Many medical conditions have ‘prodromes’, warning signs that something is going to happen, usually something not very nice. For instance, if you suffer from cold sores, caused by the herpes virus, you’ll be familiar with its classical prodrome – soreness and … Read More
Ingenious plan for paramedics to give out prescriptions is just what the doctor ordered
The role of a paramedic is a fantastic one and I’m eternally grateful to the 28-year-old Kiwi medic who gave me a drug to stop my heart fibrillating outside on the steps of my flat. So I’m wholeheartedly behind an … Read More
Dogs can diagnose cancer by its smell – yes, pretty amazing
Dogs are turning out to be an even better friend to man than we could have imagined. They can spot cancer early, even before symptoms appear, through their magnificently sensitive noses. Yes, pretty amazing. Now, for the first time, a … Read More
It only takes small steps to improve your health
You are probably sick to death of being told to stop being a couch potato and to get off that sofa. Don’t feel inclined? Well, some new research may be the motivation you need. Liverpool researchers have found that it … Read More
A knock to the head can lead to dementia
My views on the dangers of blows to the head have made it into print several times, especially as practised in boxing and heading the ball in football. I’ve even gone as far as calling for a ban on boxing. … Read More
‘Breastfeeding Friend’ chatbot gives 24/7 help to new mothers and their babies
The sad truth is fewer than half of babies in England are being breastfed at six to eight weeks. A new survey of 1,000 mothers reveals nearly two-thirds believe access to 24/7 breastfeeding support would help new mums to have … Read More
Hope for sufferers of never-ending cystitis
There’s cystitis and then there’s cystitis. The usual one-off attack leads to pain on passing urine, feeling a sense of urgency to empty your bladder, off colour, off food, sometimes a temperature. And it clears up by drinking a lot … Read More
Pupils are taking drugs to help them perform well in exams
Your daughters, sons and grandchildren are quite possibly in the throes of GCSEs and A-levels, labouring under the burden of trying to learn rafts of facts in a scarily short time. But to cope with this students are turning to … Read More
We need painkillers that help without the risk of addiction
Medically speaking, I’ve noticed over the years that what’s going on in America sooner or later crosses the Atlantic to UK shores. We can be infected by US health problems. A case in point is opioid addiction, which affects 65,000 … Read More
NHS trials offer new hope for rapid and less stressful prostate diagnosis
I’ll keep writing about prostate cancer until our treatment and success rates rise to be comparable with other European countries. One of our stumbling blocks is speed and accuracy of diagnosis. So three cheers for a new test that could move us … Read More