Health - Sciencenorway.no

Do you have excess belly fat? It's possible to completely eliminate the risk of cardiovascular diseases

Researchers have good news for those at greatest risk of such diseases.

More women choose abortion after chromosomal abnormalities have been detected

Fewer children with chromosomal abnormalities are being born now than before.

This is what Norwegians shared about their experiences with psychedelics

770 anonymous individuals have shared their good and bad experiences with substances like magic mushrooms and LSD with researchers.

A new, simplified therapy approach may help against self-harm

Various forms of self-harm have increased significantly in recent years, especially among adolescents. A new, simplified treatment could help more young people access support more quickly.

This is how you can avoid food poisoning from leftover rice and pasta

It is only when a large number of bacteria are present that you experience diarrhoea and possibly vomiting. But it is perfectly possible to avoid this without having to throw food away.

Does it help to ask people if they are having suicidal thoughts?

For the first time in the world, an awareness campaign about suicide is being directed at the population of an entire country. It's happening here in Norway.

Norway spends more on health per person than any other European country

Last year, Norwegians spent NOK 83,000 (about 7,430 USD) each on health.

Whooping cough cases on the rise: Pregnant women advised to get vaccinated

Denmark has declared a whooping cough outbreak. Norway is also experiencing an increase. The Norwegian Institute of Public Health now wants pregnant women to be vaccinated to protect the baby.

Norwegian research: High weight increases the risk of several types of cancer

There were over 38,000 new cancer cases registered in Norway in 2022.

The paradox of diagnosis: How labels impact the mental health of adolescents

An entire generation of young people is being labelled as sick. Adult culture should instead protect young people's space so that they have time to find themselves, clinical psychologist Per Are Løkke believes.

Norwegian Psychological Association to lawmakers: Patient experience is crucial in therapy outcomes

Several researchers are asking critical questions about the research that the field of psychology is based on. The Norwegian Psychological Association wants the authorities to tackle one issue in particular.

Half of ME patients are dissatisfied with Norway’s healthcare and welfare services

New research reveals patient dissatisfaction. But recovered ME patients are not included in the studies, and that weakens the results, according to a professor at the University of Oslo.

There is a low incidence of resistant viruses in Norway

There is still a low incidence of viruses that are resistant to drugs in Norway.

Norwegian study: People aged 60 to 90 are less likely to develop dementia than before

Nevertheless, the total number of people living with dementia is on the rise.

What makes us happy? A new global study provides answers

Why are people in the world happy or unhappy? An international study led by researchers in Oslo can give us a more definitive answer.

Elderly suicide rates are on the rise. Home healthcare services have an important responsibility

The greatest increase in the number of suicides in recent years has been among seniors over 80 years old. Healthcare professionals can detect suicide risk among the elderly but lack the necessary resources, according to a new study.

Recovery from ME, long Covid and burnout is possible, according to 50 researchers and doctors

"By saying that chronic fatigue syndrome cannot be cured, patients become insecure, stressed or scared, and they naturally lose hope. This results in poorer health," Silje Endresen Reme says.

Is it dangerous to get Covid-19 multiple times?

People regularly cite one study in particular that says getting repeated infections with Covid-19 is not good. According to Norwegian researchers, however, most of us can stop worrying about it.

Warnings of a severe flu season – more people are encouraged to get vaccinated

The Norwegian Institute of Public Health is concerned: Over 12,000 people have been hospitalised in the past year due to the flu or Covid-19, but fewer are getting vaccinated.

Today's 70-year-olds are as mentally sharp as 60-year-olds used to be

Older people are scoring better on memory and cognitive tests than before, according to a study from Tromsø, Norway.

The theoretical foundation for psychology is shaky. No one knows if the the theories are valid

As a therapist, you need to be ready to abandon the method you know and like if it doesn’t make sense for the patient, according to researcher Andreas Høstmælingen.

Something is wrong with psychological research

Almost all the studies in psychology confirm what the researchers believe. Should that set off alarm bells?

What is the problem with waitlist control groups in psychological research?

Many psychology studies compare patients who receive treatment with patients who are on a waitlist. Research shows that this might be artificially inflating the results.

Older people improved their memory by being exposed to smells at night

Even though it is a small study, the findings are so interesting that they are worth following up on, a Norwegian dementia researcher says.

Five to ten percent of patients get sicker after seeing a psychologist

Some forms of treatment pose a greater risk of injury than others.

Undocumented pregnant women have a greater need for emergency health care than others

Pregnant women without legal residence in Norway do not have the same right to healthcare as other women. This has consequences, according to a new study.

One in three students may have a mental disorder

33.9 per cent of Norwegian students may currently have a mental illness, according to a new supplementary survey to the Norwegian Students' health and Well-being survey (SHoT).

Psychology folklore or science? Uncovering facts about repressed memories

Psychological theories that have become truths in our culture may be built more on naive belief than on science, according to researchers.

Why parents' mental health is important for the baby

Scientists used to believe that a baby's brain was almost completely developed already at birth. Now they know better. But experts say this important, new knowledge has not been adequately taken into account.

More and more young girls are being diagnosed with ADHD

In recent years, there has been an increase in ADHD diagnoses in Norway, especially among teenage girls, according to the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.

“I've wasted enough time going to therapy”

The meeting with multiple psychotherapists led Dag Wollebæk to delve into psychological research. What he found did not impress him and now he has given up all psychological treatment.

Why are periods painful?

ASK A RESEARCHER: Menstrual pain can range from slight discomfort in the stomach to severe pain in the abdomen, back, and thighs. What is the reason for this?

Why are there 500 different types of psychotherapy?

Treatments can vary widely and are sometimes even contradictory. But no one is making sure that the method you use actually works.

Study shows link between the tobacco product snus and cancer – researcher points out that the numbers are small

A new study shows that there is a link between snus and deadly cancer. However, Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) researcher Tord Vedøy points out that the numbers are small.

Can patients get just as well by talking to someone who is not a psychologist?

Researchers have no idea why some people get better from going to therapy.

Study: Every sixth person over 70 had dementia — low educational levels gave a 3- to 6-times greater risk

Women and the elderly with only a primary education are much more at risk than the highly educated. “Fortunately, there’s a great deal people can do preventatively,” a researcher at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) says.

Why do researchers disagree so much about how well psychotherapy works?

We have to give people realistic expectations of the kind of help a psychologist can offer, says researcher.

How safe – or dangerous – is eating fruit that has fallen on the ground?

ASK A RESEARCHER: Is it safe to eat apples that have fallen on your lawn? The Norwegian Food Safety Authority warns that windfall fruit can contain toxins – but this is very unlikely if it is not bruised.

Anxious students need to face their fears; accommodations in school have gone too far, says researcher

Anxious students are permitted to avoid doing things they find uncomfortable by teachers. This is becoming a big problem in many schools, according to researcher.

Researchers are developing artificial intelligence that will detect early-stage dementia

The dream is to use the technology for mass screening of the population to uncover dementia, researcher says.

Free infertility treatment would be good for society says professor

There have been enormous advances in assisted reproductive technology. Nevertheless, the number of involuntarily childless individuals has increased. Can free treatment help more people?

Thrushes spread the most dangerous Lyme bacteria

“Everyone knows that the forest harbours ticks, but perhaps not many people think about the fact that ticks are also on lawns and at rest areas along the road,” says researcher.

Researchers fear a ban on e-cigarettes could hinder people from quitting smoking

In Norway, the government plans to ban e-cigarettes with fruit and berry flavours. “We fear that the ban will lead to the purchase of dangerous e-cigarettes online,” Karl Erik Lund from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health says.

Common ovarian disorder: Many women may have been misdiagnosed

Many women who have PCOS, a disease of the ovaries, may actually have a completely different disease, which needs completely different treatment. “This is an important step in developing a better understanding of common women's diseases,” a senior physician and researcher says.

Can long Covid be treated in three days?

A new Norwegian study says so.

Football: How dangerous is heading the ball?

Research shows that dementia is more common among former professional football players. Several countries have introduced bans on heading for young football players. More research is now being conducted on this topic in Norway.

Creatine has become a popular supplement for many people who want to build muscle. But how well does it actually work?

Although the supplement has shown effects in some individuals, there are still gaps in our knowledge about it.

This is how creatine works

However, you don't need to take supplements for this to happen inside your muscles.

Were people shorter before?

If you travel a few hundred years back in time, you will see that the beds look shorter, and the doors are very low. Why is that?

The ‘Nordic olive oil’ is the healthiest of the common cooking oils

Feel free to use rapeseed oil when frying your food, the researcher says.

Can teaching children to talk about their emotions contribute to their mental well-being as adults?

Is it possible to prevent mental health problems in kindergarten? That’s what researchers aim to find out.

Banan Sultan broke the world record in memory

“Anyone with a strong desire and a goal can do what I did,” she says.

After she got long Covid, Christel can't even walk the dog. How common is it?

She forgets to eat, loses the thread of conversations, and needs to lie down for several hours after doing puzzles with her four-year-old. How common is it to feel this way after Covid-19?

Patients with locked-in syndrome are completely paralysed but conscious. New research shows that most of them improve over time

A patient with locked-in syndrome can see, hear, and think but cannot swallow, speak, or move. Researchers at Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital have now investigated how these patients are doing.

Why do we remember our childhood summers as sun-filled and long?

It's all about nostalgia, says psychology professor Per-Einar Binder.

Are low energy and reduced sex drive symptoms of male menopause?

Experts disagree on whether a male menopause actually exists. A Norwegian professor believes that the mid-life changes affecting men and women are surprisingly similar.

Why aren't the new Nordic dietary guidelines more explicit in warning against ultra-processed food?

Researchers believe clearer advice could have influenced the food industry and reduced lifestyle diseases.

This way of washing your summer berries removes the most parasites

Isn’t it enough to just rinse them in water? Researchers have done some tests and found some answers.

Norwegian health authorities: Not aware of research indicating that aspartame is dangerous

Rumours are circulating that the WHO will add the substance to the list of carcinogenic agents. Yet another study has now confirmed that there is no link between the consumption of artificial sweeteners and cancer risk in the general population.

"Without ketamine, I probably wouldn't be here today"

Cleary Ødegård has struggled with severe depression and suicidal thoughts since she was 12 years old. Now she is 48 and has for the first time received treatment that helps.

How much alcohol is too much? Countries give different advice

The answer you get depends on which country you live in. Research is just one of the considerations health authorities take into account when setting this limit, according to a substance use researcher.

Nine recommendations on risk communication during health crises

SHARE YOUR SCIENCE: Building and maintaining a good reputation and trust – especially related to health issues – is an essential tool for governments and public health authorities to effectively manage future pandemics.

Society is spending more and more money on mental health. Why aren't we getting any better?

The proportion of the population with depression – the most common mental illness – has remained unchanged for more than 30 years. One professor believes that we need to think about the issue in a completely new way.

People in the Nordics are now advised to drink zero alcohol. Do dietary guidelines work if we cannot follow them?

OPINION: The dietary guidelines have had significant importance in Norway. They are something we know we should strive for. Now, most of us don't stand a chance.

What exactly is a personality disorder?

Up to 14 per cent of the population is affected.

How beneficial bacteria can help premature babies thrive

SHARE YOUR SCIENCE: A similar type of probiotics that you take to prevent getting the runs when travelling can save lives of prematurely born babies.

Around 200 Norwegians are diagnosed with the most aggressive brain cancer every year. Now Paal is among the gloomy statistics

Paal Alme had his tumour removed while he was awake. Research is now in full swing on how to eradicate brain cancer completely without surgery.

Dementia is the disease that costs the most, according to a new study

Researchers have assessed the costs of 144 diseases. Mental health and dementia are among the diseases that cost the most.

This group of patients are often met by uncertain dentists

Many older adults only go to the dentist when they have a dental emergency, says researcher Marte-Mari Uhlen-Strand.

One in five Norwegians has tinnitus – the treatment options are inadequate, according to a new report

Researchers have examined the current treatment for tinnitus and found weaknesses in the support provided to those affected in Norway. One in five Norwegians has the disorder.

One in four people who have had cannabis-induced psychosis develop schizophrenia

People who have developed psychoses from getting high from cannabis have an increased risk of developing schizophrenia. The risk is much greater than if someone in your close family has had the diagnosis. Young men in particular are at risk.

New drug stopped aggressive brain cancer in mice

The mice treated with the new medication had a 100 per cent survival rate. But many promising studies have ended in almost as many disappointments in past years, according to one Norwegian researcher.

Why are some people allergic to pollen, and what helps?

ASK A RESEARCHER: Around 25 per cent of Norway's population has a pollen allergy, according to one professor. Why are some people allergic to pollen, while others are not?

What did nearsighted people do before the age of eyeglasses?

Glasses probably came to Norway about 400 years ago.

Dramatic increase of skin cancer in Norway - is the pandemic to blame?

New cancer statistics show that melanoma increased by nearly 500 cases last year in Norway. That is a 20 per cent increase in just one year.

What happens in our bodies when we eat sugar?

ASK A RESEARCHER: Jelly babies, vanilla fudge, cola bottles, or giant strawbs – most people have their favourite sweets. But what actually happens in the body when we eat sweets?

Ultra-processed foods increase the risk of cancer, according to researchers

Norwegian researchers have found that ultra-processed foods can increase the risk of certain types of cancer by 50 per cent.

Physical activity should be a standard part of treating depression

Norwegian doctors believe that both physical activity and drugs like ketamine should be included in the country's new national guidelines for how to treat depression. Health authorities are however not sure we need guidelines for treatment of depression anymore.