Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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/B0B2VTFFVS
Med 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/
Save your life in slow motion and those of others by subscribing now and sharing. Thank you for listening and for your support. It means a lot to me.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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/
Health Check on BBC World Service: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct6vk0
Elinzanetant for menopause: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/mhra-approves-elinzanetant-to-treat-moderate-to-severe-vasomotor-symptoms-hot-flushes-caused-by-menopause
The new weight loss drugs (GLP-1 agonists): https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/13901-glp-1-agonists
Experimental Alzheimer’s Drug: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251222080119.htm
Save your life in slow motion and those of others by subscribing now and sharing. Thank you for listening and for your support. It means a lot to me.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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-survey
Genome sequencing: https://www.genomicsengland.co.uk/blog/what-happens-when-i-go-for-whole-genome-sequencing
Mepan 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
Save your life in slow motion and those of others by subscribing now and sharing. Thank you for listening and for your support. It means a lot to me.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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-survey
Links:
WHO TCIM summit: https://www.who.int/teams/who-global-traditional-medicine-centre/global-summit-and-collaborations/second-traditional-medicine-global-summit
WHO — Global strategies and WHO TCIM topic pages (authoritative overview of WHO’s stance and the Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034). World Health Organization+1
WHO feature: World Health Organization
Save your life in slow motion and those of others by subscribing now and sharing. Thank you for listening and for your support. It means a lot to me.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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.117.311401
Mitochondria and ageing: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41574-021-00626-7
Inflammation (inflammaging): https://www.nature.com/articles/s41574-018-0059-4
Epigenetic 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-years
Gut microbes: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41575-022-00605-x
Rapamycin - an experimental drug for anti-ageing: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanhl/article/PIIS2666-7568(23)00258-1/fulltext
Senolytics: 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
Save your life in slow motion and those of others by subscribing now and sharing. Thank you for listening and for your support. It means a lot to me.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
80% of us go online to look up health related content. Many of us look up symptoms which is natural but how do we know we are doing it safely?
Here I look at the pros and pitfalls of doing this and how to decide when to see a medical professional.
Links:
Peripheral neuropathy: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/peripheral-neuropathy/
Internet vs GP 2013 (me on BBC1): https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p019px0x
Digital triage: https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/digitally-enabled-triage/
Trust in doctors: https://www.wsj.com/health/wellness/why-we-dont-trust-doctors-like-we-used-to-79784b56
Depression questionnaire: https://patient.info/doctor/mental-health/phq-9
National Back Pain pathway: https://www.southtees.nhs.uk/services/back-pain/national-low-back-and-radicular-pain-pathway/
Ada Health - on of the leaders in symptom checking: https://ada.com/
Save your life in slow motion and those of others by subscribing now and sharing. Thank you for listening and for your support. It means a lot to me.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease affecting our cartilage and joints causing pain and debility. In this episode I look at what it is, prevention strategies and the latest treatments.
Please take this 10 minute survey to help keep this podcast going: http://bit.ly/savinglivesinslowmotion-survey
OA overview: https://www.healthdata.org/news-events/newsroom/news-releases/lancet-new-study-reveals-most-common-form-arthritis
Neck stretches: https://www.csp.org.uk/conditions/neck-pain/video-exercises-neck-pain
Lectins: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024155028
Ultra-processed foods and OA: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11990240/
Apos Therapy (biomechanic therapy): https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/mtg76/informationforpublic
Glucosamine and chondroitin: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/the-latest-on-glucosaminechondroitin-supplements-2016101710391
Chondrocyte implants: https://www.arthritis.org/health-wellness/treatment/joint-surgery/preplanning/the-future-of-joint-repair
Omega 3: https://fjps.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s43094-024-00667-5
Save your life in slow motion and those of others by subscribing now and sharing. Thank you for listening and for your support. It means a lot to me.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Do superfoods exist? What makes a food a superfood and how does it relate to everyday life? In this episode I take a broader look at this ever popular topic.
Links:
Survey about this podcast: http://bit.ly/savinglivesinslowmotion-survey
A list of ‘superfoods’: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/true-superfoods
Fibre benefits: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0261561423003631
Low fibre benefits: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9268622/
Pica: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22944-pica
Apples: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/11/4025
Flax seeds; https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods/flaxseeds
Extra Virgin Olive Oil: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11430205/
Gremolata: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/gremolata
Herbs and spices: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6532192/
The Health Fix: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Health-Fix-Dr-Ayan-Panja/dp/1914239326
Save your life in slow motion and those of others by subscribing now and sharing. Thank you for listening and for your support. It means a lot to me.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
It seems that the mental health crisis is never ending and although awareness is much better, spotting the signs can be hard as there are so many factors.
In this episode I look at how we approach mental health. This information does not replace professional advice and if you feel you need support then please reach out to a qualified health care practitioner.
Depression as an inflammatory condition: https://www.maudsleybrc.nihr.ac.uk/posts/2021/may/inflammation-is-a-core-feature-of-depression-new-evidence-from-large-scale-study/
Methylation and mental health: https://foodforthebrain.org/methylation-why-is-it-important-for-mental-health/
Talking and checking-in campaign: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tX8TgVR33KM
Hugs: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/oct/26/hugs-science-airport-minutes
Talking to yourself and inner child work for beginners: https://www.innermelbpsychology.com.au/what-is-inner-child-work-and-how-to-get-started/
Circle of control: https://positivepsychology.com/circles-of-influence/
Help and stats: https://www.mind.org.uk/
My book, The Health Fix: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Health-Fix-Transform-Your-Weeks/dp/1914239296
Save your life in slow motion and those of others by subscribing now and sharing. Thank you for listening and for your support. It means a lot to me.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode I cover a range of symptoms that I have seen recently, what they may mean, how to handle them as well as what I am noticing in primary care.
Links:
Silent reflux: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15024-laryngopharyngeal-reflux-lpr
Tietze’s syndrome (chest pain): https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23565-tietze-syndrome
Costochondritis: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22167-costochondritis
Panic attack symptoms: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/podcasts/health-essentials/heart-attack-vs-panic-attack-how-to-tell-the-difference
Silent pneumonia: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15744-pneumonia-atypical-walking-pneumonia
Hair loss: https://www.pcds.org.uk/clinical-guidance/alopecia-male-and-female-pattern-alopecia
Phases of hair growth: https://www.healthline.com/health/stages-of-hair-growth#maintaining-hair-health
Hair loss and DHT: https://www.healthline.com/health/dht#testosterone
AI and medicine - chatGPT vs GP: https://substack.com/@drayanpanja/note/p-177463006?r=2efcdx&utm_source=notes-share-action&utm_medium=web
Save your life in slow motion and those of others by subscribing now and sharing. Thank you for listening and for your support. It means a lot to me.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sepsis can kill. It is an important public health issue that we all need to be aware of as swift action can save lives.
In this episode I look at what it is, how we can prevent it and some common examples from the consulting room.
Links:
Survey: Your opinion matters. SURVEY here - please help me by taking this 10 minute survey -thank you!: http://bit.ly/savinglivesinslowmotion-survey
Lily's story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cr70zr51rmeo
The Sepsis Trust and the SEPSIS 6: https://sepsistrust.org/about-sepsis/
Meningitis B: https://www.healthline.com/health/meningitis/meningitis-b
Groups of people and vulnerability to sepsis: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sepsis/who-can-get-it/
Save your life in slow motion and those of others by subscribing now and sharing. Thank you for listening and for your support. It means a lot to me.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Stress is an invisible killer. The longer it goes on and remains unaddressed, the more harm it causes.
In this episode I look at sources of stress and some techniques I find useful beyond standard stress management advice.
Links:
Audience survey - thank you so much! http://bit.ly/savinglivesinslowmotion-survey
Stress management techniques: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/stress/managing-stress-and-building-resilience/
Circle of control: https://positivepsychology.com/circles-of-influence/
Exercise and stress: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/exercise-and-stress/art-20044469
Benefits of journalling: https://www.healthline.com/health/benefits-of-journaling
Stressors: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/types-of-stressors
Alternate nostril breathing: https://www.healthline.com/health/alternate-nostril-breathing
Expressed emotion: https://link.springer.com/rwe/10.1007/978-3-319-49425-8_415
Ego: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/what-is-the-ego
Stress and addiction: https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/science-choice/201705/stress-and-addiction
Save your life in slow motion and those of others by subscribing now and sharing. Thank you for listening and for your support. It means a lot to me.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
1 in 5 people on earth experience heartburn or reflux symptoms. It’s strikingly common, more so in the western hemisphere. In this episode I look at the causes and some treatments.
Reflux in babies: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-54792702
Silent reflux or LPR: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15024-laryngopharyngeal-reflux-lpr
PPI drugs: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/proton-pump-inhibitors
H Pylori and stomach ulcers: https://gutscharity.org.uk/2019/10/the-doctor-who-infected-himself-to-solve-a-medical-mystery/
Histamine blockers - the ranitidine story: https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/zantac-heartburn-timeline-1.5330575
Risks of PPI drugs: https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/proton-pump-inhibitors-ppi
Hiatus hernia: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hiatus-hernia/
My book The Health Fix: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Health-Fix-Dr-Ayan-Panja/dp/1914239326
Turmeric and PPI for dyspepsia: https://ebm.bmj.com/content/28/6/400
Probiotics: https://www.healthline.com/health/gerd/probiotics-for-acid-reflux
Ginger: https://www.healthline.com/health/digestive-health/ginger-for-acid-reflux
LINX procedure: https://www.healthline.com/health/gerd/gerd-linx-procedure
Save your life in slow motion and those of others by subscribing now and sharing. Thank you for listening and for your support. It means a lot to me.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
It’s a boon that so many people ask for on the back of feeling tired or fatigued - more energy.
Here are my 5 tips which will help you feel more energetic during the day.
Links:
Your opinion matters. SURVEY here - please help me by taking this 10 minute survey -thank you!: http://bit.ly/savinglivesinslowmotion-survey
Mind body link: https://positivepsychology.com/body-mind-integration-attention-training/
Movement and mood: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/how-simply-moving-benefits-your-mental-health-201603289350
Hydration: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/7-health-benefits-of-water
Energy foods: https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/energy_boosting_foods
Low GL diet: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/low-glycemic-diet
Sleep and energy: https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/how-sleep-boosts-your-energy
Getting outdoors: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6562165/
Buy THE HEALTH FIX now: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Health-Fix-Transform-Your-Weeks/dp/1914239296
Save your life in slow motion and those of others by subscribing now and sharing. Thank you for listening and for your support. It means a lot to me.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
I am down with a cough and cold at the moment, and it got me thinking about immunity, seasons and people’s beliefs about illness as well as what we can do to stave off these bugs.
Links:
Your opinion matters. SURVEY here - please help me by taking this 10 minute survey -thank you!: http://bit.ly/savinglivesinslowmotion-survey
Hippocrates and Galen: https://www.thecolourworks.com/blog/hippocrates-galen-the-four-humours
Germ theory: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK24649/
The UK Biobank study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33817568/
VItamin C and colds: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38082300/
Vitamin D: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7551809/
Zinc: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36290585/
Salt water gargle: https://www.healthline.com/health/salt-water-gargle
Turmeric: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/tumeric-for-bronchitis
Save your life in slow motion and those of others by subscribing now and sharing. Thank you for listening and for your support. It means a lot to me.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Parkinson’s Disease (PD) affects more people every year with a global increase in ageing populations. There is no cure for the condition but medication can alleviate symptoms. In this episode I look at the causes of the disease and what we can do to prevent it.
Your opinion matters. SURVEY here - please help me by taking this 10 minute survey -thank you!: http://bit.ly/savinglivesinslowmotion-survey
The Parkinson's pandemic: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laneur/article/PIIS1474-4422(20)30302-1/fulltext
Gut-brain link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10358673/
REM sleep behaviour disorder: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24465-rem-sleep-behavior-disorder-rbd
Per Borghammer - body-first and brain first model: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVew2OVZTXs
Leaky gut in Parkinsons Disease: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/ebiom/article/PIIS2352-3964(25)00240-3/fulltext
Coeliac Disease, gluten sensitivity and Parkinson’s Disease link (a literature review): https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12011982/
H pylori and Parkinson’s Disease: https://immunityageing.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12979-023-00404-1
Diet: https://www.healthline.com/health/parkinsons-and-diet
Exercise - tai chi: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-67208745
Iron overload: https://www.aan.com/PressRoom/home/PressRelease/30
Vitamin D: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667268523000499
Pesticides: https://www.uclahealth.org/news/release/researchers-identify-10-pesticides-toxic-neurons-involved
Rotenone (insecticide) and PD: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41531-023-00561-6
Save your life in slow motion and those of others by subscribing now and sharing. Thank you for listening and for your support. It means a lot to me.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Vaccines are often the subject of heated discussion. In this episode I share some thoughts on the topics as it affects us all and
needs handling sensitively.
Your opinion matters. SURVEY here - thank you!: http://bit.ly/savinglivesinslowmotion-survey
Edward Jenner and vaccine discovery: https://www.jenner.ac.uk/about/edward-jenner
A broad overview: https://www.who.int/news-room/spotlight/history-of-vaccination/a-brief-history-of-vaccination
Common short term side effects of vaccines: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5dfa14bfed915d54aca2b837/PHE_what_to_expect_after_vaccination_English.pdf
Old Friends Hypothesis: https://www.news-medical.net/health/Old-Friends-Hypothesis.aspx
Herd Immunity explained: https://vaccineknowledge.ox.ac.uk/herd-immunity
Vaccine hesitancy: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1jgrlxx37do
Measles in the USA: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/measles-is-making-a-comeback-can-we-stop-it-202503063091
Vaccine injury cases: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gzleyydp8o#
Neanderthal genes and COVID: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3673483
Decision making and vaccines: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264410X25004311
Travel vaccines: https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/
Save your life in slow motion and those of others by subscribing now and sharing. Thank you for listening and for your support. It means a lot to me.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode I look at this big question which I often hear in the consulting room, the reasons that lie behind it and what the point to life might be.
Your opinion matters. SURVEY here - thank you!: http://bit.ly/savinglivesinslowmotion-survey
Nihilism in philosophy: https://www.learnreligions.com/what-is-nihilism-history-250581
Cosmic Insignificance: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4340547/
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs: https://www.bitesizelearning.co.uk/resources/maslows-hierarchy-of-needs-theory
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: https://therisingsuncounseling.com/acceptance-and-commitment-therapy-a-framework-for-a-meaningful-life-copy/
Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman: https://www.oliverburkeman.com/fourthousandweeks
The science behind gratitude: https://positivepsychology.com/neuroscience-of-gratitude/
The benefits of volunteering: https://www.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk/volunteering/why-volunteer/benefits-of-volunteering/
Ways to ask for help if you struggle to: https://www.wondermind.com/article/asking-for-help/
Save your life in slow motion and those of others by subscribing now and sharing. Thank you for listening and for your support. It means a lot to me.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Continuity of care saves lives. There is evidence that outcomes are improved and it
used to be a core part of medicine. In recent years for many reasons continuity has been
slightly eroded. In this episode I make the case for it and give examples of why it can be
of critical importance.
Links:
Please help me improve my content for you by taking this audience survey which takes 10 minutes:
http://bit.ly/savinglivesinslowmotion-survey
Study on continuity and outcomes: https://bjgp.org/content/72/715/e84
How seeing the same doctor has changed in the UK: https://www.bmj.com/content/389/bmj.r833
Patient examples of the benefits: https://www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/news-item/the-importance-of-continuity-four-personal-viewpoints
Save your life in slow motion and those of others by subscribing now and sharing. Thank you for listening and for your support. It means a lot to me.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
PCOS is a growing global issue. Its prevalence has increased in recent years and the reasons behind it are complex.
In this episode I look at its roots, causes and impact plus what we can do about it in terms of lifestyle and treatments.
Links:
Depression and PCOS: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10607337/
LH (luteinziing hormone): https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/22255-luteinizing-hormone
LH:FSH ratio in PCOS: https://gpnotebook.com/en-GB/pages/gynaecology/polycystic-ovarian-syndrome-hormonal-measurements-in
Pancreatic function in PCOS: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9962893/
The gut microbiome and PCOS: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9998696/
The steroid synthesis pathway starting with cholesterol: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Biosynthesis-of-steroid-hormones-from-the-cholesterol-pathway_fig1_258055538
Angelique Panagos book on hormonal balance: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Balance-Plan-Optimize-Hormonal-Health/dp/1844039447
Save your life in slow motion and those of others by subscribing now and sharing. Thank you for listening and for your support. It means a lot to me.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.