Ever since the first time I had a smear test and had to bear the discomfort of a speculum exam, I’ve wondered why women had to suffer this intrusive procedure. It left me feeling humiliated – surely there was another … Read More
Humble hedgehogs could help our fight against superbugs like MRSA
We think of antibiotic-resistant bacteria as a modern phenomenon brought about by the careless use of antibiotics. But are they? It now appears they’ve been around for centuries and may have arisen in an animal, not humans. Step forward the … Read More
Sharing sexual images has been dangerously normalised among teenagers
For some reason teens are reluctant to report receiving sexual images, or being asked to share them, to their school, parents or social media platforms such as Snapchat, TikTok and Instagram. The findings of the Institute of Education, University College London, show that teenage girls … Read More
Men get breast cancer too and need to know their other risks from mutant gene
Back in 2020, I remember a man with breast cancer being refused access to online support groups – an example of appalling sexism. Perhaps it stemmed from not knowing men can get breast cancer, which is often thought of as a female condition, … Read More
Surgery selfies could save lives, stress and cash for the NHS
Here’s a novel way to get more involved in your post-surgery recovery. Take a photo on your phone of your wound and send it to your care team so they can spot an infection in double-quick time, heading off infections … Read More
Exercising increases body’s own cannabis-like substance which helps with arthritis
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