HEALTH

Back pain is often caused by a muscle or ligament strain, but sudden low back pain can also result from a spinal disc problem, facet-joint irritation, sacroiliac-joint dysfunction or, less commonly, a vertebral fracture. Sudden back pain can be alarming because it may appear during an ordinary movement such as …

Obesity may be biologically different from one person to another, and new Mayo Clinic research suggests that a specific “hungry gut” subtype could respond particularly strongly to GLP-1-based treatment with tirzepatide. The September 2026 study examined 483 adults with obesity and identified three biological subtypes, including a group characterised by …

Warning signs of a stroke can appear suddenly, and recognising them quickly can save brain function, reduce disability and save a life. Stroke occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is interrupted by a blockage or when a blood vessel ruptures and bleeds, making it a medical emergency …

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterised by recurrent seizures, and advances in brain mapping are opening new possibilities for more precise, personalised epilepsy treatment. More than 50 million people worldwide live with epilepsy, while approximately one-third continue to experience seizures despite medication. For people with drug-resistant epilepsy, researchers are increasingly …

A bone tumour does not always mean cancer because most bone tumours are benign, although some are malignant and require specialised treatment. A bone tumour is an abnormal growth of cells within a bone and may be discovered because of persistent pain, swelling, an unexplained fracture or an imaging test …

Dehydration can place significant stress on the heart and cardiovascular system by reducing the amount of fluid circulating in the bloodstream. When blood volume falls, the heart must work harder to maintain circulation, while blood vessels narrow and heart rate increases to help preserve blood pressure and blood flow. Mild …

Stroke recovery may be strengthened by animal-assisted treatment, with a new Mayo Clinic study finding that therapy animals were associated with greater patient engagement, increased physical activity and longer mobility during inpatient rehabilitation. Published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, the research examines how trained therapy dog-handler teams could become part of …

Arrhythmia is an abnormal heart rhythm that can make the heart beat too fast, too slowly or irregularly, and recognising the difference between harmless palpitations and a potentially serious rhythm problem is important. A racing, fluttering or skipped heartbeat does not automatically mean that something dangerous is happening, but it …

Jamaica’s sun-grown cannabis has the potential to become a globally recognised agricultural and scientific product if the country can connect its cultural heritage with rigorous genetics, cultivation science, quality control and international regulation. Jamaica already possesses one of the strongest cannabis identities in the world, built through decades of music, …

The new perilla oil clinical trial found that eight weeks of supplementation improved platelet function, increased circulating omega-3 fatty acids and reduced inflammatory gene expression in healthy smokers. Conducted by researchers at Seoul National University of Science and Technology, the randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial provides human clinical evidence for cardiovascular …