gair rhydd: Health

Last orders for under-21s?

Drinking seems to have become so ingrained into university culture now, that it’s hard to imagine degree life without it. However, that’s precisely what one government think-tank has recommended; raising the drinking age from 18 to 21.

Mind out

There’s no two ways about it, university can be a very lonely place at times. There are days when revision is sewn between endless essay writing and the sunlight (most likely rain) doesn’t hit your face for days. Yes, almost everybody goes through that at some point during university. But for some, being lonely and tucked away from the world becomes a day-to-day, week-to-week, month-to-month existence.

Summer Health

Dehydration

Two thirds of the body is made up of water so it is essential to the normal working of the body. It lubricates the joints and eyes, aids digestion, it flushes out waste and toxins and keeps skin healthy.

A spot of bother

Cameron Diaz is one of the most beautiful women in the world; however, she and the likes of Jessica Simpson have both been known to suffer from a skin condition that can affect many.

Matters of the mind

There are more than 100 billion nerve cells in the brain which are used to communicate with one another; some encourage others to send follow up messages (excitation), while others tend to block them (inhibition).

Anyone for Tennis (Elbow)?

Tennis elbow is the common name for a painful condition affecting the outer part of the elbow.

It can be caused by repeated twisting movements of hand, wrist or forearm, and is most common in people aged 35 to 55.

Ever pulled a hamstring?

The hamstring is a group of large, powerful muscles at the back of the thigh which extends the hip joint and flexes the knee.

A hamstring injury is caused by a tear in one of the hamstring muscles. It is usually the result of an overuse of the muscles or trying to move them too fast. If an impact has been taken on the back of the leg however, it is treated as a contusion, rather than a hamstring strain.

Give me some sugar

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Diabetes has been a recognised condition for more than 3,500 years.

It is the condition in which there is too much sugar in the blood

Feeling the strain

Repetitive Strain Injury is the name given to a group of conditions caused by placing too much stress on a muscle, tendon or other soft tissue.

They tried to make me go to rehab

Anger Management

Nobody can forget the incidents that took place during this year’s Celebrity Big Brother.

Jade Goody’s reasoning behind her aggression was that she did not know how to show her anger in the right way. She soon checked into The Priory to seek help in managing her anger.

Better to be safe than sorry

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1. HIV

The BBC recently reported that, according to a new survey, seven out of 10 young women do not believe that they are at any risk of being infected with HIV.

Asperger’s syndrome

If Howard* saw his daughter on the street, he probably would not recognise her.

They are not estranged, and his vision is fine, but unless he meets her in a familiar context he will not recognise her face, even though he has seen it most days for the last 25 years of his life. Howard has prosopagnosia, meaning that he cannot store information about facial appearances. The only way he can learn what somebody looks like is through association; he can recognise his daughter at home because he expects to see her, and clues like clothes, voice and height make her different to his wife and other children. If he sees her on the street, she could be any young, unknown woman.

Don’t give up on giving up

After a big night out, the hangover the next day is not the only thing some people dread. The smell of cigarettes that linger on clothes and hair can also be a problem.

Smoking is not alone as the only ‘sociable’ habit that can play havoc with your health

Many victims of liver disease are not alcoholics, and even moderate social drinkers are at risk from liver damage.

Alcohol is one cause of liver disease, but just one of many, and the risk depends on how much you drink and over how long a period.

Playing it safe

You’re in the mood. The lighting is low. You are both in the buff, but there’s one more step before you can get down to some horizontal jogging. That’s right, you need protection.

Perfect ten?

For years there have been debates as to what is the perfect body shape and size.

Each month a different celebrity is either criticised or praised for either gaining or losing weight, and often the same celebrity is condemned one month and applauded the next. Magazines often feature front covers advertising the best celeb diets, or who weighs what in Hollywood. With these conflicting views constantly in the media, it is not hard to see how so many people are becoming involved in the size zero debate.

Gair Rhydd

Health