I’ll keep writing about prostate cancer until our treatment and success rates rise to be comparable with other European countries. One of our stumbling blocks is speed and accuracy of diagnosis. So three cheers for a new test that could move us … Read More
Water ‘therapy’ like taking freezing showers helps you to manage stress
Back in the 1970s, when I was in Japan picking up stories for documentaries, I came across a crazy motivational strategy for stressed-out businessmen. They were taken into the mountains where they stripped off to nothing but a loincloth. They … Read More
There’s no proof acupuncture helps relieve pain so taxpayer shouldn’t foot bill
I’ve never seen any convincing evidence of the effectiveness of acupuncture for treating pain. Edzard Ernst, emeritus professor in Complementary Medicine at Exeter University, and the UK’s preeminent expert, goes further, saying: “Doctors should not recommend acupuncture for pain because … Read More
Stem cells can revive menopausal ovaries
The desperation a woman suffers when she can’t conceive and longs for a baby is one I have felt. It was between the births of my two sons when conception of my second boy evaded me so painfully I became … Read More
Teenage pot smokers are risking mental illnesses in later life
On an afternoon I occasionally walk with my granddaughter in a London park where teens gather after school, and the smell of pot is unescapable. It’s more pungent than I remember and I presume stronger, possibly super skunk, which is flooding … Read More
It makes sense to get healthy and lose weight before an operation
A few weeks ago I went head to head with Piers Morgan on Good Morning Britain. I was there to discuss a contentious public health initiative that compels people who are obese or smoke to take six months to lose … Read More
Sore muscles can be eased by taking an amino acid
Generally I’m not keen on supplements. I believe in foods supplying the vitamins and minerals we need. But there’s one I had prescribed for me after a prolonged chest infection. It’s called N-acetyl cysteine, or NAC for short. I’ve been … Read More
Our bodies fight us when we try to diet by holding on to fat
Losing weight is way more complicated than going to the gym and giving up chocolate. Millions of failed dieters attest to that. Despite our best efforts, one in four British adults are obese. Obesity levels in the UK have more than trebled in … Read More
Shock of cold water can be good for you
Pictures of stalwarts facing the freezing weather and perishing water to take a dip in the sea impressed me last week. Are they mad or what? Knowing what it feels like to immerse yourself in freezing water is only a … Read More