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The WHO says 45 per cent of future dementia cases could be prevented.

HealthVideoComments‘Keeping active’: Aussie dementia patient backs new recommendations

The World Health Organisation revealed almost 50 per cent of cases could be prevented with everyday lifestyle changes.

Jennifer Bechwati - National Health Editor

Symptoms can include fever, headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, tiredness and a rash or skin lesions, which may be painful.

HealthCommentsHEALTH WARNING: Authorities on alert as infection cases rise

The viral infection spreads through close physical contact with an infected person, including skin-to-skin contact, intimate or sexual contact, and contact with contaminated materials such as bedding or towels.

Claire Sadler

Thirty-seven new deaths were recorded in 24 hours - one of the outbreak's highest single-day totals. (AP PHOTO)

HealthPremiumDeaths in Congo's Ebola outbreak surge to over 900

At least 930 people have died in Congo's Ebola outbreak out of over 2300 cases as the African nation battles the fastest-growing spread of the virus on record.

Staff Writers

Matthew's story and others like it are why DonateLife Week is focusing on kids and young people. (PR IMAGE PHOTO)

HealthPremiumYoung Australians urged to discuss organ donation

A teen back on the rugby field and a sister honouring a final wish highlight the life-changing impact of organ donation ahead of this year's DonateLife week.

Katelyn Catanzariti

Marie-Anne Keeffe is under investigation for her personal promotions of wellness products.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
State PoliticsCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
WA Health probe director’s social media product endorsements

A WA Health bureaucrat has been promoting health and wellness products to her 44,000 social media followers, prompting a review by the department.

Caleb Runciman

US authorities are warning people not to eat shredded iceberg lettuce from Taco Bell in five states. (AP PHOTO)

HealthPremiumLettuce blamed for 'explosive diarrhoea' outbreak in US

Lettuce from Mexico served by Taco Bell restaurants in five US states is being blamed for a widespread run of cyclospora infections.

Bill Barrow

Mothers who had antibiotics during labour but supplemented with a prebiotic during pregnancy did not have an increased risk of their baby developing food allergy.

HealthCommentsPremiumPregnant women need to take THIS to protect their baby

New WA research suggests a simple dietary intervention during pregnancy could help protect babies against food allergies associated with antibiotics taken before birth. 

Oakley Atcheson and Braxton Bentley will be among the first to trial the treatment.

HealthCommentsPremiumWA kids the first to trial groundbreaking diabetes treatment

A new immunotherapy treatment trial is available for children with early stages of type 1 diabetes for the first time in Australia, providing the potential to change the course of their disease progression. 

Claire Sadler

MS sufferers and their supporters have welcomed news from the federal government about medicines. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)

HealthPremiumDeal spares MS patients $33k annually in medicine costs

MS patients have avoided paying tens of thousands of dollars for treatment, with the government keeping key multiple sclerosis treatments on the PBS.

Robyn Wuth

Terry Fulton smoked up to two packs of cigarettes a day for 50 years until he had a massive stroke. (Jono Searle/AAP PHOTOS)

HealthPremiumFewer daily smokers, but black market battle rages on

The number of Australians smoking daily has more than halved in two decades, but experts fear illicit nicotine users are consuming more of it.

Eleanor Wilson and Nick Wilson

Researchers found that people with sarcopenic obesity were more than three-and-a-half times as likely to develop type 2 diabetes than people with healthy body composition.

HealthCommentsPremiumCurtin University researchers make diabetes breakthrough

A West Australian led study has made a breakthrough in understanding why people develop diabetes. 

Kirsty Lichtenstein

Great Southern health professionals are advising everyone to get their vaccinations up to date amid a rise in whooping cough cases.

health warningVaccination key to managing whooping cough case increase

Health teams in the Great Southern are working hard to manage the spread of whooping cough in the region, responding to a worrying uptick in cases. 

Jacki Elezovich

Digital versions of the infant health record hope to make it easier to navigate appointments. (Stephanie Gardiner/AAP PHOTOS)

HealthPremiumRed letter day for baby books as health gaps emerge

Paper records, workforce shortages and distance are among the many barriers stopping Australian children getting crucial checks in the first five years of life.

Stephanie Gardiner

8-year-old Ben Farrell almost died from undiagnosed high blood pressure.

HealthCommentsPremium‘Silent disease’: Fight against blood pressure danger rises

Ben Farrell was just five months old when he suddenly turned ‘white as a ghost’ and became gravely ill.

Kirsty Lichtenstein

There have been almost 5100 cases of RSV this year with a massive spike in July with more than 2900 of those infections recorded in June and July. 

HealthCommentsPremiumHealth officials warn virus peak not over yet as RSV soars

As we enter the middle of winter, West Australians are being warned to brace for respiratory syncytial virus with fears cases could outnumber the record amount of infections in 2025. 

Claire Sadler

Cody walks out with fellow Albany boy Jordan Clark.

starlight Young Cody’s starring moment with the boys in purple

After months of appointments, hospital stays and procedures, an Albany seven-year-old had a smile you couldn’t wipe away last week when he was selected to run out with his favourite AFL team at Optus Stadium.

Melissa Sheil

A study has found when you eat can impact body fat percentages, cholesterol and blood sugar markers. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)

HealthPremiumEarly risers nudge night owls on metabolic health

Sleeping in has its advantages but research suggests night owls might suffer poorer metabolic health as a result of when, not what, they eat.

Nick Wilson

After giving birth six years ago, Ali Minichiello is still dealing with major health issues. (PR IMAGE PHOTO)

HealthPremiumMothers pay the price for birth trauma costing billions

Birth injuries are costing Australia $17.5 billion per year with more than one million mothers suffering ongoing physical and psychological conditions.

Emily Woods

A new report has found more young Australians are being diagnosed with cancer. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)

HealthPremiumOne million Aussies have cancer, under-40s rates rise

The most detailed analysis of how cancer affects Australians shows mortality rates are improving for some patients, including First Nations people.

Stephanie Gardiner

The Pharmacy Guild of Australia influences government policy at patients' expense, a report says. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)

HealthPremium'Patients miss out': Calls for reform to pharmacies

Australian pharmacies should be subjected to a host of reforms, a report suggests, including removing restrictions on where they can be built to improve access.

Ethan James

Remplir, a collagen product use to repair nerves, pictured at Orthocell headquarters in the Murdoch Health Precinct.

HealthCommentsPremiumRecord revenue for Perth-based Orthocell amid global rollout

Regenerative medicine manufacturer Orthocell has booked its best revenue results on the back of rising adoption of its flagship product, a collagen wrap used in nerve repair.

Rebecca Le May

Professor Richard Scolyer lived life with passion, purpose and care for others, mourners were told. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS)

HealthPremium'Passion and purpose' of melanoma researcher remembered

After a life where he made skin cancer largely beatable and greatly accelerated brain cancer research, an Australian of the Year winner has been farewelled.

Alex Mitchell

Shocking footage of what appears to be a security guard choking a mental health patient at Kalgoorlie Health Campus has surfaced.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
WATCHVideoPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Shocking footage surfaces of patient choked at WA hospital

Alarming vision of a security guard appearing to use a choke-hold and forcibly restrain a hospital patient has surfaced.

Cain Andrews

Ryder Taylor is the first person in the southern hemisphere to undergo a laser surgery to burn a damaged part of his brain. He is pictured with neurosurgeon Arjun Chandran.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
HealthCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
The Perth hospital now using laser surgery to treat epilepsy

A minimally invasive brain surgery to control seizures has been performed in the southern hemisphere for the first time right here in WA.

Claire Sadler