10 reasons why you should love your heart

Seeing as February is National Heart Month, I thought it would be a good idea to compile a list of fun and/or interesting facts about the heart. This includes facts about how it works and also a few facts to debunk popular health myths about one of our body's most important muscles. Find out about men having slower heart beats than women and the heart generating enough power to drive a van to the moon.

Three common weight loss myths

There are many reasons why attempts at weight loss fail, but certainly a major contributory factor is the wealth of misinformation that is spread about losing weight and dieting. We look at just three of the most common weight loss myths, including whether it is beneficial to skip breakfast, if you should replace foods with their "low fat" alternatives and if celebrity diet plans can lead to success.

Looking after your heart this Valentine’s day – A singleton’s guide

Valentine’s Day can be torture when you are single. Even if you couldn’t care less about stupid red hearts and teddy bears and obligatory ‘romantic’ meals, the sight of happy couples frolicking in the February cold can be enough to make even the most content singleton cringe. However, why not rebrand Valentine's Day this year for yourself? Being single is fabulous, so instead of damaging your physical and mental health with self-deprecating thoughts, why not...

Reports on medical research – sifting the wheat from the chaff

There have been a few reports in the media about the transference rate of HIV and more recently a report about the likelihood that one in 100 people might be naturally resistant to hepatitis, leprosy, malaria and HIV. However, I can’t help wonder whether these reports are potentially dangerous. Or should we simply view them as the stepping stones of research that will eventually be able to provide us with more effective treatments and vaccines?

Is It Ever Okay To Call Someone Fat?

Adele fans have been up in arms after fashion guru Karl Lagerfeld, the 78 year old head of Chanel, said the singer was “a little too fat”. The comment has led to outrage, with outraged fans calling Lagerfeld a “cretin”. Is this reaction warranted? Contentious as it may be to point out, is it really fair to label Lagerfeld “vile” when he may have been... gulp... making a fair point?

Are we directing sex education in the wrong places?

The issue of sex education has been in the news a lot recently, but discussions tend to centre around young people and sex education in schools. A recent report from the magazine Student BMJ has added to the debate with the news that STI rates among over-45s are becoming a huge concern. Should there be a greater focus on older people in regards to sex education?

Flu jabs vs. flu treatments

It’s that time of year when flu warnings are doing the rounds and many of you are probably wondering whether it’s worth getting a jab or whether you should simply deal with it if it happens. If you are just as confused as I am about flu and flu jabs, sit tight as I’ll be looking at the difference between flu treatments and vaccines and when we should consider one over the other.

Why is there such a stigma about male sexual health?

It is an unfortunate truth that there persists in our society a stigma against male sexual health problems. Men generally do not feel comfortable discussing conditions like impotence or premature ejaculation with their peers, their partners or even their doctors, usually due to a misplaced sense of shame and embarrassment. Where does this stigma come from, and why does it persist?

Are you eating your emotions?

We all do it from time to time; get home and night and feel like heading straight for the biscuits, crisps or a deliciously refreshing glass of wine. This dash for the treats cupboard could be fuelled by many different factors, like a stressful day at work or something that is worrying us in particular. It’s all part of what is known as ‘emotional eating’. It may seem like an overused Oprah-esque chat show line, but emotions and brain chemistry play a part...

Should we have more targeted testing for the pill?

A couple of days ago I saw an article about a Scandinavian study that revealed that the Pill (combined oral contraceptive) has been proven to actually reduce period pain, which is extremely handy, because it’s estimated that more than 50% of women suffer from painful periods at some point in their life. However, the Pill isn’t currently licenced for the treatment of period pain, although some doctors may prescribe it ‘off-label’ to help with the condition....