Grief is the price we pay for love, but it can feel as if our own life has ended, too. We may never really get over our loss, but we…
Health
Epilepsy: What you need to know
Over half a million people in the UK (one in every 100)have epilepsy, a neurological condition that triggers recurrent seizures. These are caused by sudden abnormal electrical activity in brain…
Getting a grip on hand pain
The 27 little bones in our hands and wrists, anda network of muscles, ligaments and nerves, make our hands incredibly flexible, strong and precise. But repetitive and/or inappropriate use can…
How to protect your hearing
Eleven million people (one in six) in the UK are living with hearing loss, according to a new report, and this could rise to 15.6 million by 2035. But…
Sepsis: 6 things to know about blood poisoning
Sepsis (blood poisoning or septicaemia) develops when our bodies are overwhelmed by infection. It’s five times more fatal than a heart attack or stroke, and kills around 44,000 people of…
Diabetes: Symptoms and how to lower your risk
Around a million people in the UK are set to develop diabetes in the next few years, adding to the three million or so diagnosed, and around 590,000 who don’t…
The surprising health benefits of ‘naughty’ food
Red and processed meat The good news: Red meat is a ‘complete’ protein (containing all the amino acids that the body can’t make on its own). It’s also a great…
Be your own doctor
NHS Self Care Week aims to help people understand what they can do to better look after both their own health and that of their family members. We’re already keen…
Top spring health tips to give you bounce
Eat better Asparagus is an impressive source of the B-complex vitamins needed to produce energy and maintain the nervous system, explains Joanna Blythman, author of What To Eat (£9.99, Fourth…
Why do you have sore eyes?
Eye redness means inflammation, and unless it’s very mild or brief, it should always be checked out. You’ll need same-day medical advice if you have injured your eye, wear contact…
Aspirin – all you need to know
Aspirin, discovered as salicylic acid in willow bark, has been used for centuries to relieve pain and fever. It’s a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and, like other NSAIDs such as…
Do you really need that painkiller?
1 Go to the dentist You may not know if you’re grinding your teeth at night, but it’s a common cause of headaches and around 10% of us do it…
Top tips for a healthy tongue
Our tongues contain flexible muscles that allow us to speak, chew, suck and swallow, and are covered in touch and taste receptors that act as guardians to our bodies, and…
Dementia: 15 ways to outsmart Alzheimer’s disease
Dementia is on the rise. There are currently 850,000 sufferers in the UK, and over a million predicted by 2025, with Alzheimer’s being the most common form of the disease. But…
Signs of depression and five ways to boost your mood
Whether we’re optimists or pessimists, we all experience low mood occasionally, often as a normal reaction to difficult situations. But if it lasts more than a week or two, or…
Vitamin D: Do you get enough?
Vitamin D is essential for healthy bones and teeth, but it’s becoming clear that it does many other jobs, too, and that deficiency may be linked to breast and other…
Healthy feet: How to avoid common foot complains
During the winter months, our feet need extra care and protection whether we’re indoors or out. In particular, easing them into restrictive footwear can cause friction on toes, heels and…
Heart disease: How to reduce your risk
Heart disease is often seen as a male problem, but in reality we’re not far behind the men. And although coronary heart/artery disease (CHD) doesn’t usually affect us until after…
Shingles – are you at risk?
If you’ve had chickenpox, there’s a one-in-five chance that you’ll develop this painful condition Over 90% of us have had chickenpox, usually as children. But although the rash and fever…
When to take antibiotics
There are more than 42 million prescriptions written for antibiotics each year. But many of these aren’t actually doing us any good. All colds and most coughs and sore throats…