Real Health with Karl Henry

On this week’s show, I’ll be talking about the menstrual cycle. For far too long periods have been a taboo subject. Each month many women are faced with bleeding, severe pain and a litany of menstrual problems. However, with new attitudes, treatments and technological developments things are changing. Joining me to talk about periods, pain and irregular cycles is leading expert Dr. Caoimhe Hartley...

On this week’s show, I’ll be talking about Suicide Awareness in Ireland. Every year suicide accounts for over 800,000 deaths globally. Even though attitudes have changed in recent years, there is still a stigma surrounding suicide. We can all play a role in reaching out to someone we think in is in need – no one should suffer in silence. Last month Pieta House launch their: ‘Know the Signs Campaig...

On this week’s show I’ll be talking about the prevalence of smoking in Ireland. Ireland is recognised as a global leader in tobacco control having developed extensive treatment programmes for those struggling with tobacco and nicotine dependence. But can the country reach its goal of becoming tobacco free by 2025? Joining me on this week’s podcast is Dr Damien Lowry, Senior Counselling Psychologis...

On this week’s show I’ll be talking about pelvic floor physiotherapy. One in three women leak urine – it is a massive problem in this country. Some women will have a severe urge to pee, which can happen very often, hourly, or more and it can have them up several times at night. These women though they are not leaking, their lives are ruled by their bladders. It is also an issue for many men. But t...

On this week’s episode of the Real Health podcast, I'll be discussing anxiety, what it is and how we can offer support to someone who has it. I’m joined by Counselling Psychologist and anxiety expert Dr Rachel Allan, to talk about how we can help somebody with anxiety, by becoming better listeners, supporting them when they try to make a change and how to look after our own mental health in the pr...

This week’s Real Health episode is all about pain. Chronic pain is something that impacts many in Ireland, with chronic back pain one of the most common forms that people suffer from. On the show, I’ll be talking about what pain really is, our understanding of it and how some pain can be contagious. I’m joined by doctor and clinical fellow at Oxford University, Monty Lyman, who is an expert in pai...

On this week’s show, I’ll be talking about cocaine addiction in Ireland. The latest figures released by the Health Research Board, shows the number of people seeking treatment for problem cocaine use has increased, with the number of crack cocaine cases increasing by 400 per cent in recent years. The HRB says last year, cocaine was the only substance where they saw an increase in those entering tr...

On this week’s show, I’m talking all about healthy aging, the myths around it, and why it’s important to keep exercising as we get older. I’m joined by personal trainer and fitness expert Jacqueline Hooton, who specialises in how to stay active in your 50s and 60s. She’s all about promoting active ageing, while helping to avoid physical decline in midlife. Jacqueline is an expert on knowing the im...

This week we’re going to talk about running injuries and how to avoid them. Running has become one of the most popular ways to improve fitness, and to stay in shape. Especially during lockdown when gyms, team sports and swimming pools were off limits. But most runners must deal with injury at some point. Most injuries are caused by repetitive stress, but sudden injuries like a sprained ankle or a...

We all know drinking plenty of water is good for us. But how else can water improve our health and well being? On this week’s show, I’m talking about how we can embrace water, from the sea to the shower - looking at the other ways it can help us. I’m joined by Dr Catherine Kelly, geography academic and Director of the Wild Beach School in Brighton. She’s the author of the new book Blue Spaces: How...

This week, I’m joined by one of the world's leading brain surgeons and neuroscientists, Dr Rahul Jandial. We discuss how our brains process stress and how to enhance its performance so we can work better under pressure. Dr Jandial says the brain needs stress to be able to cope with future challenges, but too much can be detrimental: “We need stress in life. If we don’t have enough stress, we becom...

This week it’s all about wellness and I’m giving you my top ten tips for increasing your wellbeing. This episode is jam packed with lots of helpful ideas to improve your health and happiness. Firstly, it’s important to decide what wellness means to you and what exactly you’d like to change. I’ll take you through strategies for achieving your goals, eating well, sleeping well and reducing your stre...

This week we’re talking about CPR after Danish mid-fielder Christian Eriksen received emergency medical treatment on the pitch when he collapsed recently because of a cardiac arrest during the first half of the Euros clash with Finland in Copenhagen. Thankfully Erikson is recovering and he will have a heart-starter device implanted so he doesn’t suffer further arrests. I’m joined by Galway GP Dr B...

This week I’m talking about confidence, why it's important and how we can stay confident in the face of failure. I’m joined by clinical psychologist and neuroscientist Ian Robertson, who has written the new book ‘How Confidence Works: The new science of self belief, why some people learn it and others don’t’. Ian says having confidence can empower us to reach heights never thought possible: ‘It co...

On this week’s show, I’m talking about weight loss, how to build a strong plan and what to do if you hit challenges along the way. I’m joined by Trisha Lewis, of Trisha’s Transformation who has been incredibly honest about her weight loss journey so far. ‘I don’t know how I didn’t cop it already Karl but I had an eating disorder…I have a binge eating disorder and from there I went to therapy and I...

This week’s Real Health episode is all about gut health. Irritable bowel syndrome is a bit of a taboo subject but it is estimated to effect one in ten people. It impacts two and half times more women than men and can have a significant impact on a person’s sex life, relationships, work and social activities. But it doesn’t have to be that way! I’m joined by is a consultant gastroenterologist Profe...

This week’s show is all about the menopause. Although it directly affects half the population, the menopause has remained a stubbornly taboo topic. 80% of women who reach menopause suffer symptoms but are often misdiagnosed. Now the shroud of secrecy has finally started to lift. British TV presenter Davina McCall has made a documentary on the topic and shared her own HRT journey. And here in Irela...

This week I break down the six foundations of fat loss with personal trainer and podcast host Larry Doyle. Larry has some great simple tips to boost your fat loss and improve your mood, energy and sex life too! According to Larry food isn’t as important as you might think. It’s all about sleep, stress management, digestion, exercise, and mental wellbeing. Only when you have looked at all those thi...

On this week’s show is all about getting out of the food rut you’re stuck in and giving you some inspiration to cook delicious, healthy meals. Ballyknocken TV Chef Catherine Fulvio is here with her top five tips for healthier eating. Catherine has plenty of ideas on how to inject flavour into your meals as well as some simple inspiration on how to get creative. ‘It’s very off-putting seeing Instag...

Ireland’s Leading Health and Performance coach Gerry Hussey is my guest on this week’s Real Health podcast. Gerry is a firm friend of the show and he’ll be talking through five ways to maximize your potential as we come out of lockdown. It has been a hugely difficult year for everyone and although we’ve had good news recently people are anxious about the return to ‘normal’. For many of us the thou...

On this week’s show I’m joined by Laura Jordan of Style Savvy.ie. Laura is an expert style consultant on a mission to show people how to shop with confidence. We’ll be talking about the relationship between image and confidence and how everyone can feel more self-assured in the office. "I am passionate about making people feel good and look good…there is a huge correlation between self image, self...

In 2007 Dermot Whelan, arrived at a comedy festival in an ambulance after having a panic attack en route. Realising this was not a sustainable way to travel to future gigs, he decided to become a meditation teacher and learn how to de-stress without annoying the emergency services. Back then Dermot felt awful. He was waking up in the middle of the night with a pounding heart and a frantic mind. Bu...

On this week’s show I’ll be talking about the six key principals to finding happiness with Prof Brendan Kelly: Author of The Science of Happiness. Brendan is here to answer the big life questions like: Will having a baby make you happy? Are women happier than men? Will earning lots of money satisfy you? Do politics and religion really matter? Prof Kelly is a consultant psychiatrist at Tallaght Uni...

On this week’s show I am talking to Derrick Evans, AKA Mr Motivator, who many of you will remember from his lycra clad TV workouts in the 1990s. As well as his TV work, Mr Motivator has sold millions of workout DVDs, run an eco-tourism resort in Jamacia and has now turned his attention to "the forgotten groups" with the launch of his ‘Mr Motivator Club’ here in Ireland. The Club is suitable for pe...

This week’s show is part of our ‘Life Lessons’ series with some of Ireland’s most famous personalities and my guest today, Mairead Ronan, is certainly no stranger to the Irish TV and radio landscape. She has been working hard in the industry for nearly twenty years. Mairead started her career on The Ray D’arcy Show, hosts Fittest Families, won Dancing with The Stars in 2019 and now presents her ow...