Smoking tobacco is very harmful to health. The short and long term effects of smoking are well known and smoking remains the single biggest cause of early death in Northern Ireland. A typical smoker dies 10-15 years earlier than they would do if they didn’t smoke.

With thousands of young people due to receive their exam results, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is encouraging parents to talk to their children about the risks associated with drinking and taking drugs. Many teenagers will go out with friends when they get exam results, whether they are celebrating or commiserating. Both scenarios can lead to excessive drinking or drug taking, so there’s an important role for parents to talk to their children about the risks.

A Londonderry/Derry man has spoken of his relief when a simple scan detected a potentially life-threatening condition – an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). The Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging all men aged 65 and over to consider taking up the offer of screening for this serious condition.

Northern Ireland hospitals are now the most baby friendly in the UK after three more were awarded the prestigious UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI) Award. The initiative works with public services to protect, promote and support breastfeeding and to strengthen mother-baby and family relationships. Support for these relationships is important for all babies, not only those who are breastfed.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is encouraging school leavers and first-time university students to get the new meningococcal vaccine which is available from today [3 August]. Through a new immunisation programme, everyone born between 2 July 1996 and 1 July 1997, and first time university students up to the age of 25, will be offered the Men ACWY vaccine.

To mark World Hepatitis Day today [28 July], the Public Health Agency (PHA) is encouraging people who think they may be at risk of hepatitis B or C infection in particular to get tested and prevent the spread. Viral hepatitis kills 4,000 people every day worldwide and, although not very common in Northern Ireland, it is estimated 400 million people across the globe are infected.