We live in a fast-moving world. Somehow we never have enough time to eat properly, sleep for long enough, talk to our families or just sit and enjoy some guilt-free leisure time. The quick fix lifestyle is now the only way most of us can get by. We have cars and planes to help us […]
Amended by the author 06/07/2016 The activity of our gut bacteria plays an important role in supporting good health and may hold the key to combating the growing obesity crisis. We already know from multiple studies that bacteria in the gut produce a compound called propionate when they break down dietary fibre. Some people’s gut bacteria […]
On 29th June, a new exhibition ‘Wounded: Conflict, Casualties and Care’ opened at the Science Museum, London marking the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme. Wounded: Conflict, Casualties and Care draws from the museum’s collections to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme and explores the remarkable medical innovations in […]
Micro-exercising has become a popular way for people who are hard pressed for time to increase their cardiovascular fitness. Busy doctors and nurses and healthcare workers easily fall into this category. You don’t have to exercise for a minimum of 10 minutes to get the benefits, according to experts and there is a slew of new workouts which offer […]
The wasteland created by the political class post-Brexit is the ultimate expression of a deluded mantra which has gradually been eroding the NHS and now the country. Time and time again over the last 10 years, I have been confronted with NHS managers, medical leaders and policy makers who cite the holy cause of ‘destructive innovation’ as the means to […]
There’s a condition that most doctors have never heard of, yet the group of patients that it affects are most likely experts on the condition. It’s a deadly condition that can lead to stroke, convulsions, cardiac arrest and death, yet can be treated in seconds without drugs. In one survey, emergency department staff scored an […]
Doctors and healthcare workers need to accept that they are at risk of being sued or having a complaint made against them. It is one of the downsides of being a professional. As a barrister, I accept this risk every time I give legal advice. There are lawyers who specialise in suing other lawyers, and […]
Alzheimer’s is a disease that physically affects the brain, causing the cells to die off. It is named after a German neurologist, Alois Alzheimer who first described it in 1906. Two abnormal structures are prime suspects in damaging and killing off nerve cells. They are plaques and tangles. Plaques build up between nerve cells, and contain deposits of a […]
Social workers, like nurses and healthcare workers, have high-stress jobs which can take a mental and physical toll. The rate of work related stress and burnout among social workers is high compared to similar professions, leading to high vacancy rates for jobs and days taken off sick. In the case of social workers, Emotional Intelligence […]
Bad behaviour may be wired into adolescent brains early in life, according to a study which we published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. Young men with persistent behavioural problems, including destructive behaviour and lying and stealing, seem to have brains which differ significantly in structure from those of their better-behaved peers. We used MRI scans to look at […]