The Korea Herald

Rabies

Jul 5, 2012

1. What is rabies?Rabies, also known as hydrophobia or mad dog disease, occurs when the nervous system becomes infected with the rabies virus. It is a communicable disease between men and warm-blooded animals. Rabies is a contagious disease, fitting into the third prevention category of the officially designated communicable diseases and the first Domestic Animal Infectious Disease Control Law. When animals are infected with this disease, it is called rabies, and when people are infected, it is
Are you vaccinated?

Jul 5, 2012

Summer is a good time to travel abroad. According to Statistics Korea, the number of outbound travelers in July and August 2010 marked 2.27 million, about 20 percent of the annual global trotters. But not many people are aware that they could be subject to various infectious diseases, with some quite serious. Vaccination makes some of these illnesses preventable to some degree. Taking into account that two weeks is needed for inoculation to take effect, now may be the right time for summer holid
Living alone ups death risk from 45 to 80

Jul 5, 2012

An study of stable outpatients at risk of or with coronary disease found those ages 45-80 who lived alone had an increased risk of death, U.S. researchers say.Dr. Jacob A. Udell of Brigham and Women‘s Hospital, Harvard Medical School in Boston, and colleagues examined whether living alone was associated with increased mortality and cardiovascular risk in a global study involving 44,573 people --
Seoul pushes for drinking ban in parks

Jul 5, 2012

The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Thursday it is pushing to ban drinking in public parks starting next year to enhance public health and reduce disturbances. The municipal government said it submitted to the land ministry last month a proposal of revising relevant law to prohibit drinkingin the city's 2,000-odd parks.Smoking is not allowed in public parks according to law, but no similar rule
Video games can improve employee health

Jul 4, 2012

Employers are using health wellness video games to promote health and save employers direct and indirect healthcare costs, U.S. researchers say.Bill Ferguson, editor-in-chief of Games for Health Journal wrote in an editorial that wellness programs using health games could have a significant impact on human well-being and the costs, pain and suffering of preventable illnesses and conditions.Video g
Cat parasite infection may lead to suicide attempts

Jul 3, 2012

Scientists have uncovered a potential link between a common cat parasite infection and female suicide attempts, according to news reports.Researchers from University of Maryland School of medicine found that women infected with toxoplasma gondii have a higher tendency to kill themselves than those who are not.Toxoplasma gondii is a common parasite that is transmitted via cat feces, eating undercooked meat or unwashed vegetables. In case of animal infections, toxoplasma gondii alters the host’s b
Caffeine may reduce risk of skin cancer: report

Jul 3, 2012

Drinking more than two cups of coffee per day, or any other combination of caffeinated beverages, may lower the risk of developing skin cancer, according to a new report.The report in the journal Cancer Research found that caffeinated products including soda, tea and chocolate potentially reduced the risk of developing basal-cell carcinoma, a common form of skin cancer.“Our data indicate that the more caffeinated coffee you consume, the lower your risk of developing basal cell carcinoma,” said J
Case study: Man gets headaches from porn

Jul 1, 2012

(MCT)A 24-year-old unmarried man in India complained of intense "exploding" headaches while watching pornography, researchers said. The case study, published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior, said the unnamed male software professional said the headaches were so painful after two years he sought the help of a doctor. Researchers from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University in New Delhi said th
Scientific hangover cure suggested

Jun 29, 2012

A U.S. news report said Mitchell Moffit and Gregory Medlock have created a video tutorial about how to avoid a hangover scientifically.Some of the tips include: Before drinking, eat fatty foods and carbohydrates; Drink water before, during and after your night out; Take aspirin before bed (but not Tylenol) and Have a breakfast that includes eggs, bananas and fruit juice.There have been many reports claiming that hangover can be cured. In April, a Las Vegas anesthesiologist introduced his Hangove
Video imaging test fees to go down

Jun 28, 2012

Starting July 15, fees for examinations using video imaging equipment at hospitals and clinics will go down, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said Tuesday. A panel of governmental officials, doctors, hospital management, medical system experts as well as patients has agreed to a 15.5 percent cut in the fee for CT use, 24 percent for MRI and 10.7 percent for PET.The discount will save about 111 billion won ($96 million) from the national health insurance coffers, Park Min-soo, a ministry offici
Samsung to add global touch to patient meals

Jun 28, 2012

Samsung Medical Center on Wednesday released its menu for foreign patients in four different languages and introduced its 40 different diet menus for patients from all over the world. The menu offerings are published in English, Mongolian, Arabic and Russian. The cuisine includes contemporary Western, Russian, Mongolian, Arabic, Thai, Greek and others. “We will be able to provide foods outside the menu upon patients’ request,” said Cho Yeong-yeon, head nutritionist at the hospital. (baejisook@he
LG’s ‘Gemiglo’ wins KFDA approval

Jun 28, 2012

The Korea Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday that it has approved the manufacture and distribution of LG Life Sciences’ diabetes treatment, Gemiglo.Gemiglo, the main substance of which is gemigliptin, is the 19th new drug developed by a domestic pharmaceutical company and fifth new diabetes treatment in the world. According to the developer, Gemiglo is effective on type-2 diabetes patients, who have a high blood sugar level though their insulin secretion is working. By its use patients
Know your BMI: Docs urged to screen for obesity

Jun 28, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) ― Chances are you know your blood pressure. What about your BMI?Body mass index signals if you’re overweight, obese or just right considering your height. Some doctors have begun calling it a vital sign, as crucial to monitor as blood pressure.But apparently not enough doctors check: A government panel renewed a call Monday for every adult to be screened for obesity during checkups, suggesting more physicians should be routinely calculating their patients’ BMIs.And when someone c
Heatstroke and heat exhaustion

Jun 28, 2012

The summer heat often leads to changes in lifestyle patterns. During the daytime, people may sink into a state of torpor and at night, people may experience difficulties going to sleep.People who work in an environment with strong air-conditioning may also suffer various symptoms because of the drastic difference between the outdoor and indoor temperatures. In the summer, it is also easy for food to spoil and the conditions are ideal for microbial growth. Therefore, people are more likely to suf
Shoes with minimal soles bring maximum results for runners

Jun 28, 2012

MINNEAPOLIS ― Shelly Noland’s running shoes fit her like a glove.Literally.Noland is on her 14th marathon, her ninth wearing Vibram FiveFingers, minimalist shoes that cover the foot like a five-toed sock, offering protection against the occasional pebble or shard of glass, but no extra cushioning.This is by design. There is a growing group that believes running barefoot ― or something close to it ― is best, advocating a running style that’s easier on the body.Noland is a true believer. And, like