TIA patients with speech difficulties more likely to suffer from irregular heartbeat

Patients who have a mini-stroke accompanied by speech problems, are more likely to suffer from a treatable heart condition called atrial fibrillation, according to Ottawa research presented recently at the International Stroke Conference. Read more >>

Free membership for kids at Club V

20% of South African children are overweight and only 42% are getting enough exercise to stay healthy. These statistics were found in the 2010 Healthy Active Kids Report Card which gave South African kids an overall grade of C for health. In order to try and improve these statistics and get children to exercise, Virgin Active is offering one year's free membership to its Club V for all children whose parents join during April. Read more >>

Yoga calms heart pace, cuts anxiety

NEW ORLEANS: People who suffer from irregular heartbeat could see their episodes cut in half if they do yoga regularly, according to a study released in the United States. Read more >>

Study provides first link between two major Parkinson's genes

As Parkinson's Awareness Month gets underway, a Canadian-led international study is providing important new insight into Parkinson's disease and paving the way for new avenues for clinical trials. Read more >>

New drugs from bugs

Scientists from the Universities of Bristol and Birmingham have discovered how marine bacteria join together two antibiotics they make independently to produce a potent chemical that can kill drug-resistant strains of the Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) superbug. Read more >>

Flu vaccines reduce hospital stays

A study by TopMed medical scheme has found that the number of admissions to hospital for patients with influenza or its most common complication, pneumonia, has increased by 240% since 2007, with a 193% increase from 2008. Read more >>

The beam of energy that could save you from blindness

A hand-held device that fires sound waves into the eye could help prevent age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA: The invisible people

[Jamie Elkon*] CAPE TOWN: Since psychiatric care was decentralised last year in South Africa, patients have been moved from hospitals into community day hospitals that don't have the appropriate resources to deal with mental illnesses. As a result, many of society's most vulnerable have slipped through the cracks in the system and now walk the streets like invisible people. Read more >>

Eat food that boosts health

[Zenoyise Madikwa] The trend this year is all about well-balanced menus with lots of fruits and vegetables, a limited amount of sugars and processed foods. Read more >>

Booze causes at least 13 000 cancers a year in the UK

Alcohol causes at least 13 000 cases of cancer a year in the UK, according to a new report published in the British Medical Journal recently. Read more >>

Strawberries may slow precancerous growth in esophagus

COLUMBUS, OHIO: Eating strawberries may be a way to help people at risk of esophageal cancer protect themselves from the disease, according to a new study by researchers at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC - James) and researchers in China. Read more >>

Two young adults diagnosed with skin cancer every day

Each day more than two people under 35 in Britain are diagnosed with malignant melanoma - the deadliest form of skin cancer - according to new figures from Cancer Research UK. Read more >>

Careful cleaning of children's skin wounds key to healing, regardless of antibiotic choice

Hopkins Children's study suggests antibiotics may not always be best therapy. Read more >>

Pfizer sells capsule-making Capsugel for $2.4 bn

NEW YORK, USA: Pfizer, the world's biggest pharmaceuticals company, said on Monday, 4 April 2011, it has agreed to sell capsule-maker unit Capsugel to private-equity firm KKR for about US$2.4 billion in cash. Read more >>

Plain cigarette packets could help stop people taking up smoking

Plain cigarette packaging could help prevent people taking up the habit but would have little effect on those who already smoke on a daily basis, according to new research from the UK Centre for Tobacco Studies (UKCTCS), which has bases at the Universities of Bristol and Bath. Read more >>

Health issues in Africa on agenda for World Health Day

World Health Day is commemorated today, 7 April 2011 and focuses on 'antimicrobial resistance and its global spread'. Antimicrobial resistance threatens the continued effectiveness of many medicines used today to treat the sick, while at the same time it risks jeopardizing important advances being made against major infectious killers. Read more >>

South African family in crisis: SAIRR

South African families are in crisis according to a new report released by the South African Institute of Race Relations this week. The report, entitled The First Steps to Healing the South African Family, documents the extent of family breakdown in South Africa and the effect this is having on children and the youth. Read more >>

Sports Science Institute of South Africa goes digital!

With research showing that over 3.7 million South Africans interact daily on Facebook, and that well over 1.5 million tweets are generated by South Africa monthly, it is clear that the digital platform is where the institute needs to be communicating. Hence, the Sports Science Institute of South Africa (SSISA) has launched its brand-new website www.ssisa.com, which is heavily geared towards substantial interaction on social media forums. Read more >>

High altitude training offers clues to fighting lethal health problems

Inflammation can kill, study shows, yet the body can adapt. Read more >>