Depression is a biological illness that effects behaviour, thoughts and feelings. Although depression can be caused by or worsened by life problems, medical research has shown that depression occurs as a result of a chemical imbalance in the brain, just as many other diseases such as diabetes, involve chemical imbalances. Almost all of us have, at one point or another, experienced feelings of unhappiness “a blue mood” that could be associated with a disruptive life event. However, a pervasive feeling of sadness that lasts for more than two weeks, and affects our general functioning is a sign of depression. Some common symptoms of depression include: Changes in sleep habits, like…

Quitting smoking was never on my list of priorities. I’m young and generally healthy and so logically there is no reason whatsoever to quit smoking, right? For God’s sake, I am 26 years old. I mean people who quit smoking are usually middle aged, or suffer from asthma or have just discovered a deadly disease. Other than that, there is no real reason to quit smoking, right?WRONG WRONG WRONG. Last week, I had to interview someone for an article I was writing. For once I had made the appointment on time and was therefore feeling rather graceful. I walked into the entrance of the building and found the bawab informing…

DID YOU KNOW Breast cancer risk increases with age and every woman is at risk. Every 13 minutes a woman dies of breast cancer. Seventy-seven percent of women with breast cancer are over 50. Risks for breast cancer include a family history, delaying pregnancy until after age 30 or never becoming pregnant, early menstruation (before age 12), late menopause (after age 55), current use or use in the last ten years of oral contraceptives, and daily consumption of alcohol. Early detection of breast cancer, through monthly breast self-exam and particularly early mammography after age 40, offers the best chance for survival. Ninety-six percent of women who find and treat breast…