Intermittent fasting: Facts vs myths

Intermittent fasting is a term used to describe a variety of eating patterns that have alternating periods of fasting — abstinence from foods — and eating. The fasting period may last from 12 hours per day to several consecutive days, with a consistent, recurring pattern over the course of a week. The main types of […]

‘An Arm and a Leg’: Private equity is everywhere in health care. Really.

When a listener wrote to us about a pricey colonoscopy quote, we got curious. It turns out, a few years back, investors identified gastroenterology as their next hot-ticket item. Private equity companies are the house-flippers of the investment world, and they've found their way into many areas of our lives. Now, they're at gastroenterologists’ offices, […]

Burned out by covid and 80-hour workweeks, resident physicians unionize

In the early weeks of the pandemic, Dr. Lorenzo González, then a second-year resident of family medicine at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, ran on fumes, working as many as 80 hours a week in the ICU. He was constantly petrified that he would catch the covid-19 virus and guilt-ridden for not having enough time to help […]

How to keep running throughout hay fever season, according to doctors

A sizzling summer has been forecast which means (eek!) a bumper hay fever season. Recent data has also revealed that most of us live with high levels of pollen-boosting air pollution. So, how can we keep running through all of this bad air?  There’s real freedom to be enjoyed when running outside. Whether your route […]

Cell membrane-bound enzyme is essential for SARS-CoV-2 infectivity, study shows

The membrane-bound form of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is essential for enabling infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, according to a study published in the journal Cell. There are two forms of ACE2 — a full-length form that can bind to the cell membrane of healthy host cells and a shorter, soluble […]

Several health indicators differ for LBG, heterosexual adults

Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adults differ from heterosexual adults on several health indicators, according to a study published online May 25 in the National Health Statistics Reports, a publication from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Kevin C. Heslin, Ph.D., and Johanna M. Alfier, M.P.H., from the National Center for Health Statistics […]

Could take 17 months for face-to-face appointments to return to normal

Face-to-face GP appointments won’t return to pre-pandemic levels for another 18 MONTHS at current ‘snail’s pace’, campaigners fear as NHS review finds system is ‘not fit for purpose’ Official figures show just 63 per cent of GP consultations were carried out in person in England in April  At the current rate, it would take till […]

Intermittent fasting for beginners: Expert tips on how to get started

Intermittent fasting for beginners can seem daunting. You may wonder whether long periods without food will be sustainable and compatible with your lifestyle, or that you will feel too hungry during your fasting periods. The good news is that there are many different types of intermittent fasting, so if you are looking to embark on […]