Top health news from around the web this week.
International health news
- Nutrition labels updated – The FDA is recommending changes to food labels, which have essentially stayed the same for decades.
- Greater experience causes older brains to slow – Scientists believe older brains slow down due to greater experience rather than cognitive decline.
- Good cholesterol could turn nasty – Good (HDL) cholesterol can become “abnormal” and cause adverse health effects, say scientists.
Health advice
- Cervical cancer screening reduces deaths — January is Cervical Health Awareness Month and women are reminded of the importance of regular cervical cancer screening.
- High protein diet risks – Diets such as the popular Dukan diet can increase the risk of kidney stones and renal diseases.
Country-specific health
- Canada: Long-waiting times for GPs — Canada ranks the lowest of 11 OECD countries for the time patients wait to see their family doctor.
- England: E-cigarettes banned for under-18s – Experts are worried the “healthier” e-cigarettes will encourage young people to start smoking.
- Ethiopia: Half the village at risk of blindness – A preventable bacterial infection is spreading within the community, which left untreated causes irreversible blindness.