Second Opinions: why people seek them, the risks and the benefits

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-disorderAcademic analysis of pyrroles (deep dive): https://academic.oup.com/labmed/article/55/3/334/7271490Patent foramen ovale: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/patent-foramen-ovale/symptoms-causes/syc-20353487Migraines 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-syndromeSave 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/1786892804Attention 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/PMC6585675Save 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-20373711Advice on second opinions: https://www.patients-association.org.uk/getting-a-second-opinionTumour Treating Fields: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/managing-cancer/treatment-types/tumor-treating-fields.htmlLithium and MND doesn’t work?: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/archive/news/ioppn/records/2013/march/lithium-shows-no-benefit-to-mnd-patientsLithium and MND works?: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/centre-for-neuromuscular-diseases/research/experimental-clinical-trials/mnd/motor-neurone-disease-closed-trials/licals-therapeuticSave 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_0Sleep 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-snacksImpulsivity: https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/impulsive-behavior#Impulsive-behavior-meaningOverwhelm: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002pf4wSave 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/B0B2VTFFVSMed 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=0AAAAAqKJRpkXwMKHsYb3EhuFeRzIdPUV2Health Check on BBC World Service: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct6vk0Elinzanetant for menopause: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/mhra-approves-elinzanetant-to-treat-moderate-to-severe-vasomotor-symptoms-hot-flushes-caused-by-menopauseThe new weight loss drugs (GLP-1 agonists): https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/13901-glp-1-agonistsExperimental Alzheimer’s Drug: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251222080119.htmSave 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-surveyGenome sequencing: https://www.genomicsengland.co.uk/blog/what-happens-when-i-go-for-whole-genome-sequencingMepan 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-drummingSave 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-surveyLinks: WHO TCIM summit: https://www.who.int/teams/who-global-traditional-medicine-centre/global-summit-and-collaborations/second-traditional-medicine-global-summitWHO — Global strategies and WHO TCIM topic pages (authoritative overview of WHO’s stance and the Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034). World Health Organization+1WHO feature: World Health OrganizationNIH/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.117.311401Mitochondria and ageing: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41574-021-00626-7Inflammation (inflammaging): https://www.nature.com/articles/s41574-018-0059-4Epigenetic 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-yearsGut microbes: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41575-022-00605-xRapamycin - an experimental drug for anti-ageing: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanhl/article/PIIS2666-7568(23)00258-1/fulltextSenolytics: 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-rcna180800Save 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/p019px0xDigital 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-79784b56Depression questionnaire: https://patient.info/doctor/mental-health/phq-9National 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.