Health - Life

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#Health - Life

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>'Too many children never received the care they so desperately needed. They were profoundly let down by the lack of robust regulation and standards of our services. Those children are men and women now.'</p>

columnists

Richard Hogan: This is a landmark moment for our nation's mental health

Conversations last week, allied to new laws, will hopefully prove a step in the right direction for this vital part of the country's health strategy

<p> Frances Kearns, who was successfully treated for lung cancer in May. Picture: Moya Nolan</p>

health and wellbeing

'I count my blessings every day that — just like the Pope — my cancer was caught early'

<p>Although orgasm isn't high on the list when it comes to grief management, it should be, because it is such an effective way to self-soothe. Picture: iStock </p>

advice

Sex File: I'm grieving, so why am I having sexual fantasies?

Chronic back pain. Adult woman is holding her lower back, while standing and suffering from unbearable pain.

health and wellbeing

Natural Health: What can I do about my lower back pain?

I felt I was failing as a mother before my baby was born — I had hyperemesis gravidarum

health and wellbeing

I felt I was failing as a mother before my baby was born — I had hyperemesis gravidarum

Working Life: Service users are entitled to live life free from abuse

health and wellbeing

Working Life: Service users are entitled to live life free from abuse

'Know your balls' — Checking your testicles could save your life

'Know your balls' — Checking your testicles could save your life

A primary school teacher who was diagnosed with testicular cancer is encouraging other men to take action early if they spot any changes or irregularities

Fri, 06 Nov, 2026

Sleep, conflict or sad woman thinking in bed for partner betrayal, emotional distance or infidelity. Couple, rest and wife overt

Sex File: I’m 25 and I’ve never had an orgasm

If you have never been able to orgasm, then you may be one of the small number of people who are anorgasmic

Mon, 02 Nov, 2026

Young miserable woman experiencing severe toothache, pressing palm to cheek, closing eyes because of strong pain, isolated on gr

Natural health: I've started to grind my teeth at night

Plus: Do I need an immune boost to prevent my yearly autumn cold?

Sun, 01 Nov, 2026

Family problems

Children impacted when parents are distracted by phones — here's what to do about it

Prioritising quality time with children over screen time can help strengthen family relationships

Fri, 30 Oct, 2026

Working Life: I didn’t set out to become a psychotherapist

Working Life: I didn’t set out to become a psychotherapist

Helena Texier, psychoanalytic psychotherapist, The Phoenix Practice, Dublin, and member of the Irish Council for Psychotherapy (ICP)

Fri, 30 Oct, 2026

Shingles Vaccine and Syringe On Blue Background

Can a vaccine for shingles help keep dementia at bay?

Many people in midlife are considering the shingles vaccine because of studies linking it to a lower risk of dementia. Are their expectations too high?

Fri, 30 Oct, 2026

Building a future with the help of higher education

Building a future with the help of higher education

An award-winning third-level initiative in Waterford is helping adults with intellectual disabilities find purpose, independence and a career

Fri, 30 Oct, 2026

A couple lover watching movie in cinema theater.

Feel the fear and reap the benefits — Why horror keeps us fascinated

Our fight-or-flight instincts are designed to protect us from harm, yet many of us are magnetically drawn to horror films, haunted attractions, and scary books

Fri, 30 Oct, 2026

Young couple in a bed bored woman

Sex File: My orgasm has deserted me with my new partner

My new partner is much more passionate and dominant than my ex — what I always fantasised about — and I'd hate for us to be sexually incompatible.

Mon, 26 Oct, 2026

Close-up of elegant female hands with manicured nails forming a graceful crossed-hand gesture, isolated on a clean white backgro

Natural health: What can I do about my brittle nails?

Plus: My daughter is a power sleeper, is there something I could give her?

Sun, 25 Oct, 2026

Woman pushing large hand drawn illustrated clock uphill symbolizing time struggle and effort to keep up

5 expert-backed tips to beat the winter blues

With the clocks going back this weekend and daylight hours fast diminishing, you may notice your mood and energy levels starting to dip. Could it be seasonal affective disorder or its close relative, the winter blues?

Fri, 23 Oct, 2026

Dense breasts increase risk of missed cancers: 'My breasts masked a slow-growing tumour'

Dense breasts increase risk of missed cancers: 'My breasts masked a slow-growing tumour'

Women with dense breast tissue can benefit from additional screening, which may detect tumours not visible on mammograms

Fri, 23 Oct, 2026

depressed Asian woman in deep many thoughts, having problem with over thinking

How to reset your stress response: 'The more you practice, the stronger your relax muscle gets'

Cortisol has long had a bad rap for its association with stress. But a new book argues that this essential hormone plays a crucial role in our health and wellbeing, and maintaining optimal levels starts with prioritising rest

Fri, 23 Oct, 2026

Working Life: 'Once I went out on the job, I fell in love with nursing'

Working Life: 'Once I went out on the job, I fell in love with nursing'

Sunitha Thomas, clinical nurse manager, Radiology Department, Beaumont Hospital

Fri, 23 Oct, 2026

Depressed young man

Sex File: Why does my libido always die after a year in a relationship?

Once the relationship ends, I'm overcome by failure and shame

Mon, 19 Oct, 2026

Working Life: We encourage new mums to give breastfeeding a go

Working Life: We encourage new mums to give breastfeeding a go

Deirdre Lee, RGN, midwife, and lactation consultant in St Mary’s Primary Care Centre, Gurranabraher, Cork

Fri, 16 Oct, 2026

Senior man looking out of window at home

Natural Health: What can my husband do about his low testosterone levels?

Plus: I get a throbbing headache when stressed and painkillers don't help much, what can I take?

Fri, 16 Oct, 2026

My work is a privilege, I reassure people that there is no shame in needing support

My work is a privilege, I reassure people that there is no shame in needing support

Being welcomed into the homes of those in need is a humbling experience for Janet Tynan, a Cork-based volunteer with St Vincent de Paul, and one that often puts her own concerns into perspective

Fri, 16 Oct, 2026

Checking your blood pressure helps tackle the ‘silent killer’

Checking your blood pressure helps tackle the ‘silent killer’

Many of us are unaware we have hypertension, a condition if left unchecked can lead to serious health conditions such as stroke

Fri, 16 Oct, 2026

Young woman feeling sad while man sleeping in bed

Sex File: My porn habit is ruining intimacy with my current man

Now that I am with someone, I struggle to orgasm

Tue, 13 Oct, 2026

'I’m so sorry, there’s no heartbeat' — Fathers’ grief after baby loss needs to be acknowledged

'I’m so sorry, there’s no heartbeat' — Fathers’ grief after baby loss needs to be acknowledged

After his son Freddie was stillborn in 2023, university lecturer Lewis King found himself trying to understand not only his own heartache, but also the experiences of other dads facing similar grief. At the start of Baby Loss Awareness Week, he writes about why men can be the forgotten mourners

Fri, 09 Oct, 2026

Thrive, don't just survive — Dr Rangan Chatterjee shares the key ingredients to happiness

Thrive, don't just survive — Dr Rangan Chatterjee shares the key ingredients to happiness

Ahead of Dr Rangan Chatterjee’s live show in Dublin this November, we chat to him about his journey to finding inner peace, the simple habits that can transform our lives, and why thriving is our birthright

Fri, 09 Oct, 2026

Little girl talking on a smart watch while riding roller skates

Watch out: Are smartwatches right for my child?

Smartwatches for children too young to have a mobile phone can be the compromise — as long as everyone sticks to the ground rules

Fri, 09 Oct, 2026

Vitamin D sunshine pill

Vitamin D: Why the sunshine vitamin needs a winter spotlight

It is possible to get vitamin D from your diet but it’s rarely enough this time of year, so a supplement is generally advised

Fri, 09 Oct, 2026

Are diet jellies a real alternative to Ozempic? I asked the experts — and put them to the test

Are diet jellies a real alternative to Ozempic? I asked the experts — and put them to the test

Experts fear the trend of diet jellies risks turning food into the enemy

Fri, 09 Oct, 2026

Unhappy woman sitting in bed experiencing relationship problems

Sex File: I feel more like his therapist than his wife

Research also suggests that between 50 and 70% of people with depression experience some form of sexual dysfunction

Mon, 05 Oct, 2026

Working Life: Helping a baby to latch at the breast for the first time is a win for everyone

Working Life: Helping a baby to latch at the breast for the first time is a win for everyone

Lisa Carroll, clinical midwife specialist, lactation, Rotunda Hospital

Fri, 02 Oct, 2026

Creative picture image collage banner of guy worker jump from financial charts determined company success

Workplace Wellbeing: When is the right time to ask for a pay rise?

A survey of 1,000 Irish workers found that only a quarter reported having money left over after paying bills

Fri, 02 Oct, 2026

Tech literacy: A young man bringing older people up to speed

Tech literacy: A young man bringing older people up to speed

Cal Woods, who has muscular dystrophy, helps older people learn how to use their phones and laptops at Drogheda Library

Fri, 02 Oct, 2026

Deathbed dreams: What end-of-life visions can teach us about life

Deathbed dreams: What end-of-life visions can teach us about life

Hospice doctor Chris Kerr believes patients are often ‘visited’ by loved ones before they die

Fri, 02 Oct, 2026

Top 8: Which of these off-the-shelf birthday cakes is a wish come true?

Top 8: Which of these off-the-shelf birthday cakes is a wish come true?

We’ll get back to wholesome food tomorrow, now is the time for sugar and sprinkles

Fri, 02 Oct, 2026

Relationship means arguments as well

Sex File: My insomnia is interfering with my late-night sex life

Neither of us really enjoys morning sex, so what can I do to feel more relaxed again?

Mon, 28 Sep, 2026

'It’s a dynamite food': Why iron-rich black pudding should be part of your diet

'It’s a dynamite food': Why iron-rich black pudding should be part of your diet

Many people baulk at the thought of eating fresh blood black pudding, but it predates potatoes, soda bread, whiskey, and stout as a source of nourishment

Fri, 25 Sep, 2026

PROF CAITRIONA RYAN

I'm a consultant dermatologist — here's what parents need to know about common skin conditions

Professor Caitriona Ryan is a consultant dermatologist and co-founder of the Institute of Dermatologists in Dublin

Fri, 25 Sep, 2026

Workplace wellbeing: When your colleagues become your friends

Workplace wellbeing: When your colleagues become your friends

We learn from the people around us, so good relationships at work are healthy, so long as they don’t get cliquey or gossipy or involve favouritism

Thu, 24 Sep, 2026

Sew social: Meet the people championing Ireland’s quiet craft revival

Sew social: Meet the people championing Ireland’s quiet craft revival

Craft clubs are making a comeback, particularly sewing bees. Deirdre McArdle joins a class to see what the buzz is all about

Mon, 21 Sep, 2026

I thought things would be different

Sex File: We're just married but my libido is gone — what does this mean?

More than nine in ten couples live together before marriage, so after the wedding, you have a ring on your finger and some nice photos, but you are still the same people living in the same place

Mon, 21 Sep, 2026

'I decided I wasn't going to suffocate under the weight of my prostate cancer diagnosis'

'I decided I wasn't going to suffocate under the weight of my prostate cancer diagnosis'

Gearóid Bradley was diagnosed with stage-4 prostate cancer in 2023 and given months to live. He says seeking support has been vital to maintaining his mental wellbeing

Fri, 18 Sep, 2026

Senior business man holding tablet and having fun with coworkers

Workplace wellbeing: Playing the generation game at work

Much is made of age-related attitudes in the workplace, but the reality is that most of us, from Boomer to Gen Z, want the same things from our jobs

Fri, 18 Sep, 2026

CIARA SCALLAN

Working Life: A man rang me in his last few days of life to say thanks for all the help during his illness

Ciara Scallan is senior respiratory physiotherapist with the Irish Lung Fibrosis Association

Fri, 18 Sep, 2026

Caucasian grandmother, senior old woman cooking in her kitchen traditional recipes of Italian couture. Homemade pasta.

Will you live to 100? The numbers don’t add up

Saul Newman’s book ‘Morbid’ debunks the science behind the longevity industry and the claim that people in blue zones live longer

Fri, 18 Sep, 2026

'Walking has been life-changing. Where I am now compared to three years ago is chalk and cheese'

'Walking has been life-changing. Where I am now compared to three years ago is chalk and cheese'

National Walking Week, which starts on Monday, encourages us all to get out and stretch those legs. It’s not only good for our general health, but it can also help calm the mind

Fri, 18 Sep, 2026

Does cholesterol tell the whole heart health story?

Does cholesterol tell the whole heart health story?

A leading medical researcher believes the risk assessment for cardiovascular disease should extend beyond a narrow focus on LDL cholesterol

Fri, 18 Sep, 2026

Young couple sleeping back to back in their bed

Sex File: Trying for a baby is starting to feel like a chore

You are absolutely right to focus on bringing closeness and lightness back to your sexual relationship, because stress has a huge impact on ovulation and the menstrual cycle

Mon, 14 Sep, 2026