Health - Sciencenorway.no

Is organic food healthier than other foods?

There seem to be some differences between organically and conventionally grown foods, but the health effects are uncertain.

ME/CFS may be linked to failure in energy supply to the cells

Researchers compared blood samples from patients with ME/CFS with those of a control group.

Eldercare workers feel invisible and underappreciated

More than 40 per cent of health professionals who work in the eldercare sector in the Nordic countries have seriously considered quitting their jobs. Lack of recognition is an important reason.

The coronavirus is here to stay, researchers say

The coronavirus may eventually act like other coronaviruses that cause colds, researchers believe.

Viagra can potentially save the lives of people with severe hypothermia

SHARE YOUR SCIENCE: Viagra works in both hot and cold situations.

Europe's strictest rules for crossing the borders was not enough to stop the Delta virus

40 per cent of the Delta cases in Norway may have come from one single trip.

Poor studies on long Covid are sensationalized by the media

OPINION: The media are overdramatising poor studies concerning the long-term effects of Covid-19.

Remaining smokers in Norway don’t really want to quit

Only one in three of those who still smoke in Norway want to quit once and for all. Those who insist on their smoking habits and rituals need to be given a real alternative, says researcher.

How many people actually regret having children?

Between 10 and 13 per cent of Polish parents regret having children. Single parents and those with poor finances or health problems regret having them most, new studies show. “Many probably had children when they were too young,” one Norwegian happiness researcher says.

Adults with ADHD have increased risk of obesity, epilepsy and a number of other diseases

Researcher believes new findings from ADHD research could be significant for treating the condition.

High hopes for new screening technology after breast cancer don’t pan out

The researchers hoped they would be able to detect dangerous breast cancer earlier with three-dimensional breast images. But a new study shows that the old method appears to detect cancer just as well.

Children who slept less had fewer positive emotions

Over time, insufficient sleep can affect our concentration and our relationships with friends.

New medicine can stop autoimmune disease in mice

A new substance causes the immune system to stop attacking its own cells. An experiment with mice now shows that the drug prevented diseases similar to arthritis and type 1 diabetes.

Your brain doesn’t get any younger from studying

Our brain shrinks as we get older. Higher education doesn’t help us then, as researchers previously believed.

Why do some people get restless legs?

Many people are unaware that they have a neurological disorder.

We have to think about dementia long before we get old, say researchers

A drug is now approved in the US, that can be used in the treatment of dementia. That's good news. But new treatments are not enough. We need to take action ourselves to avoid the disease, researchers says.

Music made patients less anxious after surgery

Patients spent several hours on the operating table. Afterwards, music therapy made them less anxious.

Poverty increases the risk of children being infected by Covid-19

How and where they live affect the chances for young people of catching Covid-19.

Being active outdoors does not increase risk of skin cancer according to Norwegian study

Physical activity and working out in the outdoors do not increase the risk of melanoma according to a large Norwegian study. But do follow the advice on protection against the sun, the researchers stress.

Why do people die during heatwaves?

ASK A RESEARCHER: A lot of people recently died during a heatwave in Canada. But what exactly happens to the body when the temperatures get too hot?

Checking your phone during meals may create unhealthy eating habits for your child

You wouldn’t be alone if you check your phone while feeding your toddler. But you should be aware that this may teach your children negative things about meals and eating, researchers say.

People who were seriously ill with Covid-19 are doing surprisingly well today

Doctors and researchers have studied long-term effects of Covid-19 in Norwegians who were seriously ill with the disease. They are surprised by the results.

Thousands of Norwegians will participate in study on the effect of a third Covid vaccine dose

More than 16 000 Norwegians will participate in a study which will examine the effect of a third Covid vaccine dose for people who have a weakened immune system.

New pill against celiac disease protects fully against the effects of gluten

The pill has now been tested on 160 patients and shows promising results.

Researchers detected coronavirus in the air four meters away from infected persons

Coronavirus has been found in particles in the air four meters away from sick individuals, according to a new report from the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment.

Fewer people used antibiotics, nasal sprays and cough syrup during the pandemic

This finding is probably due to the coronavirus measures, according to the chief physician at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.

Will be paid damages after AstraZeneca vaccination

Three individuals have been granted damages from The Norwegian System of Patient Injury Compensation due to serious side effects experienced after vaccination with the AstraZeneca Covid vaccine.

More than six out of ten people with substance abuse issues say they get the help they need

An evaluation of the Norwegian parliamentary bill on drug addiction finds that many addicts get the help they need. Even so, drug reform is needed, according to Bent Høie, Minister of Health.

Clinical transparency in Norway:Report reveals a major gap with ethical implications

OPINION: As research ethicists we suggest a two-fold approach that may keep sponsors, institutions and researchers accountable.

The price of alcohol and tobacco in Norway is 120 per cent above the European average

No other country in Europe has more expensive alcohol and tobacco than Norway.

Norwegian study: More than half of young people with mild Covid-19 infections experienced Long Covid

Six months after the infection, more than 50 per cent of young adults aged 16-30 still had symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath and trouble concentrating.

Sky-high estimates were not high enough: Almost everybody says yes to the Covid vaccine in Norway

More than 90 per cent of Norwegians said yes to the offer of a Covid vaccine. This may give Norway the world's best vaccine coverage. But it also means delays in the vaccination programme.

Fewer people than expected died in Norway last year. The opposite is true in Sweden

Sweden recorded nearly 7000 more deaths than under normal circumstances during the pandemic year of 2020.

Political pressure has made Norway lag behind on abortion research and foetal medicine, researchers say.

"Were not allowed to study early ultrasound because it can detect foetuses with Down’s syndrome", one specialist in foetal medince says.

Can a halted ME study have consequences for other researchers?

A Norwegian ME-study lost its ethics approval due to conflict of interest. Will this decision by a national ethics committee have consequences for other research seeking approval?

Controversial CFS/ME study loses ethical approval due to conflict of interest

"The project's greatest weakness is the PhD candidate’s active role in all stages of the project," the research ethics committee writes in its decision.

Received medal for work on Norwegian Covid-test

Hospitals were about to run out of other test kits, but the crisis was averted thanks to Magnar Bjørås, professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology NTNU, and his team. Now he's being awarded for his role in developing a Covid-test in an unprecedented short period of time.

Causes of death in Norway: Highest number of overdose deaths in Norway in 20 years

324 overdose deaths were registered in 2020. That's the highest amount of lives lost to overdoses in almost 20 years.

Use of sleeping pills has doubled among Norwegian youth

Ten years ago 1,6 per cent of Norwegian youth between the ages of 15 and 19 used prescription sleep medicine. Last year that number had more than doubled.

What kind of side effects do people really get from the COVID-19 vaccine? Here’s how the Norwegian Medicines Agency is answering this question

“Lots of people are being given vaccines over a very short period, so it’s important to monitor them and follow what’s happening,” says Gunnar Fløan Rimul from the Norwegian Medicines Agency.

Infants who had systemic blood infections had alterations in their metabolism

SHARE YOUR SCIENCE: They also showed signs of increased oxidative stress and fatty acid oxidation.

Survivors from the Utøya massacre still struggle with trauma

This summer marks ten years since the terror attacks on the political youth camp at the island Utøya. More than a third of the survivors still struggle with post traumatic stress symptoms, according to new research.

Weight gain in the population is not due to less exercise

Physical activity at work and in our leisure activities has had little or no impact on the increase in the average Norwegian's BMI in recent decades, according to two new studies. So why the increase in weight?

How protected are you after one dose of an mRNA vaccine?

Three weeks after your first dose of an mRNA vaccine, you should be protected from the coronavirus. So why do we have to get two doses? We ask the experts.

Norwegian Medicines Agency about Johnson & Johnson:“We usually don’t use vaccines with lethal side effects”

Norwegian health authorities are working on establishing a volunteer scheme for those who wish to take the Johnson & Johnson vaccine outside of the national programme – but is it even legal?

Norwegian health experts strongly disagree with the government's decision to offer Johnson & Johnson vaccine voluntarily

“We are of the opinion that doctors should not participate in this," says the president of the Norwegian Medical Association.

The abortion debate hasn't always been focused on the fetus' right to life

Throughout history, opponents and proponents have used many arguments for and against abortion.

Children who got narcolepsy after the swine flu vaccine struggle with obesity and depression

“This is a lifelong and serious disease,” one researcher says.

A few nursing home patients died earlier than expected after getting the Covid-vaccine

If patients in nursing homes are not expected to live that much longer anyway, there is little to gain from being vaccinated against Covid-19, a Norwegian group of experts conclude.

Here come the corona babies? 700 more births in Norway compared to the same period last year

It’s too early to say whether or not this is due to corona, but the increase starts nine months after the first lockdown in Norway.

Norwegian drug may increase ventilator free survival in hospitalized Covid-19 patients

Trial shows that a drug called bemcentinib has the potential to increase the rate of ventilator free survival in more than 50 per cent of hospitalised COVID-19 patients, according to company press release.

A study on Irritable bowel syndrome resulted in improvement for 90 percent of patients, then their funding ran out

The Norwegian Patient Association started a fundraising campaign for a Norwegian research project on faecal transplants to treat Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Women who struggle with urinary incontinence are more likely to experience anxiety and depression

A study of Norwegian women suggests there may be a common underlying connection.

Does the sun make you sneeze? You have the ACHOO syndrome!

And the "problem" isn’t in the nose. The brain goes into overdrive to handle the anticipated activity in the strong light, according to doctor Kaveh Rashidi.

More than 75 per cent reported mild side effects after the AstraZeneca vaccine in Norway

Just under 29 per cent of respondents in a study said they experienced the same type of mild side effects after the first dose of a Pfizer vaccine, compared to 75,7 per cent of those who had a shot of AstraZeneca.

Norwegian expert committee:Country should not use AstraZeneca or the Johnson & Johnson vaccines

Norwegian expert commission: Country should not use AstraZeneca or the Johnson & Johnson vaccines

A Norwegian expert committee has recommended the government do not include adenoviral vector based vaccines in the national vaccination programme.

Patients suffered severe nerve injury after removal of their contraceptive implants

Doctors warn that a hand surgeon should be called in if the procedure appears to be difficult.

Fewer and fewer men want to become doctors

More than twice as many women as men want to become doctors in Norway. The development is worrying, says the leader of the Younger doctors' union.

Children and youth born prematurely are prescribed drugs to treat mental illness more often

SHARE YOUR SCIENCE: Preterm children need more follow-up of mental health

Are some people more prone to getting cavities than others?

ASK A RESEARCHER: Both genes and the environment play a role in how likely you are to get cavities. But the most important thing is how you take care of your gums.

The AstraZeneca debate has not created anti-vaxxers in Norway

Eight out of ten Norwegians say they believe vaccines in general are safe.

Never before have Norwegian women given birth to so few children

In Northern Norway the number of births per 1000 women declined by nearly 5 per cent.

Closing schools did not give a better effect than strict infection measures

Comparing Norwegian municipalities that chose different strategies allowed researchers to compare.

Here’s why women are more likely to report vaccine side effects

Biological differences related to gender may be part of the reason.

Rare side effects from the AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines may have been seen in 15 year old animal studies

That a high dosage of adenovirus in the bloodstream could lead to clotting, low levels of platelets and antibodies to platelets was known 20 years ago from animal studies in gene therapy.

Children who spent a lot of time in daylight were calmer

Kindergarten children were equipped with bracelets that measure light exposure. A study found a link between lots of daylight and low hyperactivity in the children.

The miracle cure is exercise, not vitamin D

SHARE YOUR SCIENCE: Are we chasing a vitamin D ghost?

Rare intellectual disability: Norwegian doctor discovers supplements that help

Intellectual disabilities can be due to genetic defects that interfere with the absorption of nutrients. Two Norwegian brothers with this condition were saved by a dietary supplement with betaine, a substance found in beets.

Twenty years of sequencing genes… for better or for worse

SHARE YOUR SCIENCE: It’s been 20 years since the first draft sequence of the human genome was published in the journals Nature and Science. Sequencing 30 000 genes has changed the world, but in a different way than expected.

Norway continues the pause in vaccinations with AstraZeneca

The Norwegian Institute of Public Health recommended that the AstraZeneca vaccine be removed from the Norwegian vaccination programme - but the government wants to wait until we know more.

Yes, we can prevent future pandemics

OPINION: With new health threats perhaps just an airflight away, we need to ask how countries like Norway can contribute in the global effort to prevent future pandemics.

People vaccinated with AstraZeneca reported mild bleeding episodes significantly more often than those who got an mRNA vaccine

“These findings could potentially indicate that the adenovirus-vectored vaccine leads to bleeding disorders not only in rare cases”, Norwegian researchers write in an unpublished study.

3% of the Norwegian population may have been infected by the coronavirus in 2020