Jo Waters

Rheumatoid arthritis treatment from your doctor
“There are so many effective treatments for rheumatoid arthritis these days,” says Dr Ann Nainan, family doctor and Healthily expert. “Whatever you might have seen or heard from friends and family members who have had to deal with RA in the past, the good news is that the outlook is much brighter than it was 20 years ago.”
The key things you need to know:
don’t delay talking to your doctor about treatment – if you get treatment early enough, som...

Wondering if it’s time for a prescription update for your eyeglasses, or if you need to get a pair for the first time? Have you noticed more blurriness than normal? Are you struggling to read food labels or car number plates? Or do you just want to test how good your eyesight is?
There are some checks you can do at home, to help you work out if you should see an eye care professional. So read on to find out how to do an eye test at home, along with the pros and cons, and other ways to look af...

Headache hit just when you want to go out? Period pain ruining your focus at work? Back pain stopping you from sitting comfortably? Whatever pain you’re dealing with, there are self-care tips that can help – either alongside the pain relief you get from your medical team, or on their own.
Find the self-care pain relief that works for you
“Everyone is different and has different experiences of pain,” says Dr Ann Nainan, family doctor and Healthily expert.
And even if you have a condition that ...

Fibromyalgia is a difficult condition to diagnose. It can cause pain all over your body, and more women get it than men. Read on for the lowdown about the symptoms, causes and who gets it – and what you can do to help yourself get the right diagnosis.
Fibromyalgia has often been seen as a bit of a mysterious condition. It causes pain all over your body, along with other symptoms, but the cause isn’t fully understood.
It’s now a recognised pain condition, and ongoing research suggests it happe...

Self-care for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a way for you to manage flare-ups and ease pain, alongside taking your medication. But what diet and exercise changes will work? And are there any good home remedies for rheumatoid arthritis? Read on for science-backed self-care tips that are worth the effort.
Self-care for rheumatoid arthritis
“Looking after yourself well is a key part of dealing with rheumatoid arthritis,” says Dr Ann Nainan, family doctor and Healthily expert.
“You still need to t...

One survey found that 1 in 6 women say they experience severe pain every day – from back pain and arthritis to endometriosis, fibromyalgia and vulval pain. And more than half of these women feel that they've had their pain ignored or dismissed. So what’s going on? And how can you get your pain taken care of when you need help? Here’s what you need to know.
The gender pain gap is real (but things are starting to change)
When it comes to pain, women have traditionally been labeled the ‘weaker’ ...

If you’ve been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, it’s important to have a plan for managing pain and fatigue, both day to day and if you have a flare-up – when your symptoms feel worse. And as we don’t fully understand what causes this condition, you may need to try different things, to find out what works for you. Here’s how you and your healthcare team can work together on a plan for fibromyalgia medication, diet and self-care – to make living with fibromyalgia that little bit easier.
Living wit...

Find out how to cut back or stop drinking alcohol with our science-backed tips for staying sober. Whatever your reasons for a rest, read on for our science-backed tips and reap the health benefits – from weight and pain management to quality sleep, fewer hangovers and fertility help.
The health benefits of cutting back on alcohol
Worried your nightly glass of wine is getting bigger or even becoming 2 or 3? Do you wake up too often feeling fuzzy-headed or with a killer headache and hazy memori...

This story was first published on 18 December 2020, updated on 7 July 2022 and last updated on 26 October 2022. Healthily will continue to update this story as new information becomes available.
Most countries in the world are now vaccinating people against COVID-19. “All the vaccines that have been approved and used have gone through a thorough review of safety, quality and efficacy from clinical trials, and often a review from a government body as well,” says
Dr Adiele Hoffman
, GP and Heal...

If you feel your mood getting lower and you want to curl up and hibernate when the season changes, it’s possible that you have a type of depression called seasonal affective disorder (SAD). “More women get this winter depression,” says
Dr Ann Nainan
, family doctor and Healthily expert. Here’s what you need to know to spot signs, get diagnosed, and find the right self care or doctor treatments for you.
What is seasonal affective disorder (SAD)?
“The most common type of SAD is winter depressio...

Learn how to start the Mediterranean diet and reap its multiple health benefits.
Whether it’s a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil on your tomato salad, a plate of grilled fish with greens, or a lentil curry with rice, the ingredients of a Med-style diet are easy to pick up at your local supermarket.
Healthily doctor
Dr Adiele Hoffman
says: “There’s not one standard Mediterranean-style diet – the ingredients vary from country to country, but the core elements are the same, namely minimally pro...

The hormonal intrauterine device (IUD) is a type of long-term birth control (contraception). It’s more than 99% effective – meaning 99 out of 100 women don’t get pregnant while using it. It can also help with conditions such as heavy periods.
“A hormonal IUD is very convenient: once it’s been fitted, you don’t need to think about it, so you’ll never forget contraception – or need to rely on someone else to bring it,” says Dr Adiele Hoffman, family doctor and Healthily expert. “And it can be a...

In the US, research suggests that about 14% of contraceptive users aged 15 to 44 use an IUD (including both copper and hormonal IUDs). “Women who use IUDs for contraception tend to stick with them, as rates of satisfaction are high,” says Dr Adiele Hoffman, family doctor and Healthily expert.
With this vote of confidence from women, we want to make sure you get a chance to have an informed discussion with your healthcare provider, if it sounds like something that could work for you.
So if you...

“More adult women than adult men have asthma, and they can have to deal with more serious symptoms and risks. Hormonal changes are thought to play a part in this.”
The good news is, there are effective treatments – including inhalers and medications – that can cut your risk of getting symptoms and of having an ‘asthma attack’ (where your symptoms get worse very quickly).
So here’s your guide to understanding asthma symptoms and who gets them, as well as the different types of asthma and commo...

Asthma attacks can be a flare-up of symptoms, meaning you feel worse than normal and need help from your doctor to get them under control. They can also be a scary medical emergency, and can be life-threatening. But you and your doctor can make them far less likely. How? By using your asthma action plan,taking your asthma medications as directed, following a healthy lifestyle, managing exposure to triggers, and having regular reviews. Read on to learn more…
How to stay well and avoid asthma a...