Headlines on health

New concussion guidelines launched to help patients get the right care

New national clinical guidelines for the treatment of concussion have been released. They are aimed at helping healthcare professionals treat patients with greater consistency, amid concern that providing the right care can still be a blind spot.

Aged care reforms: Who will pay more under the new system?

A long-awaited Aged Care Act comes into force today [[Nov 1]], four years after a Royal Commission recommended major reforms to the sector. The federal government says it will give older Australians more choice and access to in-home support, but there are concerns many people will end up paying more for care.

Kidney disease drug added to PBS, helping 65,000 Australians

The federal government will add a medicine for chronic kidney disease into the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. More than 65.000 Australians are expected to benefit from the cheaper access to Jardiance , also known as Empagliflozin.

Peanut butter loving babies are licking allergies, study suggests

A decade after a landmark study proved that feeding peanut products to young babies could prevent them developing life-threatening allergies, a new US study has shown it's making a big difference in the real world. The study has found about 60,000 children in the United States have avoided developing peanut allergies after new guidance was issued in 2015 about when to introduce the allergen to youngsters.

Breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast cancer, researchers say

Australian researchers have found breastfeeding can protect women against breast cancer by building up their immunity. According to a new study, pregnancy and breastfeeding produces infection-fighting T-cells that help guard against abnormal cells that could develop into cancer.