Blog

I’m coming to the end of a busy week on-call, and now very much looking forward to a day off tomorrow! I see so many patients during a week on-call, that there are always some interesting cases for my weekly blog, and this has certainly been the case this week. From a ‘human factors’ perspective, […]

Quick answer: New research suggests GLP-1 and SGLT2 diabetes drugs may lower dementia risk, though it isn’t yet clear whether this is via weight loss, better blood sugar control, or something else. What is clear is that consistency — in medication, but also in everyday habits like meditation — matters more than any single big […]

It’s often rather strange coming back from holiday, and this week was doubly so as I left the snowy mountains and arrived later that morning to British summer time! What amazing weather here! The BBQ has been out on 2 consecutive days, and if I were on my deathbed and allowed one last meal, it […]

Happy Mother’s Day! Obviously today is rather sad for me in that regard, as it’s the first in my memory that I haven’t spoken with my Mum as she is now in a dementia care home. I won’t labour that, but hope Mums everywhere have a great day that they deserve. With most medical tests, […]

Firstly a heartfelt thank you for all the messages of support I received following last week’s email. So many people have been in touch, many of whom have their own stories of experiences with dementia. When you think there are estimated to be 1 million people in the UK affected, that is no wonder. I’m […]

I too learn new things when researching for my weekly blog, and if you missed last week’s video, the take-away was this – regular dental flossing is good for your heart. All very interesting, but means little if not practiced regularly. I’ve been very fortunate with my teeth; never had so much as a filling. […]

You may have seen in the news this week an article about the polypill. This caught my eye for a few reasons. Back in 2005 I was a cardiology registrar in London, and one of my bosses was heavily involved in research into the polypill. Interestingly, his father, Professor SIr Nicholas Wald, was one of […]

Oh my goodness what a difference a week makes! I have loved feeling the sun on my face for what seems like the first time in a long while. Getting up in the morning is a whole lot easier with sun streaming in, and I’ve played golf wearing just a t-shirt. The lawn has had […]

This week was half-term, and I had fully intended to have a relaxing restful time with my family. Unfortunately however, first my daughter then myself came down with a nasty cold. I can’t even remember the last one I had, as very rarely do, and have never had to take a day of work for […]

In last week’s video, I outlined how the heart and lungs ‘interact’ from an anatomy perspective. Today I’ll follow this up with some common examples I see each week in my practice, where a lung issue has caused a heart problem. Like a lot of conditions in my clinic, the thing they have in common […]

Someone emailed me this week with a question about whether lung conditions affect the heart (and vice versa!) and it struck me that would be a great topic to cover. I’ll start with this week’s video, then write a follow up next week. However for this week’s blog, I have to write about something I […]

I read an interesting article this week that really stood out to me, but it was not the typical medical study that I would normally read. It was about loneliness in the medical profession, and it got me thinking. Only last year the US surgeon general Dr Vivek Murthy (the highest ‘ranked’ doctor in America) […]

Firstly, I just wanted to start by saying how much I appreciate all the messages of support I have received this week in respect of my Mum and her dementia. It is humbling to read, and much appreciated. Only this morning my Dad has messaged after yet another terrible night, and many of the stories […]

It’s been an emotional week. Let me explain. My Dad is still working at 74, as an academic Professor. For many people, working at this age  would seem an awful proposition, but his job is also his hobby and passion so whilst he remains mentally and physically capable he is happy to do it. I […]

However tough the start to the new year has been, it can’t compare to the awful scenes of fire and destruction in Los Angeles. A friend of mine lives in LA, and I was lucky enough to visit her last year. Looking at google maps her house came very close to being enveloped by fire. […]

Happy New Year! I hope you had a good holiday season. I’ve been on leave for a few days, which has been lovely other than a sudden decision to DIY and repaint a room. Now it’s done, I can look back with satisfaction and think job well done, but at the time it was rather […]

Well that’s 2024 drawing to a close! Traditionally we reflect back on our year and how it’s been, and I’m no different. Clearly for a great many in the world, 2024 has been a terribly difficult year and my heart goes out to them. For me it’s certainly had its challenges, but overall has been […]

Bonjour from France! I’ve been looking forward to this week off for ages. I’ve been a bit rubbish at taking annual leave in the second half of this year, and I’m going to make sure I don’t do it again next year. Life and work are always super busy, and I should know better than […]

Well it’s certainly been a less extraordinary week than last week’s cardiac arrest at the Christmas party! I received so many kind messages afterwards for which I’m very grateful. There’s been a momentous change in my work life this week though, I’ve moved offices. On the face of it that’s not such a big deal? […]

The plan I had for this week’s blog went out the window on Thursday night this week, for what turned out to be a night I shall never forget. Each year, my colleague and I take our amazing Dorset heart failure team out for a Christmas meal, and this year’s event was on Thursday at […]

Although it’s not an ‘ask me anything’ week, there was a message in my inbox from a few week’s back that I wanted to address, and some events this week jogged my mind to do so (related to my own stupidity!) I really should know better. On Tuesday, I got on my indoor bike for […]

Quick answer: Exercise is a poor strategy for burning off excess calories — a hard 30-minute workout might only burn 500kcal, easily undone by a couple of festive treats. Limiting intake matters more than exercising it away, though people who lose weight through nutrition are more likely to keep it off long-term if they also […]

I always like to include real-life events in my blogs, and this week just such a case presented itself. I trained in cardiology in London, at the Heart Hospital and Bart’s (both now amalgamated on one site). I have fond memories of my training, and got a ‘blast from the past’ email this week from […]

One of our members wrote in with an important point this week. She is 77 and trains twice each week, and wanted to know why the exercise advice petered out for the >60s. She felt ladies >60 may feel it isn’t relevant or important to them. Receiving feedback like this is great for many reasons.  […]