Post Archive by Month

Almost everyone on the planet is worried about the coronavirus. Our anxiety is more acute because we know so little about it. To help ease your fears, here’s my round-up of what we know, how serious an outbreak in Britain … Read More

Irritable bowel syndrome affects between 10%-20% of the population. It’s a cause of great discomfort, even disability, and lost working days. Symptoms include bloating, constipation and diarrhoea. There’s no cure, and people with the condition often have recurrent flare-ups. Their … Read More

My sister recently died in a French hospital. She had as good a death as she could possibly have hoped for, and this was, mainly, due to the French doctors and nurses who were open and responsive to my sister’s … Read More

Donald Trump isn’t slow to set himself up as a global arbiter of medical truth. The US ­President’s ­pronouncements range far and wide, from mental health to ­curing AIDS. And he’s not beyond ­writing medical reports, says Joanne Silberner in … Read More

Now, here’s an interesting one. A rich cultural life helps you live longer. I’m not surprised. I’ve always believed in theatre as enriching for all ages. I remember often taking my grandchildren to the theatre, ballet, museums, singalongs and someone … Read More

We talk about the biological clock ticking and women putting off having children to follow a career. But do we ­really understand what that means and what the implications are? Our chronological age is the clearest indication we have of … Read More

A neighbour of mine has ­osteoarthritis (OA) of her knees. The pain is getting her down and she has difficulty walking. It’s even painful in bed. But painkillers are becoming less and less effective. “Is it time to have a … Read More

Pharmacists always get my vote, but are we underusing this group of highly trained ­specialists? Could they serve as early diagnosis hubs to spot signs of cancer and improve cancer survival rates? A report by University College London says they … Read More

Back when I was an aspiring medical student, I was asked what was the most important thing I could give a patient. “Care and kindness”, I said. My reply wasn’t greeted with enthusiasm. Didn’t I think the latest high-tech treatments … Read More

There’s a new trend emerging in medicine as we live longer. The pattern of health and disease is changing and that’s causing headaches for doctors and carers. The number of patients who have two or more medical conditions is rising … Read More