A blood test to diagnose cancer, getting your 7-a-day, and more international health news.
International health news
- Blood test to diagnose cancer? – A simple blood test to detect tumour DNA could be used to identify the stage and type of cancer, after promising study results this week.
- Ketamine hope for severe depression – Researchers have found the horse tranquilizer can cure depression, even in patients who stop responding to other drugs.
- World Health Day 2014 – The theme of this year’s WHO World Health Day is how to prevent insect bites and lower your risk of malaria and other insect-borne diseases.
Health advice
- 7-a-day is the new 5-a-day – Eating 7 portions of fruit and veg a day is better than the minimum of 5 currently recommended and would prolong life, say health experts.
Country-specific health
- USA: Obamacare ‘here to stay’ – Despite ongoing problems, over 7 million Americans have signed up for insurance to avoid penalties.
- Switzerland: Flats for multiple chemical sensitivity sufferers – Mobile phones, perfume, and smoking are some of the many items prohibited in the 15 flats.
- UK: Scarlet fever cases reach weekly high – 883 new cases of scarlet fever in the last week alone make it the highest weekly total in 30 years.