Medical Minefield
141 episodes - English - Latest episode: 7 months ago - ★★★★★ - 1 ratingMedical Minefield is a new health podcast where we talk about the ethical dilemmas at the heart of the health stories that matter the most. Join Barney Calman, the Mail on Sunday's health editor and deputy Health Editor Eve Simmons every week for a podcast tackling the big questions in health. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
Why are doctors at war over cholesterol lowering gene drug?
December 09, 2023 11:25 - 36 minutesA row has broken out among doctors about new cholesterol-lowering injection inclisiran. Some GPs refuse to prescribe it saying there's not enough evidence to say it's safe and effective. Others, like Birmingham-based cardiologist Professor Derek Connolly, claims those who aren't on board are Luddites, and a bit like people who were scared of microwave ovens when they were launched. Follow Medical Minefield on Twitter @MedMinefield Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information...
Physio exercises for aches and pains are a TOTAL waste of time
December 02, 2023 14:05 - 28 minutesPhysiotherapy is a total waste of time... at least, that's what some doctors are saying for many people who are offered it to help ease aches and pains. So why are millions of us prescribed it every year? Health reporter Ethan Ennals reveals his own struggles with injuries and his frustration at lengthy and repeated courses of physiotherapy treatment that didn't make any difference. And Barney speaks to top GP Dr Mike Smith about why he thinks many patients end up in similar situations. Foll...
Scandal of the thousands of men living with secret bladder problems
November 25, 2023 11:12 - 24 minutesOne in three men over-65 will experience urinary incontinence, so why is barely anything done to support them? Ethan Ennals and Pat Hagan speak to Prostate Cancer UK's Chiara de Biase about the charity's campaign to create new laws that will help men with bladder issues. Meanwhile, prostate cancer survivor Jonathan Hall explains what it's like to live with incontinence. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/ad...
The truth about the new ‘miracle’ breast cancer drug
November 18, 2023 11:11 - 26 minutesNearly 300,000 women will now be offered a daily pill that cuts the risk of breast cancer in half, but top doctors worry that many patients are unaware of the debilitating side effects. Ethan Ennals speaks to GP and MoS columnist Dr Philippa Kaye about weighing up the benefits and risks of anastrozole. Meanwhile two patients recount what it is like to take the tablet. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adcho...
Why the NHS repeatedly fails women like Naga Munchetty
November 11, 2023 14:41 - 24 minutesLast month, the BBC Breakfast presenter Naga Munchetty told a Parliamentary inquiry that she lived in pain for three decades and was told by GPs to ‘suck it up’ before doctors finally diagnosed her with adenomyosis. Shockingly, she is not alone. This week, Ethan Ennals explores why the NHS has such a severe sexism problem. He speaks to GP and MoS columnist Dr Philippa Kaye who explains this isn’t just a male doctor problem – female clinicians can also fail to take women’s health as seriously ...
Top surgeon: You should NEVER have a cut-price Turkey cosmetic op!
October 28, 2023 12:00 - 29 minutesMore than 150,000 Britons travelled to Turkey for a cosmetic op last year, but NHS surgeons report they are increasingly seeing patients who return from a trip with horrific complications, and there have now been 25 deaths. The team speak to obesity expert Professor David Kerrigan who warns that cut price Turkish gastric bypass ops can end in catastrophe. Follow us on X.com: @MedMinefield medicalminefield.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your...
Spinal taps done by untrained staff?! NHS doc reveals all
October 21, 2023 12:25 - 33 minutesNHS junior doctor Jatinder Hayre reveals the truth about physician associates, the new hospital workers who treat patients are just two years training. In his hospital, these low-skilled medics are bending the rules to write prescriptions - something only a doctor or highly qualified nurse is legally be allowed to do - and even performing spine procedures on patients. Is this really the answer to the waiting list crisis engulfing the post-pandemic health service? Follow us on X.com: @MedMinef...
I spent 30 years searching for my sperm donor father
October 07, 2023 10:19 - 34 minutesFrom this month on, people born using a sperm bank in the UK who turn 18 will be able to find out the identity of their biological father because of a landmark change in the law back in 2005, barring anonymous donation. But what of those conceived before the change? This week Barney and award-winning health reporter Jo Macfarlane hear from Dr Joanna Rose who has spent the past 30 years searching for her 'real' dad. Now 51, she reveals that she's finally found him - but, while she is optimisti...
Can we trust food scientists who are paid by junk food giants?
October 07, 2023 10:16 - 43 minutesThis week Barney and Eve discuss the controversy that continues to rage around ultra-processed foods, and examine the truth about extraordinary claims that scientists are paid off by junk food companies to cover up the truth: that they're as harmful to our health as tobacco. They also speak to Kings College London psychiatry expert Professor Carmine Pariante and psychologist Kimberley Wilson about research that seems to show ultra-processed food has an impact on mental health. Follow us on T...
The REAL reason YouTube won't take Eugenia Cooney off air
September 23, 2023 10:58 - 42 minutesThis week the team talk about concerns for the health of YouTube star Eugenia Cooney, who is severely underweight. Eve, who was hospitalised with anorexia in her 20s, asked the social media giants why they weren't stepping in to take the Eugenia off air, in a bid to force her into treatment - and was given some surprising answers. And we hear from eating disorders specialist dietitian Renee McGregor, who explains how simply watching her videos could trigger worsening symptoms in vulnerable pe...
Which newly slim celebs ARE secretly on Ozempic?
September 16, 2023 12:49 - 37 minutesThis week Barney and Eve get a sneak preview of a forthcoming Channel 4 documentary - hosted by Supersize vs Superskinny and Naked Attraction presenter Anna Richardson - which exposes the dangerous world of fake Ozempic and Wegovy, the 'miracle' skinny jabs. And the team ask... why have SO many once-curvy celebs recently begun looking so incredibly slim? Just diet and exercise, or have they had a little chemical help? With science guru Vivienne Perry and award winning health reporter Jo Macfa...
Is egg freezing a big waste of time and money?
September 09, 2023 11:00 - 44 minutesThat’s pretty much the conclusion of a number of recent articles written about the popular fertility treatment – said to put a pause on a woman’s biological clock. The Medical Minefield team hear from one young woman, Charlie, who deeply regrets undergoing the procedure, describing it as painful and not worth the month of tests, scans and bloating. But Emma Kafton, from fertility clinic Evewell, who perform hundreds of egg freezing procedures, says that, under the right supervision, it can be...
Is ultra-processed food really killing us?
September 02, 2023 11:00 - 43 minutesYet another study shed light on the supposed dangers of ultra-processed food this week – but Barney and Eve are sceptical. Are the frozen chips and burgers that they grew up on really that bad? Rob Percival, Head of Food Policy at The Soil Association, explains exactly why these foods should be limited – and it’s not just because they’re calorific, he says. Meanwhile, ITV’s resident GP Dr Hilary Jones explains why he too is taking a stand against ultra-processed foods, but caveats that there’...
Should you really be taking HRT in megadoses?
August 26, 2023 14:40 - 51 minutesAmid reports from concerned doctors that women are taking risky megadoses, Barney speaks to Davina McCall's menopause GP Naomi Harris, who says she's worried that patients are getting medical advice from their hairdressers and other unreliable sources, and from Birmingham-based consultant gynaecologist Lynne Robinson, who says hormone over-treatment can lead to serious health problems. Follow us on Twitter @MedMinefield Support the show: https://medicalminefield.com See omnystudio.com/listen...
Why IS the BBC so down on antidepressants?
August 19, 2023 12:04 - 36 minutesThis week Eve reveals that she was approached by the BBC to appear in a recent documentary about antidepressants. Her interview hit the cutting room floor, and she can't help wonder, having watched the resulting film, whether it was because she wasn't anti-antidepressants enough? And the team speak to mood disorders specialist Professor Allan Young, who says debate is important when it comes to psychiatric treatment, but that recent media coverage simply focusing on the negatives could be cau...
Dr Chris van Tulleken: Exercise DOESN'T help you lose weight
August 12, 2023 11:19 - 42 minutesAre we all getting fatter due to sedentary lifestyles? Or is exercising for weight loss pointless? This week, Dr Chris van Tulleken, BBC presenter and author of the best seller Ultra Processed People, explains how science has shown we'd burn the same number of calories working in a desk job as we would if we were hunter-gatherers in Tanzania. And Cambridge University obesity expert Professor Giles Yeo explain why he didn't lose a single pound on a 1,000km bike ride across the UK. Follow us on...
Could weight loss surgery turn you into an alcoholic?
August 05, 2023 10:15 - 37 minutesEve and Ethan talk to Angela Chesworth who lost 168lbs in a year after having gastric bypass surgery - but far from giving her a new lease of life, it sent her plummeting into depression. And Dr Alex Miras an expert in obesity at Imperial College London reveals how weight loss ops can trigger some very unexpected mental health 'side effects'. Follow us on Twitter @MedMinefield Support the show: https://medicalminefield.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast...
Should dieters be BANNED from taking Ozempic?
July 29, 2023 12:02 - 45 minutesAmid a global shortage of weight loss jab Ozempic, UK health chiefs have banned doctors from prescribing it as a slimming aid for non-diabetics. But speaking to Medical Minefield, Professor Carel Le Roux - and expert in metabolic medicine at Ulster University - argues that obesity alone is a disease, and should be treated with the jab, just like diabetes is. The team also hear from one 72 year-old woman who has taken Ozempic for weight loss, but says she wouldn’t do it again. Follow Medical ...
The truth about those new Alzheimer's wonder drugs? It might not be what you think...
July 22, 2023 10:58 - 30 minutesThis week, Barney and Eve are taking a closer look at the new Alzheimer’s wonder drug donanemab - is it all it’s cracked up to be? Headlines are calling it a revolutionary treatment and some patients have said their dementia symptoms reversed. But Rob Howard, professor of old-age psychiatry at University College London, insists that the treatment, and evidence, need to be approached Follow Medical Minefield on Twitter @MedMinefield Support the show: https://medicalminefield.com See omnystudi...
Does HRT cause dementia... or prevent it?
July 15, 2023 13:45 - 42 minutesAfter a recent study suggested hormone replacement therapy increases the risk of dementia by a worrying 24 per cent - contradicting other research that shows it could protect against against it - Barney and Eve try to find the truth behind the headlines. We hear from hormone expert Professor Annice Mukherjee and menopause specialist Dr Naomi Potter who both say women shouldn't panic, but also warn against believe too much of the hype. Follow Medical Minefield on Twitter @MedMinefield Support...
Should teenagers with eating disorders be prescribed HRT?
July 07, 2023 15:09 - 30 minutesThis week, Eve talks to one of the authors of a new paper that is calling for more young women with eating disorders to be offered HRT. The researchers behind it – a group of menopause specialists and gynaecologists – claim the treatment could be vital for protecting young women from brittle bone disorders, like osteoporosis. But Eve, who had anorexia in her 20s, is unconvinced. She speaks to eating disorder campaigner Hope Virgo about why the medication could in fact prove detrimental to lon...
Are antidepressants virtually useless?
July 01, 2023 08:05 - 34 minutesOver the last month two groups of psychiatrists have been battling on Twitter about the efficacy of antidepressants. On one side of the debate is psychiatry researcher Professor Joanna Moncrieff from University College London, who says there is little good evidence that the most common type of mood boosters – SSRIs – can help beat depression. The side effects, she says, are simply not worth it. But Dr Sameer Jauhar – a consultant psychiatrist from Kings College London – has written an entire ...
Should we ditch ALL legal limits to abortion?
June 17, 2023 10:51 - 48 minutesTrigger warning: This episode contains discussions about late term abortions. If you need to speak to someone for help, please contact Samaritans on 116 123. This week, Barney and Eve discuss a sensitive topic: abortion. In light of the recent sentencing of a British woman to jail time after having an illegal late-term abortion, women’s health advocates are calling for complete decriminalisation of the procedure. We hear from Emma Milne, Associate Professor in Criminal Law and Criminal Justi...
Why are young people queuing up to have their cheek fat removed?
June 10, 2023 10:42 - 35 minutesThis week we discuss the latest bizarre cosmetic surgery craze: buccal fat removal. Both men and women are asking surgeons to hollow out their face in a bid to replicate the taught, chiseled look of models and popstars. But in this weekend's Mail on Sunday, top experts are warning against the procedure due to the serious risks. The Medical Minefield ask beauty guru Ashley Stobart why she was attracted her to the procedure - and what eventually put her off - while consultant plastic surgeon Dr...
Can the contraceptive pill lead to heroin addiction?
June 03, 2023 13:25 - 36 minutesThis week, Barney and Eve are looking ahead to Davina McCall’s upcoming documentary about The Pill. Davina has hinted that she will be exploring the negative side effects of the pill, and Barney and Eve hear from experts who are concerned about scare stories leading to women stopping the conceptive… and unplanned pregnancies. We hear from GP and women’s health ambassador Dr. Philippa Kaye and to Dr. Paula Briggs, consultant in sexual and reproductive health at Liverpool Women’s Hospital, who ...
Could ‘skinny jab’ Wegovy help beat addictions?
May 27, 2023 10:36 - 37 minutesThis week, Barney and Ethan are once again discussing semaglutide, but this time about its reported additional benefits of reducing patient’s bad habits. Users of the weight loss drug claim to feel reduced urges to smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol, and even bite their nails. Could this be how humanity is cured of addictions? We hear from Dr Tony Goldstone, Associate Professor of Brian Sciences at Imperial College London, who is excited about the new data but does think we need to wait to see m...
Is children vaping really that big a deal?
May 20, 2023 10:39 - 33 minutesThis week, Barney and Ethan Ennals talk vapes. Barney has recently quit after a year and is looking for reasons to not pick it back up. Deborah Arnott, CEO of Action on Smoking and Health, says while we don’t know what the long term side effects are, our main priority should be to keep vapes out of the hands of children; while Professor John Britton, consultant in respiratory medicine at the University of Nottingham, says while there is no evidence that vaping is worse for you than, say breat...
Is the 800 cal soup & shake diet the magic bullet for diabetes?
May 13, 2023 15:18 - 33 minutesThis week, Barney and Eve review findings published by the ground-breaking UK-funded Diabetes Remission Clinical Trial (DiRECT) looking at people who tried a low-calorie diet to bring their diabetes intro remission. Can we call it successful if most people on it gain back all the weight they lost? We hear from June, an 86 year old woman who tried out the soup and shake diet and lost 3 stone, only to gain it all back soon after; and to Dr. Naveed Sattar, Professor of Metabolic Medicine at the ...
Can we really blame obesity on ultra-processed food?
May 06, 2023 10:19 - 34 minutesThis week, Eve looks at the latest big bad wolf of the nutrition world: Ultra-processed food. A host of a claims have been made about the products – like ready meals, cereals and supermarket bread – over the past few months, including that it’s addictive and to blame for the nation’s obesity problem. But Gunter Kuhnle, Professor of nutrition at Reading University, says the vilification of these types of foods is unjustified. In fact, he says, if you only ate processed food, you could be perfe...
Is there such thing as 'terminal' anorexia?
April 29, 2023 10:53 - 34 minutesIt’s a controversial idea that has been hotly debated in the psychiatric community – are some patients with deadly anorexia simply too difficult to treat? The Medical Minefield team hear from campaigner Hope Virgo, who says that increasing numbers of NHS doctors are taking this stance, discharging patients who are still very unwell. We hear the upsetting story of one such patient, who was ‘given up on’ by her hospital team after seven years in treatment. Follow Medical Minefield on Twitter @M...
Could smacking a naughty child be good for them?
April 22, 2023 17:29 - 33 minutesThis week on Medical Minefield, the team is talking about smacking children, after the Government rejected a call to ban it in England. Was this the right move? Barney and Eve speak with mother of three Christine, who says she does not regret smacking her children when they were younger and claims they have since grown into wonderful adults; and from Dr Robert Larzelere of Oklahoma State University, and expert on child disciplinary methods, who says smacking is a good method for getting unrul...
Does the menopause drive some women to take their own lives?
April 15, 2023 13:22 - 37 minutesThis week, Barney and Eve examine claims that the menopause is so horrendous, it is responsible for a number of suicides in mid-life women. Do the figures stack up? They hear from Instagram’s favourite gynaecologist Dr Jennifer Gunter, who says suicidal thoughts are far more complex than a simple hormone deficiency, while campaigner Rachel Lankester, founder of menopause information group MenoClarity, explains her fears that ‘scaremongering’ messages about the hormonal change could make sympt...
Why are there 12 year olds pumping iron in the gym?
April 08, 2023 08:00 - 32 minutesBarney and Eve have become disturbed by a new fitness trend: tweens in the gym. With most of them glued to the weights machines for big muscles, or doing endless squats for a toned booty, should we be worried? The pair hear from a London-based teacher who says she’s been concerned about teenage gym culture for a while – with many of her pupils unhealthily fixated on ‘bulking up’. Meanwhile, Paul Shearman of Better Health, who run a junior gym programme, defends the gym’s initiative and explai...
How bad is it to skip washing your hands after going for a wee?
April 01, 2023 08:00 - 31 minutesEve and Ethan tackle a question that went viral this week – what’s so bad about not washing your hands after going number 1? The presenters of the popular Mean Girl podcast were lambasted online for admitting they think washing your hands after peeing is pointless. The clip has more than 7 million views on Twitter and hundreds of thousands of comments attacking the pair’s ‘vile’ behaviour. Eve and Ethan quiz someone we’re calling Rebecca about why she’s one of the 25% of Britons who don’t bo...
How worried should we be about the risks of The Pill?
March 25, 2023 13:13 - 28 minutesThis week, the Medical Minefield team are having a chat about the risks of breast cancer associated with taking hormonal contraceptives in light of new research. Is the risk so small that it’s not worth even talking about? Resident Mail on Sunday GP columnist Dr Ellie Cannon offers some much needed clarity for Eve whose recently started taking The Pill herself. Follow Medical Minefield on Twitter @MedMinefield Support the show: https://medicalminefield.com See omnystudio.com/listener for priv...
Prozac side effects made me think I was going mad!
March 18, 2023 12:42 - 33 minutesThis week, Eve shares the story of her most recent experience with antidepressant Prozac. She’d taken the drug twice before, but this time was hit by intense side effects and a feeling she was losing her mind. She stuck with the treatment, and the problems have passed – but the it left Eve wondering if patients are properly warned about problems the pills can cause. And the team speak with psychiatrist and known critic of antidepressants Professor Joanna Moncrieff about her views on the wide-...
Why are experts seeing more and more type 1 diabetics suffering eating disorders?
March 11, 2023 14:52 - 32 minutesThey are the gadgets that have transformed diabetes care for hundreds of thousands - monitors that track blood sugars throughout the day, doing away with finger-prick tests. But experts are noticing an unintended consequence of the tech: patients become obsessive about what they eat. Barney and Eve are joined by Sam Webb - son of BBC presenter Justin Webb, who speaks candidly about his struggle with an eating disorder that he says was fuelled by the tech he used to manage his diabetes. We als...
Just how safe is the hair-loss drug taken by millions of men?
March 04, 2023 09:47 - 34 minutesThis weekend, The Mail on Sunday will reveal that finasteride – the hair loss drug prescribed to millions of men – is to be investigated by drug watchdogs for safety concerns. According to reports filed by the public, the medicine has been linked to sexual problems, suicidal thoughts and even speech slurring. The Medical Minefield team speak to campaigner and former patient Dr Simon Breidert, who says he has suffered terrible side effects with the drug – which include sexual problems and depr...
Why are more women than ever taking testosterone?
February 25, 2023 09:10 - 39 minutesNew research shows there’s been a 10-fold increase in the number of women taking the male sex hormone testosterone over the last seven years. But why? The Medical Minefield team is joined by one fan of the prescription drug: The Mail on Sunday’s Travel Editor Sarah Hartley, who says testosterone has stopped her feeling like she was ‘fading away’. But reporter Jo Macfarlane, who has been investigating the topic this week, explains doctors’ concerns about the increasing popularity of the prescr...
Has the sugar tax been pointless?
February 18, 2023 11:03 - 30 minutesIceland, Finland, Denmark and Israel have all, recently, either ditched or watered down their sugar taxes - a levy on sugary foods and drink, to force companies to pack less of the sweet stuff into their products. And, with obesity levels in the UK remaining pretty much unchanged since the UK's tax came into force, is It about time we did the same? The Mail on Sunday's senior reporter Jo Macfarlane tells of the findings of her special investigation about the true impact of the UK's sugar tax:...
Why do so many women put up with painful sex?
February 11, 2023 10:53 - 34 minutesThis week, Dr Philippa Kaye – a GP specialising in women’s health – tells of the phenomenon of older women suffering intimate problems, thanks to the rise in dating apps for singletons of all ages. Dr Kaye explains how a new sexual partner can, sometimes, cause surprising complications – all of which are easily treated. But why, she asks, do so many mid-life women choose to simply put up with it, rather than seeking help? The Medical Minefield team also speak with Dr. Shirin Lakhani, who tell...
Why is Gen Z so screwed up about sex?
February 03, 2023 17:09 - 36 minutesOne in 10 British children have watched pornography by the time they are 9 – and nearly half of young people think that young girls expect or enjoy rough sex. That’s two of the shocking findings detailed in a new report on pornography this week, based on interviews with 1,000 youngster across the country. In an extended interview with the author of the report – children’s commissioner, Rachel De Souza, - the Medical Minefield ask where these disturbing ideas have come from. De Souza, a former...
Is it victim blaming to say that alcohol and obesity cause breast cancer?
January 28, 2023 10:26 - 36 minutesThis week, Barney and Eve address the social media backlash to posts by breast cancer surgeon Liz O’Riordan in which she talks about how alcohol and obesity increased the risk of breast cancer. Liz, who’s had breast cancer twice herself, was accused of victim blaming. Dr Asher Larmy, GP and fat activist, claims being overweight doesn’t, in fact, cause illness – and that messages like these simply further stigmatises women. But Liz says it’s vital we have the ‘difficult’ conversations, so wome...
Why are a quarter of dementia patients taking antidepressants – when they do more harm than good?
January 21, 2023 11:25 - 34 minutesEarlier this month, top UK dementia experts published a scathing review into the widespread use of antidepressants in dementia care. Not only did they fail to make patients happier, they put them at risk of potentially lethal falls and injuries. Barney and Eve speak to one patient, Tracey Lane, who has been prescribed the pills twice during her illness – and argues that, for her, they haven’t been totally useless. Meanwhile, one of the UK’s top dementia experts, Professor Sube Banerjee, expla...
Is grief a mental illness that needs treatment?
January 14, 2023 13:05 - 42 minutesThis week, we focus on grief. Historian, author and broadcaster Tessa Dunlop talks about the phenomenon of anticipatory grief, as she struggles with the changing relationship she has with her mother, who is creeping into old age and frailty; while Dr Clare Gerada, President of the Royal College of General Practitioners, and a specialist in mental health, talks about when it might be necessary to medically treat patients with severe grief. And end of life doula Anna Lyons gives her point of vi...
Why are pregnant women still dying from a sickness condition that can be treated?
January 07, 2023 14:03 - 29 minutesThis week the team talk about the shocking case of a young pregnant woman who died in November, driven to despair by the severe sickness condition hyperemesis gravidarum. The illness, which famously affected Catherine, Princess of Wales, during her first and third pregnancies, hits three per cent of expectant mothers. And Dr Caitlin Dean of Pregnancy Sickness Support reveals that it's 'not uncommon' for women with the nightmarish condition, which some describe as 'feeling like you're dying', ...
Do we need to talk about the harm lockdown did to our children?
December 17, 2022 15:53 - 45 minutesThis week, Barney and Dr Ellie Cannon ask the question: did the health harms of putting our kids through lockdown and school closures during Covid outweigh any potential benefits? We hear from Professor Stephen Griffin, who supported the lockdowns but believes they should not be a strategy for future pandemics; and to Molly Kingsley, parent and co-founder of the campaign group Us For Them, who rejected the idea of school closures from the beginning of the pandemic and reflects on the abuse sh...
Is Strep A the new Covid?
December 10, 2022 09:00 - 22 minutesTragically, at least 15 children have died so far from Strep A infections in the last couple of weeks. This week, Medical Minefield is asking: Is the Government doing enough to protect our children? We hear from resident GP columnist Dr. Ellie Cannon, who is concerned about local shortages of antibiotics, while Adam Finn, Professor of Paediatrics at the University of Bristol, says the outbreak may not be as alarming as it seems... Support the show: https://medicalminefield.com See omnystudio....
Is it really safe for the NHS to cut smear tests?
December 02, 2022 16:55 - 23 minutesHealth chiefs are planning to offer screening for cervical cancer less often – women will soon have smear tests every three years, instead of every five. But what about women like Destiny Wade, who was diagnosed with the disease three years after a negative smear test? Destiny tells Eve why she thinks the decision will allow more women to fall through the cracks. But Professor Margaret Stanley – one of the UK’s leading experts in cervical cancer – explains why recent changes to cervical cance...
Is obesity a disease?
November 18, 2022 16:13 - 41 minutesStartling new research shows that a weekly injection can help obese people shift a fortune of weight – by turning off their unusually ferocious appetite. It’s led experts to be even more convinced of the idea that obesity is not a result of greed or lack of willpower – but a biological fault that causes extreme hunger. Daily Mail columnist Sarah Vine tells of how the injection, called semaglutide, changed her life by curbing her overwhelming desire to eat junk. Meanwhile, obesity campaigner S...