Exercising can leave us on a high and research is now getting to the bottom of that buzz – and its link to cannabis. We already know workouts produce our own opioids, called endorphins, the feel-good hormones that also numb … Read More
More education on breastfeeding will help new mums who suffer with nipple pain
Breastfeeding levels in this country are way below ideal. No woman should feel coerced into breastfeeding if she doesn’t want to, but I’m in favour of making it as easy as possible for her to breastfeed her baby and for … Read More
How getting your 5 fruit and veg a day can keep hip fractures at bay
Hip fracture is the most common serious injury among adults, and current guidelines for prevention focus largely on taking calcium, vitamin D and a high protein diet. More than 75,000 people suffer hip fractures in the UK each year. With … Read More
Women can have peace of mind with safest mix of HRT in battle against dementia
Since its arrival, hormone replacement therapy has been controversial. Side effects such as thrombosis caused alarm and women to reject it. Then scares about breast cancer further eroded their confidence. Emanating from the Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study (WHIMS), concerns … Read More
How much should we be worried about Covid post-vaccination heart problems?
The son of a friend of mine, a student aged 20, developed myocarditis after his first Covid jab. Should he have his second, his mum asked me. Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle, and any mention of a heart … Read More
The signs of gallstones can be so painful you may think you’re having a heart attack
Most won’t have symptoms or need treatment, but for some the pain is so severe it can be mistaken for a heart attack. So it’s vital to know what you’re dealing with and there are official new guidelines from NICE … Read More
Ground-breaking initiative aims to cut pandemic loneliness in older people
The loneliness suffered by the old and young alike during Covid lockdowns was painful and destructive. Particularly in care homes, it lasted a long time. Now, Leeds University has decided to try a new form of help for lonely people that could … Read More
Children exposed to different languages become GCSE superstars in all their subjects
Now here’s a weird one. Pupils who think of themselves as good at languages outperform their peers. And not just in French, German and Spanish but also in subjects such as maths, science and geography. And that’s the case whether … Read More
Child obesity is complex – you can’t end it by simply saying eat less
From the start to the end of primary school, the number of children living with obesity doubles. The latest data shows one fifth of children aged 10-11 in England live with the condition. However, the reasons why a child becomes … Read More