Episodes

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20060406
20070104
Alzheimer\u2019s Disease20070802

The number of people in the UK with dementia is set to rise to over one million people in the next 15 years.

Already the disease affects over 700,000 people in the UK and 1 in 3 people end their life suffering from dementia.

The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer's disease.

Symptoms include loss of memory, difficulty in finding the right words or understanding what people are saying, and personality and mood changes.

Barbara Myers puts listeners' questions about Alzheimer's disease to Professor Clive Ballard, Director of Research at the Alzheimer's Society and Professor of Age-related Disorders at Kings College London and Institute of Psychiatry.

Barbara Myers puts questions about Alzheimer's disease to Professor Clive Ballard.

Medical discussion phone-in programme with weekly guest experts

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder20070823

How can you tell whether your child has ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) or is simply restless or bored?

ADHD is a genetically-determined condition that affects the parts of the brain which control impulses, concentration and attention.

It is thought to affect between one in a hundred and one in twenty children; but ADHD doesn't only affect children.

ADHD can affect adults causing big mood swings during the day and impulsive behaviour. It is commonly undiagnosed in adults.

The symptoms of ADHD in children include being restless, fidgety and overactive, continuously chattering and interrupting, and being easily distracted.

It is more extreme than simple misbehaving, and is usually noticed in early childhood (around the age of five).

ADHD is not caused by poor parenting, but more likely a combination of factors including changes in the brain as well as genetic and environmental factors.

Barbara Myers puts your questions to expert Professor Peter Hill, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, who will give advice on treatment and management of the condition.

Barbara Myers and guest answer questions on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Medical discussion phone-in programme with weekly guest experts

Back Pain20080717

Back pain is the biggest single medical cause of time off work, accounting for nearly half of all sickness-related absence from the workplace - that's just over 50 million lost working days every year.

Up to half of us will suffer from at least one episode of lower back pain every year, and around 5 million people will end up at their GPs.

In this edition of Check Up, Barbara Myers and her guest, GP Dr Stephen Longworth, answer callers' questions about back pain.

Barbara Myers and GP Dr Stephen Longworth answer callers' questions about back pain.

Medical discussion phone-in programme with weekly guest experts

Childhood Obesity20071227

If you're one of the many who has tried to lose weight, you'll know how hard it can be.

For children it can be particularly tough. Often excluded from games and teased in the playground, finding the confidence and motivation to tackle the problem can be a challenge in itself.

In this special edition of Check Up, Barbara Myers visits the Fulham branch of MEND, a national family-based programme designed to combat childhood obesity.

It combines ‘Mind', ‘Exercise' and ‘Nutrition', to help overweight and obese children to lose weight.

Her guest is Paul Sacher, Paediatric Dietician at Great Ormond Street, and a pioneer of the MEND programme. He'll be taking questions from both children and their parents, and offering advice to help the children manage their weight.

Obesity is now one of the world's largest health and social problems. If current trends continue unabated, at least a third of adults, a fifth of boys and a third of girls will be obese by 2020. It's predicted that many of these children will go on to become obese adults.

That's why it's crucial to target children as a separate group.

Barbara Myers visits MEND, a programme designed to combat childhood obesity.

Medical discussion phone-in programme with weekly guest experts

Cholesterol20071213

Having high cholesterol might not seem too alarming and the chances are you won't have any symptoms. But keeping your cholesterol level in check drastically reduces your chance of having a heart attack or a stroke.

If you have raised cholesterol, how good do you really have to be when it comes to food, and how physically active? And when should you reach for the cholesterol-lowering spreads or drugs?

Cholesterol expert Dr Jonathan Morrell joins Barbara Myers in the Check Up studio to take callers' questions.

Much like the furring up of a water pipe, with too much cholesterol our arteries get clogged up. And when the blood starts to clot, the problems really begin.

A clot in an artery supplying the heart causes angina or a heart attack, and a clot in the arteries of the brain, a stroke.

Cholesterol can kill but it doesn't act alone. It's carried around the body by molecules called lipoproteins.

High density lipoproteins (HDL) are ‘good', removing cholesterol from the circulation. Low density lipoproteins (LDL) are ‘bad', bringing cholesterol in to the circulation where they clog the arteries. Triglycerides make matters worse by helping cholesterol to clog them further.

Some people inherit high cholesterol and need medication to reduce it. But for most of us, there's a lot we can do to help. Cutting down on foods high in saturated fats reduces levels of bad cholesterol. Exercising and eating more fruit, vegetables, plant sterols and soya can make a difference too.

Around 3 million people in the UK are currently thought to take a statin to reduce their cholesterol, and according to the latest guidelines, at least as many again should be on one, but aren't. But they don't suit everyone. So what is the alternative?

Barbara Myers and Dr Jonathan Morrell answer questions about cholesterol.

Medical discussion phone-in programme with weekly guest experts

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD)20080313

You may have heard of chronic bronchitis, or of emphysema, but to doctors they are both different aspects of what they call chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD.

Both these conditions mean that the airways in the lung are damaged and it becomes hard for the air to get in and out, causing breathlessness.

COPD is the third biggest cause of respiratory death, and the fifth biggest killer overall, in the UK.

COPD is caused mainly by smoking, but also by airborne pollution. It can also be the result of an inherited genetic deficiency.

If you or someone you know is worried that their cough or shortness of breath may be a sign of a long term chronic disease then call the programme for advice.

Barbara Myers is joined by consultant Dr Keith Prowse to take listerners' calls on the symptoms of COPD, and the treatments available.

Barbara Myers and guest Dr Keith Prowse look at chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder.

Medical discussion phone-in programme with weekly guest experts

Cosmetic Dentistry20080619

How important is the perfect smile to you?

With everything from whitening treatments to top-of-the-range porcelain veneers, this episode of Check Up focuses on the fast-growing area of cosmetic dentistry.

Barbara Myers and her guest, dentist Martin Fallowfield, offer advice on the latest treatments and the truth behind the headlines about that perfect Hollywood smile.

Barbara Myers takes listeners' calls on the fast-growing area of cosmetic dentistry.

Medical discussion phone-in programme with weekly guest experts

Diabetes20080306

Over 2 million people in the UK suffer from diabetes and, of the two main types, the vast majority have ‘Type 2' diabetes.

Early diagnosis and treatment of diabetes minimises the risk of a whole raft of diseases associated with it. But many people, about three quarters of a million, have no idea they even have it.

Barbara Myers is joined in the Check Up studio by Dr Nick Oliver from St Mary's Hospital in London to answer callers' questions about Type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes occurs when the level of glucose in the blood is too high. In Type 2 diabetes, there is either not enough of the hormone insulin to regulate this glucose level, or the tissues in the body that respond to insulin are impaired.

Even a mildly raised glucose level can affect the blood vessels in the long term, and raise the risk of numerous conditions from heart disease and stroke, to vision, kidney and nerve problems.

Type 2 diabetes usually develops in people over the age of forty who are overweight, and it's particularly common in African, Afro-Caribbean and Asian people.

The symptoms can appear over weeks or months, which is why the disease can be overlooked. The classic signs are extreme thirst, frequent urination, weight loss, tiredness and generally feeling unwell.

Keeping your blood glucose as near normal as possible is the main aim of treatment.

For many people, lifestyle measures such as healthy eating, losing weight and exercise can help. Others may need medication too, to either boost the amount of insulin in the blood or increase the ability of the tissues to respond to it.

Type 2 diabetes is highly preventable. While weight loss for the overweight and a healthy diet are essential, recent research shows that exercise can reduce the risk of developing the disease, in those at high risk, by as much as thirty to forty percent.

Dr Nick Oliver from St Mary's Hospital in London answers questions about Type 2 diabetes.

Medical discussion phone-in programme with weekly guest experts

Dizziness20070322

One in three people will have symptoms of unexplained recurrent dizziness by the age of 65.

A bang to the head or a viral infection can damage the inner ear, upsetting the body's balance system. Symptoms can include not being able to tolerate movement or crowds, feeling drunk without having had a drink, fullness of the ears or feeling the world spin at the slightest movement.

In this edition of Check Up, Barbara Myers is joined by Dr Rosalyn Davies, consultant in audio vestibular medicine, to answer listeners' questions on balance disorders.

M退ni耀re's disease can cause vertigo, tinnitus, vomiting and ultimately hearing loss. Attacks vary in severity and while it doesn't have a cure there are ways it can be helped - going on a very low salt diet can help some people to manage their symptoms.

Barbara Myers presents the health phone-in exploring dizziness.

Medical discussion phone-in programme with weekly guest experts

Fainting20080228

Barbara Myers and her guest Professor Richard Sutton from St Mary's Hospital in Paddington answer callers' questions about fainting.

Fainting is part of a wider syndrome known as syncope - a temporary loss of consciousness due to a lack of blood supply to the brain. Fainting is the most common cause of syncope.

Although it seems dramatic, fainting is not considered dangerous by doctors. 50% of us will faint at some point during our lives.

The second most common cause of syncope is caused by a sudden loss of blood pressure whilst standing - this is usually caused by the side effect of a prescribed medicine, or by a fairly rare condition known as postural hypotension.

The third, and most worrying cause of syncope might be due to an underlying heart condition, a form of cardiac rhythm disturbance which may either mean the heart stops momentarily, or beats very fast and inefficiently.

Another cause of sudden loss of consciousness is epilepsy, and if patients suffer from frequent fainting it's important for doctors to discover whether it's epilepsy or syncope which is causing it.

Prof. Richard Sutton from St Mary's Hospital answers callers' questions about fainting.

Medical discussion phone-in programme with weekly guest experts

Feet20070809

Each foot is made up of 26 bones, 33 joints and more than 100 muscles, tendons and ligaments.

We tend to ignore them, but most people in their lives will have a problem with their feet.

Some foot problems are inherited, whilst some develop from illnesses, or from the pressure of badly fitting shoes.

Fortunately most common foot problems can be treated. Bunions, hammer toes, in-growing toenails, athletes foot and callouses can all be treated successfully, either with medication, surgery or, in the case of sweaty feet, a treatment more usually associated with wrinkles - botox.

Barbara Myers is joined in the studio to by consultant podiatric surgeon Barry Francis, who practices within the NHS as a Consultant Podiatric Surgeon at Herts and Essex Hospital to answer listeners' questions about feet.

Barbara Myers looks at problems with the feet, from bunions to athlete's foot.

Medical discussion phone-in programme with weekly guest experts

Feet20080710Barbara Myers puts listeners' questions about feet to podiatric surgeon Emma Supple.

Medical discussion phone-in programme with weekly guest experts

Food Allergies20070308

Two million people in the UK have a food allergy and numbers are increasing rapidly.

Are we in the middle of a food allergy epidemic?

In this programme, Barbara Myers is joined by consultant allergist Dr Pamela Ewan from Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge to take listeners' questions on food allergies and intolerances.

Before the mid 1990s nut allergies were very rare; now 1 in 50 schoolchildren has one. In the last four years the numbers of people with allergies to fruits, from plums to peaches, kiwi to apples, has also risen exponentially.

Adults and children can become allergic to any food from eggs and milk, shellfish, vegetables, seeds and nuts.

What's causing this epidemic and what can be done about it? And what's the difference between a food allergy and an intolerance?

Is there an epidemic of food allergies? Barbara Myers and guest answer callers' questions

Medical discussion phone-in programme with weekly guest experts

Hair Problems20071129

Whether you have too much hair or too little, or perhaps you've got hair in the wrong place, GP Dr Ann Robinson joins Barbara Myers in the Check Up studio to offer her advice.

While they may not like it, many men lose their hair with age.

In women, hair loss is particularly common after the menopause, when the hair can thin around the top and sides of the head.

Stress and illness can also cause hair loss. The hair may eventually re-grow, may return in patches or not come back at all.

Some people resort to hair transplants or wigs, while others try hair thickening lotions to help stimulate hair growth.

But which treatments for baldness actually work?

Excessive hair in women, or hirsutism, can indicate an underlying illness. Some women with polycystic ovary syndrome, for example, have excessive hair growth.

In rare cases, hirsutism can point to the existence of a tumour. Hirsutism is also more common after the menopause.

Waxing or creams are used to bleach or remove unwanted hair. More permanent options include laser treatment and a prescription-only cream.

Barbara Myers discusses listeners' hair problems with GP Dr Ann Robinson.

Medical discussion phone-in programme with weekly guest experts

Hand Problems20071220

Whether it is threading a needle or opening a can of beans, it is easy to take our hands from granted. But it's their complex anatomy which makes this dexterity possible.

Flexible movement coupled with sensitive fingertips enable us to manipulate all sorts of objects. And through gesture and touch, they convey how we feel.

That is why hand disease and injury can be so disabling. In this programme Barbara Myers and hand surgeon Mr Rupert Eckersley, from the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, take callers' questions.

Many disorders and injuries of the hand can be treated with hand therapies like splinting, wound care, physiotherapy and occupational therapy. And these therapies remain crucial when surgery is necessary.

Barbara Myers puts questions about problems with the hands to Dr Rupert Eckersley.

Medical discussion phone-in programme with weekly guest experts

Headache and Migraine20080703

Most of us have had a painful headache at some time in our lives.

They can range from regular migraines that keep people away from work to chronic daily headaches that can be induced by taking too many painkillers.

In this edition of Check Up, Barbara Myers will be putting your questions about the origins and treatments of headaches to Dr Andrew Dowson, Director of the Headache Service at Kings College, London.

There is no single cause for headaches and, while they are painful and annoying, the majority of headaches do not indicate that there is a serious problem.

The pain can be mild to severe in one or more parts of the head as well as the back of the neck. There are many different types of headache patterns and a variety of causes.

Barbara Myers and guest answer callers' questions about headache and migraine.

Medical discussion phone-in programme with weekly guest experts

Heart Attacks20070301

Heart attacks are caused by an artery to the heart becoming blocked. The symptoms of an attack are pain, breathlessness, sweating, racing pulse, nausea, and pain as far as the jaw or stomach

Some heart attacks don't cause the classic symptoms, sufferers just complain of feeling unwell, often when the person the elderly or has diabetes.

In the UK there are more than 200,000 heart attacks every year.

Women statistically have a worse outcome from a heart attack than men.

After a heart attack time is of the essence. Reopening the blocked artery as soon as possible is crucial to reduce the amount of permanent damage to the heart. This can be done by using clot busting drugs or a procedure called an angioplasty where a tube containing a small balloon is passed through to the narrowed artery. The balloon is then inflated so it squashes the fatty tissue responsible for the narrowing, and widens the artery.

In this programme Barbara Myers puts listeners' questions about heart attacks, and what lifestyle changes can be made to prevent them, to Professor Keith Channon from the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.

Exploring how heart attack victims can change their lifestyles to lessen risk of another.

Medical discussion phone-in programme with weekly guest experts

Hip Replacements20070405

60,000 hip replacement operations are performed every year in the UK.

The most common reason for replacing the hip joint is because of damage caused by osteoarthritis but it can also be because of fracture or infection.

As people receiving artificial hips get younger, how long can they be expected to last and what can you expect after your operation?

Barbara Myers is be joined by consultant orthopaedic surgeon Peter Kay, of the Wrightington Hospital in Wigan, the UK hospital which performed the first hip replacements.

Barbara Myers and expert Peter Kay answer listeners' calls about hip replacements.

Medical discussion phone-in programme with weekly guest experts

Irritable Bowel Syndrome20070830

Stomach cramps, trapped wind and feeling bloated? Do you swing between having diarrhoea and feeling constipated?

You could be suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or IBS.

Up to one in five people suffer from IBS, and for many the symptoms stretch beyond the bowel - from headaches and dizziness, to ringing in the ears and shortness of breath.

It's not clear exactly what causes IBS, but it's thought that factors such as stress and inflammation make the gut more sensitive in IBS patients.

While there are treatments available, they need to be tailored to the patient's specific symptoms. A treatment that works for one may make matters worse for another.

Barbara Myers puts listeners' questions about the condition and how to treat it to Gastroenterologist Dr Anton Emmanuel from University College Hospital in London.

Barbara Myers and guest answer questions about Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Medical discussion phone-in programme with weekly guest experts

Lymphoedema20071122

A fluid swelling that's chronic, persisting for months, in any part of the body is likely to be a lymphoedema.

Although thought to be relatively uncommon it is estimated that at least 100,000 people in the UK have lymphoedema.

It occurs when the lymphatic system, which is responsible for draining waste materials away from the tissues, stops working properly.

When the lymphatic system is damaged, fluids accumulate in the tissues, causing swelling. If left untreated, the swelling can become hard and extremely painful.

It can affect any part of the body but most commonly occurs on the limbs.

Lymphoedema can be a distressing side effect of surgery for cancer, of the breast or prostate for example, when lymph nodes are removed.

Likewise, radiotherapy can cause scar tissue which can damage the lymphatic system.

However, three-quarters of lymphoedemas occur in patients that have not had cancer.

Injury, reduced mobility and problems with the veins can all increase your risk of developing it.

Because the lymphatic system is not well understood, lymphoedema has been misdiagnosed as a sprained ankle, water retention or swelling from an allergic reaction.

While lymphodema is not curable, there's a great deal that can be done to help, particularly if the condition is caught early. Skin care, compression stockings, exercise and massage can all help to reduce moderate swelling.

But treatment needs to be tailored to the individual. Severe swellings need a more intensive treatment programme. Compression and massage can help, but how effective is drug therapy or surgery?

Barbara Myers puts listeners' questions about lymphoedema and how to manage it to Peter Mortimer, Professor of Dermatological Medicine to the University of London at St George's and the Royal Marsden Hospitals, London.

Callers' questions answered on lymphoedema, which causes chronic swelling.

Medical discussion phone-in programme with weekly guest experts

Osteoporosis20070315

One in two women and one in five men in the UK over the age of 50 will break a bone because of osteoporosis.

Losing bone density is a natural part of the ageing process but what makes some people more susceptible to porous bones than others?

Being post-menopausal, taking certain prescription drugs, smoking and drinking are all risk factors for developing osteoporosis.

In this edition of Check Up, Barbara Myers is joined by Dr Nicola Peel, consultant in metabolic bone medicine to take your questions on bone health and osteoporosis.

What are the best forms of prevention, treatment, who is most at risk and how can you get yourself tested?

Callers' questions answered about osteoporosis, its causes and how it can be treated.

Medical discussion phone-in programme with weekly guest experts

Palliative Care20070329

Barbara Myers takes listeners' calls on palliative care.

She is joined by Dr Polly Edmonds, consultant in palliative care medicine at King's College Hospital in London to discuss how pain and symptom relief, spiritual and psycho-social support can improve the quality of life of people with life-threatening illnesses like cancer or heart disease.

Broaching the subject of death and how and where people would like to end their life can be hard for both medical professionals and family and loved ones, but fear and ignorance can only make things harder to deal with when the end is imminent.

Barbara Myers and Dr Polly Edmonds answer callers' questions about palliative care.

Medical discussion phone-in programme with weekly guest experts

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome20080110

In this edition of Check Up, Barbara Myers and her guest Professor Adam Balen from Leeds General Infirmary will be offering advice about Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Weight gain, excessive body hair, acne and irregular periods are just some of a myriad of symptoms that women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can suffer from.

Symptoms may be mild for some, but for others, they are wide ranging and more severe.

It is not known what causes PCOS, but daughters have a fifty percent chance of inheriting it from their mother.

The syndrome is triggered by an imbalance in some, or all, of the hormones that control the menstrual cycle. Many women with the condition have raised levels of the hormone insulin. This causes the ovaries to produce an imbalance in hormones, including an overproduction of testosterone.

These raised testosterone levels cause some sufferers to develop acne and excessive body hair (hirsutism).

Many PCOS sufferers are embarrassed by the affect their symptoms have on their appearance and become socially isolated and depressed.

The syndrome also puts sufferers at an increased risk of developing endometrial cancer, type II diabetes and heart disease.

While there's no cure for the syndrome, there's a lot that can be done to help manage the symptoms.

Barbara Myers puts callers' questions about polycystic ovary syndrome to Prof Adam Balen.

Medical discussion phone-in programme with weekly guest experts

Posture20080320

Many of us suffer with back pain at some time in our lives.

Sitting in front of a computer all day, driving for long periods, carrying heavy bags and slouching on the sofa can all contribute to bad posture.

Our posture often has a part to play in the state of our backs, and other parts of the body.

But what is the best way to improve our posture? Are our parents and teachers correct to tell us to stand up straight? What exercises can help?

If you suffer from back, neck or leg pain or sciatica, what is the best way to alleviate the pain?

On this edition of Check Up, Barbara Myers puts questions about posture to Dr Peter Skew, a GP who specialises in treating back pain.

Barbara Myers and guest answer questions on how to improve posture to avoid back pain.

Medical discussion phone-in programme with weekly guest experts

Prostate Cancer20070906

It's the size of a walnut, hidden behind the bladder and few of us really know why it's there.

Yet this little known gland - the prostate - causes almost a quarter of all male cancers.

Being over fifty, Afro-Caribbean or having a family history of the disease increases your risk, as does a diet high in animal fat and low in fruit and vegetables.

Often there are no symptoms, but when they do occur they may include urinating more frequently, pain and difficulty passing urine.

Most prostate cancers stay dormant for many years, particularly in elderly men, but for some it's more aggressive. Catching it early is the key to successful treatment.

Barbara Myers puts listeners' questions about the condition, and how to treat it, to prostate cancer specialist Dr Chris Parker at the Institute of Cancer Research and Royal Marsden Hospital in London.

Barbara Myers looks at prostate cancer, which affects up to 30,000 men in the UK each year

Medical discussion phone-in programme with weekly guest experts

Shoulder Problems20071206

Do you suffer from pain in your outer arm, above the elbow? Or perhaps the pain runs all the way down to your wrist?

Problem shoulders are surprisingly common, yet sufferers rarely think their shoulder is the culprit, and the problem can go undiagnosed.

In this episode of Check Up, Barbara Myers will be in the studio with Orthopaedic Surgeon Professor Angus Wallace from the University of Nottingham.

Whether your shoulder is ‘frozen', arthritic or dislocated, he offers advice on what can be done to treat the problem, including physiotherapy, steroid injections and surgery.

The shoulder is one of the most mobile joints in the body, making it particularly vulnerable to damage.

If the pain in your arm is so great that you can't lift your hand behind your neck you could have a frozen shoulder. If the inflammation inside the joint doesn't ‘thaw' by itself, injections into the joint or keyhole surgery can help.

Some shoulder problems, such as impingement syndrome or ‘swimmer's shoulder', where the tendon lying between the two bits of bone in the joint is squeezed after a minor injury, can often be resolved with physiotherapy.

Arthritis destroys the surfaces of the shoulder joint. These patients may have to undergo surgery, where the shoulder is dislocated to expose the ball and socket for replacing or resurfacing.

Barbara Myers discusses shoulder problems with Angus Wallace from Nottingham University.

Medical discussion phone-in programme with weekly guest experts

Sleep20080327

Many of us have difficulties getting to sleep, or find ourselves regularly waking up during the night.

A lack of sleep leaves us tired and irritable, and unable to perform at our best during the day.

Do you find it hard getting to sleep? Or can you drop off easily but then wake up in the middle of the night? Maybe your sleeping patterns have changed as you've got older and you're not sure what to do about it.

Barbara Myers' guest in studio is Professor Kevin Morgan, who runs the Clinical Sleep Research Unit at Loughborough University, who gives advice on overcoming insomnia..

Barbara Myers puts callers' questions about sleep problems to expert Dr Kevin Morgan.

Medical discussion phone-in programme with weekly guest experts

Strokes20080612

Every year about 150,000 people in the UK have a stroke.

Most people affected are over 65, but anyone can have a stroke, including children and even babies.

On this edition of Check Up, Barbara Myers puts listeners' questions about strokes to Lalit Kalra, Professor of Stroke Medicine at King's College Hospital, London.

Stroke is the third most common cause of death in the UK. It is also a leading cause of severe adult disability. More than 250,000 people live with disabilities caused by stroke.

A stroke is what happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off. Without a blood supply, essential nutrients and oxygen can't get to the brain's cells and they become damaged or die.

A stroke is sudden and the effects on the body are immediate.

The person will be affected according to which part of the brain is damaged: if a stroke damages the part of the brain that controls speech or how limbs move then limb movement or speech will be affected. A stroke can also affect how people feel.

Strokes are caused either by a blockage, when a clot blocks an artery that carries blood to the brain, or when a blood vessel bursts causing a bleed into the brain.

Symptoms of stroke include numbness, weakness or paralysis on one side of the body, slurred speech or difficulty finding words or understanding speech, sudden blurred vision or loss of sight, confusion or unsteadiness or a severe headache.

Paramedics are trained use FAST - the Face, Arm, Speech Test - but anyone can look at these key areas affected by stroke to decide whether a friend or relative needs to get to hospital quickly to be assessed.

Tests including scans should be carried out quickly to assess the cause of the stroke. Blood-thinning drugs may be given where a clot is involved.

A so-called mini-stroke or TIA (Transient Ischaemic Attack) shouldn't be ignored as it could lead to a major stroke. Your GP should refer you to a specialist stroke service within 7 days if you have experienced a TIA.

Following a stroke up to 1/3 of patients are left with a disability - and multi-disciplinary teams can help with rehabilitation and physiotherapy to re-learn skills or overcome any limitations caused by their stroke.

Advice on strokes and how to recover from them, with Barbara Myers and her expert guest.

Medical discussion phone-in programme with weekly guest experts

Sun Damage20070816

Sun damages the skin.

Whether you're on holiday in a hot country or just walking around outside in the summer, sun can cause wrinkles, flat brown spots and freckling.

But how can you tell if any changes are a sign of skin cancer?

Apart from staying out of the sun altogether, what can you do about existing damage?

Who is most at risk?

Will putting on sun cream save you?

If you do have skin cancer, how do you treat it?

Barbara Myers puts your questions about sun damage to the skin to Professor Rino Cerio, Consultant Dermatologist at St Barts and London NHS Trust.

Barbara Myers looks at the sun's effects on the skin.

Medical discussion phone-in programme with weekly guest experts

Voice Problems20080103

Whether your voice is rasping, strained or altered in pitch, Barbara Myers and Dr Ruth Epstein, a specialist in voice disorders at London's Royal National Throat, Nose & Ear Hospital, answer your questions.

The voice is produced by vibrations of the vocal cords or folds, the two bands of muscle tissue in the larynx or voice box. At rest, the folds are open and when they close, air passes through them causing them to vibrate and make a sound.

Having a problem with your voice can be very inconvenient if it strikes when you're about to go on stage or defend someone in court.

If you suffer from bouts of hoarseness, find out what you can do to prevent them.

Laryngitis, characterised by a raspy breathy voice, occurs when the vocal folds are swollen. It can arise when the voice is overused, and exposing the vocal folds to infection or irritants can also be a trigger.

Nodules on the vocal folds can cause hoarseness, most commonly among professional singers. A nodule forms on each vocal fold, in the area which is under most pressure when the folds come together to vibrate.

In rare cases, and particularly in smokers, hoarseness can indicate cancer of the larynx.

Spasmodic (or laryngeal) dysphonia is a distressing condition that causes the voice to break or have a strained or strangled quality. Sudden spasms cause the vocal folds to slam together and stiffen. There's no cure, but botox injections into the vocal folds can help to stop the spasms and improve voice quality for a few months.

Many voice problems can be reversed by voice therapy, which helps the patient eliminate the voice behaviour that created the disorder in the first place, like proper breath support for speech and eliminate forceful voicing. Other treatments include medication and surgery.

Listeners put their questions about voice problems to expert Dr Ruth Epstein.

Medical discussion phone-in programme with weekly guest experts

Weight and Diet20080626

In this edition of Check Up, Barbara Myers puts callers' questions about weight and diet to GP Ann Robinson.

There are plenty of stories in the media about the obesity timebomb which is threatening to go off in Britain.

But while many of us know that we need to lose weight, doing something about it is a different matter.

The best way to lose weight is to eat fewer calories, and take more exercise.

It's important to be realistic about the amount of weight you're likely to lose - a pound a week is a realistic target. Joining a slimming group or finding a friend to exercise with can help keep you motivated.

For people who need more help, especially those who have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or over, may be prescribed drugs to help with weight loss.

The two drugs most widely prescribed are Orlistat, which stops you absorbing fats so that they come out in your stool, and Reductil, which reduces cravings.

A controversial new drug, Rimonabant, was also just approved for NHS use in England and Wales in 2008.

Rimonabant has proved to be effective in helping people lose up to 10% of their body weight, but has been linked to an increased risk of depression and suicide. Doctors have been advised not to prescribe it to people with a history of depression, and not before other obesity drugs have been tried.

Surgery, such as gastric banding or gastric bypass surgery, has been in the news a great deal recently.

Doctors will only suggest surgery when all other methods of weight loss have been fully exhausted, and the patient must receive counselling and be free of psychological issues.

Bariatric surgery is rarely available on the NHS, and can cost several thousand pounds privately.

Barbara Myers puts listeners' questions about weight and diet to GP Dr Ann Robinson.

Medical discussion phone-in programme with weekly guest experts