The Maldives has made history by creating the world's first law that stops a whole generation of young people from ever smoking. This new rule started on November 1st, after the country's President, Mohamed Muizzu, suggested it earlier this year.

This landmark ban affects everyone living in the Maldives who was born on or after January 1, 2007. Essentially, if you belong to this generation, you are now legally banned from ever smoking, buying, or using any type of tobacco product.

Who Is No Longer Permitted To Smoke In Maldives?

The new law is very clear: it makes it illegal for an entire group of young people to use or buy any form of tobacco, including cigarettes. Shops that sell products must now check the ID of customers to make sure they are old enough to buy tobacco.

The Ministry of Health announced that this is a "huge moment in history" for the country. They say the goal is to protect everyone's health and make sure this new generation can grow up completely free from tobacco. The Ministry added that the ban shows the government is serious about keeping young people safe from the dangers of smoking.

This new smoking ban fits with rules that Maldives already had in place. The country already has a complete and total ban on e-cigarettes and vaping products. It is illegal to bring them in, sell them, own them, or use them, no matter how old you are. The new generational ban simply strengthens the country's overall fight against all nicotine products.

Do Smoking Bans Help Public Health?

According to the World Health Organization, tobacco is responsible for 1.1 million deaths each year, just in the WHO European Region, and 153,000 people die due to exposure to second-hand smoke.

They explain that tobacco in any form is deadly, even second hand smoke is a major contributor to non-communicable diseases like heart diseases, lung cancer, diabetes and stroke etc.

Previous studies have also found that smoking bans do benefit public health. A 2009 study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that banning smoking in public places significantly reduces the risk of heart attacks. This is especially true for younger people and nonsmokers.

• They found that these bans can cut the number of heart attacks by up to 26 percent each year.
• Researchers explained that even breathing in a small amount of cigarette smoke can raise your risk of a heart attack.

They pointed out that the smoking bans seem very effective because secondhand smoke is very harmful to the heart. While smoking directly doubles the risk of a heart attack, being exposed to secondhand smoke increases the risk by 30 percent. Dr. Meyers added that if a nationwide ban were put in place, it could prevent as many as 154,000 heart attacks annually in the U.S.

How Quickly Do Smoking Bans Show Results?

The study found that smoking bans start helping people almost right away. The beneficial effects begin to appear within just three months of the ban starting, with fewer reported heart attack cases. Researchers believe secondhand smoke increases the risk of heart attacks in a few ways:

• It makes the blood "sticky", which makes it easier for dangerous clots to form.
• It lowers the amount of "good" (HDL) cholesterol in the body.
• It makes people more likely to have dangerous heart rhythms.

The smoking bans were shown to be particularly effective in reducing heart attacks among women and younger individuals. The experts suggest this might be because younger people often spend time in places like bars, clubs, and restaurants where smoking used to be common. People who work in those places, such as the hospitality industry, are often the most exposed to smoke and therefore get the greatest benefit from the ban.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has issued a fresh alert for people taking Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus, or Mounjaro. The agency posted a message on social media urging anyone who has experienced a severe reaction to GLP-1 medicines to report it.

According to the UK government’s health site, GLP-1 receptor agonists (glucagon-like peptide-1) are drugs designed to mimic a natural hormone that helps control appetite after eating. While these medicines are widely used for managing diabetes and aiding weight loss, they may also carry certain health risks.

MHRA Issues Warning for Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus, and Mounjaro Users

The MHRA’s advisory highlights the importance of reporting side effects, particularly acute pancreatitis, to help researchers understand these reactions and improve drug safety in the future.

Their statement read: “Has someone you care for had a severe reaction to a GLP-1 medicine? Help identify people at risk. Has someone you care for had acute pancreatitis while taking a GLP-1 medicine (Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus, Mounjaro)? You can report it to Yellow Card on their behalf and agree to be contacted. They may be invited to join the Yellow Card Biobank (MHRA and Genomics England) to help researchers study how genetics may influence side effects—leading to safer prescribing in the future.”

The findings from this initiative are expected to help doctors tailor prescriptions to individuals’ genetic profiles, reducing the chances of harmful side effects.

What Are GLP-1 Medicines?

GLP-1 medicines, which is short for glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists mimic a hormone naturally released in the gut after eating. This hormone signals the pancreas to release insulin, which helps move sugar from the blood into the cells for energy.

These drugs also act on the brain to reduce hunger and slow down how quickly the stomach empties, keeping you full for longer. As a result, they can support weight loss and help regulate blood sugar levels, making them a common treatment for type 2 diabetes.

In recent years, the FDA has also approved some GLP-1 drugs for weight loss in people who are overweight or obese, even if they don’t have diabetes. However, for weight management, these medicines are usually prescribed at higher doses than those used to treat diabetes, according to Harvard Health.

Can Taking Ozempic, Wegovy, or Mounjaro Lead to Acute Pancreatitis?

There have been reports of pancreatitis, which is inflammation of the pancreas, among some people using GLP-1 drugs. However, current evidence does not show a direct cause-and-effect relationship between these medications and pancreatitis.

In clinical trials, a few participants developed pancreatitis while taking Mounjaro, but such cases were rare. This makes it difficult to determine whether the medication itself was responsible. Similar cases were also seen among people taking other diabetes drugs, suggesting that the link may not be specific to GLP-1 medicines.

It’s also important to note that pancreatitis can occur for several other reasons, including:

• Gallstones
• Alcohol consumption
• High levels of triglycerides (a type of fat found in the blood)

So, even if a person on weight loss drugs develops pancreatitis, the medication may not necessarily be the cause.

What Should You Do If You Experience Symptoms of Pancreatitis?

If you develop symptoms of pancreatitis while using any GLP-1 drug, seek immediate medical attention.

Common signs include:

• Pain in the upper abdomen that may move to the back
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fever
• Inability to eat or drink
• Rapid heartbeat

Always talk to your healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.

With a massive population already living with dementia worldwide, the condition has emerged as one of the leading causes of disability and dependence among older adults. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), dementia is the seventh leading cause of death globally and the number of cases is expected to triple by 2050. Despite its rising prevalence, many people remain unaware of its early symptoms, often mistaking them for normal signs of ageing leading to delayed diagnosis and intervention.

What is dementia?

Dementia is an umbrella term for a group of disorders that affect memory, thinking, language and daily functioning. It is not a single disease but a set of symptoms caused by various conditions that damage brain cells. While Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause, other types include vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia (FTD).

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There are several risk factors that can increase the likelihood of developing dementia, including age, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption and even depression. Though there is no known cure, timely diagnosis and appropriate medical support can significantly improve the quality of life for patients and their families.

Why early detection matters

Experts emphasise that timely intervention is crucial. With proper care, cognitive therapies and medications, doctors can help people living with dementia function more independently and slow down the progression of symptoms. Unfortunately, the early warning signs are often subtle and easy to dismiss as harmless forgetfulness or stress-related behaviour. Recognising them early can make a world of difference.

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5 worrying signs you shouldn’t ignore

1. Misplacing items frequently

Occasionally forgetting where you kept your keys or glasses is normal. But if someone repeatedly misplaces items in unusual places—like finding their glasses in the fridge or cleaning supplies in the kitchen cabinet—it may be an early sign of dementia. This behaviour reflects disorientation and short-term memory loss, both hallmark symptoms.

2. Communication difficulties

A person who was once fluent and articulate may begin to struggle with forming sentences, finding the right words, or following conversations. This can be particularly evident in frontotemporal dementia (FTD), which affects the brain’s frontal and temporal lobes—areas responsible for language and behaviour.

3. Memory lapses

Forgetting recent events, appointments, or names of familiar people can be a red flag. While mild forgetfulness can be age-related, persistent memory issues that interfere with daily life should prompt a visit to a doctor.

4. Sudden mood or personality changes

A calm, even-tempered person becoming irritable, anxious, or tearful without any clear reason could be experiencing early emotional changes associated with dementia. Caregivers often notice these subtle shifts before cognitive symptoms become obvious.

5. Confusion about time or place

Getting lost on familiar routes, forgetting where one is, or confusing family members are significant warning signs. Such disorientation can escalate quickly and pose safety risks if ignored.

A growing concern among younger adults

While dementia is most common in people over 65, doctors are observing younger-onset cases, especially with FTD, which can develop in individuals as young as 45. Because the symptoms like personality and behaviour changes, mimic psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia or aphasia, diagnosis is often delayed.

There’s currently no cure for dementia, but early diagnosis can help manage symptoms effectively, plan care better and support families emotionally and financially. If you notice repeated forgetfulness, communication issues or behavioural changes in a loved one, it’s best to consult a doctor or neurologist at the earliest. Awareness, empathy and timely medical attention can go a long way in helping those affected live with dignity and support.

People taking one of Britain’s most widely prescribed painkillers have been reminded by the NHS to watch for serious side effects that should be reported to a doctor right away.** Gabapentin, available only by prescription, is mainly used to treat nerve-related pain caused by conditions such as diabetes, epilepsy, shingles, and restless legs syndrome.

What Is Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)?

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is a common condition across the UK. It’s estimated that around 10% of adults experience it, and about 2% deal with uncomfortable symptoms nearly every night. This means roughly 2.2 million people in the UK are likely to live with RLS at some point.

Medicines used to treat RLS include alpha-2-delta ligands, such as pregabalin and gabapentin. The specific drug and dosage vary depending on how severe the symptoms are and whether other health conditions are present. In some cases, long-term treatment may be needed.

What to Know About Gabapentin?

Gabapentin is among the most frequently prescribed medications in Britain. It is available in tablet, capsule, and liquid forms, and can be taken by most adults and by children aged six and older. While the majority of users do not experience side effects, a small number of people report certain reactions.

According to the NHS, “Like all medicines, gabapentin can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them. These common side effects of gabapentin may happen in more than one in 100 people. They’re usually mild and go away by themselves.”

Gabapentin: Common Side Effects

• Feeling sleepy, tired, or dizzy
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Mood changes
• Swelling in the arms or legs
• Blurred vision
• Dry mouth
• Difficulty getting an erection
• Weight gain
• Memory problems
• Headaches
• Getting more infections than usual

Some people may experience more serious side effects, such as thoughts of self-harm, swollen glands that do not go away, or persistent stomach pain, which can signal inflammation of the pancreas. The NHS emphasizes that these reactions are rare.

Using gabapentin for an extended period may, in rare instances, lead to dependence, so regular medical supervision is advised while taking this medication.

Who Can and Cannot Take Gabapentin?

The prescribed dose of gabapentin depends on the condition being treated. For adults and older children (aged 12 and above), the usual dosage ranges from 900 mg to 3,600 mg per day, divided into three doses.

For younger children under 12, a doctor will determine the right amount based on the child’s body weight.

Doctors may recommend an alternative to gabapentin in some situations, such as:

• If the person has had an allergic reaction to gabapentin or similar medicines
• If they have a history of drug misuse or addiction
• If they are pregnant or planning to become pregnant
• If they are following a low-sodium or low-potassium diet, or have kidney problems, since the liquid form of gabapentin contains sodium and potassium

Speaking to a doctor before starting or adjusting gabapentin is essential to ensure the treatment is safe and effective for each individual.