Letters are still coming in from readers asking me if they should buy hydroxychloroquine, also known as chloroquine, off the internet. One even quoted “Professor” Trump saying it’s “very powerful”, “a gift from god” with “very encouraging early results”. Despite … Read More
Study proves acupuncture has an effect on migraine
Recent research on acupuncture in migraine would have really helped me back when my life was periodically put on hold by the excruciating headaches. Shabei Xu and colleagues from Huazhong University in Wuhan have applied their Chinese medical art with … Read More
Mass testing is route out of lockdown and beating coronavirus
Mass testing of the country is not only the route out of lockdown, I believe it’s also the route to overcoming the Covid-19 pandemic. This should be the first step followed by contact tracing and isolation. In Singapore and South … Read More
Contact lenses raise danger of suffering with Covid-19
A reader wrote to ask me if it was safe to wear contact lenses during the Covid-19 crisis. I thought it would be useful to broaden the discussion. As surgeon Julian Stevens of Moorfields Eye Hospital says, coronavirus means new rules for … Read More
What you eat has proven effects on risks of cancer
When I first heard the phrase “you are what you eat” I confess I didn’t quite get the significance of the message. Over the years more and more research has shown how your diet affects your health, and now, your … Read More
Hysterectomy is not the only solution for heavy periods
Not a lot of people know this because it’s rarely talked about, but many middle-aged women suffer very heavy periods, so heavy they can’t leave the house for a few days every month. Well, help is at hand. An excellent … Read More
No evidence that masks prevent spread of coronavirus
I was intrigued to see the US surgeon General demonstrating on TV how to make a cloth mask from an old T-shirt, to protect yourself. Had he not read the research, I wondered, that says there’s no good evidence that … Read More
Medics fighting ‘world’s most dangerous eating disorder’
It’s been called the world’s most dangerous eating disorder and diabulimia could be just that, according to a BMJ analysis by health specialist Ingrid Torjesen. So what is it? Well, the name gives it away – bulimia in someone who’s … Read More
Hopes for a cigarette-free England by the year 2030
When I was working in Singapore, the then Prime Minister was rolling out his programme to make the island a smoke-free zone. I witnessed first-hand the draconian measures he employed to coerce the population to quit, including fines for smoking … Read More
Dr Miriam Stoppard’s guide to NHS coronavirus advice for the most vulnerable: Part 2
This is the second part of the NHS letter to the most vulnerable members of the community, some of whom have written to me saying they haven’t received it. It contains valuable advice which we could all benefit from. In … Read More