Saving Lives In Slow Motion

This framework that I have created helps turn what is in your mind into action. IDEAL:Identify, Define, Engage, Activate and Look BackOne of the hardest things can be to turn intentions into reality. This simple framework along with the work of known behavioural theory experts can help implement your behaviour change intentions. Links:BJ Fogg behaviour model: https://behaviormodel.org/Susan Michie and COM-B: https://implementationscience.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1748-5908-6-42Pre-order your copy of The Health Fix now: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Health-Fix-Ayan-Panja-ebook/dp/B0B2VTFFVS/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1655897648&refinements=p_27%3AAyan+Panja&s=books&sr=1-1 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.

*TW*This is such a trenchant topic and I wanted to cover it for so many reasons. Most of us get some kind of brain symptom at times but it is short lived, but that is not the case for many people. Alzheimer’s Disease is the commonest form of dementia affecting over 60% of all dementia sufferers worldwide.This episode looks at the determinants of brain health and the aetiology of Alzheimer’s Disease.Links:Facts, figures and information on dementia: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dementiaFood and brain health: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/11-brain-foods (did not focus on this in the episode but in case you want to know more).Brain health and food chat with @Doctors_Kitchen: https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/the-doctors/8-eat-to-boost-your-brain-W4eh8cIyNHf/The hippocampus and memory: https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/alz.12009Association between diabetes and Alzheimer's Disease: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4265876/The ApoE gene: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2021.630502/fullCognitive stimulation therapy: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5639131/Alzheimer’s support: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/101 on Alzheimer’s Disease - what it is and it’s pathology: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-happens-brain-alzheimers-diseaseTreatment of Alzheimer’s Disease: https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/dementia-information/types-of-dementia/alzheimers-disease/treatments/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.

Sometimes in order to get to the underlying reason behind symptoms that may arise from your lifestyle and environment. It is a way of dissecting an area that may need more focus, for instance: diet, environment, movement, sunlight exposure, sleep, historic infections and your family history.They are good tools to use if you are not making huge progress with conventional habit changes.Links:Some benefits of a health diary: https://blog.vantagefit.io/health-diary/Caffeine overload? https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/caffeine-side-effects Fish in your diet - risks and benefits: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/health-35884051Methylisothiazolinone and skin: https://mi-free.com/Back pain and posture: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3828513/Foot shapes: https://www.healthline.com/health/types-of-feet#pronation-and-supinationSave 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.

Self talk is something we all do. It’s how communicate with ourselves and it can have a significant impact on our health.In this episode I give examples of cognitive distortions which can lead to poor self esteem, false beliefs and negative thinking.Links:Cognitive distortions and CBT: https://positivepsychology.com/cognitive-distortions/Monkey brain: https://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2017/02/28/8-science-based-tricks-for-quieting-the-monkey-mind/?sh=699868ec1af6 Self help therapies and mental health apps: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/talking-therapies-and-counselling/self-help-therapies/There are many mental health apps which may be of benefit and there is also scope for doing CBT online. Disclosure: I am medical adviser to a web-based app called Leafyard which is AI driven and based on CBT: Leafyard.com/actnowSave 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 week I cover the topic of overwhelm, suggested by a listener.It’s a feeling we all know and dislike. I try to get under its belly and look at the causes behind it as wellas solutions to minimise the chance of it arising.Links:Overhelm and burnout: https://careerpivot.com/2020/overwhelm-and-burnout-whats-the-difference-guest-post/Saying no: https://tinybuddha.com/blog/stop-saying-yes-want-say-no/Perfectionism and its pitfalls: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20180219-toxic-perfectionism-is-on-the-riseAnxiety and overwhelm: https://www.calmclinic.com/anxiety/symptoms/feeling-overwhelmedSave 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 week I discuss supplements. It’s a veritable minefield. How do you know the quality of what you are taking?Are there some supplements that are essential and others that should be avoided?I give you my take on all this and more in this episode.Links: Vitamin D NICE guidance: https://www.guidelines.co.uk/nutrition/nice-vitamin-d-guideline/252552.articleTypes of vitamin D: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/vitamin-d2-vs-d3B12 deficiency symptoms: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/vitamin-b12-deficiency-symptomsDo probiotics work? https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/do-probiotics-really-work/Digestive enzymes: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/digestive-enzymes-and-digestive-enzyme-supplementsAntioxidants: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2020.00694/fullA great go to resource for truly independent analyses and views on supplementation: https://examine.com/supplements/Signs of nutrient deficiency: https://www.rush.edu/news/6-signs-nutrient-deficiency 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.

The How, What and When of our habits can have significant effects on our health.Here are some papers on related topics. The abstracts make interesting reading.Time restricted eating - changing when you eat: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7262456/Sleep - the how and when: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3174832/Morning exercise: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7492403/Weblink for exercise: https://www.healthline.com/health/fitness-exercise/best-time-to-workout#The-Case-for-Sweating-in-the-Afternoon,-or-NightSave 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 cover the concept of adding in and removing. It seems devilishly simple but can have profound effects on health.This is one of many concepts I cover in my book which is out in January 2023.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.

My book The Health Fix launches next January in 2023 and I submitted my draft last month. I wanted to let listeners know about what inspired the book and how it might be of help.It is a toolkit for self care like no other (in my opinion)! I will be sharing some vignettes from it over the next few weeks which I hope you enjoy.Links: Pre-order The Health Fix: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Health-Fix-Ayan-Panja-ebook/dp/B0B2VTFFVS/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_nodl?qid=1655897648&refinements=p_27%3AAyan+Panja&s=books&sr=1-1Monkey brain: https://www.stress.org/please-meet-your-monkey-mindSave 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.

Relationships (good ones) are essential to our lives. What do they go wrong and what factors are at play?How do we sustain them and what are the basic underlying pillars that make or break them?They need work and attention and there are many ways of looking at them. Links: Psychotherapist Esther Perel: https://www.estherperel.com/Transactional analysis and the work of Eric Berne: https://ericberne.com/Dysfunctional relationships: https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/rediscovering-love/201401/is-your-relationship-dysfunctionalHow to improve relationships: https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/mate-relate-and-communicate/201412/10-ways-improve-any-relationshipSave 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 episode is about loneliness. Why is loneliness an issue? What are the different types of loneliness and how do we define them?I look at this huge issue which is a global issue that can be deceptively hard to identify.Loneliness by country: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1222815/loneliness-among-adults-by-country/Social isolation and health: https://www.cdc.gov/aging/publications/features/lonely-older-adults.htmlLoneliness can be as bad as smoking 15 cigarettes a day: https://www.inc.com/amy-morin/americas-loneliness-epidemic-is-more-lethal-than-smoking-heres-what-you-can-do-to-combat-isolation.htmlIntergenerational connection: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/nov/12/children-care-homes-residents-feel-more-humanSeal (Killer - live in Paris): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5xAyX_U2GMSave 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.

Today’s episode is all about empathy.Is it valued in today’s society? Is it important to us as human beings and what does it mean to you? Health care and the role of empathy: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7151200/Physician empathy and patient satisfaction: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/physician-empathy-a-key-driver-of-patient-satisfaction-300228070.htmlThe three types of empathy: https://www.inc.com/justin-bariso/there-are-actually-3-types-of-empathy-heres-how-they-differ-and-how-you-can-develop-them-all.htmlSome evidence that social media may actually marginally improve empathy (no causality): https://www.researchgate.net/publication/336326078_Social_Media_Use_and_Empathy_A_Mini_Meta-AnalysisAn expert view on empathy and reasons for it decreasing: https://genius.com/Dr-sara-h-konrath-why-is-empathy-decreasing-annotatedSave 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 week’s episode is all about time. The pandemic, people’s loss and the state of the world right now has brought time into sharp focus. Is it really the only thing that matters? I talk about ways that I have managed to see time in a different way and share some perspectives on how we might look at it and mould it to suit our own lives.Links:Myths about time management: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2018/11/05/11-time-management-myths-that-are-hurting-your-productivity/?sh=2fbb64254f80Time management grid (leaving everything to the last minute makes it become urgent and important):https://weekplan.net/academy/weekly-planning/4-quadrants-of-time-managementTime perspectives: https://psychcentral.com/lib/whats-your-time-perspective#1Volunteering: https://worksmart.org.uk/news/any-volunteers-how-giving-your-free-time-good-your-careerFerris Bueller: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsYBtfQ3QDoABC method and time management grid: https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/471/2019/08/Prioritization-Methods.pdfA great conversation between Sadiq Khan and Alistair Campbell: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeA-7oS1LhkSave 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.

Language is important in all walks of life and has changed hugely over the years becauseof how humans communicate.In this episode I look at its importance and its role in health and medicine, nuances in language and how we can try to work out what someone means from what they say.You can cross reference to my episode on Consultations which overlaps with this nicely and covers the way in which we communicate.Links: Rita Charon's work on narrative medicine: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1949238/John Launer’s 7 C’s: https://www.gp-training.net/communication-skills/communication-skills-theory/narrative-based-medicine/Interesting paper on language, culture and medicine: https://escholarship.umassmed.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1060&context=fmch_articlesPragmatics in language: https://all-about-linguistics.group.shef.ac.uk/branches-of-linguistics/pragmatics/what-is-pragmatics/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.

This episode is all about perspective. How can we improve our ability to look at other’s points of view andwhy is it so important?Can we avoid conflict by being mindful about language and behaviours?Protected characteristics: https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/equality-act/protected-characteristicsTaking perspective:https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/the-power-personal-narrative/201906/the-power-perspective-takingPerceptual positions: https://www.brilliantminds.co.uk/video-perceptual-positions/The age of the individual?: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/jan/16/the-age-of-the-individual-must-end-tom-oliver-the-self-delusionSave 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.

We know what wellbeing means - or do we? What does it really mean and how do we acknowledge and make it a priority at work and in ourlives?One of my friends triggered this episode having been unsure how to acknowledge and accommodate wellbeing at work.In this episode we look at the determinants of wellbeing and how to take practical steps to improve yours.Links: World Health Organisation: https://www.who.int/about/governance/constitutionVarious wellbeing wheels: rb.gy/pxbmfqWhat Works Wellbeing: https://whatworkswellbeing.org/resources/wellbeing-evidence-at-the-heart-of-policy/Educating Ruby by Claxton and Lucas: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Educating-Ruby-Children-Really-Learn/dp/1845909542Wellbeing stories (for children): https://www.wellbeingstories.com/AI driven mental health app for which I am medical adviser: https://www.leafyard.com/actnowSave 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.

Today I’ll be looking at medical myths. It’s a fascinating area which most of us will be able to relate to.How many times have you found yourself saying we only use 10% of our brainsor that you should feed a cold and starve a fever? I’d love to hear your experiences of this via Insta, Twitter, LinkedIn or FB.Here are some links based on the show for more info:Do we only use 10% of our brains? https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20121112-do-we-only-use-10-of-our-brainsIs crossing your legs bad for you? https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20151013-is-crossing-your-legs-bad-for-youGreying hair: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/06/210622154339.htmFeed a cold, starve a fever? https://www.healthline.com/health/feed-a-cold-starve-a-feverHealth Freaks 2013: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEGH4hfxMfUGarlic and libido (a study): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24844765/An apple a day keeps the doctor away: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2210883Save 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.

Today’s episode is about medical diagnosis. It’s a tricky business and as patients we want to make sure the diagnosis is as accurate as possible withoutsomething being missed or the opposite - the risk of overtreatment.I look at the role of screening and talk through some of the challenges we face as both patients and clinicians.Links:Improving diagnosis: https://www.improvediagnosis.org/stories/  (USA based)Screening and ethics which govern it in the NHS: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-nsc-ethical-framework-for-screening/uk-nsc-ethical-framework-for-screening“Too much medicine”: https://www.bmj.com/too-much-medicineOverdiagnosis: https://www.bmj.com/content/362/bmj.k2820Ivan Illich and his Medical Nemesis: https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/sites/default/files/jrcpe_46_2_omahony_0.pdfAchenbach syndrome (just FYI): https://casereports.bmj.com/content/13/9/e238156Medically unexplained symptoms: https://bjgp.org/content/67/656/106Bill Turnbull documentary: https://www.channel4.com/programmes/bill-turnbull-staying-aliveSave 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.

Impostor syndrome affects up to 70% of people and I see it so often that I wanted to look at what it is, where it came from and what we can do about it.It’s a fascinating phenomenon which once uncovered can lead to self-exploration and changing our thoughts.Links: The imposter phenomenon in high achieving women: Dynamics and therapeutic intervention. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research & Practice, 15(3), 241–247: https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1979-26502-001Latest large scale review study on Impostor syndrome: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7174434/Dr Valerie Young: https://impostorsyndrome.com/An article I wrote many years ago: "Failures can be the pillars of success”: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC261763/CBT techniques which may help: https://www.healthline.com/health/cognitive-restructuringSave 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.

Medical errors are common and need to be minimised. They are the 3rd commonest cause of death in the USA.In this episode I look at why these errors happen and what we can do to prevent them.Links:Patient safety (WHO): https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/patient-safetySurgical safety checklist (WHO): https://www.who.int/teams/integrated-health-services/patient-safety/research/safe-surgery/tool-and-resourcesMartin Bromiley’s charity looking at human factors: https://chfg.org/chfg-history/ PIP implant update: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-57179180Consent: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/consent-to-treatment/PALS (NHS): https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/hospitals/what-is-pals-patient-advice-and-liaison-service/HealthWatch: https://www.healthwatch.co.uk/what-we-doSave 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 episode is about grief and bereavement. It is different for everyone but I share my own experience of it here.Links:The Kubler-Ross stages of grief: https://www.healthline.com/health/stages-of-griefTransgenerational grief: https://www.griefrecoverymethod.com/blog/2018/01/transgenerational-griefTheories on grief: https://griefjourney.co.uk/startjourney/for-professionals-and-caregivers/articles-for-professionals-and-caregivers/theories-of-grief/General bereavement support: cruse.org.uk Support for grieving children: https://www.winstonswish.org/Support for grieving parents: https://www.careforthefamily.org.uk/family-life/bereavement-support/bereaved-parent-supportSave 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.

What exactly is resilience? Is it more than being able to recover from adversity or stresses?It’s a term that has annoyed me in the past so I wanted to get under it’s belly and explore where it came from beyond flexibility and adaptability in thinking orhandling stressful situations.The work of Emmy Werner fascinates me and I try to draw out her key findings.Summary article by Dr Werner: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/1054139X92901577Dr Werner’s longitudinal study: https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1111%2Fj.1939-0025.1989.tb01636.xResilience in healthcare: https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/10/1/e031765Mayo Clinic tips on resilence: https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/resilience-training/in-depth/resilience/art-20046311Save 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.

Today I’ll be talking about Lifestyle Prescriptions, covering what they are and how you can make a start on generating them for yourself starting with The Symptom Web® - a really simple concept which I devised and continue to teach on Prescribing Lifestyle MedicinePrescribing Lifestyle Medicine: https://www.practiceunbound.org.uk/product/prescribinglifestylemedicine/homeGut flora and antibiotics: https://atlasbiomed.com/blog/probiotics-after-antibiotics/Caffeine and migraines: https://www.healthline.com/health/migraine/caffeine-migraineSave 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 episode is all about consultations, their history, evolution and how to get the most out of them with your health care practitioners.Dr Michael Balint: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1464079/Dr Milton Erickson: https://www.erickson-foundation.org/ Continuity of care: https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/8/6/e021161 The Patient Revolution: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07Q8YTYTG/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1Consulting models for GPs: https://www.gponline.com/consultation-models-practice/article/988629Person centred care and social prescribing: https://www.rcgp.org.uk/clinical-and-research/our-programmes/about-person-centred-care.aspxSave 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.

Today we're talking all about invisible illnesses, in particular long covid and the explosion in the need for mental health support.Here are some links that might be of interest:Mental health information: mind.org.ukZOE: https://covid.joinzoe.com/Long Covid: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng188A ‘pacing’ resource: https://www.torbayandsouthdevon.nhs.uk/uploads/24053.pdfHigh blood pressure: https://www.healthline.com/health/high-blood-pressure-hypertension#overviewRolling with resistance - https://sbirt.publichealthcloud.com/resources/images/MI%20Strategy%20-%20Roll%20with%20Resistance%20-%20Updated.pdfSave 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.

Welcome to episode one of Saving Lives In Slow Motion.Today I'll be talking about behaviour change, whether it's giving up smoking, exercising more or just spending less time on your phone - making a change can be difficult.I share the real reasons people change their behaviours and how you can too.Show notes: Here are some links that might be on interest.  BJ Fogg’s simple but effective method on behaviour change: https://tinyhabits.com/start-tiny/Experts, including myself, talking about behaviour change during the pandemic: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000mzm7 Neuroplasticity - how the brain changes as your behaviours change: https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-brain-plasticity-2794886For more from me click hereSave 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.

Dr Ayan Panja shares his perspective on the most important themes which impact our health & wellbeing and ponders on what we can do to improve our own health journeys. Bite-sized enriching episodes with an informal laid back tone which to make you sit back, think and create change.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.