Cookie Policy
This policy explains what cookies are, which ones this site uses, and how you can control them. It should be read alongside our Privacy Policy.
What cookies are
Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make sites work, to remember your preferences, and to measure and personalise advertising. Similar technologies such as local storage work in comparable ways, and we treat them the same way in this policy.
Cookies used on this site
| Category | Purpose | Set by |
|---|---|---|
| Strictly necessary | Remembering your cookie choice so we do not ask again on every page. Basic security and delivery of the site. | HealthReview / Cloudflare |
| Advertising | Serving advertisements, limiting how often you see the same ad, measuring ad performance, and: only with your consent, personalising ads based on your browsing. | Google AdSense and its partners |
| Analytics | Understanding aggregate traffic patterns, such as which pages are read most. No attempt is made to identify individuals. | Cloudflare / analytics provider |
Your choice and consent
When you first visit, a banner asks how you would like cookies handled. We operate Google Consent Mode, and advertising and analytics storage are set to "denied" by default until you choose to accept. If you select "Essential only", we do not enable advertising or analytics cookies; you will still see advertisements, but they will not be personalised.
You can change your mind at any time: select Cookie choices in the footer of any page and the banner reappears, with your previous answer cleared. Clearing this site’s data in your browser has the same effect.
Google AdSense and personalised advertising
This site uses Google AdSense to display advertising. Where you have consented, Google and its partners may use cookies to serve ads based on your prior visits to this and other websites. You can review and change your Google ad settings at adssettings.google.com, and read how Google uses data at policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites.
You can also opt out of personalised advertising from many providers at youronlinechoices.com (EU/UK) or optout.aboutads.info (US).
Controlling cookies in your browser
All major browsers let you block or delete cookies through their settings. Blocking all cookies may affect how this and other websites function. Instructions are available in the help pages for Chrome, Safari, Firefox and Edge.
Changes to this policy
We may update this policy as our use of cookies or applicable law changes. The "last updated" date above reflects the most recent revision.
Do Not Track
Some browsers transmit a "Do Not Track" (DNT) signal to websites. Because there is currently no widely accepted standard for how websites should respond to this signal, this site does not alter its behaviour in response to a DNT header. You can instead use the "Essential only" consent choice in our banner, or use your browser's cookie controls, to limit tracking.
Third-party advertising partners
Google AdSense works with a network of third-party advertising companies to deliver targeted advertising. Where you have consented, these partners may set their own cookies or use similar technologies to collect information about your visit and serve ads relevant to your interests. The main partners used by Google are listed in Google's advertising policy. You can view and manage your Google ad personalisation settings at adssettings.google.com.
Relevant industry opt-out tools:
- EU/UK: Your Online Choices, opt out of interest-based advertising from participating networks.
- US: About Ads, Digital Advertising Alliance opt-out tool.
- US: Network Advertising Initiative opt-out page.
Consent Mode and what "denied" means
This site uses Google Consent Mode v2. Until you explicitly select "Accept all" in the cookie banner, the following are set to "denied": ad_storage, ad_user_data, ad_personalization, and analytics_storage. In denied mode, Google still shows advertisements (advertising is part of what keeps this resource free), but it does so without using cookies or personal data for ad targeting or measurement. The ads you see will be contextually targeted rather than behavioural.
When you select "Accept all", consent is updated to "granted" for all four signals and Google's advertising and analytics cookies may be set. You can withdraw consent at any time by selecting "Cookie choices" in the footer.
Legitimate interests and strictly necessary cookies
Strictly necessary cookies, specifically the local storage entry that records your cookie preference, do not require consent because they serve a function you have requested (remembering your choice so you are not asked again on every page). Cloudflare may also set a security cookie to identify trusted traffic. These cannot be refused because refusing them would prevent the site from functioning correctly.
Analytics cookies, where consented, are configured to collect only aggregate data. We do not instruct our analytics provider to collect data from which an individual could be identified, and we do not cross-reference analytics data with any other dataset.
Retention of cookie data
The local storage entry recording your cookie preference is retained indefinitely until you clear your browser's site data or re-open the banner and change your choice. Google's advertising cookies are subject to Google's own retention periods, typically 13 months, after which they expire automatically. Cloudflare security cookies are short-lived and typically expire within 24 hours.
Questions
If you have questions about cookies on this site, contact [email protected].