Health

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World Health Statistics 2014

Large gains in life expectancy

People everywhere are living longer, according to the "World Health Statistics 2014" published by WHO. Based on global averages, a girl who was born in 2012 can expect to live to around 73 years, and a boy to the age of 68. This is six years longer than the average global life expectancy for a child born in 1990.

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Water Poses More Danger for Black Youths Than Whites: CDC

Evidence suggests they are less likely to have been taught basic swimming skills, researcher notes.

Black children are more than five times as likely to drown in swimming pools as their white peers, U.S. health officials reported.

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Protein sharpens salmonella needle for attack

A tiny nanoscale syringe is Salmonella's weapon. Using this, the pathogen injects its molecular agents into the host cells and manipulates them to its own advantage. A team of scientists at the Biozentrum of the University of Basel demonstrate in their current publication in Cell Reports that a much investigated protein, which plays a role in Salmonella metabolism, is required to activate these needles and makes the replication and spread of Salmonella throughout the whole body possible.

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This image depicts a section of a Salmonella infected spleen in yellow, red blood cells in red and neutrophils in blue.

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Health, United States, 2013 includes special section on prescription drugs

Most common prescription drugs among adults are those for cardiovascular disease and high cholesterol

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Study Probes Why Kids With Autism Are Oversensitive to Touch, Noise

New brain imaging study shows certain regions are hyperactive to sensory stimuli.

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WHO calls for stronger focus on adolescent health

Road traffic injuries, HIV/AIDS, suicide are top causes of death; Depression is number 1 cause of illness and disability

WHO's "Health for the world’s adolescents" report reveals that depression is the predominant cause of illness and disability for both boys and girls aged 10 to 19 years. The top 3 causes of adolescent deaths globally are road traffic injuries, HIV/AIDS, and suicide. Worldwide, an estimated 1.3 million adolescents died in 2012.

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CDC Urges Anti-HIV Pill for People at High Risk of Infection

Targeted groups include people with an infected partner or those who don't practice safe sex.

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Asthma Awareness Month 2014: NIH continues its commitment to asthma research

May is Asthma Awareness Month, and the National Institutes of Health emphasizes the scientific progress being made in asthma research, from basic science, such as how lung cells work, to clinical trials on current and future treatments for the disease. NIH-led research includes studies of environmental factors, how the body’s own defense system plays a role, and the microbiome — all the microbial organisms that live in and on the human body.

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WHO calls on governments to do more to prevent alcohol-related deaths and diseases

Worldwide, 3.3 million deaths in 2012 were due to harmful use of alcohol, says a new report launched by WHO. Alcohol consumption can not only lead to dependence but also increases people’s risk of developing more than 200 diseases including liver cirrhosis and some cancers. In addition, harmful drinking can lead to violence and injuries.

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WHO/UNICEF highlight need to further reduce gaps in access to improved drinking water and sanitation

Inequalities in access to improved drinking water and sanitation facilities still persist around the world

Since 1990, almost 2 billion people globally have gained access to improved sanitation, and 2.3 billion have gained access to drinking-water from improved sources. Some 1.6 billion of these people have piped water connections in their homes or compounds, according to a new WHO/UNICEF report, entitled Progress on drinking water and sanitation: 2014 update, which also highlights a narrowing disparity in access to cleaner water and better sanitation between rural and urban areas.