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.edu/gazette/story/2022/09/researchers-report-dramatic-rise-in-early-onset-cancers/

The commonest cancers: https://www.healthline.com/health/most-common-cancers

Viruses and cancer: https://www.cancer.org/healthy/cancer-causes/infectious-agents/infections-that-can-lead-to-cancer/viruses.html 

David Servan-Schreiber, the author of *anti-cancer* (survived over 20 years after being given 3 months to live): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VNjuBgHIAw

RAS genes and signalling: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2019.00965/full

Dr Carl June and CAR T cell therapy: https://www.pennmedicine.org/news/news-releases/2022/november/car-t-cell-therapy-reaches-beyond-cancer

Macmillan Cancer Support: https://www.macmillan.org.uk/

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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://ourworldindata.org/burden-of-disease

Non-communicable disease: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/noncommunicable-diseases

Leading causes of global mortality: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/the-top-10-causes-of-death

The DASH diet: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/dash-diet/art-20048456

Turmeric and Alzheimer’s Disease: https://actaneurocomms.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40478-018-0577-2

Press ups and heart disease: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2724778

Dr David Unwin and his work on diabetes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlKDM3SDHPA

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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 medicine: https://academic.oup.com/jalm/article/4/1/108/5603054

David Unwin’s work on type 2 diabetes: https://collegeofmedicine.org.uk/our-beyond-pills-campaign-dr-david-unwin-on-beating-diabetes-with-diet-and-how-his-own-merseyside-practice-has-saved-68000-a-year-on-drugs/

Group consultations:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/gp/case-studies/group-consultations-together-patients-are-stronger/

Leafyard: AI driven mental health app (COI: I am in a partnership with Leafyard): https://www.leafyard.com/healthfix

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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 five factor model: http://www.free-management-ebooks.com/faqld/development-03.htm

Why teams don’t work: https://hbr.org/2009/05/why-teams-dont-work

Belbin - Dr Meredith Belbin’s tool used commonly to work out what your role in a team might be: https://www.belbin.com

A story of teams trying something different: https://willitmaketheboatgofaster.com/about/

"Forming, norming, storming and performing": https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_86.htm

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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://www.purewow.com/wellness/traits-of-toxic-people

Everyday narcissism: https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/the-author-speaks/201708/everyday-narcissism

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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.medicinenet.com/allergic_cascade/article.htm

Cows Milk Allergy - IgE and non-IgE: https://www.allergyuk.org/about-allergy/allergy-in-childhood/cows-milk-allergy/

Peanut allergy - the LEAP study: https://www.leapstudy.co.uk

Anaphylaxis: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/anaphylaxis/

The Hygiene Hypothesis - outdated?: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1700688114

Rook and the Old Friends Hypothesis: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3868387/

Gut flora and allergies: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/gut-microbes-may-be-key-to-solving-food-allergies/

Intolerances: https://www.allergyuk.org/about-allergy/allergy-vs-intolerance/

Vitamin D and allergy: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4369152/

Immunotherapy: https://www.anaphylaxis.org.uk/fact-sheet/allergen-immunotherapy/

MI allergy: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4689087/

Testing methods for allergies: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/allergy-testing

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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 statistics: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/statistics-and-facts-about-mental-health/how-common-are-mental-health-problems/

The genetic basis of depression: https://journals.lww.com/hrpjournal/fulltext/2015/01000/genetic_determinants_of_depression__recent.1.aspx

DNA methylation and depression: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6362194/

NICE guidance and treatment of depression: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng222

CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy): https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/talking-therapies-and-counselling/cognitive-behavioural-therapy-cbt/overview/

Adolescent depression: https://www.hindawi.com/journals/drt/2020/5951792/

Cultural influences on mental health: https://pha.berkeley.edu/2017/04/16/cultural-influences-on-mental-health/

Box breathing: https://www.healthline.com/health/box-breathing

Mindfulness (being in the moment): https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/drugs-and-treatments/mindfulness/about-mindfulness/

The Power of Now: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Power-Now-Guide-Spiritual-Enlightenment/dp/0340733500

Pre-order my book now: THE HEALTH FIX >  https://www.amazon.co.uk/Health-Fix-Transform-Your-Weeks/dp/1914239296

Leafyard (CBT based app): Leayard.com/actnow

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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/

Othello syndrome: https://www.medicinenet.com/othello_syndrome/definition.htm

Famous examples of jealousy from books and films: https://blog.ted.com/9-memorable-manic-moments-of-jealousy-in-literature/

Keeping up with the Joneses: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26190653/

Managing jealousy and abusive behaviours: https://respectphoneline.org.uk/resources/resources-for-perpetrators/factsheets-hp/managing-jealousy/

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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 this episode.

Links:

The Health Fix (pre-order): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Health-Fix-Transform-Your-Weeks/dp/1914239296

The self-care continuum: https://www.selfcareforum.org/about-us/what-do-we-mean-by-self-care-and-why-is-good-for-people/

The benefits of exercise: https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/exercise-benefits-weekend-two-days-1874641

Garlic ; )

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7570905/

Extra Virgin Olive Oil: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30487558/

Maslow’s hierarchy: https://www.masterclass.com/articles/a-guide-to-the-5-levels-of-maslows-hierarchy-of-needs

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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.com/content/320/7228/129

Elisabeth Kubler-Ross: https://www.ekrfoundation.org/elisabeth-kubler-ross/quotes/

Euthanasia: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8857436/

Merope Mills article: 

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/sep/03/13-year-old-daughter-dead-in-five-weeks-hospital-mistakes

Marie Curie (end of life care charity): https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/blog/we-cant-prevent-death/153956

Death planning: https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/talkabout/articles/get-your-planning-checklist/260241

Why smell is so evocative: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3782615/

Puja flowers (my favourite smell): https://www.thedailystar.net/lifestyle/spotlight/flowers-my-goddess-159139

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