Eye health ‘key to SDGs’

Louise Coghlin Vision, quality of life, the economy and development are all so interconnected that eye health should be reframed as a mainstream part of the sustainable development agenda, says a major report on eye care. The report by 73 leading experts from 25 countries warns that without additional investment in global eye health, 1.8 billion… Continue reading Eye health ‘key to SDGs’

Climate change ‘poses lifelong threat to children’s health’

Berlin Climate Strike

Fatima Arkin Climate change is already damaging the health of the world’s children and threatens a lifelong impact unless countries meet the Paris Agreement targets to limit warming to well below 2˚C, according to a new study published in The Lancet. The study, which involves 35 global institutions, notes that children are more likely to… Continue reading Climate change ‘poses lifelong threat to children’s health’

Lancet recommended healthy diet unaffordable for 1.58 billion: new study

A diet recommended by EAT-Lancet Commission on Food, Planet, Health meant to improve both human and planetary health would be unaffordable for at least 1.58 billion people, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, estimates a new study Earlier this year, the EAT-Lancet Commission on Food, Planet, Health, the science-based global platform for food system… Continue reading Lancet recommended healthy diet unaffordable for 1.58 billion: new study

Cheap pill lowers health burden of heart disease

Inga Vesper A low-cost pill made up of four cardiovascular drugs could significantly reduce the burden of heart diseases, especially in low- and middle-income countries, according to a study undertaken in Iran. A paper published in The Lancet on 23 August showed that the so-called polypill, which combines different drugs into a single dose, reduced the risk of heart attack, stroke… Continue reading Cheap pill lowers health burden of heart disease

Asthma, More Deadly With Age, Takes Heavy Toll On Older Adults

Judith Graham Death rates for older adults with asthma are five times that of younger patients, according to a new review of asthma among seniors. In early June, Donna Bilgore Robins stood on a patio in Beaver Creek, Colo., under a crystal-clear blue sky and tried to catch her breath. She couldn’t. With mountain vistas… Continue reading Asthma, More Deadly With Age, Takes Heavy Toll On Older Adults

Dear Lancet, its pesticides that killed children, not lychees

Deepika Lobo Lancet study blaming the lychee fruit for children deaths in India negated by another study that suggests pesticides behind deaths.  The New York Times had published an article in January with the headline “Dangerous Fruit: Mystery of Deadly Outbreaks in India Is Solved” stating that lychees were the reason for the death of… Continue reading Dear Lancet, its pesticides that killed children, not lychees

Top 3 global death causes in last 23 years-diarrhea, heart diseases & maternal mortality: Lancet & WHO

HIV-AIDS that ravaged Sub-Saharan Africa is on the decline; while heart related diseases and cancer is on the rise in high income countries. Diarrhea, respiratory infections and communicable diseases devastated many low income regions; suicidal self-harm and maternal disorders were significantly present across all regions. 19 % of global deaths reported from India. These are… Continue reading Top 3 global death causes in last 23 years-diarrhea, heart diseases & maternal mortality: Lancet & WHO