Every week, HEADlines brings you the latest news, stories and commentaries in education and healthcare. This week, get insights on the latest developments in healthcare. image Wellness, a more holistic approach to health Maintaining good health is more than seeing a doctor when an illness hits. Increasingly, people are recognising the importance of preserving health through wellness – an approach that takes care of not just the physical aspects of health, but also mental and emotional health. A recent research by McKinsey & Company shows that consumer attitudes are changing towards wellness. Previously viewed narrowly as nutrition and fitness, consumers now view well-being as improvements in these 6 dimensions: Better health – traditional and remote healthcare services and health trackers; Better fitness – avenues to maintain fitness during pandemic times; Better nutrition – foods that will help accomplish wellness goals while tasting good; Better appearance – beauty products and non-surgical aesthetic procedures; Better sleep – app-enabled sleep trackers and sleep enhancing products; Better mindfulness – meditation-oriented apps and offerings. Furthermore, there is a greater recognition that mental well-being directly impacts physical health. Research shows that intense anger and high levels of anxiety increase the risk of heart attack by up to 9.5 times. A scientific statement from the American Heart Association also notes that “improving psychological health can lead to a healthier heart and healthier body.” As society looks to improve our post pandemic world, there is a chance to relook at how we perceive health and start to prioritise our physical, mental and emotional well-being for a fuller life. Healthcare in the Spotlight The Straits Times: COVID-19 is airborne, scientists say. Now, the authorities think so, too Cleaner indoor air will not just fight the pandemic, it will minimise the risk of catching flu and other respiratory infections STAT: How the COVID pandemic ends: Scientists look to the past to see the future Experience from previous pandemics suggest that viruses morph from pandemic pathogens to being endemic in nature, within two years of emerging. With COVID-19 though, it could take much longer. The Jakarta Post: Sinovac’s vaccine works for now: Indonesia Health Ministry A state-led study found that the vaccine was 98% effective at preventing death and 96% effective at preventing hospitalisation among a group of inoculated Indonesian medical staff. The Straits Times: Rebranding traditional Chinese medicine as a lifestyle Besides being used as medicine, traditional Chinese herbs are increasingly being integrated into people’s diets and lifestyles. Medical News Today: Dementia, Parkinson’s: Do gut bacteria trigger protein clumping? Having “good” bacteria in our gut helps to prevent protein clumping, a condition that is seen in the brains of patients with dementia. NRDC: New Report: Climate harms to health are widespread & costly NRDC new report finds that the climate crisis is burdening people across the U.S. with huge healthcare bills, totalling far more than USD820 billion in physical and mental health damages each year. Medical News Today: Human health ‘intricately linked’ to ocean health, says report A new report shows the many ways in which human health is initimately linked with the health of the ocean and indicates ways how we can help preserve ocean health. Healthbytes How a cold shower before bed affects your sleep Source: Healthline Photo credit: Bruce Mars on Unsplash For hundreds of years, cold bathing has been a way to invigorate the body. Find out what research says about how cold showers, and hot ones, affect your body and your ability to sleep.