RFK Jr.'s Vaccine Panel Purge Shakes Scientists — and Polio Survivors
Hi, it's Jason in Melbourne. Polio survivors' stories resonate deeply with me: My dad and his brother spent weeks isolated in an infectious disease ward after contracting the virus in the 1940s. It caused partial paralysis — and lasting trauma. But before I explain how that ties into the latest news from RFK Jr….
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Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Risk of Sleep Breathing Disorder Set to Rise 45% by End of Century
Rising temperatures could increase the chances of experiencing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) by nearly 50 percent by the end of the century, placing a greater burden on society through loss of health, wellbeing, and productivity. This is the result of a recent investigation into the effects of local temperature increases on OSA, a condition where a person's airways become blocked while sleeping for more than 10 seconds at least five times an hour throughout the night. "This study helps us to understand how environmental factors like climate might affect health by investigating whether ambient temperatures influence the severity of OSA," says sleep scientist Bastien Lechat from Flinders University in Australia, who led the study. "Overall, we were surprised by the magnitude of the association between ambient temperature and OSA severity." Many of the nearly 1 billion people globally with this sleep disorder don't even know they have it, yet it can take a serious toll on their health. Aside from affecting sleep quality, OSA alters the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood. In the long term, this imbalance can affect insulin and glucose metabolism, mental function and mood, and can even lead to cardiovascular problems like heart failure and stroke. Previous research has also linked untreated or severe OSA with increased risk of dementia, Parkinson's disease, traffic accidents, and all-cause mortality. Lechat and his colleagues drew on data from an under-mattress sleep sensor used by 116,620 people across 29 countries between January 2020 and September 2023. The sensor detects movement and sound which can be analyzed to create estimates of sleep timing, quality, and breathing. The researchers matched this data – around 500 separate nights per person – with detailed, 24 hour temperature data for participant's nearest cities. In 2023, this coincided with the highest mean temperature recordings on record in over 2000 years, 2.07 °C above pre-industrial levels. "Higher temperatures were associated with a 45 percent increased likelihood of a sleeper experiencing OSA on a given night," Lechat says. "The increase in OSA prevalence in 2023 due to global warming was associated with a loss of approximately 800,000 healthy life years across the 29 countries studied. This number is similar to other medical conditions, such as bipolar disorder, Parkinson's disease or chronic kidney diseases." They estimate that the resulting wellbeing burden and workplace productivity loss cost economies a total of around $98 billion USD, with an estimated 105 million days of workplace productivity lost. All up, this would double the condition's estimated burden on society compared with today. "Importantly, these findings varied by region, with people in European countries seeing higher rates of OSA when temperatures rise than those in Australia and the United States, perhaps due to different rates of air conditioning usage," Lechat adds. Because the sleep sensors from which the data were collected are more readily available to people in higher socioeconomic countries and individuals, this study may actually underestimate the true health and economic cost of OSA exacerbated by climate change. These people may have access to better sleep environments and air conditioning, the researchers point out, mitigating the effect of temperature on their sleep. Modeling based on government climate change policies from 2020 suggests global warming will raise temperatures by around 2.1–3.4 °C by 2100, unless greenhouse gas emissions are further reduced. "The health and economic impact of these estimates would be consequential, and the increase in OSA prevalence due to rising temperatures in such scenario may double the overall OSA burden," the authors report. The research was published in Nature Communications. Breakthrough: FDA Approves Injection to Prevent HIV Is It Gastro or Food Poisoning? Here's A Guide to Your Upset Stomach Axolotl Discovery Brings Us Closer Than Ever to Regrowing Human Limbs
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
Little-known hazard sparks warning for Aussie drivers over 40: 'Can affect anyone'
Sydney woman Belinda Garvanovich used to dread driving after dark. For years, the anxiety persisted — until it led to a frightening close call. "I used to refuse driving long distances at night and would make my husband drive as I wasn't confident," the 52-year-old told Yahoo News Australia. "I pushed my kids to get their licence as soon as they could so they could drive at night and not me. "One time at a carpark at night, I couldn't see properly and went into a pole… next weekend I had an appointment booked in with my optometrist," she said. The cause? Presbyopia, a common and age-related vision condition that affects the ability to focus on close-up objects, and one that millions of Australians may have without realising. Belinda now wears "night glasses" while on the road and urged others with impaired vision to follow suit. "Don't put it off like me and get it checked ASAP," she urged. After Australians experienced the longest night of the year this weekend, new research suggests a potentially dangerous trend is playing out on our roads, particularly among Aussies aged 35 to 50. According to a new study, a staggering 72 per cent of mid-life Australians have never heard of presbyopia, despite more than half (51 per cent) reporting close-up vision problems in everyday life. The condition, which typically begins around age 40, becomes especially problematic during night driving. Optometrist Greeshma Patel said the numbers reflect a broader lack of awareness and a pressing safety issue. "Presbyopia can affect nearly everyone as they age… but the term itself isn't widely known," she explained. "People often attribute their blurry near vision to just 'getting older' or 'tired eyes' rather than a specific condition." Millions warned as new cameras officially target drivers from today Millions warned as change speed cameras becomes official Urgent warning over deadly trend on Aussie roads She said the condition can have serious implications on the road, especially in low-light conditions. "When your eyes struggle to focus on near objects, it also affects their ability to quickly adapt focus between different distances," she said. "This means a driver might find it difficult to clearly read the dashboard, then instantly switch focus to road signs in the distance, or to spot pedestrians on dimly lit streets. It's not just about reading a book — it's about safe driving." According to the survey, conducted by Specsavers, some 38 per cent of mid-life Australians admit to erratic driving at night due to poor vision. Pight per cent said they'd had a car accident as a result, and 57 per cent have felt unsafe driving at night due to their vision Patel said symptoms like holding your phone further away, struggling with small text, or needing brighter light to read can all point to presbyopia, but many brush it off until something goes wrong. "Workarounds like increasing screen text or borrowing someone else's glasses may help short term, but they delay getting the proper treatment," she said. Fortunately, the fix is simple. "Presbyopia is very easy to treat and manage," she said. "The most common solutions are reading glasses, bifocals or multifocal lenses, and there are also contact lenses or corrective surgery options." She's calling for greater public awareness, including campaigns to normalise routine eye checks. "Eye tests are bulk billed with a valid Medicare card, but many people still don't prioritise them unless something is seriously wrong," she said. As Australia continues to grapple with a national rise in road deaths, vision may be one of the most overlooked risk factors, especially in the colder, darker months. "Mid-life vision issues aren't just about reading or texting," Patel said. "They're directly tied to confidence and clarity behind the wheel. A quick eye test could prevent a crash — or even save a life." Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
200 evacuated after chemical incident
Nine people were taken to hospital and 200 evacuated following a chemical incident at a public pool in Melbourne's north. Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) were called to the Broadmeadows Leisure Centre about 6.15pm on Friday night after people reported the smell of gas inside the centre. Firefighters found multiple people affected by the chemicals upon arrival. A FRV spokesperson confirmed to NewsWire that nine people were taken to hospital for treatment following the incident. About 200 people were evacuated from the leisure centre while FRV hazmat specialists ventilated the premises. A positive reading for sodium hydrogen sulphate was found by the hazmat specialists. The centre was confirmed to be safe to re-enter two hours later by FRV. Sodium hydrogen sulphate, also known as sodium bisulphate, can be used to adjust pH levels in water. NewsWire has contacted Hume City Council for comment. More to come …
