health

Pregnancy and Childbirth are considered among the most precious times in a person’s life. But for some women, it can be a scary occasion. In the UK, compared to white women, black women are four times as likely to die in childbirth and during the post-partum period. Asian women are twice as likely. For years, […]

It has been an interesting few weeks for tennis’ world No1, Novak Djokovic. Usually, we would be discussing the odds of him winning the Australian Open. But now we’re discussing if he will be even allowed to compete. Bear with me, it’s a long story with a lot of twists and turns. Last week, he […]

Having been vegan for over two years, I feel I have to say something to encourage people to try veganism or at least consider reducing their meat consumption. This year, my mum has decided to take part in Veganuary, something she admits is going to be challenging, despite having been a vegetarian for over 30 […]

With every passing day, it feels like we somehow end up further away from an end to Coronavirus. With the rapidly rising numbers of infections with the Omicron variant in the UK, should we be becoming more concerned by this new strain? With the announcement of Omicron making its way into the UK, many people […]

New figures have revealed that the North East had the highest suicide rate in England and Wales during 2020. Data from the Office for National Statistics showed an 11% rise in suicides in our region, rising from 190 in 2019 to 211 in 2020. The region with the lowest figure of deaths per 100,000 of […]

Last Monday, the long-awaited “freedom day” came to pass, and all Covid-19 restrictions on social contact were lifted in England. Many are cheering on the elimination of the requirement to wear masks indoors, with mask policies now being in the hands of venues and individuals rather than the government. But for many, including myself, “freedom […]

Almost one and a half million people in the UK are suffering from some form of eating disorder, based on reported cases alone. It is estimated that the true figure is somewhere closer to three to four million when accounting for those who do not seek treatment. Eating disorders can manifest as binge eating and […]

NHS Test and Trace provides a system that aims to minimise the spread of Coronavirus. While on paper this system is extremely useful for stopping the spread, there have been numerous reports of underlying issues within the system. The most recent headline that Test and Trace has been caught up involves the government’s supplier, Serco, […]

It has recently been revealed that for the upcoming group stages of EURO 2020, vaccine passports will be used as a means of allowing fans into Wembley for the group stages. But is this fair for most supporters? Although the initial headlines may have created concerns for younger fans who haven’t had an opportunity to […]

Professor Andrew Pollard, who helped develop the Oxford AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine, has said that it is “morally wrong” to offer the jab to children in wealthy countries before adults in poorer nations. Professor Pollard is the director of the Oxford Vaccine Group and told a group of MPs that global vaccine inequality is “plain to […]

In the past ten years, more than £96 billion worth of health service funding has gone to non-NHS care providers. These include private firms such as Virgin Care – owned by billionaire Richard Branson’s Virgin Group – and for-profit healthcare providers. For the sake of clarity, the NHS is a not-for-profit service. It is not […]

In our good news reporting trend this week, the news that hugging could be allowed on 17th May certainly fits the bill. According to The Times, ministers are expected to plough ahead with the third step of the ‘unlocking’ roadmap set out by the government. This includes approval for people to make physical contact with […]

For the first time in history a malaria vaccine has achieved the World Health Organisation-specified (WHO) 75% efficacy goal. The vaccine, developed by researchers from Oxford University and their partners, reported a 77% effectiveness among African children. Trials took part with 450 participants aged between five and seventeen months. They were recruited from the catchment […]

This week, a study was released by Sheffield council suggesting that the working poor has been the worst hit by Coronavirus. The study shows people in low-paid jobs, with insecure contracts and thus unable to afford to take time off work to isolate, have been hardest hit by the disease in the city. The council […]

Endometriosis is a condition affecting one in ten females of reproductive age in the UK, and 176 million worldwide. It has the potential to devastate the lives of sufferers and their families, not least because this chronic, intensely painful condition takes on average eight years to be diagnosed. As March is endometriosis awareness month, Beep […]

A recent study conducted by the British Lung Foundation and Asthma UK has found that six million over-65s are at risk of developing lung damage and asthma attacks due to polluted air. The report found that British life expectancy is cut short by six months, on average, due to the effects of toxic air on […]

A day never goes by without us hearing, watching or seeing someone on the news, in The Guardian or on Instagram preaching about how running, yoga and swimming helps their mental health. It’s great that exercise helps people (obviously) keep on top of their mental wellbeing, but what about if you have a disability, or […]

We all over-indulge a little at Christmas – but do you know how much sugar is in your over-indulgent festive coffee? You’ll be shocked to say the least as some coffees contain as much sugar as seven doughnuts. Cafe Nero’s mint hot chocolate is the main culprit, containing 59.9 grams of sugar, which is the […]

Amnesia is a condition that almost everyone has heard of. Commonly used as a trope in many forms of media, the condition has been poorly portrayed. It is a form of memory loss, and there are four distinct types: retrograde, anterograde, transient global, and infantile. Retrograde amnesia: The most well-known form. It involves the loss […]

Teenage acne is something nearly all of us have to deal with. Over 95% of people develop acne at some point in their lives, usually, but not exclusively, during puberty. The condition is most common between the ages of 14 -19. It is caused by certain hormones over stimulating the oil-producing glands in your skin.  […]

Priced at £149.95, the Fitbit Charge 3 is one of the most expensive fitness trackers of the modern age. But with its top-of-the-range heart rate tracker and impressively sleek and modern design, is it worth the premium price tag? On the one hand, the display is a dully, grey monotone colour with limited ability when […]

In recent times, the media and the people have been talking a lot about mental health and how best to look after it. We’re collectively making more of a deal about our mental health and consciously choosing to look after it more than ever before. But, sometimes it’s still a struggle. So, that’s why we’ve […]

Whether it’s a new job, a relationship or even deciding what you’d like from the midweek Happy Hour menu, decision making can be difficult. According to scientists at Cornell University, adults make up to 35,000 remotely conscious decisions a day, depending on their level of responsibility. It can often seem like there’s a lot at […]

Bipolar Disorder – otherwise known as Manic Depression- is a lifelong disorder that causes extreme episodes of mania and depression. A complex mix of physical and social factors are thought to cause the disorder, including a chemical imbalance in the brain, genetics and physical triggers, like an abusive relationship or another mental illness. Symptoms of […]

School dinner halls aren’t particularly good at catering for everyone. With growing trends in veganism and vegetarianism and the presence of allergies and intolerances, it can be hard to suit everyone’s diets, but this needs to be done! Veggies and Vegans Bottom line: if you’re a vegan wanting to use a school dining hall, you’re […]

Anti-vax parents have been in the headlines a lot lately following six outbreaks of measles in the USA since the beginning of 2019. These anti-vaxxers falsely believe that vaccines such as the MMR vaccine can cause autism and other conditions in their children. The MMR vaccine has been attacked for decades but now, insulin has […]

On a scale of one to a cis male explaining what a vagina is to a female gynaecologist, how much of a mansplainer are you? This week, the Internet was annoyed by Twitter user @paulbullen, who has since switched his account to private after he created one hell of a media storm. It all started […]

There are loads of tips and tricks that people use on a night out to avoid feeling hungover the next day. Having a big meal before heading out, not wearing clothes that are too tight and drinking raw eggs the next morning are just some things people do to beat the hangover. [It’s funny how […]

The festive period is, if not the ‘most wonderful’ time, a slightly more joyous one than the rest of the year. With gatherings of family and friends, work parties and days off to celebrate the holidays, most people look like they are in a good headspace. However, the pressure to be ‘in the festive spirit’, as well as […]

Olympic Games The President of the International Olympic Committee says esports are too violent to be part of the Olympics. Thomas Bach, who won an Olympic gold in fencing, says the games promote violence. Unlike fencing, of course. Real life sword-fighting is far less violent than pressing X to delete CGI robots on a screen. […]

Berk: A row Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (better known as Boris) caused a stir this week when he compared women wearing the burqa to ‘letterbox[es]’. Proving, once again, that no one in this country knows what a burqa is. A burqa has a full face covering. What Boris is referring to is a niqab. […]

Fridge geezer A South African woman is recovering in hospital after she was discovered alive in a mortuary fridge. Paramedics had declared her dead following a road accident. The ambulance company retains that she had shown ‘no signs of life’, which as a student, is more than can be said for some of the things […]

Whey Eye pet Plans to build Europe’s biggest observation wheel on the banks of the Tyne in Newcastle have been revealed. The “Whey aye” would be 140 metres tall. That’s 5 metres taller than the London eye. So take that, the south. You may have increased funding for education, housing and employment but our hypothetical […]

Time at the bars A pair of Colombian prisoners got their guard drunk and escaped from a maximum security jail. You have to feel for the guard whose double vision initially made him think he’d let four of them out. He let them out under the impression that they were going to go and buy […]

Funding for mental health services and mental health issues generally came into the spotlight during the recent general election campaign. Each party included reference to mental health policies in their manifesto, and it appears to be an issue not only of growing concern but also one people have an increased awareness of. It is vital, […]

It seems that the caricature image of ‘crazy cat ladies’ may actually have some evidence behind it, as research conducted last year has proven there may be a possible link between cats and mental illness. A study published by Schizophrenia Research has shown that there is a link between exposure to cats and mental illnesses […]