Post Archive by Month

I remember when the UK had the highest rate of teenage pregnancy in Europe and we were wringing our hands because all attempts to lower it failed. Now we find the number has halved in the past eight years. Among … Read More

As a child I couldn’t wait for the school holidays and the ­freedom from lessons and ­discipline. They never felt too long and were often cruelly short. Turns out it’s not at all the same for our present generation of … Read More

Bad medicine, dishonest medicine enrages me. Very often it’s dangerous. Very often it’s expensive. Very often it’s unproven. And very often it’s preying on the insecurities of parents who want to do the best for their children. How some doctors … Read More

As someone who was involved in the early research on the pill, I got used to study after study announcing side effects and dangers, some true, some not so true. First it was a boon, then a curse. But now … Read More

Years ago, I did a TV programme on “qualys” – a way of measuring how much difference a treatment made to your quality of life versus its cost. The idea of qualys was thought up by an economist with the … Read More

I’ve written many times that optimists live longer than pessimists. But what if you’re not a natural optimist – can you learn optimism? Well you can if you believe in the work of Dr Barbara Fredrickson, psychologist at the University … Read More

Well now. Your chance of dying could depend on your sense of smell. Big claim. How do we know? Scientists from Stockholm University have followed more than 1,700 Swedes, aged between 40 and 90, for 10 years. At the beginning … Read More

Recently I wrote about PRP (platelet enriched plasma) being used in an experimental way to improve sexual arousal when injected vaginally (as yet unproven). It’s usually used for wound healing. Now another experimental use of PRP has hit the news … Read More

I well remember the first cholesterol-lowering drugs making an appearance several decades ago. They weren’t that effective but they made a useful difference in people at high risk of a heart attack. Then, 20 years ago, along came statins. Super-performers … Read More

Super-agers – that’s people whose biological age is lower than their actual age – should consider taking up the game of ping pong. Apparently table tennis is the perfect activity to keep you happy, healthy, active and in good spirits. … Read More