Traveling to exotic places can be the adventure of a lifetime. But if your travels take you to regions where malaria is present, it’s important to take some extra precautions so you return home with only happy memories – not an unwanted illness. Malaria is a serious and sometimes life-threatening disease spread by mosquito bites. It remains widespread in many tropical and subtropical areas, causing hundreds of millions of infections each year. The good news is that malaria is preventable and treatable with the right measures. By planning and following a few safety steps, you can dramatically reduce your risk of malaria and enjoy your trip with peace of mind. Before You Travel: Plan and Prevent The best time to start thinking about malaria prevention is before you even set foot on the plane. Do some research or consult reliable health resources to find out if malaria is a risk at your destination. Malaria isn’t present everywhere – it’s mostly found in p...

  The festive season is a time of joy, family gatherings, and delicious treats. It’s easy to get caught up in indulgence – after all, holiday foods often hold special meaning and memories. But enjoying the celebrations doesn’t have to mean abandoning healthy habits. With a bit of mindful planning, you can savour your favourite festive dishes and still feel good. Practice Portion Control It’s not necessary to avoid all the festive favourites; just be mindful of portions. Consider using a smaller plate so it naturally limits how much you pile on. Try to fill half your plate with colourful veggies or salad, one-quarter with lean protein, and one-quarter with the treat you’ve been eyeing. This way you’re getting nutrients and fibre to fill you up, while still allowing room for a bit of indulgence. You get to taste everything you love without overdoing it. Eat Slowly and Mindfully With all the excitement around, it’s easy to speed through meals. Instead, take your time. Chew t...

The holiday season is supposed to be a time of joy and celebration, but for many people it can also bring added stress and exhaustion. If you find yourself more frazzled than festive, you might be experiencing "holiday burnout." You're not alone – surveys have found that roughly 38% of people feel their stress increase during the holidays, and those with existing mental health concerns often find their conditions worsening at this time. Holiday burnout refers to the mental, physical, and emotional fatigue that can occur during or after a busy holiday season. The pressure to create perfect memories – from cooking elaborate dinners to finding just the right gifts – can leave anyone overwhelmed and drained. So, how do you know if you’re burning out? Holiday burnout can manifest in different ways. You might feel constantly tired and unable to sleep well. Some people notice changes in appetite or frequent indigestion. Others become irritable or emotionally numb – you might f...

  For an older adult, a stay in the hospital can come with an unexpected and frightening side effect: delirium. If you’ve ever visited an elderly parent or grandparent in the hospital and found them suddenly confused, disoriented, or not themselves, you’ve witnessed this condition. Hospital delirium is an acute state of mental confusion that happens to many seniors during an illness or after surgery. It’s often called a “hidden risk” because it’s not the illness that brought them to the hospital - it’s a complication that arises from the hospitalisation itself, and it can be easily overlooked or misattributed to something like dementia. However, delirium is usually temporary and treatable, and recognising it early can make a big difference. What Is Delirium? Delirium is an abrupt change in brain function that causes confusion and difficulty with attention and clear thinking. It develops over hours to a couple of days and fluctuates through the day. People may be disoriented, ...

  High blood pressure - often called hypertension - is a well-known health risk, but many people don’t realise that it can pose unique challenges and dangers for women. We often think of heart disease or stroke affecting men, yet high blood pressure is very common in women and can be just as deadly. It truly is a “silent killer” because it often has no noticeable symptoms, yet over time it can damage your heart, blood vessels, kidneys, and other organs. For women, there are some hidden risks and situations where high blood pressure can become especially important to recognise and manage. It’s Often Silent - So Don’t Assume You’d Know Most people with high blood pressure have no symptoms at all. That’s why regular check-ups and knowing your numbers are critical. Pharmacies, clinics, and home monitors make it easy to track your pressure between visits. Birth Control and Hormones Can Raise Blood Pressure Oral contraceptives and some hormone therapies can increase blood pressur...

  Iron is an essential mineral that your body needs to function at its best. It’s a key component of haemoglobin - the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to all your organs and tissues. If you don’t have enough iron, your body can’t make enough healthy red blood cells, leading to iron deficiency (and potentially iron deficiency anaemia). This condition is more common than you might think, especially in women of child-bearing age, vegetarians, and people with certain health conditions. Iron deficiency can sneak up on you because its symptoms can be subtle at first. Here are ten warning signs that you might be low in iron. If you recognise several of these in yourself, it may be time for an “iron check” with your healthcare provider. Extreme Fatigue and Weakness: One of the earliest and most common signs of iron deficiency is feeling overwhelmingly tired and weak. This isn’t just normal tiredness from a long day - it’s fatigue that doesn’t seem to go away even with go...

  Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a common and uncomfortable health issue, especially for women. A UTI happens when bacteria enter the urinary tract (which includes the urethra and bladder), leading to symptoms like a burning feeling during urination and a frequent urge to go. The good news is that many UTIs can be prevented with a few smart habits in your daily routine. By taking proactive steps, you can stop UTIs before they even start and spare yourself the pain and inconvenience. Stay Hydrated Drinking plenty of fluids, especially water, is one of the simplest ways to prevent UTIs. When you drink more water, you’ll urinate more often, which helps flush out bacteria from the bladder before an infection can take hold. Aim for at least 6–8 glasses of water a day (about 1.5–2 litres). Staying well-hydrated keeps your urine diluted and your bladder healthy. Don’t Hold It In Make a habit of emptying your bladder regularly and fully. Bacteria thrive in warm, stagnant urine...

  You’re sound asleep when suddenly you wake up to a burning pain in your big toe. It’s intense – your toe feels hot, swollen, and so tender that even the touch of a bedsheet is unbearable. The likely culprit is gout, a form of inflammatory arthritis that loves to strike the big toe. Here’s why it happens, how to get quick relief, and how to prevent future attacks. Gout – The Usual Suspect in Sudden Big Toe Pain Gout is caused by uric acid crystals depositing in a joint, triggering fierce inflammation. Uric acid is a normal waste product, but when levels run high or the kidneys don’t clear it well, sharp urate crystals can form – especially in cooler, stressed joints like the base of the big toe (the first MTP joint). An acute gout attack often starts suddenly at night, peaking within 24 hours with extreme pain, redness, warmth, and swelling. Even light touch can hurt. Without treatment, the worst pain fades over days, but stiffness may linger. Risk Factors and Triggers for...

  You’re sitting quietly when suddenly you feel it – a strange flutter in your chest, like your heart just did a little flip or skipped a beat. Many people describe this sensation as their heart “fluttering,” “palpitating,” or “skipping a beat.” If it’s happened to you, you might wonder: what’s going on? Is it dangerous? In this friendly guide, we’ll demystify palpitations – common causes, when they’re usually harmless, when to seek help, and how to keep your heartbeat steady and strong. Understanding Heart Flutters (Palpitations) “Heart flutter” usually means palpitations – being aware of your heartbeat. You might feel pounding, fluttering, skipping, or an irregular beat for a moment. Often this is due to a brief rhythm hiccup, like an extra beat (premature atrial or ventricular contraction) or a transient speed-up. These minor rhythm blips are common, even in healthy hearts, and often relate to stress or adrenaline. Common Causes of a Fluttering Heart Stress and anxiety...