Allisah* is excited about Jamaica’s certification of having eliminated mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis, and she has every right to be. Diagnosed at just eight months old, Allisah has lived with HIV for almost her entire life. Born...
Physical fitness gets most people’s attention, and for good reason. A healthy body can prevent conditions such as heart disease and diabetes, and help you maintain independence as you age. Mental fitness is just as important as physical fitness,...
ACKEE IS the national fruit of Jamaica and is a major source of food. In other regions, components of the plant have traditionally been used for a variety of conditions. It is widely found throughout the West Indies and has been naturalised to...
ADOPTING A healthy lifestyle can help you manage your diabetes. It may also improve your critical health numbers, including weight, blood sugar, blood pressure and blood cholesterol. When it comes to food and eating, we are all different. Some of...
THE INAUGURAL Caribbean Medical Professionals’ Summit (CAMPS) will take place at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel from May 31 to June 2. Under the theme ‘Toward Professional and Personal Development’, the two-day experience is geared towards providing...
SELF-CARE HAS been defined as a multidimensional, multifaceted process of purposeful engagement in strategies that promote healthy functioning and enhance well-being. In simpler terms, self-care is all about caring for yourself, as the name...
CERVICAL CANCER is considered a preventable disease. However, in the Caribbean, it is still one of the fourth most common causes of death in women. Efforts to overcome obstacles to the treatment and control of this preventable disease are being...
THE OVARIES are the primary female reproductive organs. These glands have three important functions: they secrete hormones, they protect the eggs a female is born with, and they release eggs for possible fertilisation. Women are typically born...
MENTAL HEALTH is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through to adulthood. Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act; and it also helps determine...
MENTAL ILLNESS is not caused by ghosts or demons and should be treated like all other health problems, such as diabetes. Mental illness can occur due to several factors, such as chemicals imbalances, traumatic experiences, substance abuse, and a...
Cancer is a health problem responsible for one in six deaths worldwide. In 2020, there was an estimated 19.3 million new cancer cases, and about 10 million cancer deaths globally. Cancer is a very complicated sequence of events, progressing...
Breadfruit ( Artocarpus altilis) is the fruit of the breadfruit tree, though it is often referred to as a vegetable when consumed before it is fully ripe. It comes from the same family as jackfruit and mulberry. Similar to bananas and plantains,...
A mathematical model for the treatment of breast cancer using magnetic nanoparticles was developed in a study conducted by Dr Victor Job and Dr Nagarani Ponakala of the Department of Mathematics at The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona...
Salt, also known as sodium chloride, is about 40 per cent sodium and 60 per cent chloride. It flavours food and is used as a binder and stabiliser. It is also a food preservative, as bacteria cannot thrive in the presence of a high amount of salt....
EATING A healthy diet, drinking water regularly, exercising, and taking care of your mental health are all examples of the everyday actions we take to care for our bodies. However, why do we allow our bodies to absorb many chemicals by applying...
THE SKIN is the largest organ in the body and covers the body’s entire external surface. It is made up of three layers – the epidermis, dermis, and the hypodermis – all three of which vary significantly in their anatomy and function. The skin’s...
CHRONIC KIDNEY disease (CKD) is a major public health challenge and a financial burden to the healthcare system. It is projected to increase dramatically because of the ageing population and the rising prevalence of its major risk factors including...
THE SUDDEN onset of migraine means a dark room, bed, and a cool towel for most of us. While these seem to come out of nowhere, many will find that there are usually some signs that a migraine attack is on its way. These signs can reveal a pattern...
MANY THINGS can trigger a migraine, from hormonal changes to stress, to certain foods. These intense headaches are characterised by a throbbing or pulsing feeling that usually occurs on one side of the head and can be accompanied by nausea and...
SCREENING TESTS can help find cancer at an early stage, before symptoms appear. When abnormal tissue or cancer is found early, it may be easier to treat or cure. By the time symptoms appear, the cancer may have grown and spread and this can make...
COLORECTAL CANCER is a type of cancer that affects the colon (large intestine) or rectum. It is one of the most common types of cancer worldwide that can cause severe harm and death. The risk of colorectal cancer increases with age and in most...
SELF-CARE MEANS taking care of yourself so that you can be healthy, well, be able do your job, care for others, and do all the things you need to and want to accomplish in a day. If you think you have been hearing more about self-care lately, you...
MENTAL HEALTH is a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realise their abilities, learn and work well, and contribute to their community. According to Dr Pearnel Bell, clinical psychologist, it is an...
HERBS ARE the leaf part of a plant that is used in cooking. These can be used fresh or dried. Any other part of the plant, which is usually dried, is referred to as a spice. These include, for example, barks (cinnamon), berries (peppercorns), seeds...
IN ANY relationship, there are inevitable challenges that arise. In these moments, our egos typically compel us to believe it is the other person in the dynamic who needs to change, say they were wrong, and apologise. But we can change this...
