On World No Tobacco Day, oncologist Tony Mok explains the dangers of smoking and vaping, and we list the lasting health benefits to be had by quitting the habit, and how quickly they kick in.
Do you need another reason to quit smoking? Habitual smoking shrinks your brain, increasing the risk of dementia. The good news is that giving up smoking, even aged 60, substantially reduces the risk.
The drug Ozempic is magical for aiding weight loss but comes with risks, says author Johann Hari, who describes choosing the drug over obesity, despite its potential downsides, in his book Magic Pill.
Chelsea Clinton and actress Zooey Deschanel are two high-profile sufferers of coeliac disease, which is estimated to afflict 1 in 100 people. Their gluten intolerance requires a lifelong gluten-free diet.
Experts say abnormal poop can signal health conditions from IBS to cancer, so we found out what healthy and unhealthy poops look like, how often you should defecate, and tips for optimum stools.
We all forget things at times, and as we age, our recall becomes less powerful. This is not the same thing as forgetfulness due to dementia, say experts, who offer tips to keep your memory sharper.
Eating too much, or too little? We look at the difference between hunger and appetite, how a balanced diet leaves you satisfied, and share tips for how to increase, and how to manage, your appetite.
Dementia, especially Alzheimer’s disease, can affect how sufferers experience taste and reduce their appetite. A professor explains why, and offers seven tips to help ensure they eat and drink enough.
One in three people suffer neck pain every year. Hong Kong experts break down why it is so common, and describe the lifestyle changes you can make to minimise it.
Date Night actress’ mammogram and a genetic test didn’t flag her breast cancer, but a risk assessment did. So what are they, how do they work, and is having regular mammograms still important?
What you need to know about allergies, their causes, symptoms, and treatment – and ways to avoid them. In urban Hong Kong, it’s not pollen but a common pest you need to watch out for most.
The Tsimané tribe in the Bolivian Amazon have great heart health and very little age-related brain shrinkage or dementia. Their lifestyle – exercise, fresh food and clean air – all play a part.
A doctor and a nutritionist, both in Hong Kong, describe the differences between stomach flu and food poisoning, the causes of gastroenteritis and how best to treat it.
Schumer consulted a doctor about her puffy face, and learned she had Cushing’s syndrome, which is caused by prolonged exposure to excessive levels of stress hormones.
Changes in gait – particularly difficulty walking a curved path – may be an early sign of dementia, an expert says; families should be on the lookout to help protect a sufferer’s safety and quality of life.
Brain cancer can’t be headed off by changing lifestyles, unlike, say, lung cancer. There are various types of tumour, some more aggressive than others. Recent drug therapy advances show promise.
A stroke increases the short-term risk of dementia, which is no surprise, but new research shows the increased risk can last for 20 years after a stroke, even after recovering some abilities post-stroke.
Bad dental hygiene could affect your brain health in the future, according to a study that says the risk of Alzheimer’s is 21 per cent higher in people with poor hygiene and gum disease.
A Hong Kong support group founder and a doctor explain what bipolar disorder is and the types, symptoms and causes of the condition affecting celebrities like Kanye West and Selena Gomez.
Recent studies indicate statins, taken by 200 million people to lower cholesterol, can help stave off dementia, and a doctor recommends boosting this with a good diet and exercise.
Musicians Billie Eilish and Lewis Capaldi are among the 1 per cent of people who have Tourette’s syndrome, characterised by tics – sudden, involuntary movements or sounds. How do they live with it?
Good sex is good for you, says a Hong Kong sex coach: it boosts physical and mental well-being and can even prevent cancer. Experts explain the orgasm and share how to increase your libido.
Speaking more than one language can delay dementia symptoms because it boosts what scientists call our cognitive reserve. The more you use a second or third language, the better, research shows.
On World Cancer Day, specialists give reasons for optimism about beating the disease. They describe advances in treatment, diagnosis and prevention that are helping more patients to live.
As World Leprosy Day comes around, we look at the disease’s symptoms, treatment and transmission, whether it’s contagious or curable, its stigma, and why there was a recent outbreak in the US.
Diagnoses of cancer – especially colorectal cancer – are increasing among under-50s, even as global cancer deaths decrease. Simple lifestyle and diet changes can offset that increased risk.
In many ways, wellness and beauty are merging. We look at three trends for 2024 that highlight this – including a breakdown of how our physiological and psychological health affects our skin.
Eating seeds and nuts is good for us, and – contrary to popular belief – can contribute to weight loss. With the help of a nutritionist, we look at their health benefits and how to eat them.
For some people with dementia, music therapy has been shown to improve their thinking, feeling, perception, mood and behaviour. It can be used as part of a care plan, say experts.
Sitting around for 12 hours increases your mortality risk by 38 per cent, but a daily 22-minute brisk walk, or a more intense 11-minute bout of exercise, can lower that risk, according to recent studies.
