Not sure this will catch on – electric shocks to the penis to overcome erectile dysfunction (ED). But you never know, especially as two-thirds of doctors have given it the thumbs-up. There isn’t even clear evidence it works. Seems doctors and patients … Read More
Stages of grief and how to help distraught family adjust to the loss of a loved one
A friend of mine lost her husband to cancer 18 months ago and understandably she was devastated. Her family and girlfriends drew around her with sympathy and support. After six months or so we began suggesting outings, lunches, meetings for tea and … Read More
The heartbreaking postcode lottery of IVF where some women are offered one cycle and others none at all
I sympathise with any woman who’s driven to desperation in her desire to have a baby. In my own puny way I went through the pangs of not being able to conceive. It was between my first and second son. … Read More
New approach to treating prostate cancer is a game-changer that could prolong patients’ lives by a third
Something’s always happening in prostate cancer research – and the news is invariably good. The most recent shows that combining two existing treatments can prolong patients’ lives by a whopping third. The findings of this latest study are so powerful … Read More
People consumed by worry must be kinder to themselves
Even the calmest person can be prey to anxiety from time to time, and there are many ways to cope with it. I say cope, but often attempts to regain your composure are futile. New figures released recently show more … Read More
We reveal the first diet proven to help bowel disorders such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome
First of all, what is the low-FODMAP diet? Well, each letter of that acronym stands for a group of foods: the F for fermentable, O for oligosaccharides (wheat, garlic, onion), D for disaccharides (milk, ice cream), M for monosaccharides (apples, pears, honey) and … Read More
Anti-ageing revolution on the way as scientists discover treatment that keeps skin younger
I know methylene blue only from my days as medical student studying the pathology of vital organs. It’s a dye and has been used in medicine for more than 140 years for a variety of things – from staining bodily … Read More
Shock therapy could be one of the best ways to force parents to treat their obese children
There have been quite a few surveys where the parents of overweight children refuse to admit their offspring are fat. Parents tend to see their fat children as normal, though it’s not known why. Now, these same parents have been shocked by … Read More
A&E waiting times are a matter of life & death
Two personal experiences of how the NHS treats acute emergency patients has convinced me we have a service second to none for acute medical cases. But then again I live in central London. Each time the paramedics have offered me … Read More
Possible link between exposure to lead and autism in children needs exploring
Over the years, I’ve kept my eye on research that throws light on the cause of autism. In a new study, scientists say being exposed to lead while in the womb or just after being born might possibly increase a child’s … Read More