Saving Lives In Slow Motion

Breathing is a basic function we all need in order to survive  but doing it correctly can have benefits to our health and the opposite is true -  breathing in a sub-optimal way can pre-dispose to certain illnesses. Mouth breathing - could it predispose to allergies, asthma and impaired immunity?:  https://www.sciencefocus.com/the-human-body/mouth-breathing Nasal breathing benefits:&...

We know that how we live affects how we age, and in this episode, rather than focusing on longevity per se,  I look at the biology of ageing and how we can adopt simple daily habits to positively affect the factors that age us.  I also talk about my Health Loop and your 'typical day’ to help lay out your unique needs for a lifestyle prescription. Links: The fear of ageing:  https://...

In this episode I answer some of the many questions that land in my inbox. I tackle both common and interesting questions from listeners over the last year or so. There’s something  for everyone here and remember to cross reference with other episodes!  Intermittent fasting (review article):  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10005873/ Hypoglycaemia:  https://ww...

Sight is one of our special senses. At least 2.2 billion people have some kind of visual impairment. In this episode I look at common eye presentations, why they occur and how we can prevent them. Trachoma - a leading cause of preventable blindness:  https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/trachoma Glaucoma:  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/glaucoma/symptoms-...

B12 deficiency affects up to 20% of people over the age of 60. It is often left undiagnosed but can present in many ways. In this episode I look at the nuance involved in making the diagnosis and treating it appropriately so that people do not come to harm. NICE guidance:  https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng239 B vitamins:  https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/vitamin-b-...

Biohacking is essentially optimising your biology to improve your health and longevity. It was popularised in Silicon Valley by the tech community and is now, and is a market that is growing by about 10% a year. But is it worth it and more importantly is it safe? Silicon Valley and biohacking:  https://www.theneweconomy.com/strategy/biohacking-the-controversial-trend-thats-taking-over-si...

This week I look at hormones and how they are crucial to our health. From our adrenal glands to our thyroid through to our sex hormones, they are important to keep in balance much like instruments in an orchestra. Endocrine overview:  https://www.epa.gov/endocrine-disruption/overview-endocrine-system Steroid pathway diagram:  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41435-021-00139-3 Oxytocin:&n...

Yoga has been practised for thousands of years but as many people are cynical about trying it as there are huge fans of it. In this episode I share my own experiences and the benefits yoga can confer to our health.  Links: Barriers to yoga (Nepalese sudy):  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8039334/ Yoga effects on brain health:  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/...

Perfectionism has risen in the workplace in recent years. It can be a huge positive in terms of work standards but also predisposes people to stress, anxiety and burnout. In this episode I look at ways to capitalise on its strengths and mitigate any negatives. Not sure if you are one? Take the quiz below. Links:  Take the quiz - are you a perfectionist?:  https://www.livewellwithsharonma...

This is an argument that rages on in the world of nutrition and medicine. In this episode I look at what food is, what it does to us in terms of our health and the mechanisms behind it and give you my verdict on whether I consider it to be medicine or not. Ultra processed foods - review: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10899807/ Protein benefits:  https://www.healthline.com/...

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...

Mind Body Medicine is fascinating but has been poorly understood over the years. I believe it is more important to try to understand better now more than ever as we are surrounded by medically unexplained symptoms and non-communicable symptoms and diseases.  In this episode I look at the origins and theories behind it as well as link to the evidence in the show notes. Links: The Holmes-R...

This is a super hot topic in health care in some parts of the world at the moment. In this episode I look at how these drugs work and the pros and cons of taking them for weight loss purposes. Obesity, in some instances, is in essence a form of ‘malnutrition’ because of the nature of food consumed and how rates have increased rapidly over the last 40 years. Body Mass Index definition: https://www....

CGM has changed lives for the better people with Type 1 Diabetes but nowadays people without diabetes use it as a tool. In this episode I look at the pros and cons of CGM and how it can be used as a lens into our general health and how it is linked to our gut microbiome amongst many other systems. Links: CGM early days review:  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4717493/ Prof P...

In this episode I look at smart phones. They have changed the way we live beyond imagination  but are they doing us any harm in terms of the way we think and behave? Links: Life before smartphones: https://medium.com/be-unique/before-smartphones-were-a-thing-87208717b8d7 Teenage brain:  https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/teen/Pages/Whats-Going-On-in-the-Teenage-Brai...

Addictions can ruin lives but why do they occur in the first place and what can we do to acknowledge them better? In this episode Iook at why they can be so hard to conquer and touch on different aspects of addiction. Links:  How the addicted brain works: https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/how-an-addicted-brain-works Sugar - why most of us could easily have a sweet tooth: https://theconversati...

Becoming a parent is a gift but it has its challenges. In this episode I look at some factors to be mindful of including the difference between the child and adult brain plus micro tips to help navigate your way through the maze of parenthood.  Links:  Parenting styles:  https://www.parents.com/parenting/better-parenting/style/parenting-styles-explained/ Brain development in ch...

Skin - it’s known as our largest ‘organ’ and most of us have had some kind of skin issue. This is my 101. Enjoy! Guttate psoriasis:  https://www.healthline.com/health/psoriasis-guttate Pitiryiasis rosea:  https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/pityriasis-rosea-symptoms Scarlet fever:  https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/176242 Slapped cheek syndrome: https://www.nhs.uk/condit...

Health screening has exploded over the last 20 years. Is it a money making exercise or actually worth it? In this episode I look at the pros and cons and how you can decide what may be worth doing and the reason people decide they need it. Links: UK ethics of health screening:  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-nsc-ethical-framework-for-screening/uk-nsc-ethical-framework...

There isn’t a week in practice when I don’t get asked about food intolerances and how to test for them. It’s a contentious topic that needs  some deconstructing. In this episode I look at what is and isn't intolerance and how to proceed if you think you have a food intolerance. Links: Food intolerance vs allergy - official guidance:  https://www.allergyuk.org/resources/food-intolera...

Lyme Disease rates have doubled in the last 30 years in the USA and rates are rising across the world in affected areas. In this episode I look at Lyme, other tick-borne illnesses and the mystery symptoms they can give rise to, as well as strategies to treat and prevent them. Lyme disease factsheet: https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/borreliosis/facts/factsheet The Bullseye rash:  https://www.cdc....

Cholesterol has become an obsession for so many people over the last 50 years. In this episode I look at the story of cholesterol and why it is important and when to worry about it. Links: The history of cholesterol:  https://www.escardio.org/Journals/E-Journal-of-Cardiology-Practice/Volume-19/history-in-medicine-the-story-of-cholesterol-lipids-and-cardiology Food and cholesterol: ...

TW: Sensitive topic: one in six people worldwide are now affected by infertility and rates have soared over the last 30 years.  In this episode I look at the reasons behind it and what we can do about it on an individual and societal level. Childlessness: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/oct/02/the-desire-to-have-a-child-never-goes-away-how-the-involuntarily-childless-are-forming...

Minor illness seems trivial, but is it always simple to deal with and when do we need to think more carefully about what can seem like minor illness on the surface?  Lay referral:  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1316199/pdf/brjgenprac004944500617.pdf The debate about doctors and Physician Associates:  https://www.bmj.com/content/383/bmj.p2449 Sore throat causes: ...

In this episode I look at ADHD which is increasing in prevalence due to increased diagnoses. There are many features to this condition which need unpacking. I look at the causes, what we can do to help manage ADHD and why it occurs in the first place.  The increase in diagnosis:  https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2023/jul/significant-rise-adhd-diagnoses-uk ADHD and dopamine - seeking...