Saving Lives In Slow Motion

In this episode look at some rarer diagnoses, how they come to light and how they can be hard to live with and diagnose.Links: Pyrrole Disorder (not recognised in conventional medicine): https://www.healthline.com/health/pyrrole-disorderAcademic analysis of pyrroles (deep dive): https://academic.oup.com/labmed/article/55/3/334/7271490Patent foramen ovale: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/patent-foramen-ovale/symptoms-causes/syc-20353487Migraines and PFO: https://www.migrainedisorders.org/diving-into-the-connection-between-migraine-and-patent-foramen-ovale/Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17813-ehlers-danlos-syndrome

Rest is often seen as a guilty pleasure but in this episode I cover the reasons behind why rest is essential to our lives and examples that work.Links: Deep rest: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11003855/Rest Quiz: https://www.restquiz.com/quiz/rest-quiz-test/The Art of Rest: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Art-Rest-Find-Respite-Modern/dp/1786892804Attention Restoration Theory: https://positivepsychology.com/attention-restoration-theory/Nature breaks: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4039544/Rest during demanding tasks: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6585675

Second opinions are an increasingly common request in healthcare and in this episode I look at reasons why people seek them and their pros and cons Links:Martha’s rule: https://www.england.nhs.uk/patient-safety/marthas-rule/Hyponatraemia (low sodium): https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hyponatremia/symptoms-causes/syc-20373711Advice on second opinions: https://www.patients-association.org.uk/getting-a-second-opinionTumour Treating Fields: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/managing-cancer/treatment-types/tumor-treating-fields.htmlLithium and MND doesn’t work?: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/archive/news/ioppn/records/2013/march/lithium-shows-no-benefit-to-mnd-patientsLithium and MND works?: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/centre-for-neuromuscular-diseases/research/experimental-clinical-trials/mnd/motor-neurone-disease-closed-trials/licals-therapeutic

In this episode I look at things that can hamper our health journey by looking at our own life in an easy and compassionate way.Links:The Health Fix on Kindle offer January 2026: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Health-Fix-Dr-Ayan-Panja-ebook/dp/B0B2VTFFVS/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0Sleep and its importance: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6281147/Phone and screen usage: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11236742/Decluttering: https://drayanpanja.substack.com/p/decluttering-your-home-how-it-could-1fd\\Exercise: https://www.sciencefocus.com/wellbeing/exercise-snacksImpulsivity: https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/impulsive-behavior#Impulsive-behavior-meaningOverwhelm: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002pf4w

It’s a new year and that can feel overwhelming.In this episode I look at what the year is likely to bring in terms of health and medical trends, our own personal goals and how to generate ideas for them if you are feeling a bit stuck.Links: The Health Fix: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Health-Fix-Dr-Ayan-Panja-ebook/dp/B0B2VTFFVSMed tech in 2026: https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2025/10/27/the-8-biggest-healthcare-technology-trends-to-watch-in-2026/Misinformation - how to spot it: https://news.cancerresearchuk.org/2024/02/16/sorting-fact-from-fiction-a-guide-to-spotting-health-misinformation/

Links:AI in medicine: https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/guidance-on-the-use-of-ai-enabled-ambient-scribing-products-in-health-and-care-settings/Various wearables: https://uk.wellnesspulse.com/lp/best-fitness-trackers/?campaignId=23304304009&adgroupId=&adId=&targetId=&device=c&gunique=CjwKCAiAmKnKBhBrEiwAaqAnZ4MBo1x_tOV7RB1FPjSEqiYWae8AyeixJJsGEVTlbapiaEWJL7D8cBoCYs8QAvD_BwE&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23300097782&gbraid=0AAAAAqKJRpkXwMKHsYb3EhuFeRzIdPUV2Health Check on BBC World Service: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct6vk0Elinzanetant for menopause: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/mhra-approves-elinzanetant-to-treat-moderate-to-severe-vasomotor-symptoms-hot-flushes-caused-by-menopauseThe new weight loss drugs (GLP-1 agonists): https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/13901-glp-1-agonistsExperimental Alzheimer’s Drug: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251222080119.htm

This is my 200th episode and I reflect on where medicine is at in terms of precision medicine and what it means for us.Links:Please take this 10 minute survey to help keep this podcast going: http://bit.ly/savinglivesinslowmotion-surveyGenome sequencing: https://www.genomicsengland.co.uk/blog/what-happens-when-i-go-for-whole-genome-sequencingMepan Syndrome: https://umdf.org/mepan/Ketones in dementia: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8734638/London Bus study: https://cardiachealth.org.uk/the-london-busmen-study/Drumming - physical and mental therapy?: https://melodics.com/blog/mental-health-benefits-of-drumming

Traditional medicine has been around for thousands of years. In this episode I look at what we can learn from it and how it compares to modern allopathic medicine in its approach. Please take this 10 minute survey to help keep this podcast going: http://bit.ly/savinglivesinslowmotion-surveyLinks: WHO TCIM summit: https://www.who.int/teams/who-global-traditional-medicine-centre/global-summit-and-collaborations/second-traditional-medicine-global-summitWHO — Global strategies and WHO TCIM topic pages (authoritative overview of WHO’s stance and the Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034). World Health Organization+1WHO feature: World Health OrganizationNIH/NCCIH pages on Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine. NCCIH+1African medicinal plants - a review: PMCPrunus africana: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5327751/Four sacred medicines: https://aihschgo.org/four-sacred-medicines/Ayahuasca: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/ayahuascaIcaros: https://www.nimeakaya.org/how-icaros-help-heal-participants-in-ayahuasca-ceremonies/

Anti-ageing means different things to different people. In this episode I look at what it means and what works to slow down the ageing process.Reactive oxygen species: https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/circresaha.117.311401Mitochondria and ageing: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41574-021-00626-7Inflammation (inflammaging): https://www.nature.com/articles/s41574-018-0059-4Epigenetic drift: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12487821/Protein misaggregation: https://www.buckinstitute.org/blog/unraveling-aging-how-protein-misfolding-relates-to-aging-and-disease/Dietary patterns: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/fasting-like-diet-may-help-reverse-biological-aging-2-5-yearsGut microbes: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41575-022-00605-xRapamycin - an experimental drug for anti-ageing: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanhl/article/PIIS2666-7568(23)00258-1/fulltextSenolytics: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7405395/Stem cells: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10276889/NAD / NAD+: https://www.today.com/health/aging/nad-benefits-rcna180800