April is Stress Awareness Month and the Public Health Agency (PHA) is taking the opportunity to highlight the signs and symptoms of stress, what we can do to tackle stress in our lives, and where to get information and support. Stress is the feeling of being unable to cope as a result of too much mental or emotional pressure. It can affect our physical health as well as our mental health and wellbeing. Common signs of stress can include sleeping problems, sweating, loss of appetite and difficulty concentrating. You may feel anxious, irritable, experience racing thoughts, worry constantly or go

As we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic the Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding everyone of the need to get their eyes tested, emphasising the importance of good eye health and the steps to follow to help protect your vision. Dr Jackie McCall, Consultant in Public Health at the PHA, said: “Over 50% of sight loss is preventable, so ensuring that we all have regular eye examinations will help prevent, or limit, the damage caused by certain eye conditions. “We should all aim to get our eyes tested every two years; regular sight checks are important for two reasons. Firstly, having your vision

Over 1,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer in Northern Ireland each year and the Public Health Agency (PHA) is using Bowel Cancer Awareness Month (April) to highlight the signs and symptoms and emphasise the importance of taking part in screening. “It is important that people are aware of the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer,” said Dr Christine McKee, Public Health Consultant Lead for the Bowel Cancer Screening Programme at the PHA. “Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer identified in both men and women. It is also the second most common cause of cancer death among people in

The COVID-19 spring booster vaccination programme will get under way in Northern Ireland in the coming days, so the Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging those eligible to get boosted. People aged 75 years and over, residents in care homes for older people, and those aged 12 years and over with weakened immune systems will be offered a spring booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. It is advised that the spring booster should be offered around six months after an individual received their first booster dose. Dr Jillian Johnston, Joint Interim Assistant Director in Health Protection at the PHA

As the clocks spring forward this weekend the Public Health Agency (PHA) is encouraging people to use the brighter nights to increase their levels of physical activity and improve their health. Colette Brolly, the PHA’s lead on physical activity, said: “Over the winter months when it is dark in the evenings, it can be easy to get into a routine of staying inside and being less active, but the bright nights are a brilliant opportunity to get out and get active. “There are many different ways to be active and many of them are ideal for anyone who has not been physically active for a while, such

With society reopening and opportunities for people to meet up and socialise being restored, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging people to avail of sexual health testing if they are sexually active or intending to become sexually active soon. Dr Gillian Armstrong, Interim Head of Health Protection at the PHA, said: “During the height of the pandemic many Genitourinary Medicine (GUM) clinics were initially closed to visitors and access to Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) screening became limited for some. The reduction of STI testing and diagnosis noted in 2020 may mean an increase in

This Swallow Awareness Day [Wednesday 16 March] the Public Health Agency (PHA) is raising awareness of swallowing difficulties by launching a new digital poster which will be promoted regionally through community and voluntary sector organisations. The digital poster, which has been developed in partnership with Mid and East Antrim Agewell Partnership (MEAAP), is designed to highlight the signs and symptoms of swallowing difficulties in the hope of detecting the condition early and signposting to services that can help. Dysphagia is the medical term for swallowing difficulties, which can

As people get ready to celebrate St Patrick’s Day, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging anyone choosing to drink to keep an eye on their alcohol intake by making a plan of setting a limit and sticking to it. The PHA’s Drugs and Alcohol lead Michael Owen said: “A lot of people will be making plans to meet up with their friends and family to celebrate St Patrick’s Day and we are encouraging them to keep an eye on their alcohol intake should they choose to drink. “By setting a plan, you can avoid binge drinking which has been shown to have adverse effects on our health and safety. “It’s