Health - My Story

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#Health - My Story

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>Dave Smith from Be OK Garage - a car-based support group for men at Darndale, Dublin Picture: Gareth Chaney </p>

health and wellbeing

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

<p>Sinéad O’Reilly has Lynch syndrome, which predisposed her to bowel cancer. Picture: Alf Harvey</p>

health and wellbeing

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

<p>Daniela Gomez and Daniel Brenes hold imprints of their daughter Alma’s hands and feet, treasured keepsakes from the short time they shared with her following the birth in January. Picture: Chani Anderson</p>

health and wellbeing

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

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

health and wellbeing

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

DES REDMOND

health and wellbeing

When I was diagnosed with testicular cancer at 30 it was taboo to talk about genitals

We grieved the life we thought our daughter would lead after cystic fibrosis diagnosis

health and wellbeing

We grieved the life we thought our daughter would lead after cystic fibrosis diagnosis

Kick-boxer Conor is clear-eyed and laser-focused on his stellar career

Kick-boxer Conor is clear-eyed and laser-focused on his stellar career

The Kildare man became a top fighter despite poor sight. Laser surgery means he no longer wears glasses or contacts in bouts

Fri, 06 Mar, 2026

Life with epilepsy: 'It looked like my daughter was having a stroke'

Life with epilepsy: 'It looked like my daughter was having a stroke'

Signs of epilepsy vary according to the condition, and it doesn’t always involve loss of consciousness or shaking of the limbs, as Aisling Allan discovered when her daughter had a seizure

Fri, 06 Feb, 2026

I gave up alcohol for a month — here's how it impacted my sleep, health, and more

I gave up alcohol for a month — here's how it impacted my sleep, health, and more

Jonathan deBurca Butler enjoys relaxing over a pint at his local. It’s a simple habit woven into the fabric of his life. So how did he fare when he quit alcohol for a month?

Fri, 06 Feb, 2026

Going the extra mile to help beat childhood cancer

Going the extra mile to help beat childhood cancer

When Aoife Lucey was 10, high-risk leukaemia turned her world upside down. Now, she’s running 10 half-marathons to help children facing cancer today

Fri, 06 Feb, 2026

I used a walking pad to walk 10,000 steps a day for a month — here’s what happened

I used a walking pad to walk 10,000 steps a day for a month — here’s what happened

It's been a long, rainy January and many people are turning to walking pads to keep their step count up. These can have many health benefits, as Denise O’Donoghue found out when she invested in a walking pad for her home office

Fri, 30 Jan, 2026

I'm a doctor in my 30s with a healthy lifestyle — I was surprised I have high cholesterol

I'm a doctor in my 30s with a healthy lifestyle — I was surprised I have high cholesterol

A healthy non-smoker in her mid-30s, Dr Aisling Farrell was surprised to learn she had elevated cholesterol levels. The result prompted her to review her lifestyle and make critical changes

Sun, 28 Dec, 2025

I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer at 37 — here are the signs I noticed

I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer at 37 — here are the signs I noticed

'I could not feel any lumps at all, and I think that’s quite important to note, because I had no symptoms, really except for that tenderness'

Fri, 10 Oct, 2025

'At 38, I was told that I needed to have a hysterectomy because they had found cancer'

'At 38, I was told that I needed to have a hysterectomy because they had found cancer'

Gráinne Culliton was devastated when she was told she had to undergo a hysterectomy for cervical cancer at 38. However, she went on to become a mum of two through surrogacy

Fri, 19 Sep, 2025

We ditched our desk jobs to spend more time in nature — here's why

We ditched our desk jobs to spend more time in nature — here's why

If you’ve ever dreamed of ditching the conventional working world in favour of something more bucolic, you’re not the only one

Sat, 06 Sep, 2025

'I thought I was having a heart attack — it was actually bowel cancer'

'I thought I was having a heart attack — it was actually bowel cancer'

Cork-based mother of two Natasha O’Byrne is undergoing chemotherapy, but that hasn’t stopped her from raising money for the charity that came to her aid

Mon, 25 Aug, 2025

How your menstrual cycle can impact your mental and physical health

How your menstrual cycle can impact your mental and physical health

While there is certainly evidence that sex hormones do positively (and negatively) impact women’s brains, the historical lack of women’s health research means there is a lot of catching up to do in this area

Mon, 25 Aug, 2025

How I'm giving myself the best possible chance to catch cancer early

How I'm giving myself the best possible chance to catch cancer early

Corkwoman Fiona Ryan decided to undergo testing for a faulty BRCA gene after her late sister — who was being treated for breast cancer — was found to be a carrier

Fri, 15 Aug, 2025

I noticed a lump in my throat while swallowing — it was cancer

I noticed a lump in my throat while swallowing — it was cancer

Business manager Mike Freeney enjoyed ultra running in his free time, but difficulty eating and keeping up with other runners led him to visit his GP and the start of tests, which revealed throat cancer

Sun, 27 Jul, 2025

My kids forced me to get my hearing checked — how right they were

My kids forced me to get my hearing checked — how right they were

Vickie Maye noticed a decline in her hearing in her late 20s after undergoing chemotherapy for lymphoma. She decided to act when she could no longer rely on lip reading at social events, and her children were fed up with having to repeat themselves over and over

Fri, 25 Jul, 2025

‘My mom never knew she had dementia — it would have devastated her’

‘My mom never knew she had dementia — it would have devastated her’

Neuroscientist Sabina Brennan encourages caregivers to live in the moment and notice the happy experiences they share with their loved one

Fri, 18 Jul, 2025

'I spent years being ashamed of myself and not speaking about it': Opening up about men's health

'I spent years being ashamed of myself and not speaking about it': Opening up about men's health

Men have long been too shy or too macho to talk about their health, whether mental or physical, or even see a doctor, but that is starting to change.

Fri, 06 Jun, 2025

Irish rowing champion Aoife Willis: 'The possibility of being diabetic never came into my head'

Irish rowing champion Aoife Willis: 'The possibility of being diabetic never came into my head'

Up to 300,000 people are living with diabetes in Ireland. According to recent research, many believe there is stigma associated with their condition

Fri, 30 May, 2025

Happy multiethnic young womens talking while sitting on park bench on summer day outdoors, Panorama. Group of girls talking and

I’m not the only one to have experienced a friendship breakup

Close pals are an important part of our lives and can even improve our health, but staying in touch requires work, writes Sharon Ní Chonchúir

Sun, 25 May, 2025

What a day

Do wellness interventions actually make employees feel better?

Ahead of introducing a workplace wellness initiative or programme, employers need to diagnose the root problem, similar to how a doctor will ask a patient what is wrong before recommending a course of action

Fri, 24 Jan, 2025

I worked out every morning before work for three weeks - here's what happened

I worked out every morning before work for three weeks - here's what happened

Early joggers and gym goers have become a bit of a trend but is waking up and exercising at the crack of dawn really all it’s cracked up to be?

Mon, 06 Jan, 2025

Zac Ward 29/10/2024

Zac Ward: I tend to overthink things, especially with rugby

Irish rugby union player says his biggest fear is letting his family down, or spiders

Mon, 11 Nov, 2024

Author Daragh Fleming on ADHD: 'It's just a way to describe how my brain works'

Author Daragh Fleming on ADHD: 'It's just a way to describe how my brain works'

Author Daragh Fleming’s recent neurodivergence diagnosis has helped him understand his difficulty with completing tasks and making decisions

Fri, 08 Nov, 2024

Side view of woman wearing a headscarf

Three women on why they said no to breast reconstruction after mastectomy

Most women who undergo a mastectomy opt for breast reconstruction. However, some prefer to avoid the risks associated with extensive surgery and stay flat. We speak to three women who made this choice

Fri, 25 Oct, 2024

'I’ve come to terms with the fertility issues of premature menopause'

'I’ve come to terms with the fertility issues of premature menopause'

Diagnosed with early menopause at 27, Niamh Connellan has accepted she needs donor eggs if she wants to conceive. The biggest challenge she faces is constant pain and tiredness

Fri, 18 Oct, 2024

Act4Food: How the youth can transform global food inequity

Act4Food: How the youth can transform global food inequity

Sophie Healy-Thow, who was recently awarded a prestigious Global Citizen Prize for her work in poverty and food security, is coming to Galway’s Food on the Edge

Fri, 11 Oct, 2024