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This episode is about alcohol, an ever popular topic when it comes to health and harm. In this episode I look at its history and some of the ways in which it affects us and our health as well as why we drink alcohol in the first place. Links: Oldest brewery: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-45534133 Distillation: https://www.britannica.com/video/how-is-liquor-made/-340178 UK alcohol limits: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-advice/calculating-alcohol-units/ Hangovers: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/health/curing-hangover Alcohol and mental health: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/a-z-topics/alcohol-and-mental-health Sleep: https://www.sleepfoundation.org/nutrition/alcohol-and-sleep Red wine and gut microbes: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/red-wine-benefits-linked-to-better-gut-health-study-finds Relaxing without drinking alcohol: https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/news/how-to-relax-at-home-without-drinking Alcohol free drinks: https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter/2025/feb/04/best-low-alcohol-non-alcoholic-drinks Alcoholic liver disease: https://britishlivertrust.org.uk/information-and-support/liver-conditions/alcohol-related-liver-disease/#causes Alcohol and cancer risk: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/causes-of-cancer/alcohol-and-cancer/how-does-alcohol-cause-cancer Alcohol consumption data: https://ourworldindata.org/alcohol-consumption Save your life in slow motion and those of others by subscribing now and sharing. Thank you for listening and for your support. It means a lot to me. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode look at some rarer diagnoses, how they come to light and how they can be hard to live with and diagnose. Links:  Pyrrole Disorder (not recognised in conventional medicine): https://www.healthline.com/health/pyrrole-disorder Academic analysis of pyrroles (deep dive): https://academic.oup.com/labmed/article/55/3/334/7271490 Patent foramen ovale: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/patent-foramen-ovale/symptoms-causes/syc-20353487 Migraines and PFO: https://www.migrainedisorders.org/diving-into-the-connection-between-migraine-and-patent-foramen-ovale/ Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17813-ehlers-danlos-syndrome Save your life in slow motion and those of others by subscribing now and sharing. Thank you for listening and for your support. It means a lot to me. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rest is often seen as a guilty pleasure but in this episode I cover the reasons behind why rest is essential to our lives and examples that work. Links:  Deep rest: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11003855/ Rest Quiz: https://www.restquiz.com/quiz/rest-quiz-test/ The Art of Rest: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Art-Rest-Find-Respite-Modern/dp/1786892804 Attention Restoration Theory: https://positivepsychology.com/attention-restoration-theory/ Nature breaks: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4039544/ Rest during demanding tasks: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6585675 Save your life in slow motion and those of others by subscribing now and sharing. Thank you for listening and for your support. It means a lot to me. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Second opinions are an increasingly common request in healthcare and in this episode I look at reasons why people seek them and their pros and cons Links: Martha’s rule: https://www.england.nhs.uk/patient-safety/marthas-rule/ Hyponatraemia (low sodium): https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hyponatremia/symptoms-causes/syc-20373711 Advice on second opinions: https://www.patients-association.org.uk/getting-a-second-opinion Tumour Treating Fields: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/managing-cancer/treatment-types/tumor-treating-fields.html Lithium and MND doesn’t work?: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/archive/news/ioppn/records/2013/march/lithium-shows-no-benefit-to-mnd-patients Lithium and MND works?: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/centre-for-neuromuscular-diseases/research/experimental-clinical-trials/mnd/motor-neurone-disease-closed-trials/licals-therapeutic Save your life in slow motion and those of others by subscribing now and sharing. Thank you for listening and for your support. It means a lot to me. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode I look at things that can hamper our health journey by looking at our own life in an easy and compassionate way. Links: The Health Fix on Kindle offer January 2026: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Health-Fix-Dr-Ayan-Panja-ebook/dp/B0B2VTFFVS/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0 Sleep and its importance: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6281147/ Phone and screen usage: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11236742/ Decluttering: https://drayanpanja.substack.com/p/decluttering-your-home-how-it-could-1fd\\ Exercise: https://www.sciencefocus.com/wellbeing/exercise-snacks Impulsivity: https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/impulsive-behavior#Impulsive-behavior-meaning Overwhelm: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002pf4w Save your life in slow motion and those of others by subscribing now and sharing. Thank you for listening and for your support. It means a lot to me. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s a new year and that can feel overwhelming. In this episode I look at what the year is likely to bring in terms of health and medical trends, our own personal goals and how to generate ideas for them if you are feeling a bit stuck. Links:  The Health Fix: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Health-Fix-Dr-Ayan-Panja-ebook/dp/B0B2VTFFVS Med tech in 2026: https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2025/10/27/the-8-biggest-healthcare-technology-trends-to-watch-in-2026/ Misinformation - how to spot it: https://news.cancerresearchuk.org/2024/02/16/sorting-fact-from-fiction-a-guide-to-spotting-health-misinformation/ Save your life in slow motion and those of others by subscribing now and sharing. Thank you for listening and for your support. It means a lot to me. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Links: AI in medicine: https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/guidance-on-the-use-of-ai-enabled-ambient-scribing-products-in-health-and-care-settings/ Various wearables: https://uk.wellnesspulse.com/lp/best-fitness-trackers/?campaignId=23304304009&adgroupId=&adId=&targetId=&device=c&gunique=CjwKCAiAmKnKBhBrEiwAaqAnZ4MBo1x_tOV7RB1FPjSEqiYWae8AyeixJJsGEVTlbapiaEWJL7D8cBoCYs8QAvD_BwE&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23300097782&gbraid=0AAAAAqKJRpkXwMKHsYb3EhuFeRzIdPUV2 Health Check on BBC World Service: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct6vk0 Elinzanetant for menopause: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/mhra-approves-elinzanetant-to-treat-moderate-to-severe-vasomotor-symptoms-hot-flushes-caused-by-menopause The new weight loss drugs (GLP-1 agonists): https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/13901-glp-1-agonists Experimental Alzheimer’s Drug: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251222080119.htm Save your life in slow motion and those of others by subscribing now and sharing. Thank you for listening and for your support. It means a lot to me. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is my 200th episode and I reflect on where medicine is at in terms of precision medicine and what it means for us. Links: Please take this 10 minute survey to help keep this podcast going: http://bit.ly/savinglivesinslowmotion-survey Genome sequencing: https://www.genomicsengland.co.uk/blog/what-happens-when-i-go-for-whole-genome-sequencing Mepan Syndrome: https://umdf.org/mepan/ Ketones in dementia: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8734638/ London Bus study: https://cardiachealth.org.uk/the-london-busmen-study/ Drumming - physical and mental therapy?: https://melodics.com/blog/mental-health-benefits-of-drumming Save your life in slow motion and those of others by subscribing now and sharing. Thank you for listening and for your support. It means a lot to me. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Traditional medicine has been around for thousands of years.  In this episode I look at what we can learn from it and  how it compares to modern allopathic medicine in its approach.  Please take this 10 minute survey to help keep this podcast going: http://bit.ly/savinglivesinslowmotion-survey Links:  WHO TCIM summit: https://www.who.int/teams/who-global-traditional-medicine-centre/global-summit-and-collaborations/second-traditional-medicine-global-summit WHO — Global strategies and WHO TCIM topic pages (authoritative overview of WHO’s stance and the Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034). World Health Organization+1 WHO feature: World Health Organization NIH/NCCIH pages on Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine. NCCIH+1African medicinal plants - a review: PMCPrunus africana: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5327751/Four sacred medicines: https://aihschgo.org/four-sacred-medicines/Ayahuasca: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/ayahuascaIcaros: https://www.nimeakaya.org/how-icaros-help-heal-participants-in-ayahuasca-ceremonies/Save your life in slow motion and those of others by subscribing now and sharing. Thank you for listening and for your support. It means a lot to me. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anti-ageing means different things to different people. In this episode I look at what it means and what works to slow down the ageing process. Reactive oxygen species: https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/circresaha.117.311401 Mitochondria and ageing: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41574-021-00626-7 Inflammation (inflammaging): https://www.nature.com/articles/s41574-018-0059-4 Epigenetic drift: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12487821/ Protein misaggregation: https://www.buckinstitute.org/blog/unraveling-aging-how-protein-misfolding-relates-to-aging-and-disease/ Dietary patterns: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/fasting-like-diet-may-help-reverse-biological-aging-2-5-years Gut microbes: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41575-022-00605-x Rapamycin - an experimental drug for anti-ageing: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanhl/article/PIIS2666-7568(23)00258-1/fulltext Senolytics: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7405395/ Stem cells: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10276889/ NAD / NAD+: https://www.today.com/health/aging/nad-benefits-rcna180800 Save your life in slow motion and those of others by subscribing now and sharing. Thank you for listening and for your support. It means a lot to me. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

80% of us go online to look up health related content. Many of us look up symptoms which is natural but how do we know we are doing it safely?  Here I look at the pros and pitfalls of doing this and how to decide when to see a medical professional.  Links:  Peripheral neuropathy: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/peripheral-neuropathy/ Internet vs GP 2013 (me on BBC1): https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p019px0x Digital triage: https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/digitally-enabled-triage/ Trust in doctors: https://www.wsj.com/health/wellness/why-we-dont-trust-doctors-like-we-used-to-79784b56 Depression questionnaire: https://patient.info/doctor/mental-health/phq-9 National Back Pain pathway: https://www.southtees.nhs.uk/services/back-pain/national-low-back-and-radicular-pain-pathway/ Ada Health - on of the leaders in symptom checking: https://ada.com/ Save your life in slow motion and those of others by subscribing now and sharing. Thank you for listening and for your support. It means a lot to me. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease affecting our cartilage and joints causing pain and debility. In this episode I look at what it is, prevention strategies and the latest treatments.  Please take this 10 minute survey to help keep this podcast going:  http://bit.ly/savinglivesinslowmotion-survey OA overview: https://www.healthdata.org/news-events/newsroom/news-releases/lancet-new-study-reveals-most-common-form-arthritis Neck stretches: https://www.csp.org.uk/conditions/neck-pain/video-exercises-neck-pain Lectins: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024155028 Ultra-processed foods and OA: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11990240/ Apos Therapy (biomechanic therapy): https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/mtg76/informationforpublic Glucosamine and chondroitin: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/the-latest-on-glucosaminechondroitin-supplements-2016101710391 Chondrocyte implants: https://www.arthritis.org/health-wellness/treatment/joint-surgery/preplanning/the-future-of-joint-repair Omega 3: https://fjps.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s43094-024-00667-5 Save your life in slow motion and those of others by subscribing now and sharing. Thank you for listening and for your support. It means a lot to me. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do superfoods exist? What makes a food a superfood and how does it relate to everyday life? In this episode I take a broader look at this ever popular topic. Links:  Survey about this podcast:  http://bit.ly/savinglivesinslowmotion-survey A list of ‘superfoods’: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/true-superfoods Fibre benefits: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0261561423003631 The Hadza: https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2017/08/24/545631521/is-the-secret-to-a-healthier-microbiome-hidden-in-the-hadza-diet Low fibre benefits: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9268622/ Pica: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22944-pica Apples: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/11/4025 Flax seeds; https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods/flaxseeds Extra Virgin Olive Oil: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11430205/ Lectins: https://www.next-health.com/post/what-are-lectins-are-they-bad-for-everyone-do-i-need-lectin-sensitivity-testing Gremolata: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/gremolata Herbs and spices: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6532192/ The Health Fix: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Health-Fix-Dr-Ayan-Panja/dp/1914239326 Save your life in slow motion and those of others by subscribing now and sharing. Thank you for listening and for your support. It means a lot to me. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It seems that the mental health crisis is never ending and although awareness is much better, spotting the signs can be hard as there are so many factors. In this episode I look at how we approach mental health. This information does not replace professional advice and if you feel you need support then please reach out to a qualified health care practitioner. Depression as an inflammatory condition: https://www.maudsleybrc.nihr.ac.uk/posts/2021/may/inflammation-is-a-core-feature-of-depression-new-evidence-from-large-scale-study/ Methylation and mental health: https://foodforthebrain.org/methylation-why-is-it-important-for-mental-health/ Talking and checking-in campaign: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tX8TgVR33KM Hugs: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/oct/26/hugs-science-airport-minutes Talking to yourself and inner child work for beginners: https://www.innermelbpsychology.com.au/what-is-inner-child-work-and-how-to-get-started/ Circle of control: https://positivepsychology.com/circles-of-influence/ Help and stats: https://www.mind.org.uk/ My book, The Health Fix: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Health-Fix-Transform-Your-Weeks/dp/1914239296 Save your life in slow motion and those of others by subscribing now and sharing. Thank you for listening and for your support. It means a lot to me. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode I cover a range of symptoms that I have seen recently, what they may mean, how to handle them as well as what I am noticing in primary care. Links: Silent reflux: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15024-laryngopharyngeal-reflux-lpr Tietze’s syndrome (chest pain): https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23565-tietze-syndrome Costochondritis: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22167-costochondritis Panic attack symptoms: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/podcasts/health-essentials/heart-attack-vs-panic-attack-how-to-tell-the-difference Silent pneumonia: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15744-pneumonia-atypical-walking-pneumonia Hair loss: https://www.pcds.org.uk/clinical-guidance/alopecia-male-and-female-pattern-alopecia Phases of hair growth: https://www.healthline.com/health/stages-of-hair-growth#maintaining-hair-health Hair loss and DHT: https://www.healthline.com/health/dht#testosterone AI and medicine - chatGPT vs GP: https://substack.com/@drayanpanja/note/p-177463006?r=2efcdx&utm_source=notes-share-action&utm_medium=web Save your life in slow motion and those of others by subscribing now and sharing. Thank you for listening and for your support. It means a lot to me. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.