This Stress Awareness Month (April) the Public Health Agency (PHA) is highlighting the small daily steps we can take to help manage stress in our lives. Stress can feel like we are struggling to cope. This may be due to mental or emotional pressure. It can affect our physical and mental health and wellbeing, but understanding the signs of stress can help us recognise that we need to act. Common signs of stress can include sleeping problems, eating more or less, difficulty concentrating, drinking more alcohol or using drugs. You may feel anxious, irritable, experience racing thoughts or

This Bowel Cancer Awareness Month [April], the Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding people about the two key actions to help combat bowel cancer – act when you notice symptoms, and take part in screening if eligible. Dr Tracy Owen, Deputy Director of Public Health at the PHA, said: “Bowel cancer is one of the most common cancers for both men and women. Being alert to the symptoms of bowel cancer and attending for screening when invited could save your life. The earlier cancer is detected, the better the chances of treatment being successful.” The bowel cancer screening programme in Northern

Shingles can be an extremely painful condition and complications can be long-lasting, particularly for older people and those with weakened immune systems. The Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding those eligible to look out for their vaccination invite from their GP and not to miss the opportunity to help protect themselves. Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is an infection that causes a painful rash. It often starts with tingling pain, headaches and tiredness and then can lead to a painful rash with fluid-filled blisters. Most people fully recover from shingles but in some cases it

An Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) is a potentially fatal condition which can particularly affect older men, but can be detected with a simple ultrasound screening test. In Northern Ireland, the AAA Screening Programme offers this test to men in the year they turn 65. The success of the programme, in detecting and successfully managing this condition, has been highlighted at an event in Belfast attended by over thirty men who have taken part in screening. The AAA Screening Programme’s twelfth annual service user event in Belfast brought together a wide range of healthcare professionals and men

On World TB Day (Monday 24 March), new figures from the Public Health Agency (PHA) have revealed a steady increase in cases of tuberculosis (TB) in Northern Ireland since 2021. There were 86 cases of TB notified to the PHA in 2024, an increase from 78 cases reported in 2023, 69 cases reported in 2022 and 54 cases in 2021. Dr Jillian Johnston, Consultant in Health Protection at the PHA, said: “TB is an infection that is spread in the air by inhaling small droplets from someone with infectious TB of the lungs who coughs, sneezes, talks or sings. Although TB mainly affects the lungs, it can