Emdoc Health

Emdoc Health Preventative and lifestyle medicine physician. Health promoter. Speaker. Researcher. If you are unwell, always contact your own GP.

Evidence-based health promotion discussions here are for eneral information purposes only.

It's going to be a warm for a few more days. Every year in Ireland, there is needless loss of young life from drownings...
25/05/2026

It's going to be a warm for a few more days. Every year in Ireland, there is needless loss of young life from drownings when the weather gets warm. Let’s talk water safety, whether you are going to a beach or river or have a new paddling pool on your balcony or in your garden, please be aware of water safety with little ones

. I cannot emphasize this enough. Accidents in water happen SO fast! You cannot be too vigilant with your children in the water.

An adult should ALWAYS be present and supervising, even if there are lifeguards present. The supervising adult should be sober and fully engaged in supervising (not on the phone – the digital detox is good for you). Take turns with other adults. The adult should be close to babies and toddlers at all times. Ideally, the supervising adult should know CPR (My take: everyone looking after children, including parents and grandparents, should know CPR).

**Remember babies and toddlers can drown in as little as 3-6 cm of water, so careful even with paddling pools or on the edge of water on the beach.

Teach your child from early age about water safety. Find resources Safety Ireland

Prevent tragedy: not allow your teens to go swimming unsupervised water or in water that is not safe for swimming. No, this will not make you popular. Talk to your teen about rip tides, unsafe practices such as challenging friends to go beyond comfort level in water. Help them feel comfortable enough to say “no” to being pushed beyond their comfort or ability in water. Make sure they have learned to swim from a qualified instructor. Teach them to never mix alcohol and water activities.

Do not allow your children to rely on float aids or inflatable toys as life preservers. Use an approved life jacket.

Know boating and small craft safety. Don't mix water sports and alcohol. Every child out on a boat – that includes inflatable paddleboards - should have a properly fitting, approved life jacket on at all times.

And be sun safe! Remember that sunscreen and

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It's TONIGHT! Join me for a pint and some science TONIGHT at 7pm in Kennedy's Bar in Dundalk. Tickets are FREE and ava...
20/05/2026

It's TONIGHT!

Join me for a pint and some science TONIGHT at 7pm in Kennedy's Bar in Dundalk. Tickets are FREE and available on the website.

What should patients living with obesity and those at risk of obesity know? I'm back as a guest on the Late Lunch with ...
19/05/2026

What should patients living with obesity and those at risk of obesity know?

I'm back as a guest on the Late Lunch with Gerry Kelly talking about the latest updates and research that impact patients from the European Congress on Obesity.

Listen Live 2.30pm Tomorrow Wednesday 20/5/2026 LMFM

Are you ready to Science? Join me for a pint tomorrow at 7pm in Kennedy's Bar in Dundalk. Tickets are FREE and availabl...
19/05/2026

Are you ready to Science?

Join me for a pint tomorrow at 7pm in Kennedy's Bar in Dundalk. Tickets are FREE and available on the website.

Not in Dundalk? Check on the other 16 locations around Ireland and grab a pint as scientists explain the hows, whats, and whys of our world.

Only a few years ago, no one would have know the phrases like "contact tracing" but here we are. Today, the WHO declare...
18/05/2026

Only a few years ago, no one would have know the phrases like "contact tracing" but here we are. Today, the WHO declared teh Ebola outbreak of the "Bundibugyo" strain of the Ebola virus to be a "public health emergency of international concern."

Here is why we do not need to worry. We can follow the emerging new from the Congo with compassion, not fear or misinformation.

There have always been viral outbreaks and epidemics -- that is when there is an outbreak of a disease in a community. Not all outbreaks or epidemics, of course, grow into Pandemics. In fact, they are rare. But with international travel, preventing wider spread of any virus takes some awareness and precaution.

Pandemic preparedness is a crucial part of coordinated health services both at regional, national, and international levels to monitor and contain viral outbreaks. A critical part of that is sharing correct information with the public with compassion and facts -- not fears.

While there is lots of media coverage, the risk to us in Ireland from either of these viruses remains quite low.

Have questions or want to learn more? Do what doctors do! Check in on updates from the website.

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Do you remember playing Snake on your Nokia phone? Then it's time to get your blood pressure checked. High blood pressu...
17/05/2026

Do you remember playing Snake on your Nokia phone? Then it's time to get your blood pressure checked.

High blood pressure may have NO symptoms.

Even without symptoms, high blood pressure may increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, blindness, and dementia.

Small steps can make a big difference in looking after your blood pressure: regular physical activity, reducing alcohol intake, and limiting processed foods with salt are just some of the steps. It's not always about medication (though sometimes it is necessary) -- it is about knowing your numbers and taking control of your health.

Heart disease and stroke remain the leading causes of death in Ireland for men and women. Up to 80% of it may be preventable. Know your Numbers.
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This week, I will out and about doing health education in real life. So why not join me?- Tune in live when I'm back as...
16/05/2026

This week, I will out and about doing health education in real life. So why not join me?

- Tune in live when I'm back as a guest on the Late Lunch with Gerry Kelly on LMFM at 2.30pm on Wednesday 20/5/2026. I'll be talking a bit on what patients should know about what Ireland's expert delegates learned in Istanbul.

- Later that night, come have a pint with me on Wednesday 20/5/2026! I'll be in Kennedy's Bar Dundalk for Starts at 7.30, tickets are FREE and venue is wheelchair accessible. (Check out Pint of Science website for tickets to this or 16 other locations around Ireland having free events this week!)

- If you are a yoga teacher or trainee, I will be speaking at the upcoming Yoga and Strength of Heart workshop

Istanbul btw was an absolutely amazing city, and I am delighted I experience a brief taste of it with group of wonderful colleagues! We are all home from the European Congress on Obesity, and there's lots that patients living with obesity - or who are at risk of developing the disease of obesity - should know. I'll definitely be unpacking some of it in details here and in the Blog soon - from the latest in GLP1a science and how PCOS is now PMOS! However, the deep dives in the virtual space are probably going to have to wait while I'm out and about doing health education in real life. So much more interesting having conversations with real, actual people - so why not join me?

14/05/2026

Quick thoughts from a quiet corner of the conference centre here in Istanbul. Ill be breaking down alot more on both these topics when Im back! .fides

Friday mythbusting: This little bit of misinformation ("if your medication worked, you wouldn't need to take it every d...
08/05/2026

Friday mythbusting: This little bit of misinformation ("if your medication worked, you wouldn't need to take it every day.") really got my attention this week. Let's bring the science.

First, some basics:

Some medications can cure (like antibiotics for an infection).
Some medications can put a disease in "remission" (like certain cancer treatments - it means it's gone but chance it could come back.)
Some medications can treat diseases that don't have cures yet (like insulin for diabetes).

Medication goes in, it gets "metabolised" (broken down) - usually by your liver or kidneys - and then gets excreted (your body gets rid of it). This can happen over a few hours or even days.

Medicine for chronic conditions work, even if you have to keep taking them. You take your medication for asthma or blood pressure or diabetes. Your airways are open, your blood pressure or blood sugar is regulated while your medication is working. It helps prevent complications from your disease (such as not being able to breathe, having a stroke or going into a coma). However, the medicine will be metabolised and excreted - and you will need your next dose.

Someday, we will hopefully have a cure for more disease. Health systems might be able to provide earlier and better supports to help patients prevent more disease, in those types of diseases where it is possible. And I am a huge fan of patients who want to prevent disease or take more control of their disease to reduce their medications where possible (such as some types of blood pressure or diabetes)!

But for now, many people are well and living a great quality of life due to their daily or weekly medications. Misleading content shaming, scaring or misinforming patients about their medications can do real harm.

If you have questions about your medication, do what a doctor does and ask a registered pharmacist! Never stop your prescribed medication - no matter what you heard on social media - without talking to your own doctor first.

.fides

08/05/2026

lets bust this bit of misinformation I heard recently: "if medication worked, you wouldn't have to keep taking it." The fact is your medicine works, even if you need to take it daily or weekly. Some medicine can cure - you take it for a short while and thats it. Some medicine can put disease in remission. But for many chronic diseases (like diabetes or asthma), we don't always have a cure (yet!) and patients need medicines that work for hours or days, are metabolised/excreted by the body and then require another dose. There are sometimes options for reducing medications (deprescribing for patients after they've improved their health is one of my favourite parts of being a doc!) or changing the dosing, but always talk to your own doctor before suddenly stopping medication. Fides

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