Share
Saving Lives In Slow Motion
High Blood Pressure - the biggest silent killer?
High blood pressure is the biggest modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease, which is still the leading cause of death worldwide.
It’s often called a silent killer because it has usually has no symptoms.
This episode give you the lowdown on high blood pressure (also known as essential hypertension).
Links:
WHO page: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hypertension
NICE guideline for hypertension: https://www.england.nhs.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2019/11/NICE-NG136-Visual-Summary.pdf
A summary of high blood pressure: https://www.healthline.com/health/high-blood-pressure-hypertension
Vitamin D and blood pressure in African-Americans: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3775458/
Salt and potassium: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7697211/
Low carb diets and blood pressure: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6695889/
Potassium enriched salt and blood pressure: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10863666/
Salt substitutes: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9532913/
Measuring blood pressure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfwBpBXUYHs
Why blood pressure matters: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-matters-combating-high-blood-pressure/health-matters-combating-high-blood-pressure#
Resperate - the evidence is mixed, the effects small and it is not a substitute for any medication:
More episodes
View all episodes
153. Urinary Tract Health - a 101:
14:08||Season 1, Ep. 153Infections of the urinary tract are a daily occurrence but there is much more to them than meets the eye. In this episode I go through some of the conditions that affect the kidney and bladder and what we can do to keep them healthy.Cystitis: https://www.healthline.com/health/cystitisBenign prostate enlargement: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/prostate-enlargement/Urethritis: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/264903Bladder cancer symptoms: https://www.mdanderson.org/cancerwise/how-i-knew-i-had-bladder-cancer---3-survivors--first-symptoms.h00-159701490.htmlKidney stone diet: https://www.healthline.com/health/kidney-stone-dietChronic kidney disease: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/kidney-disease/Bladder and pelvic muscle exercises: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/14611-kegel-exercises152. Wellness - a trillion dollar cult or an essential part of healthy living?
19:55||Season 1, Ep. 152Wellness is big. But it really divides opinion. Some think of it as extreme aesthetic procedures or unnecessary fad diets whereas others regard it as essential maintenance.I explore what wellness really means in this episode.——Links:The GWI and wellness definitions: https://globalwellnessinstitute.org/Wellness vs wellbeing: https://www.gallup.com/workplace/340202/wellness-wellbeing-difference.aspxKelp and the thyroid: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6750240/When wellness goes wrong: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/mar/31/the-wellness-instagrammer-who-learned-to-let-goBBL: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-66798236Gluten antibodies and neurological disease: https://www.sth.nhs.uk/news/2020/11/23/new-breakthrough-diagnostic-test-leads-to-earlier-detection-of-neurological-damage-caused-by-gluten-sensitivity/Stress and heart rhythm issues: https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.123.032414151. The 8 habits that might help you live 20 years longer
15:19||Season 1, Ep. 151In this episode I look at a huge study from the USA which looked at over 700,000 people to find which habits lead others to increased lifespan.I discuss the limitations of the study but also some universal habits we could all potentially benefit from.The study: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S000291652366280X?via%3DihubStudy summary: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38065710/Exercise benefits: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-benefits-of-exerciseAll Trials (Ben Goldacre): https://www.alltrials.net/The latest on the opioid crisis: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-65764307. (The dramatisations of this story, Painkiller and Dopesick are both available to watch on Netflix)What is an observational study?: https://www.mrcctu.ucl.ac.uk/patients-public/about-clinical-trials/what-is-an-observational-study/O Sleep (by Handel): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJr5Uvi7fM4 Plant-based diets: https://nutritionj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12937-023-00877-2A framework to help create or break habits:https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/article/the-health-fix-dr-ayan-panja-new-years-resolutions150. 2025 - the year of letting go
13:21||Season 1, Ep. 150This year instead of wanting to take on new habits and do more I want to let go of things that are holding me back. In true Health Fix style it’s all about Too Little vs Too Much and I am shedding the too much bits!Toxic behaviours by others, phones in the morning, all or nothing and forgiveness all feature.Links: Marie Kondo and KonMari: https://konmari.com/Boundary setting: https://psychcentral.com/relationships/what-are-personal-boundaries-how-do-i-get-someForgiveness vs moving on: https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/the-forgiving-life/201809/is-there-difference-between-forgiving-and-movingComparisons with others: https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/articles/201711/the-comparison-trapChanging an all or nothing mindset: https://chadd.org/adhd-weekly/replace-an-all-or-nothing-mindset-with-balanced-thinking/Phone use in the morning: https://www.fielding.edu/how-morning-phone-habits-shape-productivity-and-well-being/#BUY THE HEALTH FIX PAPERBACK NOW: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Health-Fix-Dr-Ayan-Panja/dp/1914239326/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=148. Reflection - why it’s good for us
12:45||Season 1, Ep. 148There is consensus on how reflection is good for mental health as well as productivity but how can we easily make time for it on the modern world?In this episode at this reflective time of year I look at how we might be able to do it little and often.The power of self-reflection: https://hbr.org/2022/03/dont-underestimate-the-power-of-self-reflectionJournalling benefits: https://psychcentral.com/lib/the-health-benefits-of-journalingReflection and productivity: https://www.library.hbs.edu/working-knowledge/the-pause-that-brings-peace-and-productivity147. Anaemia 101
14:51||Season 1, Ep. 147In this episode I cover the different type so anaemia as I have found it can cause much confusion and there are so many different types, from mild iron deficiency to types that can be life threatening. Iron deficiency anaemia: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/iron-deficiency-anaemia/Bone marrow: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/22818-bone-marrowHaem and non haem iron: https://www.mkuh.nhs.uk/patient-information-leaflet/good-sources-of-ironVitamin C and iron: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/iron_and_vitamin_c_the_perfect_pairAplastic anaemia: https://www.gosh.nhs.uk/conditions-and-treatments/conditions-we-treat/aplastic-anaemia/Pernicious anaemia: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22377-pernicious-anemiaAnaemia of chronic disease: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14477-anemia-of-chronic-diseaseMCV on a blood count: https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/mcv-mean-corpuscular-volume/Leukaemia: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/leukaemiaHaemolytic anaemia: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/hemolytic-anemiaSickle cell disease: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sickle-cell-disease/Thalassemia: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14508-thalassemiasIron diet sheet: https://kingstonhospital.nhs.uk/information/iron-diet-sheet/Eating your greens: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34034049/146. Liver health - fatty liver disease, jaundice, preventive measures and more
18:15||Season 1, Ep. 146In this episode I look at the liver and how to keep it healthy, arguably the most industrious visceral organ in our body with so many critical functions. Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/nonalcoholic-fatty-liver-diseaseFructose: https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/how-high-fructose-intake-may-trigger-fatty-liver-diseaseGlycogen: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/23509-glycogenUltra processed food and liver disease: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37871746/Alcohol and liver disease: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/alcoholinduced-liver-diseaseWIlson’s Disease: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/wilsons-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20353251Haemochromatosis: https://www.haemochromatosis.org.uk/Jaundice: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/jaundice/Gall bladder removal - cholecsytecomy: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/procedures/21614-gallbladder-removalDiarrhoea after gall bladder removal: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10725554/Hepatitis 'alphabet': https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/hepatitisGallbladder diet: https://www.healthline.com/health/gallbladder-dietMetabolic pathways in detoxification: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1155/2015/760689Coffee and other foods: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323915145. Winter Health 101
13:30||Season 1, Ep. 145It’s a time of year that some people dread but there’s so much we can do get through this season and I look at that in this short but useful 101 episode.Polyphenols and hormesis: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0958166924000107Vitamin C and zinc for colds: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32342851/Asthma exacerbations and vitamin D: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(17)30306-5/fulltext#Non IgE cows milk protein allergy: https://www.allergyuk.org/about-allergy/allergy-in-childhood/cows-milk-allergy/ (can cause cough if drinking milk) SAD: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20364651Morning light (Russell Foster): https://www.neuroscience.ox.ac.uk/news/professor-russell-foster-receives-daylight-award-2020Food cravings in winter: https://www.independent.co.uk/health-and-wellbeing/winter-diet-cold-weather-food-b2621804.htmlFlu (Influenza): https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4335-influenza-fluExercise in winter health: https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/fitness/getting-active/how-to-stay-active-in-cold-weather144. Back Pain
17:22||Season 1, Ep. 144Back pain is something most of us have suffered with at some point. In this episode I look at the various reasons behind back pain, how we can rethink it and manage it beyond simple exercise and pain relief including alternative therapies.The stats: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/low-back-painBack muscles: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/21632-back-musclesThe lumbar spine: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22396-lumbar-spineSciatica: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12792-sciatica'Slipped disc': https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/slipped-disc/Core exercises for the back (yoga and pilates may also help): https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/core-strength/art-20546851Cauda equina - an emergency: https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/cauda-equina-syndrome/Vitamin D and back pain: https://www.thepermanentejournal.org/doi/10.7812/TPP/18.241IDD therapy: https://iddtherapy.co.uk/Acupuncture: https://www.healthline.com/health/acupuncture-for-back-painSpinal cord stimulators: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/treating-pain-with-spinal-cord-stimulatorsMind-body link in back pain: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/09/well/mind/john-sarno-chronic-pain-relief.html