Healthier Matters

Surely a Nobel Prize is the least we could offer to the doctor who this week appeared to discover a cure for chronic back pain. It may not be a life-threatening condition, but anyone who has suffered chronic pain in their back knows just how debilitating – not to mention agonising – it can be.

Scientists are said to have discovered that chronic lower-back pain may in fact be caused by a bacterial infection. This would mean it is treatable with antibiotics rather than surgery. The breakthrough was made by Dr Hanne Albert, a Danish physiotherapist who published her findings in the Spine Medical Journal, and who is now apparently a contender for the Nobel Prize for medicine, according to the doctor who sponsored the research (more of which later). Read the rest of this entry »

For anyone who believes we have become a healthier, more rational society in the last twenty years, the recent measles outbreak is unwelcome news in more ways than one. It’s possible we could have already eradicated measles, as America had done by 2002, but we haven’t. Here’s why not, and what you can do to prevent it spreading. Read the rest of this entry »

The dentist’s drill is one of the most terrifying noises known to man. Dentists themselves know this, but while some are content to let you tremble with fear, others take it upon themselves to relieve the tension with the limited means at their disposal. Armed with little more than a portable radio, dentists can make a whole world of difference to our experience under the drill by simply choosing the right music. Read the rest of this entry »

According to the World Health Organisation, cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide and it affects everyone. While advances in medicine over the past few decades have reduced death rates from cancer, we still seem to know very little about the medical benefits of most types of food and the importance of regular exercise.

Even more worryingly, Read the rest of this entry »

We all know how important it is to get a good night’s sleep. And also how difficult it can be to sleep sometimes, especially if we’re stressed. To make matters worse, sleep is something that eludes an active mind, so it can’t be brought upon by force of will. There are, however, a few things you can do to improve your chances of a good night’s sleep which don’t involve holding a pillow over your head in frustration… Read the rest of this entry »

Nicotine is one of the most addictive substances known to mankind. For this reason a lot of people who know the risks still can’t tear themselves away from cigarettes.

But in recent years, with the health affects becoming even clearer, more options have become available for people trying to kick the habit. Nicotine patches and chewing gum have been available for donkey’s years, but their success was limited.

Thankfully, new gadgets such as inhalers and electronic cigarettes are proving a much more useful tool for one simple reason: they don’t just give smokers a hit of nicotine, they also replicate the ritual of smoking. Read the rest of this entry »

A new survey by Nuffield Health has shown that seven million people – almost 20% of the working population – rely on painkillers just to get up go to work. These include over-the-counter medications such as paracetamol and ibuprofen, but also includes stronger, more addictive drugs such as codeine and Tramadol.  So here are a few things you should know before breaking out the painkillers. Read the rest of this entry »

Government cuts are likely to impact sexual health services, according to two leading charities. Brook and the Family Planning Association (FPA) have warned that efficiency savings will result in an increase in the number of unwanted pregnancies. Their joint report, Unprotected Nation, also predicts there will be over 2,000 extra abortions a year as a result of cutbacks to local services, and an extra 91,000 STIs over the next seven years. Read the rest of this entry »

While recent headlines about horse meat being found in ready meals make our stomachs churn and the veins in our temples bristle with anger, they are at least giving food quality a place in the national conversation.  Because it isn’t just the fact that some meat comes from a totally different animal that’s cause for concern, it’s the way all cheap meat is produced that poses serious health risks. So it seems like a timely moment to consider what else is lurking out there in the meat section of your supermarkets.

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Guys! We know it’s hard for you to talk about your *ahem* manhood.. but wouldn’t you rather take a 3minute test than live with painful, swollen and itching privates?

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