I’ve been asking more patients about their drinking habits and I don’t just mean alcohol. When I investigate a patient’s problem I’ll start with a clinical history. I’ll look for triggers and drivers in a person’s life, which might be causing their symptoms. One important thing that people often overlook… read more →
In our busy lives we can get the feeling that our heads are too full. We just cannot switch off and relax. Thoughts can play over and over in our mind and it can feel exhausting. These thoughts can keep us up late at night analysing a problem and lead… read more →
Moving home is very high on the list of life events which cause an enormous amount of stress. As you know, when we experience stress we produce more adrenaline and more cortisol. Whilst in the short term our bodies can manage these surges in our biochemistry, and they may even… read more →
Menopause is actually the time that periods stop altogether. We call the run up to this the ‘perimenopause’. I’ve noticed, talking to women who come and see me at the surgery, that this can be a really difficult time. One of the commonest complaints women come to me about during… read more →
When faced with life’s stressful events we can develop unhealthy coping methods that can easily become addictions. There is no single reason why addictions develop. Addiction is a strong need to carry out a particular activity. At first, the behaviour can start off as an aid to relaxation or escape… read more →
We all experience stress and it is very personal as to what triggers it off in us. Understanding the body’s stress response can shed a little bit of light into what goes on inside and why we often get locked into bad habits and unhealthy responses to stress. How we… read more →
Meningitis can affect anyone, of any age – young or old, rich or poor. 10 celebrities who have had meningitis: Lisa Snowdon Daniel Sturridge Victoria Beckham Jonny Rotten Brad Pitt (pictured) Peter Andre Joe Swash Joanna Lumley Ian Rush Tana Ramsay Teenagers going to University and young babies are sadly… read more →
Congratulations to Chris Froome on his amazing achievement winning the Tour de France again. I’ve been following the Tour with great interest and just spent some time in France supporting my better half in the amateur stage from St-Jean-de-Maurienne. It’s great to see cycling becoming so popular on the streets… read more →
This is one for the ladies. Do you remember to take your contraceptive pill every day? Did you know that there are longer acting contraceptives out there? A contraceptive coil or implant might be a good choice for you. Both Dr Kandasamy and Dr Russell fit and remove coils, and… read more →
Now that we are spending more time outdoors and in the parks we might find that we are getting annoying itchy bites from midges and mosquitos. You can buy insect repellants to spray over you. I always think it is a good idea to look for a DEET free spray… read more →