabetes (T1D), which used to be called “juvenile diabetes” but can be diagnosed in adults as well, is an autoimmune, chronic condition caused by the failure of the pancreas to produce any or enough insulin to let glucose enter the cells properly and produce energy. Different factors including genetics can cause it, and scientists […]

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