Health - This Week's Roundup

Auntie Beeb reports that a new pathway to control blood pressure has been discovered:

UK scientists say they have discovered a new way to regulate blood pressure, offering hopes of new drugs to combat strokes and heart attacks.

One in four adults has high blood pressure and although powerful drugs are already available, few manage to achieve target blood pressure levels.

The best possible argument for international universal health-care: With international travel a reality, in fact, a necessity as globalization of trade and industry becomes the norm, we're exposing ourselves to many more illnesses, and we're spreading them faster.

With about 2.1 billion airline passengers flying each year, there is a high risk of another major epidemic such as Aids, Sars or Ebola fever.

[...]

Since the 1970s, 39 new diseases have developed, and in the last five years alone, the WHO has identified more than 1,100 epidemics including cholera, polio and bird flu.

Disease does not discriminate by class, although crowded conditions and inadequate drinking water and sanitation increase risk. Nevertheless, SARS and AIDS are not going to research your income, education, or skillset before they kill you very dead. And, in fact, since only those with disposable income travel regularly, the spread of a deadly epidemic is likely to target them first, along with health care professionals and first responders.

Scientists can now induce an out-of-body experience in a test subject. I'm pleased to see this last vestige of my superstitious beliefs collapse and crawl feebly away. So there IS a scientific explanation!

Science Daily reports that Four Agents Decoction, a traditional Chinese herbal remedy used since Song Dynasty days, is effective in reducing menstrual pain.

And acupressure is effective in relieving lower back pain. Acupressure has also apparently shown to be effective in keeping people awake during boring lectures or meetings.

As I may have previously mentioned to all my pinky-white pals - TAKE MORE FUCKING VITAMIN D, goddammit. Here's why.

And on that happy, if shrill, note, I leave you till the morrow.

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