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The number of births to women aged over 50 is soaring. But what’s the real story behind the rise? Three mothers talk about the joy of finally having a baby long after it would once have been possible.   To celebrate reaching half a century, Gemma Barnes wrote a list...

I grew up with the National Health Service as an ever-present yet little remarked backcloth to my life. Only later in life, when my children and grandchildren were born, and I was treated for a couple of life-threatening illnesses, did I realise how much we take the...

The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK), the drowning prevention charity, has issued a warning as the summer holidays kick off to a sizzling start.   It has appealed to people to take note of simple safety messages to avoid a repeat of last summer’s tragedies when...

Each week we watch celebrities dancing on Strictly and watch how, over the weeks, they prosper in both fitness and enjoyment.   Dancing has become top of the pops with scientists interested in ageing. They’ve looked at dancing from all sorts of scientific angles and...

It’s almost summer here in the UK, which means people will be starting to worry about the return of their hay fever symptoms. Also known as allergic rhinitis, this irritating condition is an allergic reaction to pollen that usually gets worse between late March and...

In this noisy, fast-paced world it is increasingly difficult to find a silent place where we can be still and calm and recharge our batteries, but for our health's sake it is important that we do.   Noise pollution is now considered so severe that the World Health...

While there's no cure yet for tinnitus, some psychological therapies are helping people live with the sometimes frightening condition.   Imagine having a humming or whistling noise in your ears or head every hour of every day. Not only are the intrusive sounds a...

Embracing the ageing process can be a positive experience if you choose to see it that way.   Do you flinch when you blow out the candles on your birthday cake? Or surreptitiously keep the date hidden from your friends and colleagues? You may have a touch of...

At times it can feel like we’re overwhelmed with information on what we should and shouldn’t be doing to best protect our health. And while by the time you reach your 50s you feel as though you know your body pretty well, there’s the small issue of the menopause to...

Want to start the new year feeling fit and fabulous rather than flabby and frazzled? The solution is to eat well before the festivities begin.   Good eating habits can go out of the window in the run-up to Christmas, as we skip mealtimes and turn to ready meals and...

In case you hadn’t noticed, summer’s over. Yep - all that glorious sun, heat and joy has gone for good and we’re back to five months of winter.   Faced with the prospect of leaving and returning home in the dark, it’s easy to give up on any healthy resolutions you...

How to recognise the symptoms of a stroke   Acting fast is critical when someone has a stroke as it can minimise the long-term effects of the stroke and may save the person’s life. It is therefore vital, especially for older people and those at increased risk of...