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…
Health
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…
Is your gut in a rut?
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,…
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…