Lifelong health: screening, heart, bones and sleep

Everyday and long-term health topics that matter at any age, with what UK and US guidelines suggest and when to see a GP.

4 min read Alcohol, smoking and vaping Current UK and US advice on alcohol, the link with breast cancer, how vaping advice differs, and where to get help to cut down or quit.
5 min read Autoimmune conditions and why sex matters Why many autoimmune diseases affect more women, how lupus, thyroid disease and rheumatoid arthritis differ, and planning a pregnancy.
4 min read Bone health at every age How food, movement and hormones affect your bones, what osteoporosis is, and when it’s worth asking about a bone density scan.
4 min read Breast awareness and screening Know which breast changes to get checked, how UK and US screening plans differ, and what dense breasts and family history mean.
7 min read Breast pain and other breast changes that are usually not cancer Why breasts get sore before a period or on hormones, what cysts and fibroadenomas are, what helps, and which changes still need checking.
4 min read Eating well: the basics A practical guide to food groups, fibre, iron and calcium, and how current UK and US advice differs. You can balance food groups over a day or a week.
4 min read Heart health: symptoms and risks to know Spot the warning signs of a heart attack, understand risks linked to past pregnancies, and know when to call for emergency help.
4 min read Mental health and your cycle What to write down when a mental health condition you already have gets worse around your period, how to talk about it, and where to get urgent help.
4 min read Migraine and hormones How periods, pregnancy and menopause can affect migraine, why aura matters for contraception, and which symptoms need urgent help.
4 min read Moving more: what the guidelines say What counts as activity, how advice on aerobic exercise and strength fits together, and how to make a start you can manage.
4 min read Skin and hair changes linked to hormones Acne, darker patches in pregnancy, and hair shedding or thinning: what can change, what may help, and when to get care. Includes when to get help.
4 min read Sleep: what helps How much sleep you need, practical habits, treatment for insomnia that won’t go away, and breathing signs that need a medical check.
4 min read Your pelvic floor at every age Leaks, a heavy feeling and pelvic floor exercises: what to look out for, why relaxing matters, and how to ask for specialist help.

Written by the Ruva team from the sources listed in each guide. They aren’t medical advice. If you’re worried about a symptom, talk to a doctor, nurse or pharmacist.