Saving Lives In Slow Motion

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

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