The Public Health Agency (PHA) is calling for people to make themselves aware of the signs and symptoms of meningitis, with the prevalence of this potentially life-threatening illness at its highest during the winter.

Many of us start the New Year with the best of intentions to lose weight, get fitter and eat well. It’s that sense of new possibilities and fresh beginnings that can also help motivate changes in lifestyle. The Public Health Agency (PHA) advises that making small changes to your own and your family’s lifestyle can have a significant impact on improving overall health.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding parents of the importance of their children completing the childhood immunisation programme to help prevent serious disease and illness following a reported increase of whooping cough (pertussis) cases in England and Wales.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is encouraging smokers to make a plan, think about what steps they are going to take to stay off tobacco for good, and to seek practical support and advice from a stop smoking service. There is a range of free services available which can provide solid personal advice that will increase your chances of stopping for good.

Now 2012 has arrived, the Public Health Agency is encouraging people to make a New Year’s resolution to know their limits when it comes to alcohol, not to drink excessively and to cut back for a while, especially if the festive period led to a little too much consumption.

The New Year is often seen as a time for new beginnings and starting afresh and it’s great to make a new start. It can also be a challenging time for some, so the Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding people of the importance of looking after their own mental health and that of their family and friends in 2012.

Flu is more likely to surface in the winter months and with this in mind the Public Health Agency (PHA) is advising on what action to take if you develop the illness, particularly over the Christmas period.