Saving Lives In Slow Motion

Back 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

In this episode I look at why across much of the world mental health is in crisis. What are the reasons for this? What can we do about it? TW: mentions suicide.Systems biology in medicine: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/metabolism-digestion-reproduction/research/systems-medicine/COVID and mental health: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8758130/#Trauma and mental health: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/sep/20/trauma-trust-and-triumph-psychiatrist-bessel-van-der-kolk-on-how-to-recover-from-our-deepest-painAntipsychotic medication: https://www.bap.org.uk/articles/chlorpromazine-the-first-antipsychotic/The coal gas story, UK: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC478945/Suicide and means restriction: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(24)00157-9/fulltextGolden Gate Bridge stories and learnings: https://ennyman.medium.com/a-lesson-from-29-golden-gate-suicide-attempts-a42f4ef3f970https://edition.cnn.com/2023/11/19/us/golden-gate-bridge-suicide-safety-net/index.htmlJonny Benjamin: https://jonnybenjamin.co.uk/The Hoffman Process: https://www.hoffmaninstitute.co.uk/about-the-process/Early Years resources: https://www.annafreud.org/services/services-for-children-and-young-people/for-under-fives/early-years-in-mind/Leafyard - one of many mental health AI apps: https://www.leafyard.com/healthfix

Hydration is something many of us take for granted but in this episode I bust some myths around hydration, cover why it is important to give it some thought and why urine colour is not the best measure of how hydrated we are. Too much vs too little: https://www.instagram.com/drayanpanja/p/C16g1vfI3ZP/BUY THE HEALTH FIX NOW: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Health-Fix-Transform-Your-Weeks/dp/1914239296/ref=nodl_?dplnkId=1ba53367-030f-4f3f-ad09-4a1fc81eadf5Plethysmography: https://www.healthline.com/health/plethysmographyWater intoxication: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/water-intoxicationDiarrhoeal disease and oral rehydration therapy (ORT): https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/diarrhoeal-diseaseORT: https://ourworldindata.org/oral-rehydration-therapy8 glasses of water a day?: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-63755475#Overhydration dangers: https://www.healthline.com/health/overhydrationDelirium: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/delirium/symptoms-causes/syc-20371386What hydrates us: https://www.webmd.com/parenting/features/healthy-beveragesExcessive thirst: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/thirst/Tap water: https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/tap-water-uk-safe-to-drink-b2600254.html

The thyroid is an important gland and with many functions. Up to 10% of people have a thyroid disorder and in this episode I look at common presentations and how to keep your thyroid healthy.How thyroid hormone is made: https://www.ezmedlearning.com/blog/thyroid-hormone-synthesis-steps-pathwayHashimoto’s Disease - a common cause of hypothyroidism (underactive): https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hashimotos-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20351855Derbyshire goitre: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15719162/Nutritional factors and the thyroid: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/proceedings-of-the-nutrition-society/article/multiple-nutritional-factors-and-thyroid-disease-with-particular-reference-to-autoimmune-thyroid-disease/DBA9BAD5847376FA5E099B7ACC7556A2Iodine - a double edged sword: https://www.healthline.com/health/iodine-usesSelenium and the thyroid: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37033262/Ashwagandha: https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/acm.2017.0183Heavy metals and the thyroid: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3569681/Lioyhyronine (T3): Many people cannot convert T4 to T3 (a defect in the de-iodinase enzyme that loses the iodine molecule): https://thyroiduk.org/if-you-are-hypothyroid/treatment-options-for-hypothyroidism/treatment-options-for-hypothyroidism/liothyronine-t3/

It’s the second commonest cancer in men across the world and increasing in incidence.In this episode I look at why it occurs and what we can do prevent it, manage risk and raise awareness.Hormones and their roles in prostate cancer: https://www.ceu.ox.ac.uk/news/largest-study-to-date-confirms-role-of-two-hormones-in-aggressive-prostate-cancer-risk#Benign prostatic hypertrophy (not cancer): https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/benign-prostatic-hyperplasia/symptoms-causes/syc-20370087Genetics and prostate cancer: https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/prostate-cancer/#causesGleason grading of prostate cancer: https://www.pcf.org/about-prostate-cancer/diagnosis-staging-prostate-cancer/gleason-score-isup-gradeStress and prostate cancer: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5693840/Inflammation and prostate cancer: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4029103/#:~:text=These%20preliminary%20studies%20revealed%20that,score%207%E2%80%9310)%20disease.Exercise and prostate cancer: https://www.pcf.org/patient-resources/living-prostate-cancer/exercise-prostate-cancer/Toxins / cadmium: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41389-020-0202-7Dietary cadmium: https://bmccancer.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12885-015-1153-9#Selenium supplementation: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8971064/Prospective Japanese study on green tea: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17906295/Calcium and red meat: https://www.nature.com/articles/6604331Green tea and diet: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306987722000792Movember.comBuy my book THE HEALTH FIX on sale price now: https://rb.gy/rzknqt

The amount of health information and practitioners are constantly growing and we have a choice about where we search for this information and advice.But how do you know who is reliable? How do you decide who to trust?I explore this and more in the episode. Gen Z and their health: https://www.healthline.com/health-news/tiktok-main-source-health-information-gen-z#56%25-of-Gen-Z-users-turn-to-TikTok-for-health-and-wellness-adviceGood cheap and fast - 2 out of 3: https://audioinsurgent.substack.com/p/fast-cheap-goodpick-twoDebates around vaccines: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10070776/What health means in a digital society: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5778676/#:~:text=DefinitionsYoutube Health: https://health.youtube/Trust in health - sources: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-48663843Conflicts of interest: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2623608The role of influencers: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1553118X.2022.2042694Covid vaccine injuries: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/03/health/covid-vaccines-side-effects.html

Narrative Medicine is an important art in a consultation involving both talking and listening. In this episode I look at why it is important and how it can help our health outcomes. AI in consultations: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-13169325/GP-AI-listening-auto-generate-patient-notes-confidential-medical-information-wrong-hands.htmlNeurodivergence: https://autietraumageek.medium.com/lost-in-translation-the-social-language-theory-of-neurodivergence-part-1-of-2-1963ba0073c5Data usage in medicine: https://bjgp.org/content/68/668/e146Pre-surgery anxiety: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/surgery-anxiety#pre-surgery-vs-post-surgery-anxietyThe therapeutic benefit of being heard: https://thelionmind.org.sg/the-importance-of-being-heard-enhancing-mental-health-through-active-listening/The seven C’s: https://www.conversationsinvitingchange.com/about/Narrative medicine - journal article: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/194300A review of narrative medicine and outcomes: https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/10/1/e031568Narrative medicine - good for both patients and clinicians: https://www.thepermanentejournal.org/doi/10.7812/TPP/23.116#AI and empathy: https://www.wavestone.com/en/insight/the-empathy-paradox-can-ai-connect-with-customers-in-contact-centres/

Community as a cure? We often think of healthcare being a relationship between a clinician and a patient but amazing things can occur through the power of community and using it as sociological therapy. I look at why groups can be so powerful and how you might run one.Parkrun: home | parkrun UKWeight Watchers: How The WeightWatchers Weight-Loss Program WorksStanley Schachter’s work - an article: https://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2009/2/16/the-tribe-mentality.htmlAn example of healthy living delivered in groups, initially churches: https://www.danielplan.com/#Group consultations - Dr Rupa Joshi: https://painconcern.org.uk/empowering-patients/Shape Up: https://www.watfordfccsetrust.com/project/shape-up/Nushu: https://nushu.com/groupCommunities in health - people as a valuable commodity: https://www.health.org.uk/publications/at-the-heart-of-health-realising-the-value-of-people-and-communities#:~:text=Mental and physical health and,community capacity and resilience%2C amongRural groups in India: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9207712/Thalassemia awareness (charity): https://ukts.org/Children’s Heart Disease Awareness: https://chfed.org.uk/

Autoimmunity and autoimmune diseases are on the rise. In this episode I look at why this is the case, the mechanisms behind autoimmunity and what we can do to prevent and manage it.Innate vs adaptive immunity (including B and T cells): https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279396/#Molecular mimicry in autoimmunity: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0896841118305365#Hashimoto’s - molecular mimicry in action. Gluten mimics the surface proteins of the thyroid gland: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37554764/Autoantibodies: https://pathology.jhu.edu/autoimmune/definitionsThe rise of autoimmunity and autoimmune diseases: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9918670/#Intestinal permeability and autoimmunity: https://academic.oup.com/biohorizons/article/doi/10.1093/biohorizons/hzx015/4670557#'Leaky gut’ syndrome: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326117Autoimmune protocol diet: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/aip-diet-autoimmune-protocol-diet#how-it-worksProteus and rheumatoid arthritis; https://www.iomcworld.org/open-access/worldwide-links-between-emproteus-mirabilisem-and-rheumatoid-arthritis-46162.htmlSleep and autoimmunity: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanrhe/article/PIIS2665-9913(22)00311-3/fulltextStress and autoimmunity: https://www.autoimmuneinstitute.org/articles/stress-autoimmune-disease-navigating-the-complex-relationship/An expert opinion on the rise in autoimmunity: https://medicine.yale.edu/news-article/why-are-autoimmune-and-allergic-diseases-rising-andrew-wang/Vitamin D and autoimmunity: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2306132-vitamin-d-supplements-really-do-reduce-risk-of-autoimmune-disease/#ixzz7KF2W0SEL