‘They remind me there’s a life after cancer’: how paintings in NHS hospitals help patients feel better

Feedback on the benefits of displaying pictures on wards, now gathered in a new book, is backed by scientific studies

Everything you ever wanted to know about vaginas … but were too afraid to Google

Should you wash your vagina? Can a tampon get lost in one? And does having sex make you looser? Experts in all things ‘down there’ separate fact from fiction

By assuming I am incompetent at everything, I’m making it so much worse

I call this state of being next-level incompetence. By doubting everything I do – from where I put a book to whether I picked up my medication – I cause chaos

Psychedelic Outlaws by Joanna Kempner review – a compelling case for the use of magic mushrooms in pain relief

The US sociologist’s study of psychoactive fungi to treat little-known medical conditions such as cluster headaches is well researched and wide ranging

Latin labelling on cosmetics is a risk to food allergy sufferers, says MP

Becky Gittins calls for cosmetic firms to list ingredients in English, saying current labelling is ‘absolutely bonkers’

Standing desks do not reduce risk of stroke and heart failure, study suggests

Researchers say people who sit or stand for long periods should schedule regular movements throughout the day

Strolls with stops use more energy than continuous walking, scientists show

Researchers show more energy needed to get going than later in walks when body is working more efficiently

I keep crying after sex – and I have no idea why

I don’t necessarily feel sad after being intimate with my partner – I just feel so many things. Why does this keep happening?

Sleep perfectionists: the exhausting rise of orthosomnia

The UK sleep-tracker industry is estimated to be worth £270m a year – and forecast to double by 2030. Could all this data be making our insomnia worse?

‘Our conversations were always about her!’ How to recognise – and escape – an emotional vampire

Do certain ‘friends’ leave you feeling drained and demotivated every time you meet? You need to have a word with them – and yourself