Health science is the discipline of applied science which deals with human and animal health. There are two parts to health science: the study, research, and knowledge of health and the application of that knowledge to improve health, cure diseases, and understanding how humans and animals function. Research builds on the pure sciences of biology, chemistry, and physics as well as social sciences (for example medical sociology).

Historical overview

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The foundations for the health science fields are as old as the human race. Humans have always been in need of solutions to address illness, injury, and various health related issues such as childbirth. With modern technology and the backing of the pure sciences, the scientific accuracy of these fields has greatly improved. Nevertheless, many cultures have used and continue to use various herbs and other culturally specific solutions to help solve health problems that may or may not be backed by any scientific support.

Acquisition of health-related knowledge

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See Medical research.

More on [ Health science ]

NPR Topics: Science

Building A Better Lightbulb
Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:00:00 -0500
The U.S. Department of Energy is offering $10 million to the first individual or company to develop an energy-efficient LED replacement for the standard 60-watt incandescent bulb. DOE lighting program manager James Brodrick discusses the L Prize, and what makes a better bulb.
Can Oceans Survive The Human Appetite For Seafood?
Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:00:00 -0500
Faced with declining fish stocks, many nations are looking for sustainable ways to have their fish — and eat it too. But how much fishing is too much? Oceanographer Sylvia Earle discusses this and other topics in her book The World is Blue: How Our Fate and the Ocean's Are One.
Students Build Living Microbial Machines
Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:00:00 -0500
At the 2009 International Genetically Engineered Machine competition, undergraduates from all over the world unveiled the living machines they'd created with snippets of DNA, from bacteria that change color when they detect pollutants to ones that secrete non-toxic superglue.
Step Right Up And Get Your Genome Here
Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:05:00 -0500
The cost of decoding a human's genes has fallen to just a few thousand dollars, making the long-promised era of personal genomes feasible.

Wash Post Health

Panel says evidence is insufficient to know effectiveness of abstinence programs
Rob Stein Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500
Sex-education programs that encourage teens to delay sexual activity and teach them about contraception cut risky sexual behavior, increase condom use and lower the chances of getting the AIDS virus and other infections, a panel of independent experts concluded in a report released Friday.
Slowed funding imperils global gains against AIDS, Doctors Without Borders says
Karin Brulliard Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500
JOHANNESBURG -- Slowed funding from international donors, including the United States, is imperiling recent dramatic gains in treating AIDS patients in the developing world, according to a new report.
Of the 40 percent of parents who sought H1N1 flu vaccine for their children, only one-third found it, according to a Harvard School of Public Health survey
David Brown Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500
About 40 percent of parents in the United States have tried to get their children vaccinated against the H1N1 flu virus, but only one in three has been successful, according to a survey released Friday. High-risk adults seeking the vaccine for themselves were just as unlucky finding it.

Reuters: Health News

CDC says U.S. making progress on swine flu vaccine
Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:49:36 -0500
CHICAGO (Reuters) - U.S. health officials said on Friday they are making progress in improving the supply of H1N1 vaccine to state health departments and urged people frustrated by long lines and scarce supply not to give up.
Another reason to cover your cough: pets at risk
Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:56:30 -0500
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - People who think they may have H1N1 flu need to stay away from work, avoid sneezing on their spouses and children and now, they have someone else to worry about infecting too -- their pets.
House opens debate on healthcare bill
Sat, 07 Nov 2009 11:44:07 -0500
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives opened debate on Saturday on a sweeping reform bill that would spark the biggest healthcare changes in four decades, with a potentially close final vote expected later in the day.

CNN.com - Health

Treating trauma victims may cause its own trauma
Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:24:11 -0500
As they listen to tales of life's worst moments, they may absorb some of their patients' suffering. Who protects the mental health of our mental health professionals?
Study: Holocaust survivors have higher cancer risk
Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:47:57 -0500
Many Jews lived through extreme hunger, mental duress and near-death experiences during the Holocaust. Now -- decades after the war -- they face another peril: a higher risk of developing cancer.
How to squash worry and grab more happiness
Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:36:02 -0500
These days it can feel like the age of anxiety is winning over the pursuit of happiness. But you don't have to live on the dark side. Here's your recipe for a more joyful life.

ABC News: Health

Wall St. Before Main St. in H1N1 Vaccine?
Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:29:29 -0500
Reports that businesses were among groups getting vaccine has some crying foul.
Babies Cry With an Accent, Study Finds
Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:36:18 -0500
A study found newborns cry with the melody of their parent's language.
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Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:36:18 -0500

BBC News | Health | UK Edition

Call for tests after sudden death
Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:10:16 -0000
Doctors are calling for human tissue to be routinely kept for genetic testing whenever young people die without explanation.
Foetal heart rate monitor warning
Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:35:31 -0000
Doctors are warning expectant parents that at-home foetal heart rate monitors can give false reassurance.
Babies 'cry in mother's tongue'
Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:38:56 -0000
German researchers say babies begin to pick up the nuances of their parents' accents while still in the womb.

Newsweek Health Headlines

Kathleen Kennedy Townsend on Abortion
Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:44:12 -0000
Don't let abortion politics stand in the way of affordable coverage for all.
Women's Willpower Problem
Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:15:45 -0000
Our willpower problem, and what we can do about it.
The Upside of Depression
Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:40:29 -0000
Depression might be evolution's way of fixing what ails us

USATODAY.com Health - Top Stories

Flu shots for workers hit sticking point
Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:37:12 -0000
Efforts to require flu shots for health workers in order to protect vulnerable patients are being abandoned by some major health ...
How do you deal with food allergies when eating out?
Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:58:48 -0000
USA TODAY is looking for readers with food allergies who are willing to share their unusual challenges with eating out at restaurants, ...
NYC giving swine flu vaccine to employers for at-risk employees
Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:24:39 -0000
Some of New York City's largest employers including Wall Street firms like Goldman Sachs and big universities have started ...

Reader's Digest: Health

Choosing a Weight-Loss Program for your Child
Fri, 02 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Read more about this interesting rd.com article.
Foods to Lower Blood Sugar: Berries
Fri, 16 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0400
Berries are nutrition powerhouses and they may help keep your blood sugar in check.
Foods To Lower Your Blood Sugar: Cherries
Fri, 16 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0400
When you get a snack attack, reach for a handful of this sugar-lowering fruit.

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