Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disorder that primarily affects the joints. Causing joint pain, stiffness, swelling and reduced joint motion, its exact cause is still unknown, but is believed to involve a combinat

Ep 103 – Primary prevention of cardiovascular disease: what has changed in QRISK3 and why?

13 days ago 12m 58s

In this episode, which has been recorded for Chronic Conditions Month 2024, Dr Yassir Javaid (GP with a Specialist Interest in Cardiology) examines the role of the QRISK3 calculator in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. He consid

Ep 102 – Diverticular disease

20 days ago 17m 46s

Diverticular disease is a condition characterised by the presence of small pouches, called diverticula, in the wall of the colon (large intestine). These pouches can develop when weak spots in the colon's muscular wall give way under pressure.

Ep 101 – Coeliac disease

26 days ago 15m 43s

Coeliac disease (CD) is a chronic autoimmune disorder that primarily affects the small intestine and is triggered by the consumption of gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, rye and sometimes oats. When individuals with CD ingest gluten, th

Ep 100 – Alcohol and health: a review of the latest research

Apr 11th, 2024 11m 23s

In this episode, Dr Hannah Rosa takes a look around the world at some of the different strategies that are being used to try to reduce the health complications caused by alcohol. She then looks at the latest research which links alcohol as a pr

Ep 99 – Assessment and management of obesity

Apr 4th, 2024 22m 36s

Obesity is a medical condition characterised by excessive accumulation of body fat, to the point where it may have adverse effects on health. Its incidence is steadily rising in both young people and adults. It is typically measured using BMI,

Ep 98 – Recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis

Mar 28th, 2024 16m 9s

Recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis is reported in 6% of women of reproductive age. It has a significant impact on an individual’s quality of life that is comparable to conditions such as asthma and migraine. Appropriate management of the acute

Ep 97 – Peptic ulcer disease

Mar 21st, 2024 17m 16s

The most common cause of peptic ulcers (gastric and duodenal) is infection with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) or the long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Other factors such as excessive alcohol consumption, smoking,

Ep 96 – Dysphagia

Mar 14th, 2024 12m 43s

Dysphagia refers to difficulty swallowing. It can occur at any age and may be caused by various conditions, including neurological disorders, muscular disorders, structural abnormalities, or even psychological factors. Dysphagia can range from

Ep 95 – Trigeminal neuralgia

Mar 7th, 2024 12m 40s

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a condition characterised by severe, shooting pain in the face, along the trigeminal nerve. The pain can be triggered by even mild stimulation of the face, such as brushing teeth, touching the face or eating. It is

Ep 94 – Anal fissures

Feb 29th, 2024 12m 44s

Anal fissures are small tears or cracks in the lining of the anus which can cause pain, bleeding and discomfort, particularly during bowel movements. They are quite common and can be caused by various factors such as constipation, diarrhoea, ch

Ep 93 – Haemorrhoids

Feb 22nd, 2024 13m 7s

Haemorrhoids are a very common finding in the Western world and are often seen in our surgeries. They are frequently under-reported so their exact incidence can be difficult to quantify; however, estimates are that 50% of the population experie

Ep 92 – Digital wellbeing for patients

Feb 15th, 2024 34m 55s

We live in an age of increasing digital connectivity where technology plays an ever-prominent role in peoples’ lives. While social media can provide a platform for support and connection, we are all susceptible to the negative effects of overus

Ep 91 – Lateral hip pain

Feb 8th, 2024 16m 9s

Lateral hip pain is a common presenting complaint in primary care. It can result in significant morbidity with reduction in activity levels and associated implications for leisure activities, employment and overall wellbeing. In this episode, D

Ep 90 – Digital wellbeing for clinicians

Feb 2nd, 2024 34m 11s

We are constantly connected to the web! You are likely connected right now, trying to decide what podcast to listen to! In this episode, Dr James Waldron interviews Dr Alex Lai of the WorkWell Doctors in the first of a series about staying well

Ep 89 – Bowen’s disease

Jan 25th, 2024 14m 11s

Bowen's disease, also known as squamous cell carcinoma in situ, is a type of skin disorder characterised by the presence of precancerous or intra-epidermal squamous cell carcinoma. It was named after John T. Bowen, the dermatologist who first d

Ep 88 – Obsessive–compulsive disorder

Jan 18th, 2024 13m

Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is a prevalent mental health condition characterised by persistent, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviours or mental acts (compulsions) aimed at alleviating anxiety. Individuals with OCD of

Ep 87 – Depression in adults

Jan 12th, 2024 14m 51s

NICE published its last guideline on depression in 2009. Since that time, the prevalence of depression has increased, especially among vulnerable adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. NICE published a new guideline in June 2022 to reflect this.

Ep 86 – Inflammatory marker testing

Dec 15th, 2023 17m 38s

Many pathology tests are ordered unnecessarily in primary care and this can include testing for inflammatory markers. The most common examples of tests typically ordered are for erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP)

Ep 85 – Hyperhidrosis

Dec 1st, 2023 13m 49s

Sweating is a crucial way to reduce our body temperature, such as when doing strenuous physical activity or when in a hot environment. Hyperhidrosis is defined as excessive sweating beyond what is physiologically required or normal. It can be c

Ep 84 – Testosterone deficiency

Nov 24th, 2023 11m 11s

Testosterone deficiency (TD) is an increasingly common problem with significant health implications, but the diagnosis and management of this condition may present problems in primary care. Low levels of testosterone in men are associated with

Ep 83 – Management of dry skin conditions in skin of colour

Nov 17th, 2023 14m 55s

Dry skin is an extremely common condition that occurs in all skin colours and ethnic groups; however, differences in skin colour can cause significant differences in the incidence, presentation and treatment of different skin conditions. Althou

Ep 82 - Pityriasis capitis (dandruff)

Nov 3rd, 2023 13m 2s

Although pityriasis capitis (dandruff) is not a serious medical condition, it causes significant embarrassment and self-esteem issues in many people who suffer from it. It is extremely common, affecting up to half the global adult population, a

Ep 81 – Lyme disease

Oct 26th, 2023 13m 49s

Lyme disease can present a number of particular difficulties in primary care, and these are often linked to clinical findings and the availability and timing of testing. In this podcast, Dr Roger Henderson discusses those and looks at Lyme dise

Ep 80 – Altitude medicine: heightening understanding of “travel consultations”

Oct 19th, 2023 30m 6s

With tourism having now rebounded from the declines during and after the coronavirus pandemic, our patients are once again travelling globally. But what happens when their destination is 5000 metres above sea level? Many GPs will have been face