About 15 years ago I had sepsis. It struck out of the blue. In fact, the day beforehand I was pushing a wheelchair-bound friend around a park until, from one minute to the next I couldn’t take another step. We … Read More
Incredible new sleep planner tool could help save lives of babies at risk from SIDS
No parent is free from worry about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) when their baby is young. And while rates declined steeply in the 1990s, families living in the most deprived neighbourhoods continue to be burdened by a disproportionately higher … Read More
We’re starting to understand Covid – it may have lasting effects on your cognition and memory
By and large Long Covid remains a mystery. But piece by piece we’re starting to form a picture. The latest piece of the jigsaw comes from a study by Imperial College London where researchers reveal small deficits in the performance … Read More
Teen victims of bullying are much more likely to experience poor mental health and anger issues
Why has it taken so long to connect poor teen mental health to being bullied? It seems to me that the likely harms such as anxiety, depression, hyperactivity and anger would be exacerbated by being bullied. A new study, believed to be … Read More
Commuting by bike linked to better mental health – they don’t call it great outdoors for nothing
They don’t call it the great outdoors for nothing – people who get outside regularly are more resilient to mental stress than those who don’t. But it goes further than that. Edinburgh researchers have shown people who cycle to work … Read More
There’s a strange reason why blueberries have their distinctive colour
Ever wondered what makes blueberries the lovely colour that they are? And damsons, sloes and juniper berries? Would you believe it’s down to their wax coating? Despite having dark red colour pigments in the skin of the fruit, researchers have … Read More
I’m a doctor – this is why I believe Kate Middleton will bounce back from cancer
I have just watched the Princess of Wales’ announcement and, like most people, I was quite shocked. She looked pale, drawn and frankly unwell. So I feel it was doubly brave of her to speak out and try and give … Read More
Erectile dysfunction research on mice could help men overcome impotence
Erections are not an easy subject to approach in a daily newspaper but I have to share a study that sheds light on a problem that affects many men. This fascinating research was performed on mice because in the area of erectile dysfunction, … Read More
Our brains compensate for decline as we grow older by recruiting other areas
To my astonishment certain aspects of my memory have improved not diminished as I’ve grown older. I’ve often wondered why as we can’t grow new brain cells, so what’s happening? Cambridge scientists have come up with a possible explanation. They’ve … Read More
Our bodies pay the price for job and money worries as stress damages almost all our organs
Stress damages almost every organ in the body, especially those closely connected to each other, like our immune, nervous and hormone systems. And because of this connection, stress makes us prone to poor health. A team of UCL scientists looking … Read More