Poets say the eyes are the window to the soul. A doctor, like me, says the eye is the window to the body. Nowhere else can the internal health of the body be seen clearly without substantial intervention. When a … Read More
Fresh hope for dementia sufferers as diagnosis rates decline by millions of people
Here’s some of the best news I’ve heard recently – dementia rates have dropped unexpectedly. In 2000, people got a diagnosis at an average age of 80.7, but by 2012 that age was 82.4. Now I know that doesn’t sound … Read More
Cryogenics is robbing the dying of their dignity – it’s deceit and extortion
Years ago I made a film about a Frenchman who had frozen his wife after her death in the belief that she could be revived at some point in the future when medical science allowed. I made the film in … Read More
Stop taking vitamins and eat the right food if you want to stay healthy
It must be decades since I first said no one eating a western diet needs supplements. All these years I’ve been spitting in the wind as the value of the supplement industry climbs and climbs. With the exception of pregnant women, … Read More
So what’s the reason humans are so ticklish? Could rats help provide the answer?
Here’s a light-hearted one. Are you ticklish? And if so, are you only ticklish in certain places? Can you tickle yourself? (No). Have you ever wondered why we’re ticklish? Does it serve a purpose? The answer to that last one … Read More
Children of working mums develop faster than those whose mothers stay at home
When I was a working mum with young children I found it well-nigh impossible to put down that rucksack of guilt that haunted me because I was not at home every day. At the time I comforted myself with the … Read More
How you can cure hot flushes if you’re going through the menopause
Now here’s some good news for women approaching or going through the menopause: exercise could be the cure for your hot flushes as long as it’s vigorous enough. The theory is simple. Athletes can regulate body temperature better than unfit … Read More
Stress IS good for you – but you have to learn to control it
Despite all the negative effects of stress, I’ve always thought there was an upside. Stress concentrates the mind, keeps you alert, improves your efficiency and even hikes up your productivity. New research says, however, that to enjoy these benefits of stress … Read More
Loneliness could be a killer for the elderly so do all you can to visit
Loneliness, especially in our older years, is a predictor of death. Being on your own isn’t just emotionally and psychologically devastating, it’s physically debilitating too. Social isolation is a public health issue. “There’s been an explosion of public awareness here, from … Read More
Just two drinks could raise your cancer risk
We’ve known for some time that heavy drinking can raise the risk of various cancers. But we thought you had to drink excessively to put yourself in danger. Not so. Recent research has shown moderate drinkers aren’t exempt. Scientists in … Read More