Magnet fishing: ‘An engagement ring, a gold coin – the crowd willed the fisherman to draw something valuable from the water’
Casting a line for something other than fish is a long-odds game but, fleetingly, all shared a sense of hope
Health Month
Nine reasons people struggle to build an exercise habit and what to do about it
Experts in exercise science and psychology share their best advice on how to cut through mental blocks
‘My sister’s attitude from the start of her cancer diagnosis was toxic’
Tell Me About It: ‘The family dynamics have always been fractured and are now at an all-time low’
Four thousand days and counting: ‘If you drink, your life expectancy is between one day and six months’
I am still amazed by the imbecility of people who know about my condition but nevertheless say: ‘Surely one little drink wouldn’t hurt you?’
Orla Tinsley: 26 ways you can organise your hospital space to make it safe and soothing
Don’t let healthcare surroundings determine how you feel. Make the space your own with a few home comforts and items of self-care
Oesophageal cancer: ‘People definitely rally around when they think you are going to pop your clogs’
Golfer Pádraig Harrington is proactive about raising awareness of oesophageal cancer, the incidence of which has grown about fourfold in the Western world in the last four decades
‘My two-year-old daughter won’t let me out of her sight’
Ask the Expert: What can I do to help her settle at night without me?
Kate Middleton may have had a very sensible reason for her long hospital stay
Dr Muiris Houston: While there was some speculation online about the princess’s recent diagnosis, she may simply have wanted time to convalesce
‘I am against burning books but magazines, can we burn magazines?’
Darragh Geraghty: Promising ‘free’ toys and treats, these brightly-coloured publications aimed at young children can make a simple trip to the shop very challenging
Smart watches and fitness trackers can improve health, it’s not just about counting steps
Research around wearables is telling us that the health benefits at both individual and population levels are significant for current and future generations
What is a living will and why should you have one?
If you do not make provisions, your family will not have authority to make healthcare decisions on your behalf
‘Why has everyone stopped caring about me? Why treat me like I don’t matter or like I don’t exist?’
Tell Me About It: ‘I’m female, 60-plus. I’ve stopped caring about everything’
A child with 9,339 seizures: ‘Don’t get too happy, don’t get too sad, don’t get too angry’
Epilepsy: With every new referral, ‘we literally put on our detective hats and scrutinise the story’
Our children growing up so fast is breaking my brain
Darragh Geraghty: I’m trying not to panic. They’re growing up. That’s normal and we’re lucky
Jason Smyth: ‘I hope my actions show my daughters, if dad is able to do it . . . then I can’
Parenting in My Shoes: The paralympian says it doesn’t matter what the challenge is you’re facing. ‘We all face our own challenges and you’ve got to learn to get over them, embrace them’
‘I’d love if there was more understanding of rare diseases’
I am Number 17 is a campaign to raise awareness and for early diagnosis for rare disease
Pick a good time, bring your medication list: 18 things to know before visiting a GP
To ensure a productive appointment, it is best to plan ahead. Here are some tips to bear in mind
‘I find comfort – when his phone is charged – in being able to see where he is’
Jen Hogan: Still, I take comfort in being able to see where he is by checking his phone’s location
‘What am I going to do about me and the mouse?’
There was no way I was going to set a trap – humane or barbaric
Does sparkling water damage teeth? Is beetroot juice good for blood pressure? Do vapes damage our health?
Debunking healthcare myths – researchers at University of Galway answer questions from the public about health claims
‘I am struggling to help my two children, who still live at home. They are both very isolated’
Tell Me About It: If your children can see that their father is self-aware and help-seeking, it might open the door for them to risk asking for help too
‘The consultant seemed quite surprised, after looking at my scans, that I was still alive’
Alan Markey ended up in hospital after days of worsening back pain and weight loss
Breastfeeding is best but if baby formula is required, should the price be regulated?
Labour Senator and Rotunda Hospital consultant stress high cost of formula needs to be dealt with urgently
The importance of building up your fitness before surgery
A new prehabilitation initiative gives guidance to patients on how to improve their chances of having no complications and a faster recovery
Taking a driving test, and other things you didn’t know about getting your first power wheelchair
Having an electric wheelchair will be a lot easier on my shoulders and will allow me to keep my independence
Is it worth running just once per week?
Mary Jennings: Just one run per week offers a multitude of positive benefits for your body, both physically and mentally. Stick with it as a success and feel no guilt
‘I think my husband has a problem with alcohol, but he says he’s just managing his stress’
Ask the Expert: Even if someone does not identify their alcohol use as a problem, it can be a serious issue for their family
Ozempic has big potential, but caution is necessary
For all the popular clamour for the new medication it is not without side effects
Social media and mental health: The glorification of illness is becoming a real problem
A welcome spotlight on mental health issues can also lead to oversimplification, with self-diagnosis and misunderstandings rife
The events may be far away, but the feelings of hopelessness and grief are with us
We need to appreciate the good things that are happening to us in our lives. We need to do it because otherwise the darkness wins
How to make 2024 a year of healthy meaningful change in ways that won’t stress you out
Whether you want to quit unhealthy habits, lose weight, do more exercise or a bit of all that, don’t put pressure on yourself to make huge changes instantly
I Am Not an Alcoholic: ‘I had a master’s degree in hiding my dependency on alcohol’
Part 16: She’ll think I’m sick if I don’t have a glass of wine. In fact, I was sick when I was having glasses of wine
Even heroes are prone to burnout, particularly when their battles are ongoing, with little hope of resolution
Nine out of 10 doctors in Ireland experience mental health difficulties linked to their work and most keep this private because of fear of stigma. Almost 60 per cent have no time to eat, drink or use the toilet while at work
‘There should be free first aid training for all expectant parents’
From choking to burns, avoidable deaths are only avoidable if more people understand basic first aid skills
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