My patient’s near-death experience in hospital left me with worry and guilt. This is how vicarious trauma starts

Afterwards, my team and I kept going without ever discussing the event. But something felt heavy. And because I couldn’t name it, I didn’t know how to deal with it

Heather contracted HIV on an overseas holiday. Women like her are more likely to be overlooked by doctors in Australia

Although early HIV diagnosis is crucial for longevity, women are more likely to be diagnosed late because they are not considered a high-risk group

The troubling rise of longevity fixation syndrome: ‘I was crushed by the pressure I put on myself’

This unofficial diagnosis describes the anxiety-driven, compulsive obsession with living as long as possible. While it might seem healthy to monitor your diet, exercise and biomarkers, it can come at a huge emotional cost

Office buzz: UK employers turn to beehives to boost workplace wellbeing

Providers report rise in demand as companies seek mental health benefits and increased sense of community

The sneeze secret: how much should you worry about this explosive reflex?

It is one of the most powerful involuntary actions the human body can perform. But is a big sneeze a sign of illness, pollution or something else entirely?

Why has food become another joyless way to self-optimise?

Women of my age are told we neglect protein at our peril – but you can’t cheat death with chia seeds alone. So, could we rein back on the self-optimisation – and ramp up the joy, writes Emma Beddington

Avocados are a Super Bowl staple – but are they truly a miracle food?

Americans are expected to devour nearly 280m pounds of avocados during Super Bowl weekend. Are they actually healthy?

‘The children are not safe here’: the Nigerian couple fighting infanticide

The long read: In a few isolated communities in central Nigeria, some babies are believed to be bad omens. Olusola and Chinwe Stevens run a thriving home for babies at risk. But what happens when the families want them back?

Breathwork has its uses – but when it comes to ‘unlocking your fullest human potential’, beware the puffery

While some benefits such as stress relief are backed by solid evidence, they can be achieved without expensive hyped-up courses

Ultra-processed foods should be treated more like cigarettes than food – study

UPFs are made to encourage addiction and consumption and should be regulated like tobacco, say researchers