Saving Lives In Slow Motion

Longevity seems to be in fashion at the moment. Almost everyone wants long and healthy lives but how can we achieve that? How long is too long?  In this episode I look at commonalities between the populations on earth that live the longest ‘best’ lives. Links: Blue Zones - Dan Buettner’s work with National Geographic: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6125071/ Smoking ban...

Most people have heard of the placebo effect but is it real and why does it occur? In this episode I look at how placebos may exert their effects and some examples of where they have worked.  Is the placebo something that can be used to our advantage? And why do some people experience a nocebo? Links: Ted Kaptchuk and his work on placebo:  https://www.harvardmagazine.com/2013/01/the-plac...

One of the hardest things people often find is to get going with things. How do you motivate yourself and how do you keep momentum going? I have struggled with procrastination myself in the past. In this episode I look at ways to make motivating yourself easier, the different drivers involved and what makes us tick when it comes to turning contemplation into action. The science of motivation:...

Our monkey brain is the part of our brain that is impulsive and powerful, hijacking us when we are tired or stressed. Ever regretted shouting at someone? Ever gorged yourself on food and then regretted it?  In this episode I explore why this happens, the links to our past experiences and our neuroanatomy. Links: Anatomy of the brain:  https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/condition...

TW: (this episode mentions death)   Leadership takes many guises. Some people are born leaders and other have to learn it. What makes a good leader?  No business or organisation could survive without it and we know how bad leadership can damage organisations.  In this episode I look at types of leadership, the qualities of a good leader, what to do about toxic leaders and...

Change can be fun or stressful depending on what it is. Until I did my GP training 20 years ago I didn’t realise that change needs to be managed. Change often happens ‘to’ us but we need to be mindful of how to manage it and particularly if we want to make changes for ourselves. Links: Bridges Transition model:  https://wmbridges.com/about/what-is-transition/ Kotter’s Framework for chang...

Thank you for your support with the release of THE HEALTH FIX which has become an instant bestseller on Amazon. In this episode I dive into the method of the book by going over my own health story which was the catalyst for me writing it. I then look at The Health Loop which turns 'what' into ‘why’. I hope it makes sense and remember to cross refer to previous episode...

Happy New Year! In this episode I look at the different ways people approach a 'new year' and discuss the principles I use myself to get through what is undoubtedly a tough time in history. A lot has happened over the past 2 years and we need a way of coming out of that. What are your plans for 2023? I’d love to hear from you on my socials. Links:  Have people changed since COVID? ...

Today’s episode is on antibiotics. The balance between increasing resistance and lack of effectiveness and saving lives is increasingly difficult to navigate. Antibiotic resistance:  https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/antimicrobial-resistance Longer term effects of antibiotics:  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32319703/ Vitamin D and sepsis:  https://www.ncbi.nlm....

TW: Today’s episode is on cancer which will affect one in two people. I look at the different types, the variables that cause it, whether there are ways of preventing cancer and also why some cancers are common and others not.  Links: How cancer starts:  https://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/cell-division-and-cancer-14046590/ Why are cancers on the rise?:  https://news.harvard.e...

This episode is about prevention. What do we mean by it and how can we make prevention accessible? There is prevention on a public health level but also we take precautions as individuals. I look at examples of both and try to separate out the different types plus a living example of prevention at work (Dr David Unwin). Links:  Global patterns of disease:  https://ourworldindat...

Personalised medicine is the future. We live in a world of AI and machine learning and the expectation of medicine is to be more precise. Can we get half way there ourselves by thinking about things a certain way? How do we get to the root cause? Leroy Hood:  https://isbscience.org/bio/leroy-hood/ P4 medicine:  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4204402/ The counterpoint to P4...

Why is teamwork important? Are teams all they’re cracked up to be? What makes a good team? Is it personalities, culture or beyond? In the episode I look at what makes teams work and what factors to consider when creating an effective team. Do listen right to the end until I get to the bit where you I leave you with some thoughts as I'd love to hear your analysis Links: Hackman’s fiv...

TW: I talk about manipulation and harm in relationships. Toxic people drain us. Is it 'them' or their behaviours?  Many people develop these toxic behaviours because of their early life. In this episode I discuss the features to look out for and what we can do about them.  Toxic traits:  https://www.betterup.com/blog/toxic-traits Toxic people - another view:  https://...

Allergies are on the rise and can range from mild to life threatening. In this episode I look at how they originate, why they are increasing in prevalence and what we can do about it. The show notes and links below contain texting methods and some of the many themes covered in this episode. (TW: I talk about a case of life threatening anaphylaxis). Links: The allergic cascade:  https://www.me...

Both of these potentially debilitating conditions are often experienced together and affect up to 1 in 4 people at any time. In this episode I look at the underlying reasons, what we can do about them and how to approach depression and anxiety practically. Links: NHS waiting list:  https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/nhs-mental-health-waiting-list-b2145432.html Definitions and statistic...

Jealousy is something most of us have experienced from both sides. In this episode I look at the different types of jealousy, the reasons behind it, and discuss whether it can be ‘normal’ or not.  The evolutionary psychology of jealousy:  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5609545/ Jealousy in the first year of life:  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5302134/ O...

Self-care sounds pretty obvious but is it? There are so many definitions of self-care and here I make the argument that it is actually totally individual. We know the public health messaging around the basics such as alcohol, smoking, diet, exercise and sleep, but self-care goes way beyond these. What do you think of as self-care? We explore more in thi...

TW: Today’s episode covers death.  What is a good death and is it important? In my work I see examples of good and bad deaths depending on how it is perceived by those who bear witness to it and those left behind. I discuss whether death planning is something we should talk about more as a society as death is an inevitable part of life. Links: BMJ article - A good death:  https://www.bmj...

Feedback is a part of everyday life.  It is used in most industries as a learning tool but is it help or hindrance?  Here I look at types of feedback and how we can give and receive it better. Links: Building a feedback culture:  https://hbr.org/2013/12/building-a-feedback-rich-culture Pendleton feedback rules:  https://www.thecoach.zone/a-method-of-delivering-a-great-feedback-...

Failure and feelings of failure are common. Where do they come form? Why do some people feel like failures when others don’t? I explore this and ways to combat feelings of failure in our lives. Schema:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F624Baz-Vzk Human failure and its types:  https://www.hse.gov.uk/humanfactors/topics/types.pdf Failure is essential for success:  https://ww...

TW: This is a topic close to my heart having had colleagues and friends succumb to it. In the UK it has never been a harder time to be a doctor, but it’s not about us - burnout can affect anyone.  I hope you find the episode and these links useful.  Burnout - a paper by Prof Maslach:  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4911781/ Burnout and the brain:  https:...

This episode is about mentoring which I think is much needed in the world today. Many of us will have had incredible mentors who selflessly give up their time and knowledge in order to help others. I feel it is a way of paying it forward and that both mentors and mentees to help each other grow and learn. Beyond Ed Peile who I mention in the episode I would like to acknowledge and thank Jon F...

Singing is something close to my heart and I feel it does not get enough attention for it’s multiple health benefits. It is accessible to so many and is an easy thing to take up and enjoy. In this episode I explore the benefits to almost every body system which singing can confer. Links: Social prescribing: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/12/26/nhs-should-prescribe-tango-dancing-book-clubs-n...

Triage is increasingly being used in healthcare outside the emergency setting to help filter urgent from non-urgent.  With the growing use of artificial intelligence, triage algorithms are becoming more reliable. I look at the pros and cons of triage from the view point of both patient and practitioner.  Links:  Triage and it’s background:  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...