Post Archive by Year

For years I suffered migraine headaches and while I was having these excruciatingly painful attacks, I couldn’t imagine anything worse. But there is something worse. Cluster headaches. These attacks are considered one of the most painful human experiences. Typically a cluster headache … Read More

Globally, lower back pain is the third most common cause of years lived with disability in people aged 70 and over, behind diabetes and hearing loss. In higher-income countries it’s the leading cause. In people aged 60 and over, its … Read More

Apparently alcohol misuse is higher in the UK Armed Forces than in the general population. And it persists after a person leaves the service, particularly with those who are seeking help for a mental health condition. But now there’s a new ­smartphone … Read More

There’s general agreement among experts that the risk of breast cancer with HRT should be weighed up against its ­benefits for helping women through the menopause and beyond. As a woman’s life expectancy now exceeds 80, many will live a … Read More

For our safety and that of others, we’ve all got to become alert to hotspots where we might pick up Covid. And places where we gather, like public transport, are ­possible danger zones. That’s been highlighted by Cambridge and ­Imperial ­College … Read More

We often ask each other, “What’s your first memory?”. Some people have surprising recall of early events. Then again, others can remember only as far back as the age of five or six. But how do childhood memories form? And why do … Read More

We’re always hoping to see new treatments for heart ­problems but I never ­expected something as stunning as the new technology ­coming from Manchester University. Scientists have been looking for ways to introduce new cells into damaged hearts for years, as a way … Read More

Baldness is a universal problem, whether it’s premature in men or male pattern in middle-age women. It can trigger mental trauma and heartache, particularly a form that causes areas of hair loss all over the scalp – alopecia areata. It’s an autoimmune disorder, … Read More

Sex chromosomes determine our biological sex. Men ­typically have one X and one Y chromosome, while women have two Xs. But it isn’t straightforward, some men also have an extra X or Y chromosome – XXY or XYY. In fact, … Read More

At one exciting point in my 40s, I ran a company with 200 ­employees. It was part of an American multinational ­ business, and even way back then it was forward-looking in terms of ­employee job satisfaction. It was down to … Read More