Category Archive

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

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

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

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

Some commentators have said the wellbeing of older people is being neglected, even forgotten, by the Government. In the care sector maybe, but in other areas of the community the NHS is trying very hard. Not that many people identify … Read More

The harder we look at the ­harmful effects of pollution, the more dangers we find. The ­latest research shows the ­damage fine particle matter (PM) can do is more extensive than we thought, even in the short term. Wei Y … Read More

A friend whose brother was ­diagnosed with prostate ­cancer, had completed all his treatment and was declared free of the disease, asked me what he should do to keep himself healthy. I was reminded of an excellent study from Bristol … Read More

We keep hearing about a form of oxygen therapy that’s non-invasive but may be enough to support mild to moderate breathing problems in Covid patients, even avoiding the necessity of the more invasive ventilation. What is this device? Could it … Read More

Even now, when we don’t have nearly enough information on the Covid-19 pandemic to start theorising about an exit strategy, people are asking when lockdown can be relaxed. Not for some time in my opinion because we’re not getting the … Read More

Recently I went to see a clever doctor, Mr Guri Sandhu, about my chronic cough (I’ve had it more than a year) and the hoarseness of my voice. He introduced me to a condition I’d never heard of – laryngopharyngeal … Read More