Taking a closer look at thyroid disorders

Through the hormones the thyroid gland produces, it influences almost all the metabolic processes in the body. The thyroid gland takes the shape of a butterfly and is situated in the front of the neck. Different types of thyroid disorders affect either it’s structure or the function.  

Controlling risk by knowing about cholesterol

 ‘Cholesterol’ is a common, but frightful word since one out of three people are suffering from this fatal metabolic disorder due to busy and unhealthy lifestyles they lead. However, cholesterol is an essential component in the equation for a healthy body. Without it our body would not function properly because it plays a critical role in human body functions including production of steroid hormones (estrogen and testosterone) wh

Myth Buster

MYTH: You should avoid all fats if you’re trying to be healthy or lose weight.  

Nipping anxiety in the bud!

Does that crooked stack of books bother you? Or do you want to get rid of all the dust on your hands? As much as it’s healthy to be clean, being overly clean is a problem in terms of psychology. The 

Do you know enough about Meningitis?

Meningitis is an inflammation in the meninges membranes. Meninges membranes cover the brain and the spinal 

Surviving the silent killer

Diabetes Mellitus, simply known as Diabetes, is a chronic disease due to impaired secretion of Insulin from Pancreas which leads to the deregulation of blood glucose levels in our bodies. It is a disease that is rapidly reaching epidemic proportions throughout the world. There are an estimated four million diabetics in Sri Lanka alone and more young people are getting afflicted by the malady on a daily 

Ayurveda method of burning fat fast!

Being called ‘fat’ is one of the worst nightmares for a person who is overweight. Well, it is true that there are many ‘fat’ people out there, and some of them enjoying being ‘fat’. However there are some among them who fret over their health, looks and the negative criticism directed at them. This article was written after facts were obtained from an interview done with Ayurvedic Doctor 

Myth Buster

MYTH: “Carbonated diet drinks are fine because they don’t have excess calories.  

Women, Lupus and Treatment

Lupus in Latin is a name given for wolf. Lupus in medical terms is devoted to a condition that mostly affects females. Starting from skin rashes, hair loss, joint pain and mouth ulcers, Lupus could critically affect even the kidneys and the brain in some. So here is a short article on what lupus is and how to overcome this dreaded disease of the young.     

Facing the challenges that Menopause brings

From the moment of birth to the last breath that we take, there are milestones in our life, which can be considered as transition points from one era of life to another. Menopause is one such important milestone in the life of a woman. It marks the end of her fertile reproductive period, and the beginning of the next more relaxing period of her life. This transition can be a challenging period of time to a 

Ancient smoking methods can lead to cancer

Our tongues will always find new tastes. The taste for food differs from person to person. Therefore, food manufactures are willing to use artificial food additives in order to increase the taste, appearance and aroma of their products. But some people don’t like to consume food which are enriched with artificial flavours enhancers since they have an adverse effect on our health. From ancient times, people have preferred adding some flavors

Realities associated with retinitis

Myopia, hypermetropia, presbyopia and amblyopia, we’ve heard of them all. They are the more general eye issues that many people have to deal with quite commonly on the grounds of visionary complications. However, once in a while people fall victim to some vision issues that are not very common, but can cause quite an impact on the quality of vision once a person’s eyes are inflicted by the disease. One such vision complication that ca

Breast cancer survivors may die of heart disease

(Reuters Health) - The same advances in breast cancer treatment that have dramatically improved survival in recent years have also left a growing number of women vulnerable to potentially fatal cardiovascular problems, the American Heart Association warns.  

Heartfelt hope for a healthy life

Your health faces a fair share of challenges everyday. Adhering to positive  and healthy life patterns helps you support your body’s defence system in safeguarding health. However this doesn’t happen always when people are presented with the option of shielding themselves against the consequences of malady. It is especially quite unfortunate when your life is predestined to be inflicted by disease 

When blood refuses to clot

Blood is an essential life sustaining component in our bodies. Recall the last time you experienced a cut or injury to your body. It would most likely have been a small  wound. Remember how the blood initially discharged fast, then slowed down and stopped completely. All this happened during a short span of a few minutes. Our bodies have mechanisms to keep the blood from leaking out of the vessels. But there are certain conditions where this

Autism isn’t the end of the world

The smile of a baby brings joy and happiness to everybody in the family, including the parents. The parents are awaiting their newborn with millions of expectations and heartfelt love. How would it feel if the parents get to know their newborn is Autistic? Yes, it is true that the arrival of an autistic child disrupts the entire family life. It is necessary to organize differently to accommodate this child with different behaviour. But how do you

A lifesaver and silent killer!

Food is a major requirement for humans since it provides nutrients for energy, growth and maintenance of life. But at present food is a major threat to humans due to food poisoning. Patients present with the condition as a result of improper food handling and processing practices. Unsafe food can be the cause of or can contribute to many health, social and economic issues.  

Dysentery-the destroyer in disguise

Dysentery, in general is defined as an infectious disease, characterized by the inflammation of intestines, more specifically the colon, resulting in the passage containing mucous mixed with blood. Patients with this condition often complain of abdominal pain and fever.   

When treating lower back pain

Lower back pain is a common problem, so if you suffer from it, you are not alone. Managing low back pain may not be simple. You need to be aware of a number of factors which will help you decide what to do to in terms of treatment. This week Health Capsule spoke to Dr. Sujeewa Weerasinghe, National Organizer of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists, to bring you more knowledge on how to cure lower back pain.   

LEPROSY SPREADING AMONG CHILDREN

It’s time to clear the air!

When Sri Lankan cricketers walked out of a Test match in Delhi wearing pollution masks, 

The dark side of ‘Body Shaming’

“That actress is too fat!”. “He’s too skinny!”. How many times a day do we hear or read remarks like that? We hear such comments on our way to work, read them when browsing the internet or hear 

Curing a disease that puts your tummy on fire

Commonly known as ‘Amla Pitta disease’ in Ayurveda, Gastritis has become a severe and a common cause of ailment. The Daily Mirror spoke to Ayurvedic Doctor D.D. A Hettiarachchi regarding Gastritis, its causes and the cures.  

Sri Lanka has done well in being aware of cancer

The month of February sheds light on a very important subject: Cancer. It’s in February that we celebrate World Cancer Day. It falls on February 4. Cancers have become a serious threat to health all over the world, Sri Lanka is no different. World Cancer Day focuses on raising awareness on cancer prevention. This week’s edition of the Health Capsule joins in raising awareness on cancer 

Stepping forward to a healthy life

Living a healthy life is a challenge that many people take up. In a landscape where fast food chains, attractive beverages and easy lifestyles are being promoted, one finds that leading a healthy life stands well away from reality. Adding to this are the daily stressors of life such as going to work, keeping up with deadlines etc. As much as we think that a healthy life is about not getting sick, it has to do a lot with the proper calorie intake

Allow experts to offer a healing touch

Arthritis is a general term used to describe inflammation of the joints.   Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) are two disease types which are known to affect musculoskeletal system in several ways. Their prevalence in the modern society is quite high, but with timely interventions, the negative impact on the quality of life can be eliminated.  

Childhood bullying linked to teen suicide

(Reuters Health) - Adolescents who experienced severe bullying by their peers earlier in childhood may be more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts than teens who weren’t routinely victimized by other kids, a Canadian study suggests.  

Flu increases risk of heart attack

(Reuters Health) - Influenza is already known to be deadly, but a new study suggests that the risk of heart attack is six times greater than normal while people are ill with the flu.  

Donate blood! and save your fellow Citizens

Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) recently announced that the Blood Bank is facing a critical shortage of blood due to a lack of donors between January and April. Given this emergency situation, Health Capsule decided to inform the public as to how they can help save lives by donating blood. 

Fasting ok, but not skipping meals

How many times have you heard that ‘breakfast’ is the most important meal of the day? And how many times have you skipped breakfast after making an excuse of being late to work, school etc ? If you think you can make up for skipping a meal by eating more on the next one, think again.  Health Capsule got in touch with Dr. Damayanthi Perera, a nutrition specialist, in order to gain some insight on the subject. Here’s what she