On the centenary of the Spanish flu epidemic, a worldwide authority on infectious diseases issues a timely warning

So what does the new information really mean for moderate drinkers?

The ‘Ig Nobel’ awards honour achievements that make people laugh – then think

Doctors are being asked to ditch Latin terms and use language patients understand

Communication and disclosure are key flaws among CervicalCheck’s systemic deficits

Don’t think having an otherwise healthy lifestyle compensates for working too hard

Dr Muiris Houston: CPE is the latest bug that is hard to kill with antibiotics

In the cot was an eight-year-old boy: he could not swallow and was almost completely blind

New study highlights the important role human intuition plays in medical decisions

A belly laugh is good for the heart, clears up rashes and lowers blood sugar in diabetics

Small study in ‘Thorax’ medical journal adds to growing body of research on e-cigarettes

After a dramatic change in cabin pressure passengers can experience bleeding and intense pain

There was a huge response to a column on presentation and professionalism

Research shows if you see the same doctor you are likely to reduce your risk of death

Research into doctors’ appearance finds body art doesn’t affect patient trust. But piercings ...

Dr Muiris Houston: Risks associated with sex, dosage and duration of administration

37% of HSE dentists see children with neglected dentition at least daily, study finds

A Doctor Writes: Health effects of hot weather linked to the body’s ability to adapt

It’s common and it’s unpleasant but it’s usually transient and rarely life-threatening

‘Short (weekday) sleep is not a risk factor for mortality if it is combined with a medium or long weekend sleep’

Dozens of cases of ebola reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo in recent weeks

Method shown to be highly effective and safe when used up to 22 weeks of pregnancy

The exclusion of pregnant women from drug trials means there is little drug-safety information for them to rely on

Dr Muiris Houston: Emotional resilience, the ability to deal with difficulty, can be learned

The HSE keeps getting the basics wrong. It’s time for organisational change, writes Muiris Houston

CervicalCheck tragedy shows risks in communication failures not widely appreciated

Public trust in Ireland’s health service continues to be eroded, writes Dr Muiris Houston

Dr Muiris Houston on the big decision faced by many terminally ill cancer patients

Can women have confidence in the national cervical screening programme?

Analysis: CervicalCheck review should extend to all screening programmes

Do its labs follow best practice, and why wasn’t a flag raised for three years?

Medical argot, beloved by the profession, can stray into unacceptable territory when carelessly applied to patients

Flu pandemic of 1918 killed only slightly fewer Irish people than four years of the Great War

Thanks to the kindness of fantastic friends and neighbours, we gave ‘Nan’ a great send-off

Sergei and Yulia Skripal’s poisoner delivered neurotoxin via air conditioning in victim’s car

Respiratory infections cause inflammation, while the flu virus and pneumonia can damage heart muscle

Sometimes the recommendation contained in the aphorism is worse than the disease

There are three subgroups of meningococci: A, B and C. Vaccines are available against B and C

Dr Muiris Houston: A body of evidence links shift work with diabetes, heart disease and cancer

Dr Muiris Houston: Major new research contains valuable information on antidepressant medicines

Shingles risk risk rises sharply when you hit 50. The pain has been likened to childbirth

New approach needed to combat false information about vaccines

We must future proof the next generation by upping their education in risk and critical thinking

Cancer survivors can face post-traumatic stress and a higher risk of heart failure

Questions to ask yourself, and tips to remember, before visiting your GP

Muiris Houston: Degree of patient’s trauma must be identified as early as possible

A number of medical issues will arise if there is a policy of termination of pregnancy on request

The incidence of Type 2 has more than doubled between 1998 and 2015, so eradicating the disease has enormous appeal

In the UK, children and young people have the highest death rate from asthma in Europe

Despite the doomsday predictions of some, infection rates are not yet at epidemic levels

More people will die as a consequence of not being treated in a fully functioning ward

Making health resolutions is a double-edged sword for some of us

Provisional diagnostic error rate attributable to specialist within international norms

A glass of red wine, perhaps? Some dark chocolate, almonds and cocoa? Yes you can

Death of Shelbourne FC player likely due to sudden arrhythmic death syndrome

Research reveals men suffer more from viral respiratory illness than women

Study shows there are very real threats to patient safety in State’s hospitals

Dr Muiris Houston: Patients who overestimate their survival do not live longer

Drugs that report when you’ve taken them break trust between doctor and patient

Scientists have yet to discover a reason for the fever’s return, but its virulence has diminished

If the flu vaccine is less effective than hoped, there's an alternative, low-tech solution

Report calls for substantial investment to move away from ‘hospital centric’ system

Drawing on US evidence, TCD authors urge philosophical, political and financial journey

Unprotected oral sex can result in HPV-associated cancers, a growing health problem

Dr Muiris Houston: Latest ‘Lancet’ research suggests procedure may have placebo effect

Inflammation is re-emerging as a likely reason for blockages in the coronary arteries of some patients with ischaemic heart diseas(...)

The ineffectiveness of this year’s flu vaccines means hospitals will not be able to cope

Chronic back pain sufferer Muiris Houston welcomes a dynamic new approach to the problem

Annual awards celebrate scientific studies that ‘cannot, or should not, be repeated’

Burnout series: Toxic stress is at the root of burnout. Tackling it may require serious change

Follow a low-salt high-olive-oil diet and enjoy some dark chocolate

A long-term study suggests a protective effect for women taking oral contraceptives

A wartime mustard gas explosion led to the development of a life-saving treatment

Or do they have a role in modern healthcare, asks Muiris Houston

The threat to human health from weather is rising, as heatwaves increase across Europe

Research suggests that humour has a positive effect on patients, so here goes

Scientists have used Crispr-Cas9 to repair disease-causing mutations. Here’s a guide

When you you look at trends, urban life expectancies are increasing at a faster rate than rural lifespans

Sleep-deprived junior doctors are unable to look after patients safely

The most commonly reported drug allergy may be misdiagnosed in 90% of cases

Statements of ‘absolute certainty’ from self-styled health experts are dangerous

Analysis: Ring-fencing of cancer drug funding may be necessary in future health budgets

Telling a patient that a drug has side-effects can bring on that very problem

Practical help for the sometimes lonely infertility journey

The medical lexicon is littered with phrases that can feel top-down and demeaning

Why has CPR become a reflex response in hospitals rather than allowing nature to take its course?

Why flying can be an unpleasant experience for young children

Techniques like framing and using the placebo effect can make us more effective healthcare professionals

High ratio of surface area to body mass makes children vulnerable to heatstroke

It’s placebo vs nocebo as new study casts doubt on muscle pain effect of statins

Medication can control nearly all cases, but too few people are diagnosed

There’s an epidemic of fatty liver disease in this country, and teetotallers aren’t immune

Seizures can be more harmful to your baby than the medication

Modern chemotherapy can be traced back to military chemical agents

As you bask in the good feelings induced by eating an Easter egg, what is the evidence for the health benefits of chocolate?

The Amazon’s Tsimane tribe's diet is made up mostly of fruit and nuts and they walk up to 17,000 steps a day

Many elderly patients are being inappropriately resuscitated. Let them die ‘ordinary deaths’

One of the best things doctors could do for patients is to listen to them

For some, the October and March clock changes trigger profound sleep disturbance

Emotional distress and fear of pain are cited as reasons for reduced adherence to cervical screening, US review finds