Health News for You
As someone with an autoimmune disorder, asthma and a whole host of other chronic illnesses and disabilities, I’ve barely left the house in almost a year, apart from to walk my dog. So when news of the vaccines broke, I was relieved that I might finally, one day get to hug my family again. The […]
written by Kate Wyver When a loved one develops dementia the prospect of being a carer can be daunting. Jan Hall reveals how to care for someone with dementia, while also caring for yourself, in her new book Dementia Essentials A staggering one in three people over the age of 65 will develop Alzheimer’s or […]
For Suicide Prevention Day, founder of the Suicide Crisis Centre Joy Hibbins writes exclusively for Healthista on how to help someone who is suicidal Suicide is a significant public health issue that isn’t going away any time soon, with more than one in 20 people attempting suicide at some point in their lives. Each year, […]
Coronavirus makes life more complicated for people who already facing difficult challenges—and those who take care of them. I am the youngest daughter in my family, but I had the shared responsibility of taking care of my older sibling for nearly my entire life. Simone, who is now 30, was diagnosed as a toddler with […]
The National Lockdown has had a huge impact on the number of reported domestic violence cases in South Africa. Back in 2018, a report by the UNDOC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime) found that almost six out of 10 women intentionally killed are murdered by an intimate partner or family member. Now the […]
If you live with someone, your immediate concerns about coronavirus double: You worry that you may get the virus, but you also worry about your partner, kids or roommate. What should you do if they’re exhibiting signs of COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus? For starters, if they’re exhibiting mild symptoms, prepare to weather the […]
How to practice social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic, by Tanya Basu and Karen Hao in MIT Technology Review, published March 13: A ton of just extremely practical tips, from how to safely handle packages to how to shop for groceries. The Do’s and Don’ts of Social Distancing, by Kaitlyn Tiffany in The Atlantic, published […]
jacoblund via Getty ImagesThere are ways you can support someone who is a patient in the hospital without adding to their overall stress. With over 35 million hospital stays in the United States each year, chances are someone important to you may wind up in one. And whether it’s due to a temporary injury or […]
As someone who deals with depression, anxiety, multiple eating disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Erin M. is no stranger to the word “crazy.” Others have often directed the word at her in hurtful and derogatory ways—a common experience among many people living with mental illnesses. “One [experience] that stands out was after a suicide […]
One in four people in England live with a long-term health condition like diabetes, cancer, Parkinson’s or arthritis. That’s 15 million people, and the figure is expected to rise to 18 million by 2025. Regular exercise can help manage the symptoms of these conditions, as well as improving physical and mental health, but it’s harder […]
“There was no good reason for this to happen.” Tatiana Ayazo/Rd.com, Shutterstock A grief survey by Slate and editor Meghan O’Rouke, author of one of the gripping memoirs by women who overcame the impossible, The Long Goodbye, found that sentiments expressing false comfort were hurtful. Never assume the bereaved believes in a higher power, or even if they do that invoking […]
For the first few years I lived in New York, my go-to breakfast was a piece of springy Tuscan bread from the bakery below my apartment. I rotated toppings—sometimes pesto and an egg over easy, sometimes avocado and red pepper flakes, sometimes almond butter and little slices of strawberry. I loved the chewy crust of […]
Feeling concerned about a low libido can be such an isolating experience. When your psychological drive to have sex isn’t where you would hope it is, you might feel like you can’t even discuss it with a partner—the very person you may normally turn to for basically everything else. But a persistently low libido that […]
Gemma Whyatt has birthmarks covering her upper back, neck, chest and ear, with hundreds of smaller marks all over her body. It’s a rare skin condition called congenital melanocytic naevus (CMN). The 24-year-old from Cambridgeshire is one of 30 people with CMN taking part in an international exhibition. “For someone else to see the way […]
A cancer diagnosis can be devastating, regardless of the outlook. The news can also be hard on friends and family, as they struggle to figure out what they can do to help a loved one after the diagnosis. Beth Pauvlinch, who wrote about caring for her mother who lived with cancer in her book Two […]