Why health savings accounts are a bust for the poor but a boost for the privileged
The latest Senate health care bill is still a hodgepodge of efforts to repeal Obamacare, critics say. One of their concerns is the focus on HSAs.
Psychological trauma a new risk in digital age
Journalists face psychological trauma from producing news even when they are distant from the scene of violent incidents. What can news organizations do?
How infectious diseases have shaped our culture, habits and language
Despite being so small they can't be seen with the naked eye, pathogens that cause human disease have greatly affected the way humans live for centuries.
We make fake poo in a laboratory – to improve sanitation in Bangladesh
It's a dirty scientific job – but it could save lives.
Why you should eat a plant-based diet, but that doesn’t mean being a vegetarian
A survey of Australians found most (70%) thought that a plant-based diet would prevent disease. But what does the literature say? And is meat really bad that for you?
The numbers show that marriage does make men fatter
It puts an average 1.4kg on the weighing scales.
Death as a social privilege? How aid-in-dying laws may be revealing a new health care divide
People who seek aid in dying tend to be white men older than 65, a new analysis shows. While this could be due to religious views, here's why it could also be because of lack of access.
Electrical stimulation can help people who are too weak to exercise
The ancient Greeks knew the medical benefits of electrical stimulation. Now researchers are trying it for people who are too ill to get physically active.
Menstruation and the mind – a complicated relationship
A new study suggested that menstruating does not impact a woman's mental performance. But the relationship between hormones and the brain isn't that simple.
Rethinking the ‘French paradox’ on red wine and cheese
Red wine may not explain the French paradox but chemicals within it do have a positive effect on health.
Don’t hate your gut: It may help you lose weight
Trillions of microorganisms living inside your digestive system may influence your health and even your weight. Here's how your gut may communicate with your brain, bone marrow and immune system.
Silicosis’s toxic legacy offers deadly lessons for today
Canada rushed to counter a deadly lung disease afflicting gold miners in the early 20th century. The "quick fix" cure that was invented is a symbol of the lurch towards global industrialization.
Common courtesy can humanize cancer care
Cancer care is often impersonal, industrial and needlessly stressful. Allowing patients to witness personal introductions between their physicians would help ease their anxiety and build trust.
A new way to think about dementia and sex
The sexuality of persons living with dementia is demonized by media and ignored by clinical guidelines. But sexuality is fundamental to being human and vital to a humane culture of residential care.
Viewpoints: should euthanasia be available for people with existential suffering?
Imagine this situation: a person has no medical illness but wishes to end his or her life purely because he or she no longer wishes to live. Should they be eligible for euthanasia or assisted suicide?