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VIDEO: How Christmas Is Trying To Kill You, With Dr. Sebastian Kunz
It’s that time of year again: time for myocardial infarctions. Forensic pathologist Dr. Sebastian Kunz doesn’t want to see you in his workplace this holiday season. But he knows more than a lot of other people that Christmastime behaviour can kill people.…
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Last Words: Where Has Our Healthcare Gone?
Say you live in Iceland and you’re on minimum wage. More than half of your wage goes into your rent every month. One day you wake up and you’re covered in painful red cysts. Crying, you try to make an appointment; it’s…
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Catholic Bishop Of Iceland Speaks Up About Circumcision
Davíð Tencer, the Catholic Bishop of Iceland, has recently declared his support for the Jewish and Muslim community in their fight to practice their religion of freedom, RÚV reports. Tencer is the latest religious leader to voice his opinion about the controversial circumcision…
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Icelandic Facebook Group: Motivation Stelpur
The obesity rate in Iceland currently stands at 22.8%, which is significantly lower than Britain’s gargantuan 28.1% but still embarrassingly higher than Denmark’s svelte 19.5%. It’s clearly an epidemic, but understandable, given how easy it is to gain weight. Take this example:…
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Ask A Scientist: Why Do Icelanders Live So Long?
In the present day, Iceland is hugely romanticised, whether for its stunning landscapes, its perceived gender equality, or its football team. For the fanboys and fangirls out there, figures published by Statistics Iceland in 2017 also revealed that Icelandic men have the…
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All Icelandic Children Now With Right To Free Dental Care
All Icelandic kids aged 2 and up with a registered dentist now have the right to free dental care. The change is a part of a process that began in May 2013, RÚV reports, when free dental care was granted to the…
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How Not To Die In Iceland: Cardiac And Pulmonary Events The Main Cause Of Death In Iceland
Our readers are aware that the number of tourists to Iceland is growing at an accelerating rate. Yet you might be surprised to learn that while the number of tourists who die in Iceland is likewise increasing, it is not increasing in…
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Icelanders Love Sugar, Not So Keen On Fruits And Vegetables
Icelanders eat more sugary foods and fewer fruits and vegetables than other Nordic peoples. At the same time, they also eat more fish and drink less alcohol. RÚV reports that these results are a part of a pan-Nordic poll, the Icelandic version…
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Most Icelanders Self-Report Being In Great Health
The majority of Icelanders report being in good health, but Icelanders also report chronic illness to a higher percentage than many other Europeans. RÚV reports that 76% of Icelanders report being in either good or very good health. In terms of demographics,…
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The Best Intentions: One Man’s Experience On “The Biggest Loser”
Thor Viðar Jónsson was a contestant on the first season of Iceland’s version of ‘The Biggest Loser’, a reality show that pits contestants against each other to see who can lose the most weight. While Thor believes the people who produce the…
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Living Near Geothermal Plants Possibly Linked To Cancer
New research has found a link between living near a geothermal plant and higher incidences of several types of cancer. Geothermal energy representatives have dismissed the research as inaccurate. This research, only recently made public, shows that people living close to a…
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Movie-Star, Painter, Man Of The World: The Story Of Muggur
“From Iceland’s Frigid Shore, Where Women Vote, Come Wondrous Fairy Tales.” Thus read a headline in the Evening Sun on November 3rd, 1915. The occasion was the first visit by Icelandic painter Guðmundur Thorsteinsson, or Muggur, to New York City. He was…
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Only 10% Of Icelanders Smoke
Middle-aged Icelanders are the most likely of all to smoke, but smoking in general is on the wane in Iceland. Vísir reports that, according to data compiled by the Directorate of Health, only 10% of Icelanders over the age of 18 smoke…
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Iceland Has A Low Rate of C-Sections
Across the developing world the rate of c-sections is on the rise, reports the OECD. In Iceland however, the rate remains very low. In the OECD countries, the c-section rate overall stands at around 28%, with the highest rates occurring in Turkey…
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More Women Than Men Say They Are Judged On Body Type
Twice as many women as men say they are discriminated against based on their body type, a new poll from the Directorate of Health shows. According to the poll, 15% of women and 7.5% of men say they have experienced discrimination of…
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Iceland’s Universal Healthcare (Still) On Thin Ice
One year ago, Iceland’s lauded universal healthcare system seemed to be teetering off the edge. Doctors’ wages had stagnated after the economic crash, and following a bout of failed negotiations, they went on strike for the first time ever. While they coordinated their actions to avoid endangering…
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5 Great Running Routes In Reykjavík
As a running city, Reykjavík has improved immensely over the past few years. Good running paths are never far away, and new ones are being made every year. The number of runners has also grown significantly, with over 70 running events being…
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Iceland Fifth Happiest In Europe
Iceland and Norway are joint fifth and sixth on the list of happiest European nations, reports Vísir. The list, compiled by Eurostat, was published on the International Day of Happiness (which is a thing apparently) and was based on a survey conducted…
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The Colour Run Coming To Iceland
Six tonnes of coloured powder is making its way to Iceland as preperations begin for the nation’s first ever Colour Run, reports Vísir. The 5 kilometre run, which will be held on June 6, is considered untraditional because the aim is not…
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Snuff Tobacco Sales Rise
The sale of nasal tobacco has risen by 36% in the past 6 months compared to the same time last year, reports RÚV. “It is very sad news because of all the positive developments Iceland has made with tobacco awareness in past…
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Over 15 Million Raised For Hospital
Over 15 million ISK has been raised for the National University Hospital of Iceland in the annual WOW Cyclothon, reports Vísir. As reported, this is the third WOW Cyclothon and the proceeds far exceeded the 10 million ISK goal. Competing teams had just 72…
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British Documentary Says Icelanders Have The Best Diet
New Channel 4 documentary The ‘World’s Best Diet’ has claimed that Icelanders eat the healthiest, reports Metro. Presented by farmer Jimmy Doherty and journalist Kate Quilton, the documentary features leading nutritionists and dieticians ranking different country’s diets based on weekly shops and…
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Diabetics Charged 200% More For Insurance
Icelanders with otherwise near perfect health but type-1 diabetes cannot obtain health insurance in Iceland without paying 200% more, reports Vísir. “Naturally I think that this is unfair,” said Sigríður Jóhannsdóttir, chairwoman of the Icelandic Diabetes Association. “It’s been proven that an individual…