Post Archive by Year

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

The eye is the window to the soul, as the saying goes. But in medical terms the eye is the window to the body. A doctor using an ophthalmoscope can ­examine the back of the eye, the retina and get … Read More

Each Christmas the BMJ ­publishes what it calls the BMJ Christmas papers. The reports are never that serious, though all are based on meticulous research and they invariably make me smile. The authors are smart, witty and dedicated. I thought … Read More

Atrial fibrillation, once a rarity, is now quite common with approximately 6,000 cases being seen a year in the UK. It can be successfully treated with drugs, however, ablation therapy, ­is now seen as a procedure for patients whose atrial … Read More

There’s not a good thing to say about sugar. The list of the problems it causes gets longer and longer. Now you can add ­inflammation of the bowel to that list. Short-term increases in sugar consumption, such as binges of … Read More