Many women follow a strict diet and exercise every day, yet after weeks of hard work they have not lost any weight. That is a sign that something is wrong. Here are some of the reasons that may be stopping you from losing those kilos. Compensating too much After hours of effort at the gym, […]
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Spring eye allergy (vernal keratoconjunctivitis and seasonal allergic conjunctivitis) is a common seasonal eye disease that needs treatment and prevention. We spoke to Professor Talal Habboush, an eye specialist and surgeon and dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Al-Baath University in Syria. Eye allergy, or allergic conjunctivitis, affects the eyes at the start of […]
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The earliest evidence of humans using plants or other natural substances as medicine goes back to the Neanderthals, 50,000 years ago. In northern Iraq, archaeologists found human remains buried with herbs now known to kill bacteria, and some of these herbs are still used by people in the region today. Honey The first written recipe […]
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During the 2014 epidemic we spoke to Dr Mohammad Maher Kutlan, a specialist in preventive medicine and epidemiology, to learn more about Ebola. What is Ebola, and why is there so much concern about it? It is a sudden, acute and severe viral infection of the whole body, endemic in Africa, especially tropical Central and […]
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In 2014 we spoke to Dr Mohammad Maher Kutlan, a specialist in preventive medicine and epidemiology, about the new coronavirus disease spreading from the Arabian Peninsula. What is the disease? It is an acute respiratory illness, also called Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), caused by a virus from the coronavirus family. Coronaviruses usually cause a […]
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Today we are talking about sugar, the star that now goes with most of our meals in its many forms. It comes as the familiar fine white crystals, or hidden in pastries, juices and sweets, and it has even found its way into many medicines, toothpastes and cigarettes. Before looking at its harms, let us […]
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In medicine, brain death means that the brainstem has stopped working along with the rest of the nervous system. A brain-dead patient may still not appear to have died, because machines keep blood flowing through the body. Doctors and religious scholars do not always agree on what this means. We spoke to Dr Mamoun al-Abbar, […]
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The eye is a precious organ that must be looked after, and no problem with it should be ignored, however minor. Proper treatment follows a proper diagnosis. A stye may be the most common eye problem, so what is it, what causes it and how should it be treated? A stye is a small, red, […]
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Lab tests alone can't detect cancer: you also need to listen to your body, which tells you when something is wrong. Many strange symptoms are simply ignored. Warning: each of these symptoms can have many causes and is rarely cancer. This list is here to make you careful, not worried. If a symptom worries you, […]
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Many people believe that eating fish with yoghurt or milk causes deadly poisoning, and avoid mixing them, so much so that "fish and yoghurt" has become a saying like "fire and water". Medically, though, there is nothing wrong with eating fish with yoghurt or milk. The main reason for this myth is that fish and […]
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Muscles constantly contract and relax, with rests in between. A contracting muscle needs sugar and oxygen, and it uses plenty of calcium. Its waste, carbon dioxide and lactic acid, must be removed all the time. When this process goes wrong, the muscle goes into spasm: it stays contracted and needs more rest. The contraction can […]
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This quick test of ten questions shows some features of your personality, especially how other people see you. Get a pen and paper and write down the number of your answer to each question. 1. When do you feel at your best? 2. You usually walk 3. When you talk to people, you 4. When […]
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