Category: Health

The route a drug takes into the body can matter as much as the drug itself – and rectal use brings risks that are rarely talked about openly. Often called “boofing”, “booty bumping” or “plugging”, the practice involves taking drugs via the rectum rather than swallowing, snorting or injecting. In health settings, this route is […]

Irin Fierce/Shutterstock.com A new study has ignited the debate over whether every pregnant woman should take low-dose aspirin. For years, it has been recommended for women at high risk of pre-eclampsia. This dangerous condition can cause high blood pressure and organ damage. The argument for giving it to all pregnant women is straightforward: current screening […]

The sports featured at the Winter Olympics defy gravity and physics. Many competitors move at breakneck speeds down steep, snowy inclines or careen across icy surfaces in a bid to set world records and earn their place on the podium. But as exciting as these events are for spectators, they also place competitors at serious […]

MAYA LAB/Shutterstock The latest wellness trend and “sleep hack” involves switching off the bathroom light before stepping into the shower. In the dimness, the water feels louder, the day’s visual clutter fades and the hope is that sleep will come more easily. This practice, often called “dark showering”, has spread on social media, with people […]

As Valentine’s Day approaches, restaurant bookings fill up and couples exchange cards, flowers and carefully chosen gifts. For some, it’s a day of closeness and connection. For others, it can bring anxiety, disappointment or emotional distance. These different reactions may feel deeply personal. But in terms of psychology, they may reflect something much deeper – […]

adriaticfoto/Shutterstock As dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases become more common worldwide, researchers are searching urgently for ways to protect the brain as we age. One area attracting growing attention is hormones, particularly the role of hormone therapy during and after menopause. This interest is partly driven by the fact that women develop Alzheimer’s disease more […]

Manu5/Wikimedia, CC BY-SA The vagus nerve has quietly shaped how our bodies function for thousands of years. Recently, it has moved into the spotlight, especially in wellness culture, where manipulating it is often described as a way to calm the body, reset the nervous system or even treat a wide range of conditions. As someone […]

Vitamin D plays a crucial role in bone health. FotoHelin/ Shutterstock When the days shorten and the sun sinks low in the sky, that familiar winter slump sets in. There’s a fundamental reason for this seasonal fatigue: low levels of vitamin D – the “sunshine vitamin”. People in the UK simply can’t make enough of […]

Jason Grant/Shutterstock Police Scotland has launched an investigation into the deaths of six patients, including adults and children, believed to have contracted fatal infections at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow. The inquiry follows a long-running controversy over hospital-acquired infections at the site, with concerns raised by families and clinicians about water contamination, ventilation […]

Barillo_Images/Shutterstock.com Scientists have found that drinking two to three cups of coffee a day may significantly reduce your risk of developing dementia, but drinking more won’t help protect your brain any further. A major study tracked 131,821 American nurses and health professionals for up to 43 years, starting when they were in their early 40s. […]