Infectious diseases remain a central pillar of public health practice. Despite advances in vaccination, sanitation, and antimicrobial therapy, communicable diseases continue to shape global mortality patterns - particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

This episode examines:

• Modes of transmission - airborne, vector-borne, waterborne, contact• Ba…

Neurological diseases contribute substantially to global mortality and disability. Conditions such as stroke, dementia, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, and neurodevelopmental disorders collectively represent a major and growing public health challenge, particularly as populations age.

This episode examines:

• The global burden of neurological disease• Stro…

Musculoskeletal disorders are among the leading causes of disability worldwide, contributing significantly to years lived with disability across all regions. Conditions such as low back pain, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoporosis impose substantial personal, social, and economic costs.

This episode explores:

• Global epidemiology of muscu…

Oral diseases are among the most common non-communicable conditions worldwide, yet they often remain overlooked in broader health policy discussions. Dental caries, periodontal disease, and oral cancers contribute significantly to pain, disability, and reduced quality of life across all age groups.

This episode explores:

• The global burden of oral disease

Mental health is fundamental to overall health, yet its determinants extend far beyond individual diagnosis. Suicide alone accounts for more than 700,000 deaths globally each year, representing a major public health concern across age groups and regions.

This episode examines:

• The global epidemiology of mental disorders and suicide• Social determinants …

Diabetes has emerged as one of the most significant non-communicable diseases worldwide, with rapidly increasing prevalence across high-, middle-, and low-income countries. Once considered a condition of affluence, it now disproportionately affects disadvantaged populations.

This episode examines:

• Global epidemiology of type 1 and type 2 diabetes• Patho…

Physical inactivity is a leading risk factor for global mortality and contributes substantially to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, certain cancers, musculoskeletal disorders, and poor mental health. Despite clear evidence of benefit, modern environments increasingly discourage movement.

This episode examines:

• The global burden of physical inactivity• …

Obesity is one of the defining public health challenges of the twenty-first century. Once concentrated in high-income nations, it now affects populations across all income levels and regions, contributing substantially to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and musculoskeletal disorders.

This episode examines:

• Global trends and epidemiological tra…

Chronic respiratory diseases rarely command the urgency of pandemics or malignancy, yet they impose a vast and persistent global burden. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma together account for millions of deaths and even more years lived with disability.

In this episode of Medlock Holmes: Global Public Health, Holmes turns to the air…

Cancer is not a single disease but a family of disorders defined by uncontrolled cellular growth, genomic instability, and progressive invasion. It is both biological inevitability and environmental consequence - shaped by ageing, exposure, behaviour, and inequity.

In this episode of Medlock Holmes: Global Public Health, Holmes examines the epidemiologic…