Health | Keys Corner

Britsh primary schools to open 10 hrs daily

By John, on September 5th, 2004

The German education authorities are struggling to move from morning-only schools – primary and secondary schools don’t provide midday meals or tuition in the afternoon – to ones which are open for something approaching a normal working day, so long as enough parents request it at a specific school. In many cases where schools . . . → Read More: Britsh primary schools to open 10 hrs daily

Myopia (short-sightedness) caused by too much reading

By John, on July 12th, 2004

The New Scientist reports, quoting a new study in Progress in Retinal and Eye Research, that myopia is often caused by too much reading and looking at computer screens. There has been quite a bit of theorising about the causes of myopia in the past, with both diet and genetic defects being seen as . . . → Read More: Myopia (short-sightedness) caused by too much reading

One third of Americans were without health insurance in last 2 years

By John, on June 16th, 2004

Nearly 82 million Americans under the age of 65 (one third of all the people in this age group) were without health insurance at some point in the last two years. More than two-thirds lacked cover for more than 6 months; more than half were uninsured for more than 9 months.

One quarter . . . → Read More: One third of Americans were without health insurance in last 2 years

Is being overweight unhealthy?

By John, on May 26th, 2004

According to Paul Campos, author of The Obesity Myth, writing in New Scientist (free 7-day subscription neccessary to access), a couple of weeks ago, the war on obesity is based not on sound science but on medical self-interest and cultural hysteria. Here a quote from his article: From records of nearly 2 million Norwegians . . . → Read More: Is being overweight unhealthy?

Black death spread by humans?

By John, on May 17th, 2004

Chris Duncan, at Liverpool University and Sue Scott, have published a theory in their new book, The Return of the Black Death, that the Black Death was not passed on by fleas on rats carrying bubonic plague, as was thought until now, but that the disease was haemorrhagic plague – an equally infectious disease, . . . → Read More: Black death spread by humans?

Work out at your local supermarket

By John, on May 1st, 2004

The BBC reports that the British supermarket Tesco are introducing shopping trolleys next week (made by the German company, Wanzl) which monitor the shopper’s heart rate and the rate at which calories are being burnt as the trolley is pushed round the store. The shopper can even set the amount of resistance the trolley . . . → Read More: Work out at your local supermarket