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Common illnesses & Prevention news

Wastewater may offer an early warning of pertussis outbreaks

Pertussis, or whooping cough, continues to cause periodic outbreaks worldwide and can be especially dangerous for infants who have not completed vaccination. Yet conventional surveillance depends on people seeking medical ...

Vulnerability to wildfire smoke is in our genes, thanks to an evolutionary quirk

When the sky becomes orange and hazy from wildfire smoke, modern humans are at greater risk than our earlier ancestors would have been.

Culture change may help firefighters reduce cancer risk

A soot-caked helmet and grimy turnout gear have long been symbols of grit and experience among American firefighters. Yet exposure to contaminated equipment can increase the risk of cancer. Now, attitudes toward protective ...

Sugar tax could improve oral health

Millions of cases of tooth decay could be prevented if Australia introduced a 20% tax on sugar, new Griffith University research has found.

New clues about the causes of severe headaches

Cluster headache is a rare neurological disorder characterized by sudden, severe headache attacks. Due to the extreme pain, it is sometimes referred to as "suicide headache," and the underlying causes remain largely unknown. ...

Jump tests can help predict athlete injury risk

Injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) are among the most severe injuries a competitive athlete can face. The ACL is crucial for maintaining both stability and function in the knee joint. Each year, between 100,000 ...

How vaping disrupts daily life for young people

A new study published today unveils the daily reality of vaping addiction among younger Australians, showing how the products disrupt lives and are even relied on for stress relief.

A high-sugar diet may worsen asthma, even in the short term

Sugar consumption has been linked to an increased risk of cavities and weight gain. In the long term, it may also contribute to insulin resistance and diabetes. For people living with asthma, however, the impact can be even ...

Nurses call for a prevention-focused approach to child health

Currently, the U.S. health care system is very reactive, mainly treating people, including children, after they become sick rather than preventing illness. School nurse expert Erin Maughan and colleagues in the American Academy ...

One in six hospital beds filled by dementia patients

The study is the most comprehensive review of dementia hospitalizations ever undertaken in the UK. The researchers outline how delayed discharges, lack of communication among NHS staff and hospital environments unsuitable ...

Hospitals can close rural cancer care gaps

The American College of Surgeons (ACS) Commission on Cancer (CoC) has introduced a new rural accreditation category to expand access to high-quality cancer care in rural communities, where long travel times and specialist ...