Health guides for the Middle East

Nutrition & Food

Vitamin B12 Deficiency: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

A simple guide to vitamin B12 deficiency: what B12 does for nerves, blood and energy, its symptoms, who is at risk, how it is diagnosed, food sources and treatment.

6 August 2026 · 7 min read

Understanding Lab Tests

The Thyroid Gland and the TSH Blood Test: A Simple Guide

Learn what the thyroid does for your energy, what the TSH test is, the difference between underactive and overactive thyroid, their symptoms, and when to see a doctor.

6 August 2026 · 7 min read

Genetic Conditions

Thalassemia and Cousin Marriage in Syria: Why Premarital Screening Matters

Thalassemia is one of the most common inherited disorders in Syria, and cousin marriage raises its risk. Learn how it is inherited and why a premarital test protects your children.

6 August 2026 · 8 min read

Lifestyle & Prevention

Smoking in Syria: The Scale of the Problem, the Truth About Waterpipe, and How to Quit

Smoking is one of Syria's widest health problems, with studies suggesting more than half of adults use tobacco. Learn the harms of cigarettes and waterpipe, and how to quit with practical steps.

6 August 2026 · 8 min read

Lifestyle & Prevention

Fasting Ramadan Safely with Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, or a Chronic Condition

A simple health guide to fasting Ramadan with diabetes, high blood pressure, or a chronic illness: suhoor and iftar tips, hydration, warning signs, and why to see your doctor first.

6 August 2026 · 7 min read

Women's Health

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Signs, Causes, and How to Manage It

A simple guide to polycystic ovary syndrome for women: what it is, its common signs, its link with insulin resistance and weight, and how a doctor assesses and manages it, explained reassuringly.

6 August 2026 · 7 min read

Mental Health

Mental Health in Syria: A Silent Burden After the War and How to Care for Yourself

The war years left a heavy mental burden in Syria. Learn the scale of the problem in a reassuring way, the signs of psychological stress, simple self-care steps, and when to seek help.

6 August 2026 · 8 min read

Child Health

Measles and Vaccination in Syria: Why Diseases Returned and How to Protect Your Child

Before the war Syria controlled measles with high vaccination coverage, then coverage collapsed in many areas and outbreaks returned. Learn how to protect your child and complete missed vaccines.

6 August 2026 · 8 min read

Understanding Lab Tests

Liver Function Tests: A Simple Guide to Understanding ALT, AST, ALP, Bilirubin, and Albumin

A simple guide to liver function tests, what raised liver enzymes mean, why they rise, warning signs, and how to protect your liver. A doctor interprets your results.

6 August 2026 · 7 min read

Understanding Lab Tests

Kidney Function Tests: Creatinine, Urea, and eGFR Explained

A simple guide to kidney function tests: what creatinine, urea, and eGFR mean, why some values rise, how to protect your kidneys, and when to see a doctor.

6 August 2026 · 7 min read

Chronic Conditions

High Blood Pressure: The Silent Killer and How to Protect Yourself

A simple guide to understanding blood pressure numbers and categories, why it is called the silent killer, how to measure it correctly at home, and when to seek emergency help.

6 August 2026 · 7 min read

Understanding Lab Tests

The HbA1c Test: What Your Number Really Means

The HbA1c test measures your average blood sugar over about three months. Learn what it measures, why no fasting is needed, what the 5.7% and 6.5% cutoffs mean, and what can skew it.

6 August 2026 · 6 min read

Health in the Middle East

Diabetes in Syria: The Numbers, the Reality, and How to Protect Yourself

A plain look at how common diabetes is in Syria, how the years of crisis affected patient care, and practical steps for prevention and control despite hard conditions.

6 August 2026 · 8 min read

Understanding Lab Tests

Cholesterol and the Lipid Panel Blood Test: A Simple Guide

Understand cholesterol and the lipid panel: total, LDL bad, HDL good, and triglycerides. Learn how to read your results with your doctor, what raises them, and how diet and lifestyle protect you.

6 August 2026 · 7 min read

Infectious Diseases

The Aleppo Boil (Cutaneous Leishmaniasis): Why It Bears the City's Name and How to Protect Yourself

The Aleppo boil, or cutaneous leishmaniasis, is an old skin disease in Syria spread by the sandfly. Learn its cause, how it appears, why it rose during the war, and how to protect yourself.

6 August 2026 · 8 min read

Nutrition & Food

How much water you actually need in a hot climate

The eight-glasses rule was written for temperate climates. Learn what changes in Arab summer heat, how to read your urine colour and why sugary drinks fall short.

5 August 2026 · 8 min read

Women's Health

Preeclampsia: the blood pressure danger in pregnancy

Warning signs of preeclampsia, blood pressure thresholds, who is at highest risk, and what to do immediately when symptoms appear. A leading cause of maternal death.

5 August 2026 · 9 min read

Health in the Middle East

When your medicine is unavailable: what to do safely

Medicine shortages in Syria, Yemen, Lebanon, and Sudan are common. Learn which drugs are dangerous to stop suddenly, how to find equivalents, and how to ration safely.

5 August 2026 · 9 min read

Women's Health

Irregular Periods: The Common Causes and What to Test

Thyroid disease, PCOS, stress and weight changes all disrupt periods. Learn which causes are most common, what each test checks, and when to act quickly.

5 August 2026 · 8 min read

Medicines & Safety

Ibuprofen and NSAIDs: Who Should Avoid Them

NSAIDs like ibuprofen carry real risks for the stomach, kidneys, and blood pressure. Find out who should avoid them and what is safer to take instead.

5 August 2026 · 7 min read

Health in the Middle East

Emergency numbers in Arab countries and when to call

Verified ambulance, police, and fire numbers for Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia.

5 August 2026 · 9 min read

Infectious Diseases

Cholera: Recognising It and Preventing Death from Dehydration

Cholera outbreaks in Yemen, Syria and Sudan make this urgently regional. Learn dehydration signs, how to make oral rehydration solution at home, and when to go to hospital.

5 August 2026 · 8 min read

Child Health

Diarrhoea in children: rehydration that prevents death

How to make and use oral rehydration solution at home, spot the signs of dangerous dehydration, use zinc correctly, and know when home treatment is no longer enough.

5 August 2026 · 8 min read

Health in the Middle East

Water quality and the diseases it carries

When supply is intermittent, waterborne illness follows. Boiling, chlorine and filters compared, tank hygiene, and which diseases trace back to contaminated water.

4 August 2026 · 8 min read

Women's Health

Uterine fibroids: symptoms, testing and treatment choices

Uterine fibroids explained: heavy bleeding, anaemia, diagnosis by ultrasound, and a full treatment ladder from medicines to surgery and when each applies.

4 August 2026 · 7 min read

Lifestyle & Prevention

Travel health: vaccines, medicines and what to pack

Good preparation prevents most travel illness. Learn which vaccines you need, how to carry medicines across borders safely, and what belongs in your travel kit.

4 August 2026 · 8 min read

Mental Health

Painkiller Dependence: Tramadol and the Regional Problem

Tramadol dependence is one of the most common addiction problems across Egypt and parts of the Arab world. A non-judgmental guide to how it happens and how to get help.

4 August 2026 · 7 min read

Nutrition & Food

Sugar in Arabic sweets and drinks: the real numbers

The real sugar counts in knafeh, baklava and daily drinks, what they mean for diabetes risk, and practical steps that keep hospitality intact.

4 August 2026 · 7 min read

Medicines & Safety

Statins: real benefits, muscle pain and the myths

Statins explained honestly: real benefits, absolute versus relative risk, when muscle pain is genuine, and why stopping out of fear carries its own danger.

4 August 2026 · 7 min read

Infectious Diseases

Bilharzia (Schistosomiasis): The Freshwater Parasite

Bilharzia explained: Nile and canal transmission, blood in urine as the key sign, the bladder cancer link, and the one-day praziquantel cure.

4 August 2026 · 7 min read

Mental Health

Insomnia: fixing sleep without sleeping pills

CBT-I outperforms sleeping pills long term. Practical steps on sleep restriction and stimulus control, and the dependence risk of benzodiazepines sold without prescription.

4 August 2026 · 8 min read

Chronic Conditions

Underactive thyroid: symptoms, treatment and monitoring

A complete guide to hypothyroidism: recognising symptoms, taking levothyroxine correctly, understanding what interferes with absorption, and when to retest TSH.

4 August 2026 · 8 min read

Traditional Remedies

Hijama (Cupping): What the Evidence Shows and How to Stay Safe

What does research show about wet cupping for pain and blood pressure? Clear guidance on infection risks, who must avoid hijama, and how to find a safe practitioner.

4 August 2026 · 7 min read

Genetic Conditions

G6PD deficiency (favism): the foods and drugs to avoid

A practical guide to G6PD deficiency: the avoid list covering fava beans, naphthalene and risky drugs, and how to recognise a haemolytic crisis before it becomes an emergency.

4 August 2026 · 7 min read

Lifestyle & Prevention

Teeth and Gums: Prevention and the Gum Disease Diabetes Link

Brushing and flossing done right, the miswak evidence, and the two-way relationship between gum disease and diabetes most people have never heard of.

4 August 2026 · 8 min read

Genetic Conditions

Congenital hypothyroidism: why the newborn heel prick matters

Congenital hypothyroidism is fully treatable if caught in the first days. How newborn screening works, what abnormal results mean, and why timing is critical.

4 August 2026 · 9 min read

Child Health

Asthma in children: inhalers, spacers and school

A practical guide to childhood asthma covering spacer technique, dust and smoke triggers, school action plans, and when to seek emergency help.

4 August 2026 · 10 min read

Mental Health

Anxiety in children: the signs parents miss

Child anxiety rarely looks like worry. It shows up as stomach aches, school refusal and clinginess. Learn what to look for and how to help without making it worse.

4 August 2026 · 11 min read

Women's Health

Breastfeeding: Making It Work and Solving Common Problems

A practical breastfeeding guide covering correct attachment, supply worries, mastitis, and feeding while fasting in Ramadan, the question that most guides never answer.

4 August 2026 · 7 min read

Understanding Lab Tests

Uric acid test and gout: the numbers and the diet myths

Read your uric acid result correctly, understand gout attacks, and learn why a normal result during a flare does not rule out gout. Includes diet facts versus myths.

3 August 2026 · 8 min read

Chronic Conditions

Stroke: recognising it in minutes and what to do

Stroke is a time-critical emergency. The FAST test, the treatment window, why calling relatives first costs you brain, and what to do while the ambulance comes.

3 August 2026 · 8 min read

Understanding Lab Tests

Stool analysis: parasites, blood and what the report means

Read your stool analysis report clearly: parasites like amoeba and giardia, occult blood, correct sample collection, and when results need urgent attention.

3 August 2026 · 7 min read

Child Health

Rickets and vitamin D in children

Rickets is returning in sun-rich Arab countries because children spend little time outdoors. Learn the signs, which children need supplements and what doses are safe.

3 August 2026 · 10 min read

Mental Health

PTSD after war, displacement and earthquakes

Guide to PTSD after war and disaster: symptoms, why avoidance worsens it, effective treatments, and what helps when specialist care is not nearby.

3 August 2026 · 8 min read

Nutrition & Food

The Mediterranean diet in Levantine and North African food

The best-evidenced diet in the world is essentially regional food. Reframe the dishes you already know and eat them more of the time.

3 August 2026 · 8 min read

Nutrition & Food

Iron-Rich Foods in the Arab Diet: A Practical Guide

Best iron sources in Arab cuisine, haem vs non-haem absorption, and why drinking tea with meals is the biggest iron deficiency habit in the region.

3 August 2026 · 7 min read

Medicines & Safety

How to Use an Inhaler Properly, With and Without a Spacer

Most people use their inhaler incorrectly, which means the medicine never reaches the lungs. Step-by-step guide for MDI, spacer and dry powder inhalers.

3 August 2026 · 7 min read

Lifestyle & Prevention

Staying healthy during Hajj and Umrah

Required vaccinations, heat safety, managing chronic conditions, and what medicines to carry for Hajj and Umrah. Practical medical preparation from start to finish.

3 August 2026 · 7 min read

Women's Health

Female Infertility: The Tests and What They Show

A clear guide to fertility tests for women: ovarian hormones, AMH, ovulation tracking, tubal patency, and why testing is never complete without testing the male partner too.

3 August 2026 · 7 min read

Medicines & Safety

Blood Thinners: Warfarin, the Newer Drugs and Staying Safe

Warfarin vs DOACs compared, INR targets by indication, food and drug interactions, bleeding red flags, and what to do before dental or surgical procedures.

3 August 2026 · 8 min read

Lifestyle & Prevention

Weight Loss: What the Evidence Actually Supports

An honest guide to losing weight: energy balance, why crash diets backfire, the weight loss plateau, and the injectable GLP-1 drugs that are now widely sought in the region.

2 August 2026 · 7 min read

Traditional Remedies

Spiritual Healing and Medical Treatment: Holding Both

Ruqyah is a legitimate practice. This article only asks: how to practise it without delaying diagnosis or abandoning prescribed treatment.

2 August 2026 · 8 min read

Health in the Middle East

Health insurance across Arab countries: how it works

A practical comparison of health insurance in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon. What is covered, what is not, and how to read a policy before you need it.

1 August 2026 · 7 min read

Chronic Conditions

Acid reflux and GERD: causes, treatment and when to worry

What causes acid reflux to become GERD, how late heavy meals worsen it regionally, when PPIs are overused, and the alarm symptoms that need an endoscopy.

1 August 2026 · 8 min read

Chronic Conditions

Type 2 diabetes: a complete guide for the Middle East

Type 2 diabetes in the Middle East: HbA1c targets, complications, Ramadan management, and living well where clinic access and medicine supply can be unpredictable.

30 July 2026 · 9 min read

Traditional Remedies

Herbal remedies that interact with your medicines

Common regional herbs that interact with warfarin, diabetes drugs and epilepsy medicines, liver toxicity risks, and why you must tell your doctor everything you take.

30 July 2026 · 7 min read

Chronic Conditions

Diabetes and your eyes: catching retinopathy before it blinds

Diabetic retinopathy steals sight silently. Learn when to screen, what the grades mean, which symptoms are emergencies, and how blood sugar control protects your vision.

30 July 2026 · 7 min read

Health in the Middle East

How to read a medical report and ask better questions

Learn to decode the abbreviations on your blood test, scan, and clinic letters, keep useful records, and ask the questions that get you real answers from your doctor.

28 July 2026 · 10 min read

Understanding Lab Tests

Thyroid antibodies: anti-TPO, anti-Tg and what they predict

What raised anti-TPO and anti-Tg mean when TSH is normal, how Hashimoto progresses, pregnancy implications, and why monitoring beats immediate treatment.

28 July 2026 · 7 min read

Nutrition & Food

Salt and blood pressure: how much is too much?

Find out how much salt is safe per day, which everyday Arab foods hide the most sodium, and practical steps to cut intake without losing flavour.

28 July 2026 · 8 min read

Nutrition & Food

Olive oil: what the evidence actually supports

Not all olive oil is equal. Learn what the trials actually show, which type matters and the adulteration problem in regional markets.

28 July 2026 · 8 min read

Mental Health

Mental Health Stigma in Arab Societies and How to Talk About It

Millions of Arabs suffer in silence because of stigma. A practical guide to understanding why, how to seek help, and how to support someone who will not ask for it themselves.

28 July 2026 · 7 min read

Infectious Diseases

Meningitis: The Signs That Mean Go to Hospital Now

How to spot meningitis fast: the glass test for the rash, neck stiffness, the Hajj vaccination requirement, and why every hour of delay in treatment costs lives.

28 July 2026 · 8 min read

Traditional Remedies

Kohl and lead: the risk to children

Traditional kohl applied to infants' eyes can contain high levels of lead. Learn the risks of lead exposure in children, what symptoms to watch for, and safer alternatives.

28 July 2026 · 8 min read

Traditional Remedies

Herbal remedies in pregnancy: what to avoid

Natural does not mean safe for a developing baby. A guide to common regional herbs, their uterine effects, and why you should tell your doctor everything you take.

28 July 2026 · 8 min read

Health in the Middle East

Navigating healthcare in Syria today

A practical guide to Syria's hospitals, private clinics, NGO services and pharmacies: what they cost and how to manage chronic conditions when supplies run short.

28 July 2026 · 7 min read

Lifestyle & Prevention

Home First Aid: the Situations That Matter Most

Choking, burns, bleeding, fainting, and seizures: what to do and what not to do. Corrects the dangerous folk remedies for burns that are widespread across the region.

28 July 2026 · 8 min read

Lifestyle & Prevention

Exercising Safely When It Is 45 Degrees Outside

How to keep moving in extreme heat: the best timing, hydration rules, indoor options including mall walking, heat acclimatisation, and how to start from zero safely.

28 July 2026 · 8 min read

Understanding Lab Tests

ESR Blood Test: Why It Is High and What Happens Next

ESR explained: the Westergren method, normal ranges by age and sex, why ESR lags behind CRP, and the key regional causes including tuberculosis and brucellosis.

28 July 2026 · 7 min read

Genetic Conditions

Down syndrome screening in pregnancy: what results mean

Screening versus diagnosis for Down syndrome: what a risk ratio really means, NIPT accuracy, and when to seek genetic counselling.

28 July 2026 · 8 min read

Lifestyle & Prevention

Lower back pain: what helps and what makes it worse

Movement beats bed rest for most back pain. Learn when imaging is unnecessary, which red flags need urgent care, and which exercises actually help.

28 July 2026 · 7 min read

Mental Health

Anxiety disorders: when worry becomes a medical problem

Practical guide to anxiety disorders covering the physical symptoms that confuse cardiologists, the types of anxiety, effective treatments, and when to seek help.

28 July 2026 · 8 min read

Infectious Diseases

Typhoid Fever: Water, Food and the Fever That Climbs

A complete guide to typhoid fever: how it spreads through contaminated water, why the Widal test misleads in endemic regions, and how it is treated and prevented.

25 July 2026 · 7 min read

Genetic Conditions

Sickle cell disease: crises, care and carrier status

Sickle cell disease in the Gulf: pain crisis triggers, hydroxyurea treatment, and what carrier status means for marriage planning.

24 July 2026 · 7 min read

Lifestyle & Prevention

Walking: Realistic Exercise and What Science Actually Says

The evidence on daily step counts versus the 10,000-step myth, how to build a walking habit, and where to walk when it is too hot or unsafe outside.

22 July 2026 · 8 min read

Nutrition & Food

Vitamin supplements: which ones are actually worth taking

Most supplements do nothing for healthy adults. A few are genuinely important. Find out who needs what and what can cause real harm.

22 July 2026 · 8 min read

Understanding Lab Tests

Urine analysis: what protein, blood and leukocytes mean

A line-by-line guide to reading a urine dipstick report: protein, glucose, ketones, nitrites, leukocytes, blood, casts and crystals, and how to collect a clean sample.

22 July 2026 · 9 min read

Understanding Lab Tests

Troponin: the test that confirms a heart attack

A full guide to high-sensitivity troponin: what it measures, why it is repeated over hours, and why chest pain means going to emergency rather than booking a lab appointment.

22 July 2026 · 7 min read

Traditional Remedies

Senna and Herbal Laxatives: Safe Use and Real Harm

Is senna safe for long-term use? A clear guide on laxative dependence, potassium loss, and why chronic constipation needs a cause found rather than a stronger laxative.

22 July 2026 · 7 min read

Understanding Lab Tests

Semen analysis: how to read a male fertility report

Understand every line of a semen analysis: volume, count, motility, morphology, WHO reference values, why one abnormal result means little, and when to repeat the test.

22 July 2026 · 7 min read

Women's Health

Postpartum Depression: More Than Baby Blues

Postpartum depression is common and treatable but often hidden by stigma. Recognise the symptoms, understand the difference from baby blues, and know when to seek help.

22 July 2026 · 8 min read

Child Health

Newborn Jaundice: Normal, and When It Is Dangerous

A guide for parents on newborn jaundice: the timeline of normal versus pathological onset, the G6PD risk that raises regional stakes, phototherapy, and urgent warning signs.

22 July 2026 · 7 min read

Chronic Conditions

Migraine: triggers, treatment and the painkiller trap

Migraine explained: how to recognise attacks, identify triggers, use triptans correctly, and avoid the painkiller overuse that turns migraine into a daily condition.

22 July 2026 · 8 min read

Medicines & Safety

Metformin: how it works and handling the side effects

A complete guide to metformin, the first-line diabetes drug: how it works, why it causes stomach upset, how to reduce that, B12 depletion, and adjusting the dose in Ramadan.

22 July 2026 · 7 min read

Medicines & Safety

Insulin Types: Rapid-Acting, Long-Acting and Premixed

A practical guide to insulin types: onset, peak and duration, injection site rotation, hypoglycaemia red flags, and how to store insulin safely in hot climates.

22 July 2026 · 7 min read

Traditional Remedies

Honey: wound healing, coughs and the diabetes question

Clinical evidence for honey on wounds and coughs, what is overstated, and why honey must never be given to children under twelve months.

22 July 2026 · 7 min read

Infectious Diseases

Hepatitis C: now curable, and how treatment works

Hepatitis C is curable in over 95 percent of cases with a short pill course. Learn who needs testing and how direct-acting antivirals work.

22 July 2026 · 7 min read

Lifestyle & Prevention

Heat exhaustion and heat stroke: prevention and first aid

How to tell heat exhaustion from heat stroke in minutes, the cooling first aid that saves lives, and who is most at risk in Gulf summers and outdoor work.

22 July 2026 · 7 min read

Chronic Conditions

Heart failure: what it means and how to live with it

Heart failure explained: ejection fraction, daily weight monitoring, salt limits, the four medicines that extend life, and when symptoms need emergency care.

22 July 2026 · 8 min read

Chronic Conditions

Gout: stopping the attacks and preventing the next one

Acute gout attacks, the uric acid target, why stopping allopurinol during a flare is the biggest mistake, and which foods in the regional diet genuinely matter.

22 July 2026 · 8 min read

Women's Health

Gestational diabetes: the glucose test and what follows

What the OGTT test measures, how to read your glucose results, what to eat, and the lifelong type 2 diabetes risk most women are never told about.

22 July 2026 · 9 min read

Genetic Conditions

Genetic counselling: what happens and who should go

Who needs genetic counselling, what happens in the session, carrier testing explained, and reproductive options presented with respect for cultural and religious values.

22 July 2026 · 8 min read

Women's Health

Folic Acid: Why You Must Start Before You Conceive

Neural tube defects form before most women know they are pregnant. Learn the right timing, correct dose and the foods richest in folate to reduce the risk.

22 July 2026 · 7 min read

Women's Health

Endometriosis: why severe period pain is not normal

A factual guide to endometriosis: why diagnosis is delayed years, what symptoms actually warrant investigation, how the diagnosis is made, and what treatment can achieve.

22 July 2026 · 8 min read

Chronic Conditions

Diabetic foot: preventing the complication that costs limbs

Diabetic foot is preventable. Learn the daily inspection routine, footwear rules for hot climates, and warning signs that mean going to hospital now.

22 July 2026 · 8 min read

Genetic Conditions

Cousin marriage and genetic risk: the honest numbers

Cousin marriage is common across the Arab world. This page explains the real numbers behind genetic risk, which conditions cluster, and what screening and counselling can do.

22 July 2026 · 9 min read

Medicines & Safety

Counterfeit and Substandard Medicines: How to Spot Them

How to identify fake or poor-quality medicines before they harm you, with practical packaging checks, safe buying rules and how to report a suspect product in the Arab world.

22 July 2026 · 7 min read

Child Health

Growth and stunting: reading your child's growth chart

Stunting is high in Yemen, Sudan and among displaced children. Learn to read growth percentiles and what crossing centiles means for your child.

22 July 2026 · 8 min read

Child Health

Fever in children: when to worry and what to do

Temperature thresholds by age, correct paracetamol and ibuprofen doses by weight, tepid sponging facts, and the red flags that mean emergency now.

22 July 2026 · 9 min read

Women's Health

Breast Cancer Screening: Self-Examination and Mammograms

When to start mammograms, how to do breast self-examination correctly, and what holds women in our region back from screening that could save their lives.

22 July 2026 · 7 min read

Chronic Conditions

Asthma: getting real control, not just surviving attacks

Controller vs reliever inhalers, dust storms as triggers, correct inhaler technique, and the red flags that mean a severe asthma attack needs emergency care.

22 July 2026 · 8 min read

Child Health

ADHD in children: recognising it and getting help

ADHD is often mislabelled as bad behaviour in Arab countries. Learn the real diagnostic criteria, school strategies, and what treatment involves.

22 July 2026 · 10 min read

Mental Health

Grief: what is normal and when it needs help

Grief after loss is normal, even when it lasts for years. Learn the difference between natural grief and complicated grief, and what actually helps.

21 July 2026 · 11 min read

Infectious Diseases

Why Antibiotics Stop Working: The Arab World's Problem

Over-the-counter antibiotic sales drive resistance across the Arab world. Learn when antibiotics help, when they do nothing, and how to use them correctly.

21 July 2026 · 8 min read

Infectious Diseases

Malaria: Symptoms, Testing and Prevention

Malaria in Sudan, Yemen and the region: warning symptoms, rapid diagnostic tests, the danger of falciparum, and protection with bed nets and repellent.

19 July 2026 · 8 min read

Understanding Lab Tests

Vitamin D blood test: reading your result in both units

How to read your vitamin D result in ng/mL or nmol/L, why deficiency is paradoxically severe across the Middle East, who needs monitoring, and when to supplement.

18 July 2026 · 7 min read

Medicines & Safety

Paracetamol: The Safe Dose and the Hidden Overdose Risk

A practical guide to using paracetamol safely: correct dosing by weight and age, why overdose damages the liver silently, and how to spot the hidden danger in cold remedies.

18 July 2026 · 7 min read

Understanding Lab Tests

ALT and AST: What Raised Liver Enzymes Mean

What ALT and AST measure, the normal range, why they rise, when to worry, and how fatty liver, viral hepatitis and medicines each produce a different pattern.

18 July 2026 · 7 min read

Infectious Diseases

Leishmaniasis: Preventing the Sandfly Bite

Sandfly bites, Aleppo boil and kala-azar: what leishmaniasis looks like, how to prevent it with nets and repellent, and when visceral disease becomes a medical emergency.

18 July 2026 · 8 min read

Health in the Middle East

After an earthquake: injuries, crush syndrome and health risks

What to know about earthquake injuries, crush syndrome, wound care, water safety and mental health aftermath. A practical guide for survivors and those caring for them.

18 July 2026 · 8 min read

Infectious Diseases

Hepatitis B: transmission, testing and living with it

Decode the confusing hepatitis B serology panel, understand who needs treatment, and learn how vaccination prevents this preventable infection for life.

15 July 2026 · 7 min read

Understanding Lab Tests

CRP Test: What a High Inflammation Marker Actually Means

CRP test explained: standard CRP vs hs-CRP for cardiac risk, what each level means, and when a high inflammation marker needs urgent medical attention.

15 July 2026 · 6 min read

Nutrition & Food

Zinc deficiency: symptoms, food sources and supplements

Learn the signs of zinc deficiency, why cereal-heavy diets raise the risk, the best regional food sources, and when a supplement is genuinely needed.

14 July 2026 · 7 min read

Traditional Remedies

Slimming herbs and teas: what is really in them

Weight-loss herbs and slimming teas often contain hidden pharmaceuticals including banned sibutramine. Learn the risks, the red flags, and safer alternatives.

14 July 2026 · 7 min read

Infectious Diseases

Tuberculosis: Symptoms, Testing and the Full Course

A guide to TB: latent vs active disease, what symptoms to watch for, how it is tested, and why stopping treatment early breeds drug-resistant TB.

14 July 2026 · 7 min read

Traditional Remedies

Traditional bone setting: injuries it causes

What really happens when a fracture is treated by a traditional bone setter? Documented complications, warning signs to watch for, and when to go straight to hospital.

14 July 2026 · 7 min read

Health in the Middle East

Telemedicine in the Middle East: when online care is enough

Learn what telemedicine can and cannot handle, how to prepare for a video consultation, and which platforms are available across Arab countries.

14 July 2026 · 8 min read

Lifestyle & Prevention

Sun exposure and vitamin D: getting the balance right

Why vitamin D deficiency is widespread in the Middle East despite year-round sunshine, how much sun you actually need, and how to protect your skin at the same time.

14 July 2026 · 8 min read

Medicines & Safety

Storing Medicines in a Hot Climate: A Practical Guide

How to keep insulin, antibiotics and inhalers safe in the Arab summer heat, including power cut plans, car risks and travelling with a cool bag.

14 July 2026 · 7 min read

Lifestyle & Prevention

Sitting all day: the health cost and what offsets it

Sitting for long stretches raises heart disease and diabetes risk even if you exercise daily. Learn what the evidence shows and practical ways to break the sitting cycle.

14 July 2026 · 7 min read

Lifestyle & Prevention

Shisha: what one session actually does to your body

The water filter myth, carbon monoxide levels, cancer risk and infection from shared mouthpieces. What the research shows about shisha and hookah smoking.

14 July 2026 · 8 min read

Mental Health

How to Actually Stop Smoking: A Practical Guide

A practical guide to quitting smoking and shisha: the treatments that double your chances, planning quit day, handling relapse, and the shisha-specific angle.

14 July 2026 · 8 min read

Genetic Conditions

Premarital screening: what tests are done and what results mean

Premarital screening is mandatory in Saudi Arabia, UAE and Bahrain. Learn what is tested, what carrier-carrier results mean in real odds, and how counselling works.

14 July 2026 · 9 min read

Women's Health

Pregnancy tests and scans: the full schedule

A trimester-by-trimester guide to every blood test and scan you need in pregnancy, what each one is looking for, and realistic notes on availability across the Arab world.

14 July 2026 · 9 min read

Chronic Conditions

Prediabetes: the window where you can still turn it around

Prediabetes is reversible. Learn the exact HbA1c and fasting glucose numbers that define it, what research says about lifestyle change, and how to track your progress.

14 July 2026 · 7 min read

Mental Health

Panic Attacks: What Is Happening and How to Stop One

A panic attack feels exactly like a heart attack. Understand the physiology behind it, the fastest ways to stop one, and when to get medical help.

14 July 2026 · 8 min read

Medicines & Safety

Painkillers and your kidneys: the damage nobody warns about

Ibuprofen and diclofenac are sold without a prescription across the Middle East. Regular use silently damages your kidneys. Which drugs, who is at risk, and safer options.

14 July 2026 · 9 min read

Chronic Conditions

Osteoporosis: bone loss, DEXA scans and prevention

Understand your DEXA T-score, why vitamin D deficiency drives bone loss across the Middle East, and what calcium, exercise and medication can do to prevent fractures.

14 July 2026 · 8 min read

Nutrition & Food

Obesity in the Gulf: the numbers and what changed

Gulf states have some of the world's highest obesity rates. Understand the real drivers, what the data show country by country, and practical steps that fit Gulf life.

14 July 2026 · 7 min read

Women's Health

Menopause: Symptoms, Bone Health and Treatment Options

A complete guide to menopause: common symptoms in Arab women, effects on bones and the heart, when hormone therapy helps, and who should not take it.

14 July 2026 · 8 min read

Medicines & Safety

Levothyroxine: Timing, Absorption and Why Your Dose Changes

A practical guide to taking levothyroxine correctly: the right time, foods and medicines that block its absorption, and when to expect a dose adjustment.

14 July 2026 · 7 min read

Chronic Conditions

Overactive thyroid: Graves disease and the treatment choices

A clear guide to hyperthyroidism: symptoms, diagnosing Graves disease, comparing antithyroid drugs with radioactive iodine and surgery, and recognising thyroid storm.

14 July 2026 · 10 min read

Genetic Conditions

Haemophilia: bleeding disorders explained

Haemophilia A and B explained: inheritance, diagnosis, factor replacement, joint protection, and managing the condition when treatment access is limited.

14 July 2026 · 9 min read

Understanding Lab Tests

H. pylori testing: breath, stool, blood or endoscopy

A clear guide to the four H. pylori tests: how each works, which confirms eradication, why a blood antibody test cannot, and when to see a doctor urgently.

14 July 2026 · 8 min read

Traditional Remedies

Ginger and Turmeric: What the Studies Actually Found

A clear look at the real evidence for ginger and turmeric: nausea relief, joint pain, curcumin absorption, and the blood-thinning interaction you need to know about.

14 July 2026 · 8 min read

Understanding Lab Tests

Ferritin test: reading your iron stores correctly

A complete guide to the ferritin blood test: what it measures, how to read your result, why a normal ferritin can still hide iron deficiency, and when to ask for more tests.

14 July 2026 · 9 min read

Lifestyle & Prevention

Eye Strain, Screens and Children's Vision: What You Need to Know

Find out what digital eye strain is, how the 20-20-20 rule works, why outdoor time matters for myopia, and when to get a vision check for your child.

14 July 2026 · 8 min read

Mental Health

Depression: recognising the symptoms and finding treatment

Clear guide to depression covering symptoms, how it differs from sadness, treatment options available in the region, and when to seek urgent help.

14 July 2026 · 7 min read

Nutrition & Food

Dates: the real health facts

Dates are rich in fibre, potassium and antioxidants, but high in sugar. Learn what the science actually shows about their benefits, glycaemic impact and Ramadan role.

14 July 2026 · 8 min read

Understanding Lab Tests

PT, INR and PTT: understanding clotting tests

A clear guide to reading your PT, INR and aPTT results: what each measures, INR target ranges for warfarin patients, what makes the number swing, and red flags for bleeding.

14 July 2026 · 7 min read

Chronic Conditions

Chronic kidney disease: the five stages explained

The five CKD stages by eGFR, why diabetes and hypertension drive the regional burden, how painkillers harm kidneys, and when dialysis becomes necessary.

14 July 2026 · 9 min read

Child Health

Child Malnutrition: Recognising It and Refeeding Safely

A practical guide for parents in Yemen, Sudan, Gaza and Syria on measuring MUAC, distinguishing wasting from stunting, and avoiding dangerous refeeding syndrome.

14 July 2026 · 8 min read

Lifestyle & Prevention

How to Measure Blood Pressure at Home Correctly

Most home blood pressure readings are taken wrong, making them useless or misleading. Learn the right technique, cuff size, timing, and how to keep a log your doctor can use.

14 July 2026 · 7 min read

Traditional Remedies

Black seed (habbat al-barakah): evidence and interactions

What clinical studies actually show about Nigella sativa, its real effects on blood sugar and blood pressure, and the drug interaction warnings you need to know.

14 July 2026 · 8 min read

Medicines & Safety

Antibiotics: when they help and when they do nothing

A clear guide to knowing when you actually need antibiotics and when they are useless, with a table of common illnesses and how to complete a course correctly.

14 July 2026 · 7 min read

Women's Health

Anaemia in Pregnancy: Iron, Testing and Treatment

Anaemia in pregnancy is very common across the Middle East. Learn the haemoglobin thresholds by trimester, how to take oral iron correctly, and when an infusion is needed.

14 July 2026 · 8 min read

Health in the Middle East

Dust storms and air pollution: protecting your lungs

A practical guide to PM10 versus PM2.5, who is most at risk, which masks actually work, and how to cut your exposure indoors during a regional dust event.

14 July 2026 · 7 min read

Nutrition & Food

Vitamin D Deficiency: Signs, Causes, and What to Do

Tired, achy, or low in mood? These can be signs of vitamin D deficiency. Learn why it is common despite our sunshine, how it is diagnosed, and what to do.

13 July 2026 · 5 min read

Chronic Conditions

Iron Deficiency Anemia: The Tiredness You Shouldn't Ignore

Constant tiredness, pale skin, hair fall? Iron deficiency could be why. Learn the symptoms, who is at risk, which tests to ask for, and iron-rich foods.

13 July 2026 · 5 min read

Understanding Lab Tests

How to Read Your Blood Test Results

A clear, simple guide to the common parts of a blood test, what a reference range means, and when a slightly off number really needs your doctor's attention.

13 July 2026 · 7 min read

Medicines & Safety

Drug Interactions: What Every Family Should Know

Some foods, painkillers, and herbal supplements can change how your medicines work. A plain guide to common drug interactions and safe family habits.

13 July 2026 · 5 min read

Lifestyle & Prevention

Better Sleep: A Practical Guide That Actually Works

Why sleep matters for your immunity, mood, and weight, how many hours you really need, simple habits that really work, and when poor sleep needs a doctor.

13 July 2026 · 6 min read

Infectious Diseases

Food Poisoning: What to Do and When It Is Serious

Practical guide to food poisoning: how to tell mild from dangerous, when to use oral rehydration, and how to protect your family in hot weather and at large gatherings.

11 July 2026 · 9 min read

Infectious Diseases

Scabies: the itch that spreads through a household

What scabies looks like, why the whole household must be treated on the same day, and how to use permethrin correctly to stop reinfestation.

10 July 2026 · 7 min read

Chronic Conditions

IBS: diagnosis by exclusion and living with it

IBS explained: Rome criteria, why parasites and coeliac must be excluded first, the FODMAP diet, and practical steps to manage symptoms long term.

10 July 2026 · 7 min read

Infectious Diseases

Dengue Fever: Warning Signs and Why the Wrong Painkiller Kills

Dengue in the Gulf, Yemen and Sudan: spot warning signs early, avoid the ibuprofen danger, and protect your home from breeding mosquitoes.

10 July 2026 · 8 min read

Child Health

Childhood vaccination schedule: Arab countries compared

Country-by-country comparison of immunisation schedules across the Arab world, plus catch-up guidance for children displaced by conflict who have missed doses.

10 July 2026 · 8 min read

Child Health

Autism: early signs and getting an assessment

Learn which developmental signs to look for in children aged 12 months to 4 years, when to seek an assessment, and why early support makes a real difference.

10 July 2026 · 10 min read

Genetic Conditions

Newborn Heel Prick Screening: What It Tests and Why

Learn what the newborn heel prick test screens for across Saudi Arabia, UAE, Jordan and Egypt, when results arrive, and what to do if your baby gets an abnormal result.

8 July 2026 · 7 min read

Infectious Diseases

Hydatid Cyst: The Tapeworm Disease from Dogs and Sheep

Hydatid cyst (echinococcosis) is common in Syria, Iraq, Jordan and North Africa. Learn its causes, symptoms, diagnosis and why the cyst must never be punctured carelessly.

8 July 2026 · 8 min read

Genetic Conditions

Familial Mediterranean Fever: attacks, colchicine and monitoring

FMF causes recurrent fever and pain in people from the Mediterranean region. Learn the attack pattern, why colchicine must be taken every day, and when to test for the gene.

8 July 2026 · 9 min read

Genetic Conditions

Cystic Fibrosis in Arab Families: The Under-Recognised Diagnosis

Cystic fibrosis is more common in Arab families than assumed, often misdiagnosed for years. Learn to recognise it, what the sweat test shows, and how the heat risk is managed.

8 July 2026 · 7 min read

Understanding Lab Tests

Creatinine and eGFR: reading your kidney function results

Understand creatinine and eGFR results, why muscle mass matters, the five CKD stages, how hot-climate dehydration causes temporary rises, and the painkiller kidney risk.

8 July 2026 · 7 min read

Women's Health

Contraception options compared: an honest guide

A factual comparison of contraceptive methods by effectiveness, side effects and reversibility, written for women in the Arab world without assumptions or judgment.

8 July 2026 · 8 min read

Child Health

Anaemia in children: causes, testing and iron

Iron deficiency anaemia is among the most common nutritional problems for children in the Middle East. Learn the signs, what tests to ask for, and which foods help most.

8 July 2026 · 9 min read

Mental Health

Burnout: recognising it before it breaks you

Burnout is not depression and it is not laziness. Learn the three signs, why a holiday does not fix it, and what recovery actually looks like.

8 July 2026 · 10 min read

Infectious Diseases

Brucellosis (Malta fever): the raw milk infection

Brucellosis spreads through raw milk and fresh cheese. Recognise the undulant fever, get the right blood test, and understand why a full six-week course prevents relapse.

8 July 2026 · 7 min read

Infectious Diseases

Urinary Tract Infection: Symptoms, Testing and Treatment

Cystitis versus kidney infection, when a urine culture is essential, and why self-medicating with antibiotics is driving resistance across the region.

4 July 2026 · 8 min read

Health in the Middle East

Health care when you are displaced: a practical guide

Access care, manage chronic conditions, catch up vaccinations, and keep a health record that travels with you. A practical guide for refugees and displaced people.

4 July 2026 · 7 min read

Chronic Conditions

Fatty liver: the silent condition behind rising liver disease

What fatty liver disease is, its grades, why it is so common across the Middle East, how to find out if you have it, and real steps to reverse it before it becomes scarring.

4 July 2026 · 8 min read

Understanding Lab Tests

How to Choose a Reliable Lab in the Arab World

How to choose a reliable lab in the Arab world: what ISO 15189 means, why two labs give different results, and five questions to ask at reception.

4 July 2026 · 7 min read

Child Health

Bedwetting: What Is Normal and What Helps

A parent's guide to bedwetting: what age is normal, when to worry, what actually works, and why punishment makes things worse.

4 July 2026 · 8 min read

Understanding Lab Tests

CBC Blood Test: What Every Line on the Report Means

A plain guide to every abbreviation on your CBC report: WBC, RBC, HGB, HCT, MCV, MCH and PLT, with normal ranges, what falls outside them, and when to call your doctor.

2 July 2026 · 7 min read

Understanding Lab Tests

Which Blood Tests Need Fasting, and for How Long

Which tests need fasting, how many hours, and whether water, coffee and medicines count. Includes guidance for Ramadan and what to do if you forgot to fast.

28 June 2026 · 7 min read