Surgery falls into two broad categories: open surgery and minimally invasive surgery, also called laparoscopic surgery or keyhole surgery. Laparoscopic surgery has become the preferred option for many types of operations in recent decades, as it has some advantages over open surgery, but overall, the outcomes of success for both procedures are similar.

You’ve gotten through Christmas and your thoughts may now have turned to the annual making of promises usually known as New Year Resolutions. You may decide that this year really is it - you will lose weight, stop smoking or exercise more regularly - but the chances are that by February the indoor bicycle will be gathering dust in the corner of the bedroom and your waist size hasn’t changed. So, rather than setting yourself unachievable or inappropriate goals in a post-celebration burst of confidence, aim to change what we here at Healthwords call the ‘Top 5’ health factors that are not only achievable but which will also undoubtedly improve your well-being for the years to come.

What Is Mindfulness? Mindfulness means paying close attention to what’s happening right now, both inside your mind and around you, without judging it. Instead of worrying about the past or future, you focus on the present. You can practice mindfulness through meditation, breathing exercises, or by simply noticing your thoughts and feelings as you do everyday things like walking or eating. Why Practice Mindfulness? Mindfulness has many benefits for your mind and body: It helps lower stress and anxiety by teaching you to stay calm and focused on the present instead of worrying. It can make you feel happier and less overwhelmed by negative thoughts. Mindfulness helps you notice and manage your emotions, so you don’t react too quickly or strongly when things get tough. It can improve your concentration and help you get more done at school or work. Practicing mindfulness can also help your body by lowering blood pressure, boosting your immune system, and helping you sleep better.

Mindfulness is a simple way to help you feel calmer and more focused. It means paying attention to what is happening right now, without judging yourself. Anyone can learn mindfulness, and you don’t need special equipment or a lot of time to get started. What Is Mindfulness? Mindfulness is being aware of your thoughts, feelings, and what’s around you in the present moment. Instead of worrying about the past or future, you focus on what’s happening now. You don’t have to sit still or meditate for a long time: mindfulness can be done while walking, eating, or even breathing. The goal is to notice what you are doing and thinking, and to be curious, not critical, about your feelings.

Medicines come with a list of constituents – strange-sounding chemicals that none of us can pronounce – but it's hard to determine whether a particular medicine is compatible with your belief system. You may be practicing Islam or Judaism, therefore anything that is not halal or kosher may not be acceptable, or you may accept non-halal but not any pork-based products. You may exclude certain food groups on ethical or lifestyle grounds, such as vegetarianism or veganism. You may have food allergies or sensitivities, such as gluten, lactose, nut, egg, or shellfish. While every medicine differs, there are some common ingredients to look out for, or ask your pharmacist about. There may be alternatives available. Let's take a look at some common hurdles.

Eating grapefruit and drinking grapefruit juice can interfere with certain medications. In this article, we will look at which medications are affected and explore the mechanism behind these interactions.

Medication interactions are the situation where two or more medications interfere with each other. Interactions range from harmless to extremely dangerous; however, fear not because doctors and pharmacists are here to keep you safe. There are too many combinations of medications to list all potential interactions, but certain groups of medications are known to have lots of interactions. When you are prescribed multiple medications, your doctor and pharmacist will check to ensure it is safe to take them together. It is best to get all your prescriptions dispensed from the same pharmacy. That way your pharmacist will be aware of all your prescribed medications.

Lucid dreaming happens when you are conscious and aware that you are dreaming. During a lucid dream, you may be able to have some control over elements of the dream, such as the people or characters that appear or what happens next.

A keloid scar is an area of scar tissue that has formed from a previous trauma - this may have been a small injury, such as an insect bite or acne, or a larger and more memorable injury, such as the site of keyhole surgery or a burn. Your body has gone into overdrive trying to repair the wound and has formed a lot of collagen. This raised shiny area will feel smooth and firm, usually in an oval or line shape, commonly seen on the chest, back, shoulders, neck and stomach. It often extends beyond the original wound. You may have other such scars, or family members may also have a tendency to form keloid scars. They are more common in Black and Asian skin, where scars turn dark brown or black rather than the red or pink scars on Caucasian skin. They most commonly form between the ages of 10 and 30 but can form at any age. The protrusion may shrink with time and grow paler, but will likely be lifelong. Keloid scars carry no risk in themselves, although some people are bothered by how they appear, and they may be itchy, painful, or give a burning sensation.

Hypothermia is a medical emergency. It occurs when your body gets to dangerously low temperatures below 95°F. This can be life-threatening. At temperatures this low, your vital organs cannot function properly, resulting in organ failure or death as your body fails to retain any heat.

Someone is described as a hypochondriac when they experience anxieties about health, either in general or with specific illnesses. While we all have health anxieties, which can be useful to avoid injury or certain illnesses, the concerns of a hypochondriac are considered disproportionate to the threat. It can become all-consuming and have a significant impact on their everyday life.

Hyperthyroidism means that your thyroid gland is functioning at a high or overactive level. The thyroid gland releases a hormone that helps control metabolism – if more hormone is released, your metabolism speeds up. This can cause unintentional weight loss, your heart beats hard or fast, and you can feel twitchy, irritable or anxious. You may have difficulty sleeping although you feel very tired, and you might feel sweaty and hot all the time, perhaps wearing scanty clothing when others around you feel cold. Your thyroid gland is a small gland in the front of your neck. In a chain reaction, your brain releases a hormone to prompt the thyroid gland to release a hormone (called thyroid-stimulating hormone or TSH) to produce thyroxine, also called free T4. This is the active substance controlling metabolism.