Thousands of excited spectators packed the grid-like streets of a usually quiet Hong Kong neighbourhood Thursday night, eager for the resurrection of the city's fire dragon dance...

Almost 300 babies are born in the UK with sickle cells every year, according to the Sickle Cell Society, and the effects of sickle cell disease are believed to impact thousands. Yet, many people may not even know what sickle cells are or what living with the condition means. What is sickle cell disease? In most people, red blood cells are disc shaped and move easily through the blood vessels. But if you have sickle cell disease, your red blood cells are shaped like a sickle (similar to a crescent moon). This stops them moving with ease through the body and blood flow becomes restricted. Sickle cell disease isn’t actually one specific disease – it refers to a group of conditions affecting people with sickle cells, which range in severity.The conditions are inherited and predominantly affect people from African and Caribbean family backgrounds. What are the symptoms of sickle cell disease? Symptoms begin early in childhood and can sometimes be debilitating. How each individual is affected may vary, but the main symptoms are anaemia, an increased risk of infections, and pain. This includes extremely painful episodes called ‘sickle cell crisis’, which happens when blood flow to certain parts of the body become blocked. According to the NHS, these episodes can last for days and require hospitalisation. Other issues are associated with the condition too, including problems with the lungs, delayed growth in childhood, higher risk of stroke, leg ulcers and sight/vision problems.How is it diagnosed? Sickle cell disease is usually picked up during pregnancy or shortly after birth, although a blood test can be given at any time to see if someone has the condition or carries sickle cell genes. In parts of the country, pregnant people will be offered a test to see what the chances are of their child having sickle cells. Infants can be checked for the cells through a heel prick test.How do you treat it? Treating sickle cell disease is usually a lifelong process to help people with pain and to stay as healthy as possible. Treatment takes place in specific sickle cell centres and those living with it are encouraged to take care of their health, no matter the severity of their symptoms. Managing pain is a huge part of treating sickle cell disease. Staying hydrated can be helpful, as well as avoiding sudden temperature changes, like getting into a cold shower or diving into water. According to the NHS, Hydroxycarbamide (hydroxyurea) may be recommended, which is taken as a pill once a day. This can lower the quantity of other blood cells and requires careful monitoring, however. Some people may also be able to have a medicine called crizanlizumab, either on its own or alongside hydroxycarbamide, usually injected into a vein every four weeks. To prevent infections, many people with sickle cell disease will take daily antibiotics. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live TikTok has gone wild for adult gymnastics – here’s what you should know Man explains why he swapped veganism for raw meat diet: ‘I feel great’ Rugby star Ugo Monye: Boarding school shaped my career and my personality

Mercedes-Benz Group AG unveiled an electric vehicle with a longer range than any Tesla Inc. model on the

Despite increasing public awareness of endometriosis, with celebrity figureheads including Lena Dunham and Molly Mae, the condition’s ‘evil twin sister’, adenomyosis, remains neglected. While the NHS has an entire webpage which explains what endometriosis is, there is currently no equivalent for its sister condition. Read on for five things you should know. It’s not the same as endometriosis Both endometriosis and adenomyosis occur when the lining of the uterus (known as the endometrium) grows out of place, but there are major differences between the two. In endometriosis, the rogue tissue invades areas outside of the uterus. While the extent of the growth varies from patient to patient, it can affect areas such as the bladder, bowel, ovaries, and even the lungs. Adenomyosis, on the other hand, causes the rogue tissue to bury inside the muscular wall of the uterus. It’s possible to suffer from both conditions at the same time. Symptoms include bloating, heavy periods, and pelvic pain Thanks to the invasive endometrial growth, adenomyosis is characterised by an enlarged uterus. During menstruation, the embedded tissue swells and bleeds, typically causing a variety of symptoms (although some women are asymptomatic). According to a patient leaflet published by University College Hospital, sufferers commonly have painful and irregular periods, with more than half experiencing heavy bleeding. Chronic pre-menstrual pain, and feelings of heaviness and discomfort in the pelvis are among other possible symptoms. Less frequently, adenomyosis can cause bloating, pain during intercourse, and pain related to bowel movements. All symptoms should stop after the menopause. It affects 1 in 10 women The condition is believed to affect 10 per cent of women in the UK. That makes it just as prevalent as endometriosis, although it’s more common in women between the ages of 40-50, and those who have been pregnant before. While the cause of the condition is not known, UCH says that “genetics and some hormones may play a role”. In terms of long-term effects, the North Bristol NHS trust says that adenomyosis does not appear to decrease the chance of pregnancy, however it has been linked to an increased risk of miscarriage and premature birth. Treatment options are limited For women with mild symptoms, trying to get pregnant, or nearing menopause, the North Bristol trust says that treatment may not be necessary, but for those seeking relief from symptoms, it recommends medication to reduce pain and bleeding, and hormonal interventions such as the contraceptive pill. The only “cure” is a surgical procedure involving the removal of the womb (hysterectomy), although this is a last resort intervention. The Bristol-based trust also offers an alternative surgery which involves blocking the blood supply to the endometrial growth, forcing it to shrink, but neither procedure is advisable for women who want to get pregnant in the future. It can take years to diagnose The condition is typically diagnosed using MRI and ultrasound scans, but the NHS says that adenomyosis can take “a long time, even years, to diagnose” because “symptoms and severity can vary between women”. The frequent dismissal of women’s gynaecological symptoms means that signs of adenomyosis may be conflated with ‘normal’ menstruation, or even other conditions such as endometriosis. Anecdotal reports of sufferers suggest that misdiagnosis is common. Gabrielle Union, one of the only celebrities to have publicly identified as having the condition, suspects her condition went undiagnosed for years. Speaking at a conference in 2019, Union explained: “The gag is I had [adenomyosis] in my early twenties, and instead of someone diagnosing me they were like ‘Oh you have periods that last nine or 10 days and you’re bleeding through overnight pads? Not a mere inconvenience... perhaps there’s something more there.’” Earlier this year, the charity Tommy’s reported that the condition might be “underdiagnosed” after a review of existing studies found that “mild” cases could be missed by clinicians using current diagnostic methods. “There should be training for clinicians and sonographers to diagnose adenomyosis using a standardised criteria,” said Dr Ishita Mishra, leader of the review. “Being able to identify this condition using a uniform set of criteria would then help give us a true picture of the numbers affected, and better understanding of the impact of this condition,” Mishra explained. If you have any health concerns, you should always contact your GP in the first instance. There is also information available via NHS Scotland or Endometriosis UK. Read More Lena Dunham marks five years of sobriety: ‘Happiest of my time on earth’ ‘Some days things just do not work’: What happens when your smear test doesn’t go smoothly? Woman’s warning after terminal cancer mistaken for heavy periods 5 things you need to know about adenomyosis, the ‘evil twin sister’ of endometriosis Woman’s warning after lip filler left her unable to close mouth ‘Suddenly, I saw Dad again’: The radical tech helping those living with dementia

Gourmet, quick meals are now possible at home thanks to all sorts of new kitchen

The founder of a Chinese cookie maker has gotten richer with a proposal to take the Hong Kong-listed

After visiting all 193 nations recognized by the United Nations, a late-night DJ from San Diego created a micronation in the Californian desert to give himself somewhere new to visit. He's declared himself "the Sultan of Slowjamastan."

Have you ever wanted to wander around a virtual baseball stadium, and not experience a

The ban could compound a worldwide rise in rice prices for a host of reasons, experts say.

NASA has achieved many firsts in space. But it's never plucked rocks off an asteroid

Excited for Season 2 of Squid Game? Well, too bad — there's no release date

As of October 9, here are all the best deals on outdoors essentials at Amazon