Digestive symptoms are very common, and most settle naturally. But it’s important to run persistent or severe symptoms past your GP, even if they’re embarrassing, in case you need tests,…
Health
Can wearable technology improve our health?
Welcome to the world of ‘wearables’ – armbands, watches and other items containing on-board mini computers that can monitor our body functions and lifestyles. They are becoming increasingly sophisticated and…
Cancer symptoms – could you spot your own?
One in three of us will eventually develop a cancer and, currently, one in four of us dies from the disease. Earlier diagnosis can improve survival rates and reduce extensive…
You can be over the limit on more than alcohol as our drinking health guide reveals
You may count calories and check out the additives in what you eat, but it’s surprisingly easy to ignore the health risks in what you drink, and that’s not just…
Control high blood pressure and 6 other threats to your health
High Blood Pressure Why it’s bad? Hypertension (having high blood pressure) rarely has symptoms, so it may be years before you realise that it’s damaged your heart, brain and other…
Should we all be an organ donor?
Donated organs, tissue, blood and stem cells have saved or transformed millions of lives since the first-ever kidney transplant in 1950. Demand is increasing, thanks to medical advances and population…
Help improve memory in just one month
1. Make a fist Ball up your right hand when trying to remember a phone number or list. When you want to retrieve the information, clench your left hand. Researchers…
Is your vulva skin normal?
The vulva (our external female genitalia) consists of the skin-covered external labia (lips) and the internal labia, clitoris and urethra (urine pipe), and vaginal entrances, covered by delicate membranes. Vulva…
What is causing your knee joint pain?
Our knees are hinge joints, designed to bend, straighten and support our weight. Strong, gristly ligaments stabilise them at the front, back and sides. Two pieces of cartilage act as…
Should you take statins to lower cholesterol?
Statin prescriptions have tripled in just 10 years, but NICE, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence says that lowering the threshold could save 8,000 more UK deaths a…
Global health habits that save lives
Eat at the table in France ‘You’d never see a French person having a TV dinner,’ says celebrity trainer and fitness author Christianne Wolff. ‘This means they are paying attention…
Extra hair? How to treat hirsutism
Hirsutism (excessive facial and body hair) affects around one in 10 of us before the menopause, and as the hairs are often thicker and darker, and/or in unusual places, this…
The health test and medical treatment you really need
Is there too much testing? The ideal health test is quick, cheap, reliable, convenient, doesn’t involve discomfort or risk and is unaffected by timing or other factors. But in reality,…
Healthy skin needs Vitamin D and good sunshine
The sun has had a bad press for so many years you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s public enemy number one, to be avoided and protected against at all costs.…
Protect yourself against flu symptoms this winter
We haven’t had a full-on flu epidemic for 25 years, but the infection is unpredictable and mutates regularly, so we can get it more than once. Flu is just nasty,…
Doctor wrong? What to do if you don’t agree with your GP
With the average GP consultation lasting just seven minutes, it’s no wonder that a study has found that two-thirds of us feel rushed. If you leave your surgery with more…
Gardening and health: The mental benefits
Whether you love smelling sweetly scented lilacs and freesias in the warmer months or prefer to see bright red berries growing on your holly bush during the winter, it’s almost…
Skin problems can be sorted when you know what they are
Skin problems can be a sign of internal health issues. Skin is a vital barrier to protect us from infection, but it can come under attack. Atopic eczema This can…
High blood pressure could be controlled with a simple jab
Japanese scientists say a six-monthly vaccine could one day spell the end for daily tablets. But if you already have high blood pressure, that’s too long to wait …
Breast cancer: do you know the signs?
One in three women diagnosed with breast cancer are over 70. Woman’s Weekly in partnership with Be Clear on Cancer explain the signs to look out for Many older women…