Health - Life

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#Health - Life

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>Remote workers have the same entitlements as office-based colleagues, whether it is a 15-minute break or a promotion opportunity. Picture: iStock</p>

health and wellbeing

Working from home: how to be out of the office, but not out of the loop

Employees should know that working at home is not permission to work from anywhere. Conversely, they have all the rights of office-based staff

<p>Jack and Jill volunteer Ann O’Sullivan in the shop at Kealew Business Retail Park in Portlaoise. Picture: Alf Harvey.</p>

health and wellbeing

I volunteer because helping is priceless

<p>Clockwise from upper left: Irene Feighan; Deirdre O'Shaughnessy with her friends, including her future husband; Jillian Bolger; Esther McCarthy.</p>

health and wellbeing

Irish Examiner journalists on life lessons learned from summer jobs that helped shape their future careers

Allergy

health and wellbeing

How to deal with hay fever as pollen counts rise amid change in temperature

Unhappy man with woman in the background

advice

Sex File: My wife wants more sex than I do

Working Life: Research shows that babies benefit when parents talk, sing, and read to them

health and wellbeing

Working Life: Research shows that babies benefit when parents talk, sing, and read to them

'Many dads don’t want to be the main breadwinner — they want to be involved in family life'

'Many dads don’t want to be the main breadwinner — they want to be involved in family life'

Most Irish dads want to spend more time at home with their children, but limited and poorly funded parenting leave makes it difficult for many

Fri, 19 Jun, 2026

I get a sense of pride from Be OK Garage — a group for car-loving men to talk about mental health

I get a sense of pride from Be OK Garage — a group for car-loving men to talk about mental health

Car enthusiast Dave Smith is helping men change gears and open up about their mental health at Be OK Garage

Fri, 12 Jun, 2026

Working Life: Seeing advanced specialist pharmacists come together forthe first time was incredibly rewarding

Working Life: Seeing advanced specialist pharmacists come together forthe first time was incredibly rewarding

Laura Dillon, National Pharmacy Innovation Fellow, HSE Spark Innovation Programme

Fri, 12 Jun, 2026

Life preserver on sandy beach

How to stay safe in the water this summer

Summer is here, and with it the call of the seaside and open water. But before diving in, there's much to consider, from water temperature and rip currents to your ability to float on your back and stay calm in an emergency

Fri, 12 Jun, 2026

Busy stressed mother sits with a baby and works at a laptop, multitasking woman. Home office. Mother freelancer, remote work and

Mums need to be honest about the toll of school years — the 'motherhood penalty' is real

Women are led to believe that once the early years of child-rearing are over, their lives will return to normal. But the arrival of the school holidays is a stark reminder that motherhood is an ongoing compromise

Fri, 12 Jun, 2026

Doctor examine senior man patient at home.

GP shortages threaten rural healthcare

The national shortage of GPs in Ireland has become a real problem in rural areas and has been compounded by the 30% emigration rate of newly qualified GPs

Wed, 10 Jun, 2026

I don't want to get up from the bed!

Sex File: I'm worried about having sex for the first time after divorce

My new partner is keen to get intimate but I'm embarrassed to say I actually haven't had sex in four years and beneath the excitement I'm completely lacking in confidence

Mon, 08 Jun, 2026

‘I had bowel cancer at a young age and discovered an underlying genetic predisposition’

‘I had bowel cancer at a young age and discovered an underlying genetic predisposition’

Sinéad O’Reilly was a young mum of two when blood in the toilet led to a shock diagnosis and a stark choice

Fri, 05 Jun, 2026

'I developed crippling anxiety and felt like a different person after taking a GLP-1 drug'

'I developed crippling anxiety and felt like a different person after taking a GLP-1 drug'

From tingling, burning skin to finding even the touch of your clothes painful, along with experiencing high anxiety levels and thoughts of self-harm, the side effects of weight-loss drugs need to be clearly communicated to patients

Fri, 05 Jun, 2026

I tried forest bathing for the first time in Waterford — here are the health benefits

I tried forest bathing for the first time in Waterford — here are the health benefits

Research shows that being in woodlands can help reduce blood pressure, lower cortisol and stress levels, and improve cognitive function. Deirdre McArdle joins a forest bathing experience to discover for herself the benefits of being in nature

Fri, 05 Jun, 2026

Working Life: If I hadn’t noticed a lump, the other cancer might have spread

Working Life: If I hadn’t noticed a lump, the other cancer might have spread

Liz Yeates, CEO Marie Keating Foundation

Fri, 05 Jun, 2026

Unhappy employee or demotivated at working place

Workplace Wellbeing: How to deal with negative people at work

Most offices have someone who constantly complains. The risk is emotional contagion, where we absorb and imitate the negativity. Here’s how to avoid falling into it

Fri, 05 Jun, 2026

Workplace Wellbeing: Tips for springing into a new career

Workplace Wellbeing: Tips for springing into a new career

Whatever the circumstances, confronting the need to switch careers can be challenging, but it is achievable and can be hugely rewarding and beneficial.

Fri, 05 Jun, 2026

Less than half of population pays for health insurance as average cost jumps 10.6%

Less than half of population pays for health insurance as average cost jumps 10.6%

Premiums rise but level of cover is reducing, says Health Insurance Authority

Wed, 03 Jun, 2026

I've had two heart attacks — could gene editing help my chronically high cholesterol?

I've had two heart attacks — could gene editing help my chronically high cholesterol?

A new way of managing harmful blood fats is emerging in the form of novel gene-editing treatments designed to inactivate or suppress key liver genes involved in regulating cholesterol levels

Fri, 29 May, 2026

'I held my baby for 59 minutes — I’m learning to live with the pain of her loss'

'I held my baby for 59 minutes — I’m learning to live with the pain of her loss'

Cork-based nurse Daniela Gomez was told her daughter would not survive outside the womb. She got to hold her baby for 59 minutes. The grief, she says, is like being on a rollercoaster

Fri, 29 May, 2026

I was diagnosed with MS at 18 — I’m glad we had children while I’m still able to walk and run

I was diagnosed with MS at 18 — I’m glad we had children while I’m still able to walk and run

Laura Barry was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis as a teenager and chose to have children sooner rather than later while her health was stable

Fri, 29 May, 2026

Working Life: While effective treatment is crucial, empathy is equally important

Working Life: While effective treatment is crucial, empathy is equally important

Paul Kelly, consultant radiation oncologist and medical director, Bon Secours Radiotherapy Centre and UPMC Hillman Cancer Centre, Whitfield Hospital, Waterford.

Fri, 29 May, 2026

Want to retire early? Here's how to prepare and find purpose in your retirement

Want to retire early? Here's how to prepare and find purpose in your retirement

Jobs provide structure, purpose, and meaning, and those losses can be harder than the loss of income. But plan ahead, and your life can still be rewarding

Fri, 29 May, 2026

Concept of hard work for businessman pushing rock up a hill

What is friction-maxxing and is it the productivity hack we all need?

Your to-do list is getting longer by the day, and though you have the best of intentions, it's proving difficult to get through. The latest productivity hack may help you scale the work mountain and even help your children build resilience

Fri, 29 May, 2026

AISLING MCCARTHY

This charity bakes birthday cakes for the homeless: ‘I get great satisfaction from giving back’

Volunteering can make all the difference to people in need and your local community, but can also improve your physical and mental wellbeing

Fri, 22 May, 2026

I thought my headaches were caused by caffeine withdrawal — it was a brain tumour

I thought my headaches were caused by caffeine withdrawal — it was a brain tumour

Loretta Kennedy put her constant headaches down to caffeine withdrawal or not getting enough fresh air— until she had a seizure and needed emergency care

Fri, 22 May, 2026

GAIL HAWTHORN

Working Life: Hepatitis C is now highly curable and treatment is straightforward

Gail Hawthorn is a clinical nurse specialist in hepatitis C liaison

Fri, 22 May, 2026

Be more sustainable by rustling up something lush with those leftovers

Finding a good home for leftover food

Nonprofit Social enterprise FoodCloud works with industry partners to support community groups by distributing surplus food and providing nutrition education

Fri, 22 May, 2026

Couple's feet close-up.

Sex File: Why does my new partner take so long?

Although your partner doesn't seem to be bothered about it, delayed ejaculation is clearly having a negative effect on your experience, so it needs to be addressed before it takes the joy out of sex altogether

Mon, 18 May, 2026

Why you don’t have to stomach abdominal pain

Why you don’t have to stomach abdominal pain

Aishling Condon Healy ended up in hospital before she was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis

Fri, 15 May, 2026

Having fun together never ends

'He said his marriage might have survived if he’d known more about menopause'

Hormone changes brought on by perimenopause and menopause can lead to hot flushes, anxiety, brain fog, and low libido.

Fri, 15 May, 2026

What Stands Apart

Workplace Wellbeing: How to find your footing when life changes

Work has inevitable ups and downs, so we need to be adaptable. The good news is that resilience is not a fixed trait but a skill that can be learned

Fri, 15 May, 2026

Concept polycystic ovary syndrome, PCOS. Copy space, women reproductive system.

Six early signs of PCOS often overlooked

Symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome usually become apparent during your late teens or early 20s

Fri, 15 May, 2026

Sports senior woman

What 'super-agers' have to teach us about how our brains age

While none of us can become super-agers if we are not already, there are plenty of lifestyle factors that have an impact on the aging process

Fri, 15 May, 2026

I tried sea and sauna therapy in Cork for the first time — here's what happened

I tried sea and sauna therapy in Cork for the first time — here's what happened

An intense sauna session, followed by a bracing dip in the sea, is fast becoming a popular way to unwind and socialise. Novice Deirdre McArdle dives in to see what all the excitement is about

Wed, 13 May, 2026

Life on the Shannon: Meet the Irish liveaboards choosing houseboats over rising rents

Life on the Shannon: Meet the Irish liveaboards choosing houseboats over rising rents

From rising costs to freedom and simplicity, Ireland’s liveaboards explain the realities of making homes on waterways

Sun, 10 May, 2026

40s woman looking at gray hair in mirror reflection on growth root

Natural Health: What can I do about my thinning eyebrows?

My eyebrows have started to thin over the past few years. I first noticed the change during perimenopause. I’m filling in the gaps with a pencil, but I miss my full eyebrows.

Fri, 08 May, 2026

All work and no play is a recipe for burnout: 'We’re not machines, and we all need recovery time'

All work and no play is a recipe for burnout: 'We’re not machines, and we all need recovery time'

We lionise hard work, but responsibility to your employer should not include skipping lunch or forgoing holiday leave, as this can undermine your health

Fri, 08 May, 2026

Working Life: “An IBD diagnosis can lead to grieving for the life youhad planned”

Working Life: “An IBD diagnosis can lead to grieving for the life youhad planned”

Dr Susan Brannick, clinical psychologist with expertise in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and clinical director of mental health charity Aware.

Fri, 08 May, 2026

Young woman suffering from strong abdominal pain while sitting on sofa

Five gynaecological symptoms that warrant a GP visit

It’s important to discuss any new or persistent gynaecological changes with a doctor

Fri, 08 May, 2026

Fiona White, Tullamore, Co. Offaly

Skin cancer: When the doctor said 'unfortunately' I knew it was bad news

A mum of two never thought she would be a ‘candidate for skin cancer’, and now covers up whenever she is out in the sun

Fri, 01 May, 2026

Young woman touching itchy scalp with dirty oily hair, concept of dandruff, seborrhea, irritation

Getting to the root of thinning hair: 'If our hair’s off, we don’t feel right'

A good hair day can set us up for whatever challenges lie ahead, but just as our hormones affect the quality of our skin, so too do they affect our hair. Sarah Finnan speaks to the experts about how to age-proof your tresses and keep them in tip-top shape

Fri, 01 May, 2026

Working Life: Good Vibrations choir helps patients find a new voice

Working Life: Good Vibrations choir helps patients find a new voice

Dr Trish Rooney, vocal lecturer at MTU Cork School of Music, vocal rehabilitation specialist and founder of the Good Vibrations Choir

Fri, 01 May, 2026

Workplace Wellbeing: how to dress to express your role at work and build a personal brand

You don’t need Miranda Priestly’s budget to look good at work. It’s more about finding the right personal style than following the latest trends

Fri, 01 May, 2026

Inside the new therapy garden at Cork ARC for cancer patients

Inside the new therapy garden at Cork ARC for cancer patients

A new therapy garden at Cork ARC opens tomorrow, offering a quiet oasis to soothe and uplift those recovering from cancer treatment

Fri, 24 Apr, 2026

Working Life: One hour of in-home support makes a massive difference to a family

S Working Life: One hour of in-home support makes a massive difference to a family

Michaella McMahon, fundraising manager, Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation.

Fri, 24 Apr, 2026

How the power of self-belief can help when you start to doubt your abilities and skills

How the power of self-belief can help when you start to doubt your abilities and skills

Top behavioural researcher Shadé Zahrai says that by questioning our self-doubt, we can loosen its grip and instead harness the power of self-belief

Fri, 17 Apr, 2026

Bussines woman focused on her work

Workplace wellbeing: Tired of the job but can’t work out what to do?

When the mid-career milestones of pay rises and promotions are no longer satisfying, you may find yourself in a slump. Should you change career or try to love the one you have anew?

Fri, 17 Apr, 2026