Articles

The diagnosis of ‘inflammatory bowel disease’, or IBD, is among medicine’s many umbrella terms. It hovers over a range of inflammatory conditions of the bowel, although two in particular – ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease – are the most common. In the gut, some degree of inflammation is necessary and desirable. Inflammatory cells in […]

Going bald is one of the first signs of physical decay that men experience. Hair loss can strike as young as 18, and almost all men will be balding by age 70. Typically, it starts with a loss of hair at the crown and temples. These bare patches gradually spread, eventually laying waste to most […]

An amazing four out of five adults will experience significant low-back pain at some time during their life. The most common reason, say experts, is work-related back injuries, but activities at home and at play can also result in back pain. Here are some simple, effective ways to keep the strain from turning into pain. […]

Nobody wants to go around smelling like a compost heap (or be around someone who does), but what price do you pay for keeping shower-fresh all day long? This old question was recently resurrected when UK researchers highlighted the potential risks associated with the preservatives parahydroxybenzoic acids, or parabens, in deodorants. Parabens are used in […]

A surprising one in seven people have a hearing loss – that’s about 8.7 million in the UK alone. Age-related hearing loss usually begins at 50 and, according to the Royal National Institute for Deaf People, 55 per cent of those over 60 are deaf or hard of hearing. Usually, the only ‘treatment’ is a […]

Many things can trigger depression. It is common during life changes such as adolescence, marriage, birth and menopause. It can be a consequence of your upbringing – such as whether or not you were taught effective coping skills as a child. There is a genetic component to depression, and influences such as diet, stress and […]

Children as young as two are being prescribed powerful mood-changing drugs such as Prozac and other antidepressants. Although usage usually begins at the age of six and then carries on until the age of 19, the number of two- to four-year-olds taking stimulants (such as Ritalin), antidepressants (such as Prozac), antipsychotics and clonidine (used to […]

Your skin is a mirror. How it ages is a complex process involving a number of factors. Some of these, such as genes, gravity and normal ageing, are not within your control, but many others are. Prematurely ageing skin often mirrors the body’s inefficiency in eliminating toxins and waste products. Excess sun exposure creates skin-damaging […]

It’s assumed that we’re either the result of nature or nurture. But with the advent of an increasingly toxic environment, there is now a third element – noxious agents. Compelling evidence links exposure to a wide range of environmental toxins with emotional and behavioural problems, including violence, addiction, learning disabilities, hyperactivity, intolerance and lowered intelligence. […]

Most of us believe there are only four seasons, but there is a fifth one that runs from November to February – the colds/flu season. Chances are, at some point in your life – and, for some people, once a year – you will catch a cold. For healthy individuals, the best medicine is rest, […]