In this episode I look at something that comes to us all, not death itself, but the run up towards it. How can we prepare for the inevitable in the best possible way? Is it even possible?

Longevity as an obsession: https://www.theguardian.com/wellness/2024/sep/13/rich-men-longevity-history

Urgency culture, burnout and modern life: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/urgency-culture-burnout

Being busy: https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/the-psychology-of-creativity/202304/the-myth-of-keeping-busy

Regrets of the dying: https://bronnieware.com/blog/regrets-of-the-dying/

7 types of forgetfulness: https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/forgetfulness-7-types-of-normal-memory-problems

Communities around the end of life: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6330929/

Being true to yourself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdG2yK7hoPQ

Meditation for the end of life: https://www.mindfulnessassociation.net/research-blogs/compassion-meditation-for-end-of-life/

Physical contact at the end of life: https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/understanding-grief/201703/touching-the-dying

Legal and financial advice: https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/impacts-of-cancer/benefits-and-financial-support/financial-help-end-of-life

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Migraines are common cause of debility worldwide. In this episode I look at the causes of migraines and other types of headaches, what we can do about them and how to detect and manage them better.

Links: 

The theories behind migraine and its mechanism: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/headache/how-a-migraine-happens

Triptan drugs: https://migrainetrust.org/live-with-migraine/healthcare/treatments/triptans/#page-section-1

MSG headaches: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38079074/

Sphenoid sinus disease (confused for migraine): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16213927/

Functional scoliosis: https://www.healthline.com/health/scoliosis/functional-scoliosis#summary

Erunemab: https://migrainetrust.org/live-with-migraine/healthcare/treatments/calcitonin-gene-related-peptide-monoclonal-antibodies/

Migraine as common cause of disability: https://thejournalofheadacheandpain.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s10194-020-01208-0

Daith piercing: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7075511/

Acupuncture: https://migrainetrust.org/live-with-migraine/healthcare/treatments/acupuncture/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode I look at Functional Medicine, a movement which started in the USA and is practised predominantly by non-medical practitioners but also increasingly medical doctors. 

It comes under a lot of fire from doctors and I want to explore why this, including that is isn’t ‘medicine' and what the differences and similarities are between functional medicine and conventional allopathic medicine.

Links:

Intro to functional medicine by IFM: https://www.ifm.org/functional-medicine

A review of functional medicine by Jeffrey Bland: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9173848/

Methylation explained: https://www.healthline.com/health/methylation#takeaway

Methylation, a view from a functional medicine practitioner: https://www.drkarafitzgerald.com/2016/08/01/methylation-whats-fuss/

The British College of Functional Medicine: https://www.bc-fm.org/

Patient story from The Cleveland Clinic: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/patient-stories/196-functional-medicine-helps-woman-regain-her-life-after-44-years-of-chronic-pain

An allopathic doctors view: https://www.doctormather.com/blog/redflags

Limitations of Evidence Based Medicine: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0735109716331370

 Evidence Based Medicine: https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/12/11/e067268

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode I look at a quick and easy way to take stock of your health quickly and easily to re-orientate yourself whenever you need to.

It’s a great way to lay out your story, turn 'what into why', and maintain your health and head off problems before they set in. 

My IDEAL framework for habit change: https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/article/the-health-fix-dr-ayan-panja-new-years-resolutions. (There is a separate episode on this: episode 26)

Yoga with Adriene on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/yogawithadriene

Jet lag tips: https://www.healthline.com/health/healthy-sleep/how-to-get-over-jet-lag

Sleep tips: https://somneesleep.com/blogs/post/matt-walker-sleep-tips

Infections: https://www.bbc.co.uk/future/article/20241119-long-fatigue-the-exhaustion-that-lingers-after-an-infection

Vitamin D deficiency: https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/vitamin-d-deficiency-in-adults/

BUY THE HEALTH FIX and transform your health: 

 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Health-Fix-Dr-Ayan-Panja/dp/1914239326/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Protein is one of our three macronutrients and increasingly getting traction as being really important to our long term health. In this episode I look at why it’s so important to make sure we get enough and the right type.

Sugar equivalent chart for carbohydrates: https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/what-is-a-low-carb-lifestyle/dr-unwins-sugar-infographics/

Leptin and ghrelin: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/leptin-101

Macronutrients: https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/nutrition/ask-the-expert/macronutrients

Trans-fats: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/in-depth/trans-fat/art-20046114

10000 proteins (our proteome): https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4889822/

Sarcopenia: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23167-sarcopenia

Nitrites and cancer: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/dec/27/too-much-nitrite-cured-meat-brings-clear-risk-of-cancer-say-scientists

Protein and reduced cognitive decline: https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/protein-intake-associated-with-less-cognitive-decline

Doctors Kitchen protein calculator (Dr Rupy Aujla): https://www.thedoctorskitchen.com/protein_calculator.php

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Air pollution is a huge cause of death killing 8 million people worldwide each year. Its effects are damaging to most of our body systems yet is an ‘invisible’ threat to us. In this episode I look at what we can do to minimise our exposure to air pollutants in and out of the home.

WHO guidelines: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240034228

Pesticides and Parkinson’s Disease: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32919961/

Air pollution and non-communicable diseases: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6904854/

Smoke control at home: https://www.gov.uk/smoke-control-area-rules

Carpets and health: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5858259/

Mould and illness: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7231651/

Plants and air purification: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8279815/

My report for the BBC from Hong Kong on air pollution comparing types: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/health-35885569

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Magnesium is an important mineral for our health and in this episode I look at why it has become a silent public health issue in recent years. I cover where magnesium comes from, why deficiency has become so prevalent and what to do about it. 

Food sources of magnesium: https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/magnesium/

Sublinical magnesium deficiency: https://openheart.bmj.com/content/5/1/e000668

Getting enough magnesium and why blood testing is often inaccurate: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6316205/

An old study about CO2 and plant mineralisation: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24867639/

The decline of plant nutrition: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36336557/

Vitamin D and magnesium: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0899900722000867

A campaign for remineralising soil: https://www.remineralize.org/

Examine.com - evidence based information on supplements 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode I go back to the basics of how to get themes out now your GP appointment beyond the obvious. Medicine is increasingly complex and time is often short with the doctor. Here are my tips for an effective use of appointments in 2025.

Links:

Why men don’t gp to the doctor - https://www.bowelresearchuk.org/latest-news/why-dont-men-go-to-see-their-doctors/

Hello My Name is: https://www.hellomynameis.org.uk/

Continuity: https://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/news/workload/continuity-of-care-more-productive-than-access-driven-gp-models-study-suggests/

Giving the doctor a good history: https://www.forbes.com/sites/carolynmcclanahan/2019/01/19/how-to-give-a-good-medical-history-to-get-better-health-care/

Reasonable adjustments: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/legal-rights/disability-discrimination/reasonable-adjustments/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Infections of the urinary tract are a daily occurrence but there is much more to them than meets the eye. In this episode I go through some of the conditions that affect the kidney and bladder and what we can do to keep them healthy.

Cystitis: https://www.healthline.com/health/cystitis

Benign prostate enlargement: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/prostate-enlargement/

Urethritis: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/264903

Bladder cancer symptoms: https://www.mdanderson.org/cancerwise/how-i-knew-i-had-bladder-cancer---3-survivors--first-symptoms.h00-159701490.html

Kidney stone diet: https://www.healthline.com/health/kidney-stone-diet

Chronic kidney disease: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/kidney-disease/

Bladder and pelvic muscle exercises: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/14611-kegel-exercises

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wellness is big. But it really divides opinion. Some think of it as extreme aesthetic procedures or unnecessary fad diets whereas others regard it as essential maintenance.

I explore what wellness really means in this episode.

——

Links:

The GWI and wellness definitions: https://globalwellnessinstitute.org/

Wellness vs wellbeing: https://www.gallup.com/workplace/340202/wellness-wellbeing-difference.aspx

Kelp and the thyroid: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6750240/

When wellness goes wrong: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/mar/31/the-wellness-instagrammer-who-learned-to-let-go

BBL: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-66798236

Gluten antibodies and neurological disease: https://www.sth.nhs.uk/news/2020/11/23/new-breakthrough-diagnostic-test-leads-to-earlier-detection-of-neurological-damage-caused-by-gluten-sensitivity/

Stress and heart rhythm issues: https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.123.032414

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.