Top health stories this week: health system rankings and use exercise to beat Alzheimer’s.
International health news
- US the worst, UK the best – An international ranking of health systems in developed countries finds the UK comes top across several categories and the US worst overall.
- Is sunbathing addictive? – Similar to exercise, sunbathing produces endorphins in the skin, which scientists say led to addiction in mice.
- Advances open the way for self-diagnosis apps – Sensor technology is now being used in smartphone apps to allow self-diagnosis and share information with physicians.
Health advice
- Exercise tips for Alzheimer’s prevention – With a direct link between exercise and reduced Alzheimer’s risk older adults need to do more say experts.
Country health updates
- West Africa: Ebola ‘totally out of control’ – Doctors Without Borders is stretched to its limits trying to control the outbreak in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.
- UK: Calls for ‘sugar tax’ – Campaign group has 7-point plan including a sugar tax and stricter marketing regulations to curb rising obesity rates.
- USA: Anthrax exposure risk grows – The number of health workers exposed to anthrax has risen to 84. Mistakes were made in a high-level biosecurity lab last week.