Category: Health

For more than 80 years, men have been told that testosterone helps prostate cancer grow. But a very different picture has emerged over the past two decades. The prostate is a small gland that sits just below the bladder. Its job is to produce the fluid that helps transport sperm, and it relies heavily on […]

akramalrasny/Shutterstock Refugee health is often discussed in terms of crises such as disease outbreaks, malnutrition and psychological distress. But some of the most serious effects of displacement are harder to see. One example is how forced migration can change the bacteria in the gut that support immunity and long-term health. The human gut contains trillions […]

pimpampix/Shutterstock Few medicines have sparked as much debate as statins. Cardiologists often describe them as life-saving, while some patients remain wary of side effects or uneasy about taking a daily pill. Statins sit at the intersection of medical treatment and everyday lifestyle because high cholesterol is strongly influenced by factors such as diet, physical activity, […]

Media_Photos/Shutterstock From festive sauces to brightly coloured juices, cranberries have long been part of our diets. Beyond their tart flavour and seasonal appeal, these red berries are often described as a superfood with several potential health benefits. Cranberry supplements are promoted as a convenient way to get these benefits without the sugar or sharp taste […]

Slawomir Fajer/Shutterstock There are few things I look forward to more each year than an excellent Christmas lunch. In fact, I deliberately avoid roast dinners in the run-up to the big day. Especially obligatory work parties, where the turkey inevitably resembles sawdust and the stuffing has the texture of a silicone implant. Call me a […]

angellodeco/Shutterstock Imagine if a simple blood test could offer a glimpse into your future health. Not just whether you have heart disease or cancer today, but whether your overall risk of dying in the next five or ten years is higher or lower than expected. It is the kind of idea that has hovered on […]

photolin/Shutterstock A large Swedish study reported a lower risk of dementia among middle-aged and older adults who consumed higher amounts of full-fat cheese and cream. The findings may sound like welcome news but they need careful interpretation. The study followed 27,670 participants for 25 years, during which 3,208 developed dementia. Among people without a known […]

Virus snowflakes. Ed Hutchinson, MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, CC BY-SA Viruses, as we all know, are invisibly small things that make us sick. But is that the whole story? Zoom in close enough and you’ll discover the complex, unseen world of viruses. Some do make us sick, but many others simply exist […]

jax10289/Shutterstock.com Across the UK, a quiet shift in midlife exercise is underway. A decade ago, the cultural image of midlife fitness was the Lycra-clad cyclist speeding along suburban roads. Now, a different scene has emerged: women in hats and tow-floats stepping into freezing lakes at dawn – especially through the winter. Outdoor swimming participation has […]

The festive movie season is upon us, and one of my perennial favourites is Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. I will die on this hill: it is better than the original. But rewatching it as an adult raises an awkward question. How on earth did the Wet Bandits survive the first film at […]