Series that demystifies health issues, separating fact from fiction and bringing clarity to conflicting health advice.
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Insulin has been used to treat type 1 diabetes for more than a century but now there is a new treatment being rolled out on the NHS that can delay the onset of the disease for years. Alongside, screening is gathering pace, identifying those that could benefit. So, is this the beginning of a new era for type 1 diabetes treatment? Dima and his mum Elena explain what it was like to be told that he…
More than six years since the start of the Covid pandemic, it might feel like we're pretty over it, yet that's simply not the case for the millions of people who suffer from long Covid. But could there be hope on the horizon? A new clinical trial led by University College London and University College London Hospitals found that over-the-counter antihistamines and a prescription anti-inflammatory…
We’ve had two heatwaves already this summer with warnings that even young and healthy people should rethink their fitness routines in the heat. So how can we keep exercising when it’s so hot you barely want to move? James chats with physiologist Damian Bailey from the University of South Wales. Next, James is at Rother Valley Country Park in Sheffield to meet Calli Hauger-Thackery who made…
Earlier this summer, there was some incredible progress in cervical cancer. Women who have been vaccinated against the human papillomavirus (HPV) now have an almost zero chance of dying from cervical cancer before the age of 30. But does that mean women will no longer need cervical screening? Dr Jo Morrison, a consultant gynaecological oncologist from Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, joins James…
An experimental treatment to “reset” the immune systems of people with autoimmune disease is showing transformative results in early trials. James visits the NIHR Clinical Research Facility in Manchester to meet Kathy. She was diagnosed with lupus just after the birth of her baby and in 2024 became the first person in the UK to try CAR-T therapy as part of a clinical trial. How is she feeling now?…
A new non-hormonal drug has been approved to treat menopausal hot flushes. It works by regulating the body's cooling signals and is now available on the NHS in England for those who cannot use hormone replacement therapy. Before delving into the evidence with resident GP Dr Margaret McCartney, James finds out what it feels like to have a hot flush. Also this week, James chats to Dr Manjula Meda, a…
Little over a week on from the first meningitis cases in Canterbury, many crucial questions remain. So this week we're taking an in-depth look at those questions and what we’ve learnt from this outbreak - and could it happen again? James also hears from author Michael Rosen whose son Eddie died from meningitis aged 18 about just how quickly the disease struck and how he deals with his grief. And…
More than 30,000 people are being contacted in the Canterbury area regarding the outbreak of bacterial meningitis in Kent. Two people have died, and others are seriously ill. James Gallagher speaks with immunologist Sir Andrew Pollard about the disease, and finds out what could have caused the outbreak. That’s the major headline from the UK. But more broadly, for the last few weeks the news has…
There have been nearly 200 cases of measles in the UK so far this year. Measles can be prevented with vaccines - but the proportion of children being immunised is declining across the UK, particularly in parts of London. James visits Hackney, which has one of the lowest vaccination rates in the country, to find out why and to see what is happening to tackle this issue. And have you tried an…
Penis fillers were an unexpected talking point at the recent Winter Olympics after claims that male ski jumpers were having them to improve performance. So this week we’re digging into the UK’s penis filler industry. James visits a private clinic in Manchester to hear about about the procedure, which involves hyaluronic acid being injected to temporarily increase penis girth. He meets Jason, who…
