Myth Buster

MYTH: Sitting too close to the TV will damage your vision.  

Cervical cancer A simple screening test might save your life

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer after breast cancer occurring in Sri Lankan women. It also has a high chance of cure if diagnosed early,

Walking linked to improved brain function

A moderate-intensity walking regimen may reduce symptoms of mild cognitive impairment that are linked to poor blood vessel health in the brain, a study suggests.  

Myth Buster

MYTH: Popping a pimple will get rid of it faster   

Emerging Infections in Sri Lanka

Our country is a small island placed between 5° and 10° north of the equator and has a tropical climate. Sri Lanka has endemic transmission of many tropical diseases and has been battling them in public health campaigns. Some of these campaigns have been very successful. For example, 

Countering Cirrhosis

Cirrhosis is a complication of the liver which develops when scar tissue replaces the normal, healthy tissue in your liver. This takes place when healthy cells are damaged over a long period of time, 

CKD: The silent Killer

Sunglasses: A Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde tale

Our tiny island sitting amidst the Indian Ocean receives strong sunlight all year round and we have had an extra blast of sunlight in the past few months.

The heart beat with a different tune

Have you ever listened to the rhythmic lub-dub of your heart beat, pondered over how it functions or the root causes that may lead to various heart related health problems; including those that fall under the category of Congenital Heart Defects? The Health Capsule spoke to Consultant Paediatric Cardiologist, Department of Paediatric Cardiology, Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children (LRH), Dr. 

Are there alternative treatments for Osteoarthritis?

Q A doctor informed me of an alternative treatment for the ailment, Osteoarthritis recently. It is known as “Surve Cell”.

Myth Buster

MYTH: Shaving the head of a newborn can prevent baldness 

When to worry about your forgetfulness

Everyone stumbles upon confusion and forgetfulness at some point in their lives. It is often one of the first signs that age is finally catching up with you. But what would you do if forgetfulness was slowly creeping into your life, compromising your overall mental and physical wellbeing?

Listen to your hair - it talks

A high chemical percentage in shampoos, conditioners, artificial foods, toxic lifestyle, stress and mental conditions are some of the most common causes related to thinning hair. Hair fall is a persistent problem for almost everyone today. 

Night time terror; Insomnia

There is no shadow of a doubt in saying that every one of us has had our share of moments tossing and turning around at night trying to doze off to la la land. You’d try everything from drinking hot milk to counting sheep to lullabies in your desperate attempts to fall asleep.

Understanding tobacco addiction

You have heard time and time again that smoking is detrimental to health. It says it on the packaging, it says it on the adverts, it says it on the posters and yet you see people lighting up a tobacco filled tube at every nook and corner. Why, given all these warnings do people continue to smoke? 

Have you ‘room’ for ‘Oral Wisdom’?

“At present, wisdom teeth have been identified as a problem for many patients. This is mainly because of the lack of space in the jaw to accommodate these teeth”

Hyperglycaemia in Pregnant Mothers

Hyperglycaemia during pregnancy is one of the main causes for the birth of large babies and it can also cause complications to both the baby and the mother. Speaking to Dr. U.D.P. Rathnasiri, 

Controlling children’s temper tantrums

QWhat are the root causes that could lead a child to develop temper tantrums accompanied with physical aggression at a very young age ?

Myth Buster

MYTH: Leprosy can be transmitted even after the patient is cured.  

How to tape your feet for release?

Do you experience severe heel pain as soon as you get out of bed in the morning? Does it feel better to stay in bed the whole day rather than exercise or go jogging? 

Muscle weakness and Sunshine

Ever wondered why your muscles feel weak? Why tasks that took very little effort are now seemingly impossible? These symptoms might mean you are suffering from severe Vitamin D deficiency.   

ORAL CANCER

When Pets are a problem

If you have pets in your house, it may seem normal for children to sneeze or cough regularly. When should you start to worry about the possibility of a pet allergy? Are pets harmful to your child’s health? This week we shed light on parenting dilemmas in relation to children and pets. Health Capsule spoke to Consultant Paediatrician Dr. Kosala Karunartne on how pet allergies should be dealt with.  

How can I reduce migraines?

Most likely it is a migraine, however, in a classical migraine the pain can shift sides. Since you are getting it on one side, it is definitely better to have it checked by a doctor. As it is a long standing condition, you should get a proper diagnosis by going to a neurologist. 

Sweet Tooth

If you have a sweet tooth, you will like eating sweet  foods, especially sweets and chocolate. People have a craze to eat  sweets. Despite a need to reduce the intake of sugar-based food, it is a  difficult task to curb one’s greed for sweets.

Battle of acne Is it really worth fighting?

There is no person under the sun who has never developed a bump on the face sometime in their life, due to reasons such as stress, hormonal changes close to menstrauation, oily food or chocolates. 

Botox From a toxin to a beauty must-have

Beauty, appearance and looks are aspects that people worry a great deal about in today’s society. Irrespective of gender, age or culture,

Many exercise options are tied to better brain function

Older adults who want to get moving to help boost their brain function have a wide variety of workouts to choose from, a research review suggests. 

Myth

MYTH: When there is extreme hair loss you could have cancer.  

Wear and tear of joints at a glance

“An old lady is struggling to stand up. Even after standing, her grimace of pain says it all. She has unbearable knee joint soreness. The lady is fidgety with a walking stick. Her fingers are swollen over the joints, making it difficult to firmly grip the handle. Her legs are bowed at the knees – what we call ‘bow legs’ is evident even from a distance.”