Health

For most of us, it's a time to relax and unwind — and sometimes an opportunity to indulge in booze.

"It's common knowledge that many people up their alcohol intake over the summer period," psychologist and public health expert Dr Bosco Rowland said.

It is, after all, the season to be jolly.

But according to Dr Rowland, it's also a timely reminder of the dangers of excessive drinking, and why it's important to drink responsibly.

How much is safe to drink?

Consuming more than four portions a week is a risk, suggests the study of nearly 1,000 French people, published in the journal Thorax.

The researchers believe it could be a preservative called nitrite used in meats such as sausages, salami and ham that aggravates the airways.

But experts say the link has not been proved and more investigations are needed.

Rather than worry about one type of food, people should be eating a healthy and varied diet, they advise.

The team found both the platypus and echidna produce a long-lasting form of the hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1).

GLP-1 is normally secreted in the gut of both humans and animals, stimulating the release of insulin to lower blood glucose levels.

But GLP-1 typically degrades within minutes.

Lead researcher Frank Grutzner said his team was surprised to find the hormone was produced not only in the platypus' gut, but also in its venom.

Patients at the Princess Alexandra Hospital will start undergoing treatment within days now that the new computer program, Calypso, has gone online.

Patients at the Princess Alexandra Hospital will start undergoing treatment within days now that the new computer program, Calypso, has gone online.

The Committee of Presidents of Medical Colleges, representing bodies including the Royal Australian College of GPs, the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, has developed a six-point obesity action plan to tackle what it calls the most pressing public health issue.

Professor Nick Talley, head of the Committee of the Presidents of Medical Colleges, said urgent definitive action was needed.

"We need leadership, not just telling people to lose weight," he said.

Dr Seine Va'ai says there are also people suffering from the heat.

The Ministry's advice come after reports some athletes competing at the Commonwealth Youth Games needed treatment for diarrhoea and vomiting.

It says people can avoid the transmission of disease by ensuring they have access to clean drinking water, adequate sanitation and good personal hygiene.

A headache is one of the most common health-related conditions globally and it is likely all of us will experience a headache in their lifetime. People of any age can be affected, but people between the ages of 25 and 44 years are more likely to report having a headache.

Most headaches have more than one contributing factor. Some of the more common triggers for a headache are lifestyle-related, such as poor diet, stress, muscle tension, and lack of physical activity and pain can range from mild to severe.

Yes, you read that correctly, the word fat next to the word water. Curious? So are we…

Fresh on the heels of the everyone-eat-like-a-caveman Paleo craze, bottled water that's been infused with coconut oil is now a thing that's readily available for all to enjoy (and sip, slowly, whilst judging others for drinking just water…).

That extra fluid can be hard on your heart and blood vessels. It can cause high blood pressure, which can lead to heart disease or stroke. High amounts of salt also raise your risk of kidney stones and bone loss.