Medicine

Endometriosis: Why Does it Take So Long to Diagnose?

March 17 '25

Endometriosis: Why Does it Take So Long to Diagnose?

Endometriosis is an incredibly common condition, but is notoriously under-diagnosed. It is thought that it takes on average 8 years for women in the UK to be diagnosed with endometriosis after their first presentation to their GP (1). This article will outline what endometriosis is – and why it takes so long to be diagnosed.

Dr Nirja Joshi,

Hormones and Skin Health

February 10 '25

Hormones and Skin Health

Acne commonly starts during puberty but can happen at any age and is caused by abnormal sebum (oil) production by glands in the skin. In this article, we're exploring what acne actually is, why it happens, and it's effect on our hormones.

Dr Nirja Joshi,

How to Speak to Your Doctor About Your Period

August 18 '24

How to Speak to Your Doctor About Your Period

In this article we will discuss some of the main reasons why it might be important to speak to your doctor about your period, and also what you can practically do to make the conversation easier for you.

Dr Nirja Joshi,

How to Stay Well This Winter

October 22 '23

How to Stay Well This Winter

We have put together a collection of thoughts and ideas to help to optimise your physical and mental health over the winter period.

Dr Nirja Joshi,

PMDD: What is it?

June 25 '23

PMDD: What is it?

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) is a condition you may not have heard of before, as it is not often spoken about and it’s not very well understood PMDD is a cyclical, mood disorder with symptoms arising during the premenstrual, or luteal phase of the menstrual cycle and subsiding within a few days of menstruation. In this article, we're exampling what it is and ways to manage it's symptoms.2

Dr Nirja Joshi,

Egg Freezing 101: My Experience

May 28 '23

Egg Freezing 101: My Experience

I’m 32, in a relationship, here’s why I’m freezing my eggs…

Dr Hazel Wallace,

Do Cranberry Products Prevent UTIs?

May 21 '23

Do Cranberry Products Prevent UTIs?

If you suffer from UTIs, it’s likely that you’ve tried cranberry juice or another cranberry product at some stage - or at least have been recommended to try them. This can seem like an old wive’s tale, but there is interesting research related to this. So let’s take a look at the evidence as to whether cranberry products can actually help in preventing UTIs.

Hormonal Contraception and Breast Cancer

Yesterday

Hormonal Contraception and Breast Cancer

There's been a fair amount of press about the progestogen-only contraceptive pill and breast cancer risk, but what does the evidence actually say? Read on to find out!

Dr Nirja Joshi,

Hey Doc, Why Do I Always Need to Pee?

April 18 '23

Hey Doc, Why Do I Always Need to Pee?

In this article, we will talk about what is normal, a few of the common and important causes, and when to seek help.

Dr Nirja Joshi,

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

November 25 '22

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) are names that refer to the same syndrome which encompasses many symptoms, most commonly characterised by extreme tiredness (1). In this article, Dr Nirja Joshi is exploring its symptoms, how it affects our lifestyles, the treatments available, and more.

Dr Nirja Joshi,

Cholesterol: Do You Know Your Numbers?

October 27 '22

Cholesterol: Do You Know Your Numbers?

Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in the body. It is not inherently bad; some cholesterol is essential to build cells and make vitamins and hormones. However, too much cholesterol can be problematic so this article explores what causes high cholesterol and the numbers we should know.

Dr Nirja Joshi,

Q&A: How long is too long to be on the contraceptive pill?

October 6 '22

Q&A: How long is too long to be on the contraceptive pill?

We had so many questions sent into season 8 of The Food Medic podcast that we simply didn’t have the time to get around to answering them all. So we decided to pick out some that came up a few times and answer them over the coming weeks here, on our hub. First up, how long is too long to be on the contraceptive pill?

Dr Nirja Joshi,

Gynaecological Cancer Awareness

September 22 '22

Gynaecological Cancer Awareness

When cancer is so prevalent, it is important to try and understand the different types of female cancers so that you know what to look out for, when to see a doctor and a bit about what is normal and abnormal.

Dr Nirja Joshi,

Eczema

September 21 '22

Eczema

September highlights Eczema Awareness Week, and we hope to shed light on a very common, yet complex condition which can affect anyone from newborns to the elderly.

Dr Nirja Joshi,

Psoriasis

August 25 '22

Psoriasis

August is psoriasis awareness month so we are shining a light on this topic and discussing what it is, how it can be treated, and it’s impact on other aspects of our health.

Dr Nirja Joshi,

Incontinence

August 11 '22

Incontinence

Incontinence is the unintentional passage of urine and is a very common problem affecting millions of people in the UK (1). It can happen for a variety of reasons affecting both men and women. Dr Nirja Joshi is outlining these reasons below as well as places to go and find support.

Dr Nirja Joshi,

Blood Pressure - Do You Know Your Numbers?

August 8 '22

Blood Pressure - Do You Know Your Numbers?

Blood pressure is a measure of the force of blood pumping around the body. In this article, Dr Nirja Joshi takes us through what exactly it it, why it's important, how to measure it, and more.

Dr Nirja Joshi,

What You Need to Know About Monkeypox

August 4 '22

What You Need to Know About Monkeypox

Monkeypox is a zoonosis (virus transmitted from animals to humans) which has symptoms which resemble those of smallpox, although clinically less severe (1). In this article, Dr Nirja Joshi explains what it is, the symptoms, who's at risk and the potential complications, and what to do if you have symptoms.

Dr Nirja Joshi,

Long Covid

July 21 '22

Long Covid

In General Practice soon after coronavirus became more prevalent in March 2020, it became clear that some patients were having symptoms lasting longer than would be expected of an acute viral illness. In this article, GP Dr Nirja Joshi breaks down the symptoms and what treatments are available.

Dr Nirja Joshi,

July 7 '22

Hay Fever 101

Hay fever is caused by an allergic reaction to pollen which comes from plants when it comes into contact with your eyes, nose and throat. This article breaks down some of the things you can do to help manage the symptoms.

Dr Nirja Joshi,

Things You Don't Need to be Embarrassed About When Talking to Your GP

June 30 '22

Things You Don't Need to be Embarrassed About When Talking to Your GP

Your GP is a great point of contact to help you with any health concern. It is very common for patients to come to see the GP for reassurance, and this is an important part of what we do. If there is anything which is worrying you, you should absolutely speak to your doctor, and there is no such thing as a silly question or query, if it is bothering you, it is worth asking about!

Dr Nirja Joshi,

The Lowdown on Diabetes

June 14 '22

The Lowdown on Diabetes

Diabetes is a condition whereby the body is not able to regulate your blood sugar levels effectively and causes blood sugar levels to become too high. This article will explore the two different types, the symptoms, and the treatments available.

Dr Nirja Joshi,

The Lowdown on Migraines

June 9 '22

The Lowdown on Migraines

Do you or someone you know suffer from migraines or severe headaches? Find out what to do about them in this article.

Dr Nirja Joshi,

Action on Stroke

May 31 '22

Action on Stroke

A stroke, otherwise known as a cerebrovascular accident, or CVA, occurs when the blood supply to the brain is disrupted. Dr Nirja Joshi breaks down what to do if you expect someone is having a stroke and what we can do to reduce our own risk of having a stroke.

Dr Nirja Joshi,

Vaginal Discharge: What's "Normal" and What's Not

May 26 '22

Vaginal Discharge: What's "Normal" and What's Not

In this article, Dr Nirja Joshi goes through what 'normal' discharge looks like, how to spot signs of abnormal discharge and what to do about it.

Dr Nirja Joshi,

The Lowdown on Cystitis

May 19 '22

The Lowdown on Cystitis

UTI stands for urinary tract infection. A UTI occurs when an infection (often caused by bacteria), affects the urinary tract. In this article, Dr Hazel Wallace breaks down the symptoms, the causes, the treatments, and more.

Dr Hazel Wallace,

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

May 19 '22

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Gut-related symptoms are very common and something that is often seen by GPs. There are a whole host of conditions which could contribute to these types of symptoms from thyroid disease, to food intolerances, pancreatic issues, and so many more. In this article, Dr Nirja Joshi is exploring the relationship these symptoms have to IBD.

Dr Nirja Joshi,

What is an NHS Health Check?

April 21 '22

What is an NHS Health Check?

This article will help to understand more about the NHS health check and see how this could help you or members of your family to understand more about your health.

Dr Nirja Joshi,

Bowel Cancer Awareness

April 7 '22

Bowel Cancer Awareness

April is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month. Through this article, we hope to promote awareness of the disease.

Dr Nirja Joshi,

Getting the Most from your GP Appointment

March 31 '22

Getting the Most from your GP Appointment

Over the past few years, there has been a lot of negative press with regard to access to GP appointments. So, Dr Nirja Joshi is going to break things down and share a few pointers to help you make the most of your next appointment.

Dr Nirja Joshi,

Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

March 25 '22

Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

March is ovarian cancer awareness month so Dr Nirja Joshi is joining us on the hub to help us understand what it is and it's symptoms.

Dr Nirja Joshi,

Over-the-Counter HRT

February 18 '22

Over-the-Counter HRT

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) will reportedly be made available over the counter in the UK to support women going through the menopause. But what exactly is changing and what options do women have?

Dr Nirja Joshi,