The gallbladder is a small pouch/sac under the liver that releases bile into the gut in order to emulsify/disperse fats, so that digestive enzymes can break the fats down for optimal absorption. ‘Gallstones are small stones, usually made of cholesterol, that form in the gallbladder’ (NHS website). Whilst it is estimated that between 10-15% of […]
The main symptoms of constipation include having to strain to defaecate, the feeling of incomplete bowel evacuation, the passing of hard and lumpy output that is either larger or smaller than it should be and/or having less than 3 outputs per week. Other symptoms that may also be present include bloating, gas, nausea, migraines, headaches, […]
Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally, accounting for an estimated 9.6 million deaths, or one in six deaths, in 2018’ (World Health Organisation – September 2020). Unfortunately the current situation is that there are approximately 1,000 new cancer cases every day in the UK (Cancer Research UK – September 2020) and 465,000 […]
Diverticula disease includes diverticulosis and diverticulitis. Diverticulosis occurs when small pouches or pockets develop in the colon (the large intestine). This is a very common condition occurring in approximately 1 in 3 over the age of 60 and half of 80 year olds. The majority of individuals will have no symptoms with diverticulosis. Diverticulitis is […]
Parkinson’s Disease (PD) was first described over 200 years ago and is one of the most common progressive neurodegenerative conditions. Whilst there are many different symptoms, the main ones are tremor (shaking), slowness of movement and rigidity/muscle stiffness. Symptoms are caused by the brain losing its ability to produce enough dopamine, which is key to […]
Vitamin D is called the ‘sunshine vitamin’ as it is produced in large quantities by the action of sunlight on the skin. The science clearly shows that ‘optimal’ levels of vitamin D (circa 150 nmol/L – UK units) are associated with a significant reduction in the risk of developing a number of chronic diseases (other […]
Hippocrates the father of modern medicine famously stated 2,400 years ago that ‘all disease begins in the gut’. The gut is the 25 feet of tubing that runs from the mouth to the anus and contains on average 100 trillion bacteria (the microflora/microbiome) weighing approximately 2 kg and over 3 million genes. The explosion in […]
Coeliac disease (CD) is an autoimmune condition where the body’s immune system attacks and damages the villi (the finger like small protrusions in the small intestine/gut). Originally considered a rare childhood condition it is now recognised as primarily an adult disease. CD is essentially a disease of malabsorption. If the cells are not getting the […]
Thoroughly washing hands and social distancing are clearly good advice, but these actions are just the start of what we can all do to make a difference. We all have an obligation to look after ourselves and our loved ones, to not only reduce the chances of contracting the virus but also the severity of […]
Osteoarthritis (OA) is an ‘age related low-grade inflammatory disease of the joints’ which causes the protective cartilage cushion between the bones to wear down, allowing the bones to rub together, creating a great deal of pain and discomfort. In the UK, OA affects 8.75 million people contributing to a significant burden on our health and […]
RT @talkRADIO: Julia asks Danny Mortimer, NHS Confederation chief executive, why the NHS "did so little to prepare" for the corona… https://t.co/O87qxluiiH
1 week ago
