Leg cramps are a common nuisance in which the excessive contraction of a muscle causes pain and tenderness, usually in the calf, although any muscle in the legs and feet can be affected. When they occur at night, nocturnal leg cramps are classed as a sleep disorder that has three […]
Dr Sarah Brewer
Painful periods and other period symptoms such as heavy, irregular or absent periods, are among the most common reasons for a woman to consult her doctor and it’s not surprising that menstruation is often referred to as the ‘curse’. Quick links: These are the products I recommend for painful periods […]
Cannabidiol, or CBD, is now one of the most popular supplements for pain. Derived from industrial hemp plants, it has an uplifting and relaxing effect, and reduces pain perception with none of the adverse effects associated with medical marijuana, or cannabis. Quick links: These are the CBD products I recommend […]
Blepharitis is an inflammation of the eyelids whose symptoms include redness of the edge of the eyelid, soreness, itching, crusting, a build-up of dandruff-like scales and a sensation of something in your eye. In some cases, the eye becomes red and inflamed too (conjunctivitis), and the eye lashes may become […]
If you walk the average amount of 5,000 steps a day, you will clock up over 80,000 miles during your lifetime – the equivalent of walking three and a quarter times round the equator. While this may sound a lot, you should ideally walk twice as far – optimum health […]
It’s not something many people talk about, but hemorrhoids (or piles) are a common nuisance that affect most people at some time during their life. At least one in three adults has hemorrhoids at any one time. They cause a range of distressing and painful symptoms, yet one study found […]
Tinnitus is a frustrating condition that produces a constant sound in one or both ears that may resemble a ringing, buzzing, hissing or whistling sensation. Most people are susceptible when exposed to a very loud noise such as hammering or amplified rock music, but at least one in ten people […]
As a medical student, I owned two badly in-growing toenails. They hurt like fury. I needed several minor ops to remove the ingrowing spikes, and the injection to numb the toes hurt even more. Then came the application of caustic silver nitrate to kill the proud flesh (granulation tissue) which […]
Testosterone is the male sex hormone that’s best known for promoting masculine characteristics. Testosterone is also the main hormone that controls libido in both men and women. If testosterone levels fall for any reason, low sex drive will result. For men, low testosterone levels are also associated with long-term health […]
Urinary incontinence affects millions of women worldwide, and a significant number of men, too. Many people dislike the word ‘incontinence’ as it implies a total lack of control over urination, and prefer terms such as urinary leakage, bladder weakness, sensitive bladder, overactive bladder, or oops moments. Whether or not you […]
Urinary tract infection, or UTI, is a miserable condition that affects at least one in two women at some time in their life. A UTI can occur anywhere from the kidneys down to the bladder. As infection usually finds its way up from the urinary tube (urethra) that leads to […]
Motion or travel sickness – known medically as kinetosis – can ruin even the best planned journey. So what causes this debilitating condition and what can you do about it? The cause of travel sickness Motion sickness is a form of nausea that is triggered while travelling by car, sailing […]