Health - Sciencenorway.no

Why do you get so hungry after swimming?

Water has very special properties. But that's just one of the explanations.

How does divorce affect adult children?

'Silver splitters' is the term used when older couples divorce. Researchers have now examined how this affects their adult children.

Five-year-olds in school have a higher risk of ADHD

The entry system in Norway favours the oldest schoolchildren, according to one researcher. Is flexible school start the answer?

Why do we sleep at night and stay awake during the day?

ASK A RESEARCHER: Plants and fruit flies have helped us find the answer.

Expert's advice: What to do if your child swallows a magnet

"The worst-case scenario is if the child swallows several magnets at once," says Professor Pål Aksel Næss.

Improving elderly care with the latest fall detection technology

SHARE YOUR SCIENCE: Fall detection systems improve elderly care quality and resource use, and support the elderly in living independently at home longer.

Norwegian Institute of Public Health: Significant rise in ADHD and autism diagnoses

Significant rise in ADHD and autism diagnoses in Norway

Figures from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health show a significant increase in ADHD and autism diagnoses among children and adolescents from 2010 to 2022. This upward trend continued into 2023 and 2024.

Kennedy promises to find the cause of autism by September. "Unrealistic," says Norwegian expert

The US Secretary of Health believes vaccines may be to blame for the extreme rise in autism. “This has been refuted by high-quality studies,” says Norwegian expert.

New combination vaccine shows promising results as the US imposes stricter measures

A new study reveals that a combined mRNA vaccine for Covid-19 and influenza is highly effective. At the same time, the US is moving towards stricter regulations.

"We've discovered a new way that chemicals in plastic can disrupt processes in our bodies"

When professor Martin Wagner and his colleagues exposed cells to the chemicals they found in two plastic products, they saw an effect immediately.

Should you be worried about tick bites while travelling in Europe?

Ticks are becoming more common in Europe, and so are the diseases they carry.

A mother’s heart: How pregnancy shapes women's heart health

SHARE YOUR SCIENCE: Imagine a mother preparing for childbirth, unaware that her heart is silently working hard to keep up. Why does this happen, and how can we prevent disease?

A new way of measuring the placenta aims to detect pregnancies at risk

What effect does a small or large placenta have on the baby?

If the placenta is too large or too small, something may be wrong. But measuring it is far from simple.

Three dead from measles in the USA. The outbreak is spreading to new states

Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. is criticised for not being clear enough about vaccination.

To the Oslo Chronic Fatigue Consortium: Enough is enough

DEBATE: I question what the actual purpose of this research is.

Long Covid is neither psychological nor physical

OPINION: We don’t believe there is one single way out of Long Covid – we believe there are several.

Was supposed to have a rejuvenating effect – could end in death

Major plague epidemics made people desperate. This led to rushed and deadly solutions.

Why you shouldn't be on your phone after going to bed

Screen time in bed significantly increased the risk of sleep problems and reduced sleep.

Near doubling in students who are unhappy – researchers point to screen use

More than one in four lower secondary school students are unhappy. That is almost a doubling over ten years. A new study links it to screen use and mental health problems.

Why aren't we having more children?

Many fear low birth rates, but researchers believe we should think differently.

Architecture affects our health, according to researchers

Buildings and urban spaces are more important for our well-being than we might be aware of.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. claims to have found the cause of the obesity crisis. But is he right?

The Norwegian Directorate of Health recommends eating less of what the US Secretary of Health suggests.

Is it better to run outside than on a treadmill?

ASK A RESEARCHER: When spring arrives, many swap the treadmill for outdoor running. But is that a good idea?

Does apple cider vinegar really aid digestion and weight loss?

Experts say you can safely skip this trend.

Almost no ME/CFS patients return to work

"The help we have provided to patients through the welfare and healthcare systems has had little rehabilitative effect," says a researcher.

Does a mother's fish consumption affect whether the child develops arthritis?

Researchers are questioning whether environmental toxins in fish are the reason juvenile arthritis is twice as common in Northern Norway as in Southern Norway.

Report: No evidence that controversial additives harm the stomach and intestines

There is still very little research on the effects of thickeners on the digestive tract. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority believes that approved additives can be safely consumed.

What happens to the body when you lose weight rapidly?

ASK A RESEARCHER: Along with health benefits, there are also quite a few challenges.

Norwegian man likely cured of HIV

A Norwegian man has been free of the virus for nearly two and a half years following treatment and is likely cured of HIV.

Stomach flu: Why doesn't hand sanitiser work against norovirus?

Norovirus differs from other viruses.

Why do we love soda?

ASK A RESEARCHER: When carbonation bubbles in the mouth, the brain receives the same signals as when we eat spicy food.

Why do we become overtired?

ASK A RESEARCHER: If our body becomes unbalanced, it can be difficult to sleep.

Karoline structures her workweek according to her menstrual cycle. Does it make a difference?

Can structuring the workweek around the menstrual cycle improve productivity?

Karoline Kolstø says she experiences more energy and less stress.

Do you really need a heart rate monitor to become a good runner?

ASK A RESEARCHER: Is it really that important to closely monitor heart rate and intensity?

Researchers find possible link between endometriosis and childhood trauma

Researchers believe that some individuals may have genes that make them vulnerable.

Can walking on a treadmill at the office improve your fitness?

ASK A RESEARCHER: You have probably seen ads for treadmill desks on social media, but can you really improve your fitness by walking while working at the office?

"If patients say they have poor health, it should be taken seriously"

Researchers find a clear link between how we perceive our own health and the risk of becoming ill and dying early.

Do strict alcohol policies really work?

SHARE YOUR SCIENCE: A recent study shows how alcohol control measures have affected rates of alcohol-related diseases in the Nordic countries over the past 30 years.

Why do we crave sugar?

ASK A RESEARCHER: The explanation may lie in breast milk.

Is it a good idea to pee when you don't need to?

ASK A RESEARCHER: "Generally, it's a good idea to drink when you're thirsty and pee when you feel the need to," says professor.

Bird flu in the US leads to higher egg prices and pandemic risk: “Highly likely to spread between humans,” says researcher

Bird flu has led to a massive egg shortage in the USA. Researcher warns that this could affect the production of vaccines against this very disease in humans.

Are dates and honey healthier than sugar?

ASK A RESEARCHER: Natural sweeteners are often used as substitutes for white sugar in cooking and baking. But does this actually make the food healthier?

Many experience fatigue long after a stroke. Could poor brain cleansing be the explanation?

Cerebrospinal fluid flows less effectively for up to 12 months after a subarachnoid hemorrhage, according to a new Norwegian study.

A breakthrough HIV injection was set to change the game in 2025 – until Donald Trump took office

Now, HIV-positive individuals in Africa are met with closed doors at US-supported clinics.

New discovery about the brain's sense of place from Nobel Prize winners: "Absolutely shocked that this exists," says May-Britt Moser

The brain scans its surroundings in a steady rhythm, like an engine that only turns off during deep sleep.

80 years since the famous experiment: The starved men developed symptoms resembling eating disorders

Can hunger itself cause anorexia? The Minnesota Starvation Experiment sheds light on how a lack of food changes the body and mind.

The probability of dying before the age of 70 has halved in several countries

"With all the negativity in the world today, it's encouraging that some things are still improving," says the Norwegian leader of a new global study.

Memory declines with age, but it starts deteriorating long before you become old

Researchers have studied the development of the brains of people aged 30 to 89 years. Brain atrophy leading to memory loss is completely normal, and it starts earlier than you might think.

Only one in four people with migraines receives prescription medication. For Lisa, it took 20 years

"I'm quite shocked at how low the number is," says a neurologist.

A new medicine for almost everything – is it too good to be true?

Alzheimer's, addiction, cardiovascular diseases, kidney disorders, sleep apnoea, diabetes, obesity, and overweight. Researchers are finding almost no limits to what the active substances semaglutide and tirzepatide can treat.

Top 10 of 2024: Helium, a medieval gauntlet, and the oldest animals on Earth

Here is the list of the most read articles on Science Norway during the last year.

Norwegian Institute of Public Health: Lower mortality among those vaccinated against Covid-19

Those who were vaccinated against Covid-19 had a lower mortality rate compared to those who were not vaccinated in the period from 2021 to 2023. This is shown by a new study from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.

Some have started using an alternative to fluoride in toothpaste. How does it work?

The mineral appears to have some beneficial effects that fluoride does not. However, two Norwegian researchers still trust fluoride more.

Warns against fake research

PhD student Andreas Volstad was delayed by several months because he discovered something strange in the studies he was using for his research. "This can have consequences for both research and clinical practice," he says.

How poverty and mental health problems are passed down in Norway

Children are more likely to have mental health problems when their parents earn less. Why is this?

Chronic fatigue conditions are not incurable

Health researchers believe: Chronic fatigue disorders are not incurable.

OPINION: A new study shows that cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and other rehabilitation measures are effective for so-called 'Long Covid.' At the same time, studies have shown that neither medical treatment, special diets, nor medical equipment have any effect.

You can't jog or eat your way to preventing dementia, researcher says

It’s sad if patients affected by dementia accuse themselves of not having made the right choices in life, says researcher Anders Martin Fjell.

Women with obesity report negative experiences with the Norwegian healthcare system

"I was always running around looking for shirts and blood pressure cuffs that werebig enough," says a researcher with a nursing background.

The next big pandemic? Avian flu takes a worrying step closer to humans

OPINION: Avian flu, once limited to birds, is adapting to infect mammals, raising concerns about a new pandemic risk. With cases now seen in farm animals, experts warn of closer contact with humans.

Kids in poor families are more likely to have unhealthy diets and spend more time watching TV

Children in families with low income and education levels are more often exposed to unhealthy habits, according to new research from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.

Hormonal IUD and breast cancer: "Wrong for women to be scared"

Researchers point out several weaknesses in a Danish study that finds women who use hormonal IUDs for a long time may have an increased risk of breast cancer.

How to cope with autumn: "Go outdoors when it's light and take breaks from looking at screens"

Psychologist encourages people to put down their screens and reclaim daydreaming.

Oil pioneer Jan Erik has lost colleagues to cancer and has become ill from chemicals. Researchers are discovering new forms of cancer linked to the oil industry

“In the last few months alone, many of my former work colleagues have died. Most have gotten cancer,” says offshore oil worker Jan Erik Tandberg.

How can Norway’s sickness absence rates be reduced? Here’s what experts suggest

Sickness absence in Norway has increased by 20 per cent since 2019, and the country has higher sickness absence rates than its neighbouring countries. Experts offer solutions.

Report claims that the Covid-19 vaccines may have made people chronically ill:"Not possible to conclude," says researcher

We cannot say for sure that Covid-19 vaccines can cause long-term problems like fatigue, according to vaccine researcher Gunnveig Grødeland.

Why are we afraid to talk to children about suicide?

Norwegian studies reveal that those responsible for helping children often feel powerless and uncertain.

The Norwegian Institute of Public Health wants regular testing of PFAS levels in Norwegians' blood

The Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) believes Norwegians should undergo regular testing to monitor levels of the environmental toxin PFAS. NIPH is currently conducting the first large-scale study of PFAS levels in the Norwegian population.

Childhood diabetes has increased significantly over 30 years – Norway has one of the highest rates worldwide

Type 1 diabetes is a significant child health issue globally. The farther north you go, the higher the percentage of young people diagnosed with the disease.

New study on long Covid contradicts other studies – do patients have an overactive immune system or not?

In a new study, researchers found no evidence of an overactive immune system as other studies have shown. They suggest that long Covid might instead be caused by genes that fail to deactivate. Others cautions against drawing definitive conclusions from a single study.

Senior physicians are sceptical of rapid tests for chlamydia

Sexually transmitted infections are on the rise among teenagers, with many opting to purchase rapid tests online or in stores. However, several senior physicians are critical of these tests.

Githa got TBE from a tick bite: “When the virus reached my brain, the headache became so intense that I thought my head was going to explode”

What Githa initially assumed was just the flu turned out to be the result of a tick bite. The virus affected her brain, leaving her completely incapacitated for an entire year. Norwegian researchers have since gained more insight into this disease.

These environmental toxins are everywhere – and they are affecting boys' puberty

Chemicals we ingest through food and drink accumulate in our bodies, and a new study suggests this could influence boys’ puberty.

Researcher: Never take health and lifestyle advice from centenarians

When we only look at those who survived in their generation, we get a skewed view of reality.

Free and more accessible contraceptives did not lead to fewer teenage pregnancies

Birth control pills have been free for girls in Norway since 2002. But according to a new study, this has not led to fewer abortions among teenage girls.

The first vaccine against lung cancer has been administered

Despite the fact that many people have stopped smoking, lung cancer is still the cancer that takes the most lives in Norway. Researchers are now testing a vaccine that could give patients hope for far better survival rates.

Why you should always rinse your fruit and vegetables – even those from your own garden

Rinse your fruit and vegetables, advises the Norwegian Food Safety Authority: “You can treat melon similarly to raw meat”

Even clean-looking produce can carry bacteria, making proper washing essential for your safety, according to the Norwegian Food Safety Authority.

Dementia researcher: “A medical scandal”

This summer, it was revealed that a drug capable of slowing the early progression of Alzheimer's disease would not be approved in Europe. Here are some reactions to this decision.

How much recovery is possible for someone with a severe eating disorder?

In a new Norwegian study, 30 per cent of patients recovered completely. But researchers believe we need to ask ourselves what ‘healthy’ really means.