This week we’re exploring our microbial metropolis.
Smitha Mundasad heads into the lab to meet the bacteria that live on her skin – and on her family’s dirty laundry – to understand what’s there, and why. She goes antibiotic-hunting around her house to find out whether bacteria on a washing up sponge, a fluffy cushion, the bottom of a shoe – and even some of her kids’ play slime – could hold the key to helping scientists find new medicines. Next, Smitha wants to find out the answer to how often we should wash ourselves – and our clothes – for good health, but, as she finds out, this question is not as simple as it sounds. It turns out there's a big difference between cleanliness and hygiene – and the confusion between these two rather important words could be having an impact on our health…
Presenter: Dr Smitha Mundasad Producer: Gerry Holt Editor: Holly Squire
Flu, Cow's milk allergy, Robotic pharmacy
Medical detection dogs
Antibiotics, Statins and Pneumonia, Neurosurgery for Epilepsy
Dr Google; Sexual orientation and the NHS; Hypermobility; Surgery for COPD
Vaginal mesh; alcohol and the heart
Big baby birth trial, Uveitis, Telephone triage, Burns
Scoliosis, Depression, Pets in Hospital, Eustachian Tubes
Addiction services; Schizophrenia; Hearts and cancer
Breast density; Health education; Switching outcomes
Antibiotics, Lung Cancer, Dying of a Broken Heart, Gender Bias
PPIs, Aspirin and cancer, Radiotherapy and smoking
Hepatitis B vaccine, Sheds, Obesity Paradox, Taking part in clinical trials
Robo-docs, using AI to diagnose; Pancreatic cancer; Statins and muscle aches
High costs of cheap medicines, Can a simple blood test help identify cancer, undescended testes, Aspirin
Cholesterol-lowering drug, Defibrillators, Post-traumatic stress disorder and heart disease, Lack of drugs in pregnancy
Bisphosphonates, IBS and diet, CRP test for infection, Randomisation
Opt-out organ donation; your body after death; what time of day to take blood pressure medication
Smoking in pregnancy; Lifestyle targets; Thyroid cancer; Flossing
Vitamin D, Air Ambulance blood trial, Phantom limb pain, Sitting-rising test
NHS Special: What needs to give?
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