Health

We must drive the NCD agenda forward — Tufton 6:50 am

MINISTER of Health and Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton says that the crisis of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) must be seen as an economic problem and a challenge for development more broadly.

Will you be taking the flu vaccine this year? 2:00 am
THE novel coronavirus pandemic has made a vaccinologist out of most of us. By now, we pretty much know what a vaccine is, that no vaccine is 100 per cent perfect, and that being vaccinated isn't licence to throw oneself in harm's way.

Male fertility is declining 7:20 pm
IN the US, nearly one in eight couples struggles with infertility. Unfortunately, physicians like me who specialise in reproductive medicine are unable to determine the cause of male infertility approximately 30 to 50 per cent of the time. There is almost nothing more disheartening than...

How insomnia helps a painter

Sunday, August 1, 2021

IT'S a simple fact that we all need adequate sleep to function optimally, but this is sometimes overlooked by many people who opt to neglect sleep to get more work done. Then there are those who don't have a choice as insomnia — a sleeping disorder — makes it difficult for...

Generic vs brand name drugs

Sunday, August 1, 2021

We know you sometimes have burning questions that can best be answered by a pharmacist. Our feature, Ask Your Pharmacist , seeks to address some of those issues. Send your questions to healthandwealth@jamaicaobserver.com.

NCDs, COVID-19 and the way forward

Sunday, July 25, 2021

WITH global attention, at least over the past 15 months, focused on the response to the novel coronavirus pandemic, other health issues have seemingly taken a back seat.

And the winner is...

Sunday, July 25, 2021

Dr Yedesney Carmona Linares displays his prize, courtesy of Guardian Group, after being the first person to e-mail the correct answer to a question asked during last Sunday's Your Health Your Wealth webinar hosted by the Jamaica Observer, which explored the topic: “Should more...

'The challenge is real'

Sunday, July 25, 2021

AMID the uncertainties surrounding COVID-19 vaccine supply and access globally, there is one recurring question being hurled at the Jamaican Government: “Why can't Jamaica produce its own vaccine?”

Scientists confront WHO's stance on alternative smoking cessation devices

Wednesday, July 21, 2021

MEMBERS of the Anglo-Saxon scientific community questioned the World Health Organization (WHO) for its negative and opposed stance towards non-combustible alternatives (NCAs), which is said to be a proven alternative that reduces the use of traditional cigarettes and motivates people to...

Pregnant and craving ice, dirt

Monday, July 19, 2021

Dear Dr Mitchell,

Vaccine development and the Caribbean

Sunday, July 18, 2021

OVER the past year and a half 'vaccine' has become a buzzword. This is not because the term is new to us, but it has become somewhat of a lifeboat as the world continues to grapple with the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Why children need their own clinical trials for a COVID-19 vaccine

Sunday, July 18, 2021

THE CONVERSATION) — Now that two-thirds of all adults in the United States have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine as of mid-July 2021, life seems to be returning to some semblance of pre-pandemic times. People are again travelling, eating in restaurants with friends,...

HIV infection increases risk of severe, critical COVID-19, WHO warns

Sunday, July 18, 2021

A new World Health Organization (WHO) report confirms that HIV infection is a significant independent risk factor for both severe/critical COVID-19 presentation at hospital admission and in-hospital mortality.

Long-haul COVID

Sunday, July 18, 2021

SINCE the novel coronavirus pandemic began, researchers, scientists, doctors, and the general population have all sought to figure out this unexpected and unpredictable virus.

Do I need a COVID-19 booster shot?

Sunday, July 11, 2021

THE increasing prevalence of new coronavirus variants is raising questions about how well protected those who've already had their COVID-19 shots are against evolving forms of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Foundations' shared dream for NICU

Sunday, July 11, 2021

WITH a shared dream of equipping the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the University Hospital of the West Indies and empowering its staff, the Caring for Miracles Foundation and the Malia Brown Foundation have joined forces to support the work of the unit.

Reducing your hypertension risk

Sunday, July 11, 2021

HYPERTENSION, which is the medical term for high blood pressure, is often referred to as the silent killer.This is because one might not necessarily know their blood pressure is high since most people have no signs or symptoms.