Hairless by hair loss

Everyone dreams of being proud owners to thick, luscious and voluminous hair. However hair loss stands in the way of making that dream a reality. Hair loss isn’t merely just fall of hair in excessive amounts. 

Myth Buster

Myth : Smoking relieves stress.   

Giving life to those in need

Blood keeps us alive. Without blood survival is impossible and the only way we could get blood is through another human being. Although the practice of donating blood has existed for decades,

Plan your diet and prevent kidney stones

Among urinary disorders the formation of stones is the most prominent type of disease in our country. A large population of the country suffers from kidney stones which are formed due to the deposition of calcium, phosphates and oxalates. Presently, the incidences of kidney stones are rising in urban societies due to changes in lifestyle and dietary patterns.    

Problems associated with slow growth

Growth of a child in the first few years after birth is of crucial importance. This is because any defect in growth, during this period, will have a lasting impact throughout his life. Delaying of growth can be due to multiple causes, many of which are correctable with no lasting harmful effects. That’s of course if they are identified early. In today’s Health Capsule, we have consulted Dr. Deepal Perera, Consultant Paediatrician at A

Solutions and tips for impaired concentration

You cannot focus on anything anymore at work, and it’s taking its’ toll on your performance and your sense of well-being. You doze off in front of your computer and during office meetings. And even if you try with all your might to focus on work, you fail.

Nonallergic Rhinitis is common, but overlooked!

Have you ever started sneezing all of a sudden and developed a runny nose on top of that; which worsens your day? The issue becomes more frustrating when this happens following your favourite cheese filled Burgher or Honey topped Apple pie and you start wondering why ‘me’!   

Dreamless lives

Ever since the dawn of time man has been fascinated by dreams and their meaning. In ancient times they were associated with supernatural connotations and often believed to be portals to the spirit realm. Religious texts too are replete with instances of vexed protagonists seeking interpretations of dreams they are plagued with,

Myth Buster

MYTH: Birthmarks are hereditary.     

Be aware of Influenza!

Seasonal Influenza, more commonly known as the flu, has become a hot topic for discussion during the recent months. What exactly is influenza? Is it serious as its reputation claims? If so, what can we do to prevent the spreading of this illness and avoid the complications associated with the disease? 

When Vitamin D deficiency strikes

Vitamins are part and parcel of our daily nutrient requirement. Though they are needed in small quantities, if they aren’t supplied through the daily diet in required amounts, vitamin deficiencies can affect the body’s processes drastically. One such important vitamin is Vitamin D.   

Dealing with Spondyloarthritis or swelling of the spine

‘Spondy’ is spine and ‘arthritis’ is swelling or inflammation of joints. In this article I will explain a group of joint ailments that cause immense pain and suffering. Out of a variety of joint diseases affecting the bones of the spine, spondyloarthritis affects younger patients. It is different from the usual mechanical backache. The harmful nature of this condition becomes evident after a few years when the bones of the

Do you run short of breath often?

Feeling a sudden discomfort as if sufficient air is not around you to breathe can be really frightening especially if it is a first - time experience. I personally have experienced this when being admitted for Pneumonia about an year back. It gave me a near-death feeling at times and trust me it was so scary and frustrating.   So, today on Health Capsule, let’s discuss this popular topic with Dr. Solith Senanayake, Lecturer, Depar

What you should know about your period

Do you hate those few days when you are on your period? Does it hurt so badly that your concentration is slightly impaired? As much as these are mutual feelings among girls and women experiencing menstruation across the world, there is absolutely nothing you could do about this process. 

Ayurvedic method of curing headaches

Headaches are one of the most common medical complaints. It would be difficult to find someone who has never had a headache.   

Is poor anger control an illness ?

Anger has become a very common problem in the modern world giving rise to various undesirable consequences. Anger is an emotion. The Oxford Dictionary defines anger as a strong feeling of annoyance. Anger gives rise to psychological and biochemical changes within you. This week’s edition of Health Capsule got Dr. Kosala Amaranayake, MBBS, MD (Psych), who is a Lecturer at the Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Perad

Myth Buster

MYTH: You can pop a cyst like you  pop a pimple.   

Understanding the importance of nutrition rich milk

Milk is a favourite refreshment, not to mention the nutritional values it carries. Milk is especially a favourite among children. From whole to skimmed, milk is available in many forms. However no form of milk is able to beat the nutritional goodness of mother’s breast milk. Mother’s milk plays a vital role regarding the growth of a child, specially during the first 6 months and even up to 2 years. 

Health hazards posed by automated kitchens

In the past our ancestors paid more attention to their diets because it provides energy for the day-to-day physical activities. Many generations ago preparing of tasty and healthy meals for the family was a major role played by women. But with the passing of time, the increasing of the population and urbanization taking place, lifestyles of people have changed rapidly. Out of all these urban 

RIGHT FOOD AT RIGHT TIME BREASTFEEDING AND COMPLEMENTARY FEEDING

Absence of early detection test mars diagnosis

On May 8 each year, the world comes together to raise awareness about Ovarian Cancer and to raise voices in solidarity in a global battle against the deadly disease. Spearheaded by the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition, the first World Ovarian Cancer Day was observed in 2013. According to the Ovarian Cancer Coalition, more than 230,000 women around the world are diagnosed each year with Ovarian Cancer. Almost 150,000 women fighting this illness succ

Preserve your child’s smile!

The failure to pay adequate attention to the care of a child’s primary teeth, more commonly known as milk teeth, is a common occurrence. Most of the time it happens due to the assumption of the parents that since milk teeth remain in the  mouth for only a few years of the child’ s life and are  replaced with permanent teeth later, they do not require much care. This is a common misconception since milk 

Ayurvedic tips for a healthy you

The human body is a complicated ‘machine’. Even a machine has to be maintained to ensure longer existence. Being healthy is the ultimate gift one can enjoy throughout life. There are many tricks and tips to keep your body healthy, says Ayurvedic Doctor D.D.A Hettiarachchi of Ganemulla.

Coping with stress

Regardless of whether an individual is sitting for an exam, dealing with work pressure or burdened with family problems, stress could often present itself as an inevitable and unpleasant factor that one may have to cope with, at some point in life. In an interview with Health Capsule, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist at the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital Galle, Dr. Udena Attygalle, explained what leads to the condition called stress and how it cou

Are you addicted to alcohol ?

Alcohol, most of the time referred to as the ‘Heavenly beverage of pleasure’, has become a popular subject for discussion due to good and bad aspects associated with it. Ethanol, which is derived from grapes, and grains as well as rice are the main components of this popular beverage. However there can be hundred and more additives used in alcohol which help give or make different flavors, concentrations and up-shots.  

Dealing with newborns who cry incessantly

Crying is one of the key ways a newborn baby communicates with the outside world. A baby cries; to gain the attention of the caregiver when it is hungry and when uncomfortable or when in pain. 

Vaccinate every child! Immunization saves lives

Immunization is the most efficient public health intervention in reducing the burden of infectious diseases. A person is made immune or resistant to an infectious disease thereby stimulating the body’s own immune system to safeguard the individual from subsequent diseases or infections. This process which is usually done in the form of a vaccine, administered to the body has been able to ward-off at least 2-3 million deaths each year in the

How the stethoscope tells a story

I remember the first time that I laid a hand on a stethoscope as a medical student. We were in the physiology lab and it was during the second year of med school. We were crowded around the tables, 

Understanding sexuality during youth

Sexuality is an important aspect of one’s life through youth to one’s death. Sexuality can be described as how a person experiences and expresses oneself as a sexual being. Two important concepts when talking about sexual health are gender identity and sexual orientation. Gender identity refers to one’s own perception of being a male or a female despite his/her biologically determined (based on genes) sex; usually biological mal

Pros and Cons of C-Section deliveries

Motherhood is one of the biggest milestones in the life of any female. Those 40 weeks of labour pains, body mass gains and other complications are borne with love and courage for the sake of the baby