This week on The Real Health podcast, Karl Henry is joined by Professor Peter Conlon, Clinical Lead of Organ Donation Transplant Ireland, Clinical Lead, Consultant Nephrologist/ Renal Transplant Physician at Beaumont Hospital, to explain how organ donation works in Ireland.

They discuss the opt out system, who can become a donor and what happens when a family is approached about donation. Professor Conlon explains how one donor can transform the lives of up to nine people, the realities of living kidney donation and the importance of family conversations.

From the donation process to waiting lists and paired kidney exchange, they explore how a decision made in tragedy can give others a second chance.

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This week on The Real Health podcast, Karl Henry is joined by producer JJ Clarke to answer listener questions on sleep, weight loss and evening overeating. They discuss why becoming too focused on sleep tracker scores can actually make sleep harder, and share simple ways to improve sleep routines. Karl also explains stretch marks after weight loss and why gradual weight loss matters, before offering practical advice for managing evening hunger through protein, vegetables, snacks and meal timing. From hydration and fruit intake to consistent eating habits, the pair explore how small, sustainable changes can support better health without overcomplicating the basics.

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We check our phones dozens, even hundreds, of times a day, often without realising how much they interrupt our attention.

This week on The Real Health podcast, Professor Brendan Kelly, professor of psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin, explains why phones are so difficult to put down and the impact constant checking can have on concentration, stress and self esteem.

He shares practical ways to build a healthier relationship with your phone, from switching off notifications and creating physical distance to keeping phones out of the bedroom. He also explains why small, sustainable changes are more effective than dramatic digital detoxes.

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When someone is diagnosed with cancer, food can become a source of confusion, with endless advice online about what to eat and what to avoid.

This week on The Real Health podcast, oncology nurse and nutritional therapist Marilla Healy explains how nutrition can support the body through treatment, from maintaining muscle and strength to managing nausea and poor appetite. 

She looks at why there is no single anti-cancer diet, the importance of variety and protein, and how small changes can make every mouthful count when eating becomes difficult. She also explains why nutrition should support, not replace, your oncology treatment plan.

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Millions of us now use smartwatches to track our sleep, heart rate, fitness and recovery, but how accurate is all that information? This week on The Real Health podcast, Dr Joe Warne from Technological University Dublin explains which measurements we can rely on and where wearable technology falls short. He looks at the growing obsession with health data, why sleep trackers may cause anxiety, and whether more information actually makes us healthier. He also shares the simple metrics worth paying attention to and why sometimes the best guide to your health is listening to your own body. 

https://www.independent.ie/service/our-journalism/a/98708550.html

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Most of us hope to stay healthy as we get older, but few of us think about the small choices we make today that shape our future. This week on The Real Health podcast, Karl explores what it really means to age well and why it's never too early to start investing in your long-term health.

He discusses the importance of strength, movement, nutrition, social connection and tracking your health, while sharing simple, practical habits that can help you stay independent, active and well for longer. It's an inspiring conversation about adding life to your years, not just years to your life.

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Most of us never think about how we go to the toilet until something goes wrong. This week on The Real Health podcast, Karl is joined by pelvic and digestive health physiotherapist Clare Bourne to discuss what a healthy bowel movement should look like and why so many people unknowingly develop poor toilet habits.

They explore constipation, straining, toilet posture, pelvic floor health, and the everyday changes that can make bowel movements easier, healthier, and more comfortable.

https://www.independent.ie/service/why-you-can-trust-the-irish-independent/a/98708550.html

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This week on The Real Health podcast, Karl answers your health questions in another Karl's Questions episode. Producer, JJ Clarke, joins Karl on this week’s episode.

He explains why very low-calorie diets rarely work in the long term, how to exercise safely during hot weather, the simple health numbers everyone should be tracking, and the best way to reduce your caffeine intake without feeling miserable.

From smarter weight loss to better sleep and building healthier habits, this episode is packed with practical advice you can start using today.

https://www.independent.ie/service/why-you-can-trust-the-irish-independent/a/98708550.html

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Many of us think liver disease only affects heavy drinkers, but the reality is far more complex. This week on The Real Health podcast, Professor Debbie Shawcross, Professor of Hepatology and Chronic Liver Failure at King's College London, explains how binge drinking, excess weight and everyday habits can silently damage the liver long before symptoms appear.

She shares what counts as binge drinking, the difference between alcohol related and metabolic fatty liver disease, when to seek a liver check, and the simple changes that can help protect your liver for years to come.

https://www.independent.ie/service/why-you-can-trust-the-irish-independent/a/98708550.html

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We spend so much of life chasing happiness, but are we looking in the wrong places? On this week's episode of The Real Health podcast, Professor Emeritus of psychology at Trinity College Dublin, Ian Robertsonexplains why money, status and success rarely bring lasting fulfilment, and why purpose, relationships and helping others are far more powerful.

He also explores the impact of loneliness, social media and technology on our wellbeing, and shares practical ways to feel happier every day. As Professor Robertson says, "Unquenchable appetites make you unhappy."

https://www.independent.ie/service/why-you-can-trust-the-irish-independent/a/98708550.htm

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