What is it and how to get rid of it?
You might not be aware of the medical term kyphosis, but chances are you will have heard of a ‘dowager’s hump’, or its modern day equivalent: tech neck. Used to describe any sort of rounding of the upper back, this outdated name stemmed from the fact that a pronounced hump in the spine at the […]
How to beat the big four diseases of ageing
Cancer Cancer can strike at any age, but the older we get, the more likely it becomes. “The two most common cancers of old age are breast and prostate cancers,” says Dr Richard Siow, the director of Ageing Research at King’s College London. “As we age, our cellular mechanisms reduce the clearance of damage within […]
How to spot osteoporosis and ageing bones before you fall foul of a fracture
How often do you think about the strength of your skeleton? In terms of future health, you’re probably more concerned about cancer or heart disease than broken bones. But as we get older, the impact of a fracture can be devastating. It means loss of independence, and gruelling surgery. “The mortality rate one year after […]
Covid or hay fever? How to tell the difference
So, if you have the sniffles or a sore throat, or any of the other symptoms the conditions share, how do you know what you have and what to do about it? How do you tell which you’ve got? Typical hay fever symptoms include sneezing, coughing, a runny or blocked nose, as well as red, […]
How to have a difficult conversation with a confused older person
“All those sorts of very slight things we can get over, but all together, they then start to become a big problem. And that’s what’s happening to Joe Biden now, isn’t it?” says Carter. The best approach is starting discussions as early as possible. If they need support at work “If you’re a good manager, […]
How to know if (and when) you’re going to go bald
Losing hair is an issue many men worry about. That is understandable, because by the age of 70, between 96 and 100 per cent of men will have experienced noticeable hair loss. Around one in five start balding in their 20s, one in three in their 30s. For those who look around at family gatherings […]
How to spot the signs and symptoms of throat cancer
Back to index “The telltale signs are not generally silent but can take a while to be noticed,” warns Dr Naomi Vaughan, a GP with a practice in Harrow, north-west London. Vaughan says these include: Any new lump or swelling in the neck or throat, which can present as pain-free Bad breath A persistent cough […]
How to treat adult acne
Hormonal factors in adulthood One of the underlying causes of acne can be changes in hormones, particularly androgens like testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (male hormones which we all have in our skin). Androgens can make the sebaceous glands produce more sebum, an oily substance that protects your skin from drying out, and a build-up of sebum […]
The three types of hay fever in Britain – and how to manage the one you’ve got
“We recommend starting reasonably early – as soon as the pollen count starts to creep up, take antihistamines,” says Morris. “If that’s not controlling things, migrate onto the nasal spray and eye drops.” GPs can also prescribe steroid treatments when these options don’t work. People who are still debilitated by their hay fever symptoms after […]
from common triggers to the best treatments
According to Dr Patel, rosacea’s key feature is redness: “flushing which typically lasts longer than 10 minutes.” Less visible – yet equally annoying – symptoms include: Skin irritation A burning/tingling sensation Dryness Tearing Blurred vision Hypersensitivity How should people know the flushing is rosacea – instead of menopausal, or from that final glass of red […]