Saving Lives In Slow Motion

I thought in this episode I would acknowledge people living with rare diseases as they can be hard to diagnose and live with.Links:Batten Disease: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/6018-batten-diseaseLorenzo's Oil: https://www.healthline.com/health/neurological-health/lorenzos-oil-does-it-workMoya Moya Syndrome: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/moyamoya-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20355586CRISPR gene technology: https://www.broadinstitute.org/what-broad/areas-focus/project-spotlight/questions-and-answers-about-crisprHuntington’s Disease therapy: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cevz13xkxpro

It’s the future of medicine but how does it work, what are its origins and how can we benefit from it? In this episode I look at the way medicine can be tailored to our health.The work of Leroy Hood and P4 Medicine paper: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4204402/The Human Genome Project: https://wellcome.org/insights/articles/human-genome-project-new-era-scientific-progressNHS personalised medicine page: https://www.england.nhs.uk/healthcare-science/personalisedmedicine/ApoB as a biomarker: https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-024-05887-2Gut-skin links (systems biology): https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2018.01459/fullLeukaemia mutations: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6142505/AI for healthcare: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/stories/healthcare-ai/Methylation (MTHFR gene): https://www.healthline.com/health/mthfr-geneApoE genes and Alzheimer’s risk: https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/news/apoe4-and-apoe3-gene-variants-linked-to-at-least-7-in-10-alzheimers-cases-study-suggests/Statins and their effect on inflammation: https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/circresaha.116.308537My book THE HEALTH FIX: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Health-Fix-Dr-Ayan-Panja/dp/1914239326/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0

Most people will have come across arrogance in the workplace but medicine is not an arena that it should have a place, or should it?In this episode I look at the impact on patients, the public and the workforce.Links: Diagnostic errors and overconfidence: https://www.amjmed.com/article/S0002-9343(08)00040-5/pdfCuriosity as a cure for arrogance: https://bjgplife.com/clinical-curiosity-an-antidote-to-medical-arrogance/Women and sexual assault in surgery: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-66775015Missed heart attacks: https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/news/heart-attacks-in-womenMedical errors: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10896093/Models for feedback: https://www.ausmed.co.uk/learn/articles/giving-feedbackData on NHS complaints: https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/data-on-written-complaints-in-the-nhs

Nostalgia is not strictly medical although it was coined a term of a condition of melancholy but in more recent years studies show that it may be a more important part of wellbeing than we thought.Links:Nostalgia as a disease: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2352250X22002573Clay Routledge: https://www.clayroutledge.com/Nostalgia and wellbeing: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36669249/Man’s Search For Meaning: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4069.Man_s_Search_for_MeaningThe past makes the present meaningful: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21787094/Music and nostalgia: https://www.southampton.ac.uk/~crsi/Sedikides,My own nostalgia tips: music, photos, places, journalling and rituals.

Work is such a large part of most of our lives. Most of us spend more time at work than at home if you don’t count sleep at night. And many of us work from home. But how do we know if our work might be affecting our health and what can we do about it? In this episode I look at some examples and give you a check list of what you can do.Links:Aviation and health: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/aviation/prevention/aircrew-cancer.htmlCoal miners and lung disease: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/bulletin/2023/mining-lung-disease.htmlCTE from head injuries in rugby: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/articles/cg5d9546zzeoJobs and personalities: https://www.ed.ac.uk/news/2024/personality-traits-that-typify-job-roles-revealedJob satisfaction: https://www.forbes.com/sites/barnabylashbrooke/2023/07/13/job-satisfaction-is-key-to-workplace-productivity-but-how-do-you-get-it/Shift work: https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/5-long-term-health-effects-shift-workSetting boundaries at work: https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/boundaries-at-work

Increasingly we see different presentations to a doctors surgery and our access to knowledge and understanding of health and medicine means there are many ports of call for information and seeking help. In this episode I look at the gap between health and medicine and what we can about it.Links: Medicine powered by plants: https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/essential-medicines-powered-by-plants.htmlThe evolution of ‘medicine'- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11245246/Holism in medicine: https://www.webmd.com/balance/what-is-holistic-medicineSelf care: https://www.selfcareforum.org/about-us/what-do-we-mean-by-self-care-and-why-is-good-for-people/

Most of us drink caffeine and it is in many foods too such as chocolate.What are its impact on health? In this episode I look at the pros and cons of this ubiquitous every day legal drug.Links:Genetics of caffeine metabolism: https://www.sleepmattersperth.com.au/how-genetics-influence-caffeines-impact-on-sleep/Cognitive and physical performance: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4462044/Caffeine and Parkinson’s Disease: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7773776/Coffee and dementia risk: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-00409-yCoffee and Liver Disease: https://www.news-medical.net/news/20250921/Coffee-protects-the-liver-by-blocking-inflammation-and-scarring-review-finds.aspxCaffeine as pain relief: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgr44j201rzo

We live in a data driven world and increasingly this applies to health. In this episode I look at some examples of how they can help or hinder.Body composition scales: https://www.healthline.com/health/body-fat-scale-accuracyHRV: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/21773-heart-rate-variability-hrvContinuous glucose monitoring: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2024/jun/use-glucose-monitors-people-not-living-diabetes-needs-more-regulationBlood glucose spikes: https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/avoid_blood_sugar_spikesSleep trackers: https://www.euronews.com/health/2026/01/27/sleep-tracking-using-smart-watches-and-rings-has-limits-do-they-really-workAtrial fibrillation: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/atrial-fibrillation/EMF: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772671124000901THE HEALTH FIX: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Health-Fix-Dr-Ayan-Panja/dp/1914239326/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0

This episode is about alcohol, an ever popular topic when it comes to health and harm. In this episode I look at its history and some of the ways in which it affects us and our health as well as why we drink alcohol in the first place.Links:Oldest brewery: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-45534133Distillation: https://www.britannica.com/video/how-is-liquor-made/-340178UK alcohol limits: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-advice/calculating-alcohol-units/Hangovers: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/health/curing-hangoverAlcohol and mental health: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/a-z-topics/alcohol-and-mental-healthSleep: https://www.sleepfoundation.org/nutrition/alcohol-and-sleepRed wine and gut microbes: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/red-wine-benefits-linked-to-better-gut-health-study-findsRelaxing without drinking alcohol: https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/news/how-to-relax-at-home-without-drinkingAlcohol free drinks: https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter/2025/feb/04/best-low-alcohol-non-alcoholic-drinksAlcoholic liver disease: https://britishlivertrust.org.uk/information-and-support/liver-conditions/alcohol-related-liver-disease/#causesAlcohol and cancer risk: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/causes-of-cancer/alcohol-and-cancer/how-does-alcohol-cause-cancerAlcohol consumption data: https://ourworldindata.org/alcohol-consumption