Lungworm in dogs, caused by the nematode parasite Angiostrongylus Vasorum, has been steadily increasing in prevalence since the first case was recorded in the UK in the 1970s. Believed to have travelled here from France, it first gained a foothold in South East England but has now spread throughout the country. According to recent studies, UK […]
Rebecca Wallersteiner reviews “Fragile Lives: A Heart Surgeon’s Stories of Life and Death on the Operating Table” by Stephen Westaby – at the cutting edge of medical memoir. “The finest of margins separates life from death, triumph from defeat, hope from despair – a few more dead muscle cells, a fraction more lactic acid in […]
Many of us, myself included, struggle to control our weight. Unlike many of the generations that preceded us most of the people in the UK struggle to control our urge to eat. Previous generations may have had similar urges but, certainly for my grandparents and their forbearers overeating just wasn’t an option; there was barely […]
Doctors often find it challenging to make a positive diagnosis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), which affects at least one in five people at some point in their lives. The symptoms of IBS, including pain, bloating and altered bowel habits, have significant overlap with a number of other conditions including Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and […]
Ahead of Sun Awareness Week (May 8-14), the UK’s largest cat charity has issued advice to owners to keep cats indoors during very sunny weather. ‘We regularly have cats coming into our care with early or advanced stages of skin cancer caused by sun exposure’, says Cats Protection’s Education Veterinary Officer Sandra Milburn. ‘In many […]
There are hundreds of different ear plugs available on the market, from simple foam versions that cost a few pennies and muffle all sounds in the vicinity, to sophisticated battery-operated ear plugs that have filters which can open and close in milliseconds when they detect high decibels and cost hundreds of pounds. Specialist makers provide […]
For many, hectic lifestyles can lead to stress, muscle tension and shallow breathing. Belts are a fantastic fashion accessory for improving and optimising your breathing. If worn cleverly, they can act as an objective marker to see how well you are actually breathing, which will benefit many bodily functions. Breathing in through your nose, bring […]
At the Science Museum, in Kensington, an exhibition ‘Journeys through Medicine: Henry Wellcome’s Legacy’ explores the history of medicine through one’s man’s obsessive collecting of medical objects. Ian Blatchford, Director of the Science Museum comments, ”With generous support of the Wellcome Trust the gallery brings together the fascinating medicine collections of Sir Henry Wellcome on […]
‘Tis the season to get Tennis elbow. A very common complaint, (affecting up to 7 people per 1000 in the UK) it is painful condition which is caused by inflammation around the bony bump on the side of the elbow. It can happen to anyone who does lots of repetitive gripping manoeuvres, like holding a […]
There are many substances commonly available in the human world that are poisonous and can prove lethal to your pet and dog’s definitely don’t do chocolate. Always contact your vet immediately if you suspect your pet has ingested anything that could do them harm. Never watch and wait as many symptoms can take hours or […]