Everyday health

Curious Kid Mannix, 10, asks if breathing through your mouth makes your IQ go down? UQ Expert David King gives his answer.

In many aspects of life where we need to use our brain power, we also tend to sit down: at school, at work, sitting exams or concentrating on a crossword.

While blood is essential for human life, there are many things that can go wrong.

A recently published US study on an experimental drug that leads to tanning without sun exposure has generated a host of headlines around the world.

If you have a blocked or runny nose, chances are you’ll reach for a tissue or hanky to clear the mucus by having a good blow. But is there a right way to blow your nose? Could some ways make your cold worse? And could you actually do some damage?

Doctors request a urine test to help diagnose and treat a range of conditions including kidney disorders, liver problems, diabetes and infections. Testing urine is also used to screen people for illicit drug use and to test if a woman is pregnant.

Rhabdomyolysis (often abbreviated to “rhabdo”) is a condition that causes our muscles to break down or leak, releasing the muscle cells’ contents into the bloodstream.

Celebrity chef Pete Evans was reported recently as saying “calcium from dairy can remove the calcium from your bones”, and can worsen osteoporosis.

Whether cheap or expensive, sunglasses play a crucial role in eye protection against ultraviolet radiation.

The earlier you find a cancerous mole, the easier the treatment and the better the outcomes. But it’s not easy distinguishing between harmless, benign moles and those that warrant further attention.