Fiona Callingham

Doctor Amir Khan recommends grip strength as a strong indicator of healthy ageing, alongside walking speed, the ability to rise from the floor without using the hands, waist size and resting heart rate. These measures can reflect strength, balance, cardiovascular and metabolic health, and may help identify risks such as frailty, diabetes, heart disease and premature death. The advice emphasizes maintaining strength and fitness rather than focusing primarily on youthful appearance.

Bowel cancer is becoming more common among people under 50, with diagnoses among UK adults aged 25 to 49 rising 22% between the early 1990s and 2018. The American College of Surgeons highlights persistent bowel-habit changes, recurring blood in the stool, unusual stool appearance, and unexplained changes in overall health as warning signs. Rectal bleeding was the strongest predictor of bowel cancer in a study of symptomatic younger patients. Early detection improves treatability, and the NHS advises contacting a GP when symptoms persist for three weeks or more.

Laura Jackson was diagnosed with stage-three bowel cancer after low iron levels were identified when she tried to donate blood. Her GP arranged FIT tests, which led to further investigations and the discovery of a 5cm bowel tumour despite her having few typical symptoms. She underwent surgery to remove part of her bowel followed by chemotherapy and currently has no evidence of disease, although she will be monitored for five years. Jackson is sharing her experience online to encourage people to pay attention to symptoms such as fatigue and intermittent diarrhoea and to request FIT testing when appropriate.

The UK Health Security Agency has urged families to avoid direct sunlight between 11am and 3pm, when UV levels peak, and to use shade, suitable clothing, hats, sunglasses and sunscreen. Additional advice includes keeping homes cool, drinking fluids, exercising during cooler periods, monitoring forecasts and recognising heat exhaustion or heatstroke. Families are also advised to supervise children near water, use lifeguarded locations, wear flotation aids and call 999 for emergencies, asking for the Coastguard at the coast.

Dr Amir Khan recommends regular walking as a free, accessible form of exercise, ideally for about 30 minutes a day. He says it can support cardiovascular health, joints, blood sugar, immune function and mood, while potentially lowering the risk of some cancers. Beginners are advised to start gradually, walk in nature where possible and resume after missed days.

Dr Amir Khan says hair loss can be linked to low iron stores even when ferritin results fall within the laboratory's broad normal range. He explains that levels between 30 and 99 may still contribute to hair loss, while many dermatologists prefer ferritin to be at least 100 before ruling out iron deficiency as a cause. Iron deficiency can also cause tiredness, breathlessness, paleness and other symptoms, and people concerned about anaemia are advised to consult a GP.

The NHS is urging people to check new or changing moles for melanoma using the ABCDE checklist: asymmetry, irregular borders, varied colours, diameter over 6 millimetres and evolving features. Other warning signs include swelling, tenderness, bleeding, itching and crusting. People should consult a GP about suspicious or persistent skin changes, while reducing risk by limiting midday sun exposure, covering the skin, wearing protective eyewear and hats, and using sunscreen with at least SPF 30 and four-star UVA protection.

Dementia specialist Dr Tim Beanland explains that age, sex and genetics influence Alzheimer’s risk, but lifestyle choices from midlife may help reduce it. The five recommended measures are avoiding smoking, limiting alcohol, staying physically active, eating a balanced diet, and remaining mentally and socially engaged. The article also outlines common symptoms, notes that about two-thirds of people with dementia in the UK have Alzheimer’s, and advises seeking medical advice when symptoms appear.

Dr Amir Khan has described his experience of anticipatory anxiety, explaining how he repeatedly imagines catastrophic outcomes before routine meetings or difficult conversations. He says this mental rehearsal causes stress even though real-life interactions usually turn out well. Anxiety UK identifies anticipatory anxiety as a symptom associated with anxiety-related conditions, while the NHS lists common symptoms of general anxiety and advises people with concerning or unclear symptoms to consult their GP.

People taking amlodipine are advised to contact NHS 111 if they develop sudden, severe abdominal pain or other symptoms of serious side effects. The medication can rarely cause acute pancreatitis, allergic reactions, Stevens-Johnson syndrome and heart attacks, while more common effects include swelling, headaches, dizziness, palpitations, nausea and fatigue. Pharmacist or doctor advice is recommended for persistent or troubling symptoms.

GP Suraj Kukadia, known online as Dr Sooj, says he sometimes asks patients whether they have Googled their symptoms and what diagnosis they fear. He argues that understanding patients’ concerns helps doctors focus consultations, avoid making people feel dismissed and address their expectations directly. He also explains that short GP appointments—often providing only six or seven minutes of consultation time—can mean doctors ask questions already covered in medical records because they have not had time to review the full history or want to hear the information in the patient’s own words.

Neurologist Baibing Chen warns that a severe, worsening headache accompanied by symptoms such as fever, stiff neck, light sensitivity, confusion or a non-fading rash may indicate meningitis, a potentially fatal infection that can deteriorate within hours. Bacterial meningitis is especially dangerous, while vaccination against several bacteria has prevented many serious cases. The NHS advises calling 999 or going to A&E immediately when meningitis is suspected, with additional warning signs for babies and young children.

Impaired judgment, including wearing heavy clothing in hot weather, may be an early warning sign of dementia and can increase the risk of heat-related illness. The Alzheimer Society of Canada lists nine other symptoms, including memory loss, difficulty with familiar tasks, language problems, disorientation, impaired abstract thinking, misplacing items, mood and personality changes, and loss of initiative. Anyone concerned about these signs should consult a doctor, who can confirm dementia only after multiple assessments and tests.

Dog owners are urged to act quickly to prevent or treat heatstroke during a UK heatwave forecast to bring temperatures of up to 36–37C. RSPCA guidance says to stop exercise, move the dog into shade or away from heat, cool it with water and airflow, and then take it urgently to a vet. Owners should avoid pouring water over the head or placing damp towels directly on the dog, and should take extra care with unconscious, elderly or medically vulnerable animals. The advice comes as the Met Office warns of continued extreme heat and disruption across parts of England and Wales.

Martin Lewis advises consumers seeking discounts on household bills to ask to be transferred to the provider’s customer disconnections or retentions department, where staff may have greater authority to offer better deals. He recommends haggling politely, using phrases such as stating a maximum budget or mentioning cheaper alternatives, and warns consumers not to accept the first offer. Money Saving Expert adds that negotiation is most effective near or after the end of a contract.

The NHS advises cooling anyone with heat exhaustion and giving them fluids, with symptoms expected to improve within 30 minutes. If they remain unwell or show signs such as very high temperature, hot non-sweating skin, rapid breathing, confusion, seizures or loss of consciousness, call 999 because the condition may have developed into life-threatening heatstroke. Call 111 for difficult-to-treat heat exhaustion or further advice. The guidance comes as the Met Office warns of extreme heat across the UK, with temperatures potentially reaching 38C.

A writer describes suffering four consecutive nights of severe insomnia caused by racing thoughts before successfully falling asleep while using cognitive shuffling, a technique recommended by Dr Amir Khan. The method involves choosing a word, generating and visualising words beginning with each letter, and using the varied imagery to interrupt worry and encourage the brain’s transition toward sleep. The technique is linked to Luc P. Beaudoin’s research on “serial diverse imagining.” Readers are advised to consult a GP if changes to their sleep routine do not help, insomnia persists for months, or it significantly affects daily life.

Older people across England, Scotland and Wales with health conditions or disabilities may qualify for tax-free Attendance Allowance or Pension Age Disability Payment, potentially raising annual income to more than £18,500 when combined with the State Pension. Low-income pensioners may also qualify for Pension Credit, which can unlock help with housing, council tax, heating, healthcare and other costs. The article explains eligibility rules, highlights that disability payments are not means-tested, notes restrictions affecting mixed-age couples, and provides application routes and advice services.

Dr Amir Khan explains that chronic stress keeps cortisol and insulin levels elevated, potentially contributing to insulin resistance and increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes when combined with poor sleep, inactivity and weight gain. Diabetes UK supports the relationship between stress hormones, high blood sugar and diabetes complications. NHS advice includes talking to others, using breathing and time-management techniques, exercising, prioritising sleep and avoiding alcohol, smoking, gambling or drugs as coping mechanisms.

Dr Amir Khan explains that hormonal changes during perimenopause and menopause can shift fat distribution from the hips, thighs and buttocks toward the abdomen. He describes this as a normal, natural part of ageing rather than a personal failure, while noting that menopause can also cause symptoms including hot flushes, mood changes, sleep problems and bone loss. The NHS confirms that menopause-related weight gain around the stomach and upper body is common and advises people with concerning symptoms or unusual bleeding to contact a GP; hormone replacement therapy is the most commonly prescribed treatment for menopause symptoms.

Two UK coins still in circulation may be worth more than face value if they have a rotation error that leaves Queen Elizabeth II’s portrait misaligned or upside down. A 2017 Benjamin Bunny 50p coin could be worth about £35 or more, while a 2015 Technologies £2 coin could fetch at least £30. Values depend on the error’s authenticity, the coin’s condition and collector demand.

Parents may continue receiving tax-free Child Benefit of up to £27.05 per week after a child turns 16, potentially until age 20, if the child remains in qualifying full-time non-advanced education or approved unpaid training. The claimant must notify HMRC, as payments normally stop on 31 August after the child’s 16th birthday if eligibility is not confirmed. Qualifying education includes A levels, T levels, GCSEs, Scottish Highers, certain vocational qualifications and home education, while university courses, apprenticeships and several higher-level qualifications are excluded. A further 20-week extension may be available when a child leaves education or training and registers with an approved careers service or the Ministry of Defence.

The Food Standards Agency has issued a do-not-eat warning for Arran Fine Foods Caramelised Red Onion Chutney made by Fox's Burton's Companies because affected batches may contain pieces of metal. The recall covers 195g and 1.35kg packs with specified best-before dates. Customers should return the product to the store for a full refund and can contact the manufacturer for further information.

A mathematical-modelling study published in the Journal of Theoretical Biology suggests that vitamin C consumed with or after meals may reduce the formation of potentially cancer-causing nitrosation compounds produced from dietary nitrates and nitrites. The researchers stress that the findings are mechanistic and require clinical and laboratory testing; they do not establish that vitamin C supplements prevent cancer. Vitamin C is widely available in fruit and vegetables, while low-cost supplements are also sold in the UK.