The Public Health Agency (PHA) will today [November 6] hold a maternal and infant nutrition conference on how to give our children the best start in life and ensure that they have a long and healthy future. Speakers at the event will explain the importance of good nutrition during pregnancy and in the first five years of life, and the influence this has on a child’s health through to adulthood.

Today is National Stress Awareness Day and according to the Public Health Agency (PHA) it’s the perfect opportunity to take time out from our busy lives to reduce the amount of stress we experience. Madeline Heaney, Regional Lead for Mental Health and Wellbeing at the PHA, explained: “Everyone experiences a certain amount of stress in their lives – unfortunately it’s a normal part of day-to-day living and we can’t avoid it – but for some of us it becomes more of a problem as too much stress for too long has a negative impact on your health and wellbeing.

Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers among both men and women in Northern Ireland, with round 900 new cases diagnosed each year.

Strokes claim the lives of 1,300 people in Northern Ireland every year. It is the third most common cause of death and the greatest cause of adult disability, so on World Stroke Day on 29 October the Public Health Agency (PHA) aims to help people reduce their risk of having a stroke and to ‘think FAST’ if they see someone having a stroke.

As the clocks go back this weekend, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging people to spring forward and get active in order to keep well over the winter months. Colette Brolly, Health and Social Wellbeing Improvement Manager with the PHA, said: “In the dark nights, it is easy to get into the habit of spending our spare time being inactive, but making small changes and increasing activity can help lift your mood over the winter months.

An innovative programme in Lisburn is improving the long-term prospects of children, young people and families living in deprived areas of the city. The Early Intervention Lisburn Project was first launched by the Resurgam Community Development Trust in 2011. By supporting parents with a range of services, the project is helping to prevent problems escalating to crisis point.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is warning that the misuse of any drugs which have not been prescribed to you can result in death or permanent damage to your health. The PHA is stressing that users can never be exactly sure of the make-up of illicit drugs. PHA is also warning that many people are misusing prescription drugs. The message is clear – the only way to avoid all risks is to not take any drugs which have not been prescribed for you by your doctor.

Professionals at the front line of delivering healthcare in Northern Ireland, including those working in dietetics, occupational therapy and physiotherapy, are at the heart of modernising services to meet today’s needs, a conference has heard.