The prevalence of cluster headache is about one in 500. In people coming to a headache clinic, the prevalence is about 10%. Cluster headaches are excruciating and incapacitating, and affect quality of life. Prompt diagnosis and treatment can make a big difference to the outcome - so it is vital that we get the diagnosis and management of this condition right. In this BMJ Best Practice podcast on cluster headache, Kieran Walsh talks with Professor Amaal Starling, Associate Professor of Neurology ...
Mar 13, 2023•19 min
Spinal cord compression is an extremely serious disorder that can have devastating consequences. These include weakness of the legs, bladder and bowel dysfunction, and loss of sensation. Rapid diagnosis and treatment can make a big difference to the outcome - so it is vital that we get the diagnosis and management of this condition right. In this BMJ Best Practice podcast on spinal cord compression, Kieran Walsh talks with Professor Kenneth Casey, Clinical Associate Professor in Neurosurgery at ...
Feb 27, 2023•28 min
Halitosis is common and can affect people of all ages. Severe halitosis is less common but it can affect confidence and quality of life. It can even result in social isolation. So it is important that we get the diagnosis and management of this condition right. In this BMJ Best Practice podcast on halitosis, Kieran Walsh talks with Professor Stephen Porter, Director of the UCL Eastman Dental Institute in London. Competing interests: none declared
Feb 14, 2023•15 min
We release episodes fortnightly. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. It is more common in women than in men, with incidence increasing sharply around the age of 50. And it can cause complications - including the inability to perform activities of daily living and spinal stenosis in cervical and lumbar osteoarthritis. So it is vital that we get the diagnosis and management of this condition right. In this BMJ Best Practice podcast on osteoarthritis, Kieran Walsh talks to Fadi Bad...
Jan 30, 2023•25 min
We release episodes fortnightly. Data, AI, oncology, and patients are a wide range of subjects to be addressed in one podcast. Individually they are big topics and when you put them together you really get to high levels of complexity. In this BMJ Best Practice podcast, Kieran Walsh delves into all these topics with Dr Arun Sujenthiran, Senior Medical Director and UK Clinical Lead at Flatiron Health. Flatiron Health is a healthtech company that specialises in data science and oncology. Competing...
Nov 14, 2022•27 min
We release episodes fortnightly. Stroke is the fourth and fifth leading cause of death in the UK and US, respectively. There are more than 100,000 strokes in the UK every year. And approximately 10% to 15% of all ischaemic strokes are associated with carotid artery stenosis. So it is important that we get the diagnosis and management of this condition right. In this BMJ Best Practice podcast on carotid artery stenosis, Kieran Walsh talks to Brajesh Lal, Professor of Vascular Surgery, University ...
Nov 11, 2022•33 min
We release episodes fortnightly. Bell's palsy is the most common unilateral facial palsy in adults. It is most prevalent in people between 15 and 45 years of age. And it can cause a range of complications - including ongoing facial weakness, keratoconjunctivitis sicca, exposure keratopathy, and ectropion. So it is important that we get the diagnosis and management of this condition right. In this BMJ Best Practice podcast, Kieran Walsh talks with Professor Matthew Miller about Bell's palsy. Matt...
Nov 04, 2022•22 min
We release episodes fortnightly. Hypothermia is a serious condition - it can cause rhabdomyolysis, electrolyte disturbances, and cardiac arrhythmias. It can also kill. In the UK, the annual number of hypothermia-related deaths is about 300. And in countries with colder climates, the numbers are far higher. So it is important that we get the diagnosis and management of this condition right. In this BMJ Best Practice podcast, Kieran Walsh talks to Dr Alexander Alexiou, Emergency Medicine Consultan...
Nov 03, 2022•18 min
We release episodes fortnightly. Rosacea is a common disorder. Studies suggest a prevalence of 5% for women and 4% for men. And rosacea can cause a range of problems including papules and pustules, telangiectasias, and eye problems. So it is important that we get the diagnosis and management of this condition right. In this BMJ Best Practice podcast on rosacea, Kieran Walsh talks to Dr Abel Jarell, Dermatologist and Dermatopathologist, Northeast Dermatology Associates, Portsmouth, New Hampshire....
Oct 20, 2022•17 min
We release episodes fortnightly. Parkinson's disease is a common and serious condition. It is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder in the world - only Alzheimer's disease is more common. And Parkinson's disease can cause a range of complications - from dyskinesias to depression to dementia. So it is important that we get the diagnosis and management of this condition right. In this BMJ Best Practice podcast, Kieran Walsh talks to Delaram Safarpour, Assistant Professor of Neurology a...
Oct 07, 2022•25 min
Data and big data in healthcare are both important and topical. Big data has the potential to transform how we provide healthcare but can also be problematic. There can be problems with how data is captured, cleaned, and corrected or with how we update data. BMJ is playing an increasing role in this field. We have our own BMJ Data Set which provides AI healthcare technologies with current, credible, and AI-ready content. In this BMJ Best Practice podcast on healthcare and data, Kieran Walsh talk...
Sep 08, 2022•32 min
Herpes zoster: an update on diagnosis and management The annual incidence of herpes zoster in the UK is between 2 and 4 patients per thousand population. It can cause a range of complications including post-herpetic neuralgia, herpes zoster of the eye, and disseminated zoster. So it is important that we get the diagnosis and management of this condition right. In this BMJ Best Practice podcast on herpes zoster, Kieran Walsh talks to Professor Michael Rothberg, Center for Value-Based Care Researc...
Jul 26, 2022•19 min
Status epilepticus is a serious medical emergency. Fortunately, it is relatively rare but when it does occur it can cause a range of serious complications including focal neurological deficits, cognitive dysfunction, and behavioural problems. So it is important that we get the diagnosis and management of this condition right. In this BMJ Best Practice podcast on status epilepticus, Kieran Walsh talks to Dr. Rajiv Mohanraj, Consultant Neurologist and Honorary Senior Lecturer at the Manchester Cen...
Jul 14, 2022•29 min
Acute pancreatitis: an update on diagnosis and management Acute pancreatitis is a common and serious condition. The incidence of acute pancreatitis in the UK is about 50 per 100,000 per year. And it can cause a range of complications including acute renal failure, pancreatic abscess and of course chronic pancreatitis. So it is important that we get diagnosis and management of this condition right. In this BMJ Best Practice podcast on acute pancreatitis, Kieran Walsh talks to Professor Scott Tenn...
Jul 05, 2022•20 min
COPD or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is common. The pooled global prevalence is 15% in men and 9% in women. The expanding epidemic of smoking and the ageing of the population means that its prevalence is increasing. And COPD is a serious disease. It is associated with recurrent pneumonia, cor pulmonale, and respiratory failure. In this BMJ Best Practice podcast, Kieran Walsh talks to Dr. Hanna Sandelowsky, GP, Head of Unit at the Academic Primary Healthcare Centre, and Senior Researcher...
Jul 01, 2022•24 min
Transient ischemic attacks are common - in the UK, the US and around the world. And they are important – mainly because of the high risk of stroke following a TIA. The risk of stroke is high in the first 7 days. So it is important to get on with diagnosis, investigations, and management as soon as possible. In this BMJ Best Practice podcast, Kieran Walsh talks to Dr Jennifer Simpson, Vascular Neurologist and Associate Professor in the Department of Neurology at the University of Colorado. - The ...
Jul 01, 2022•21 min
Atrial fibrillation is the most common sustained heart rhythm disorder in adults worldwide. The prevalence is between 2% and 4%. If left untreated, atrial fibrillation is a significant risk factor for stroke, myocardial infarction and congestive cardiac failure. So it is important that we get diagnosis and management of this condition right. In this BMJ Best Practice podcast on new-onset atrial fibrillation, Kieran Walsh talks to Bharat Kantharia, Clinical Professor of Medicine, Icahn School of ...
Jul 01, 2022•25 min
Axial spondyloarthritis is a chronic progressive inflammatory arthropathy, which ultimately may lead to radiographical changes in the spine and sacroiliac joints. This radiographical stage is known as ankylosing spondylitis. Inflammatory back pain is the hallmark clinical feature. This is defined as back pain that is of insidious onset, is worse in the morning, and improves with exercise. In this podcast, Markku Kauppi, Professor of Rheumatology, Helsinki University, gives a clinical overview of...
Jun 20, 2022•15 min
Ischaemic stroke is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. The World Health Organization defines stroke as “a clinical syndrome consisting of rapidly developing clinical signs of focal (or global) disturbance of cerebral function, lasting more than 24 hours or leading to death, with no apparent cause other than that of vascular origin”. David Wang, Professor of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, Arizona, gives us a clinical overview of the condition. For more on ischaemic st...
Apr 12, 2022•26 min
Essential tremor is characterised by a progressive tremor of the upper extremities, present in posture and action, without other neurological signs or symptoms. The prevalence and incidence increases with age, but the condition can appear in early adulthood in those who have a family history. Sheng-Han Kuo, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Columbia University, New York, gives us an overview of the condition. For more on essential tremor, visit BMJ Best Practice: bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-g...
Apr 06, 2022•15 min
Patients with asthma present with recurrent episodes of shortness of breath, chest tightness, wheezing, or coughing. Examination typically demonstrates an expiratory wheeze; however, in severe asthma there is poor air entry and the chest is silent. Lauren Eggert, Clinical Assistant Professor, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, gives us a clinical overview of the condition. For more on asthma, visit BMJ Best Practice: bestpractice.b...
Mar 09, 2022•21 min
Bacterial meningitis represents a life-threatening inflammation of the meninges. Elisabeth Adderson, Associate Member, St. Jude Faculty, Director, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, gives an overview of the condition. For more on bacterial meningitis, visit BMJ Best Practice: bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/3000104 - The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. The content of this podcast does not constitute medical adv...
Feb 25, 2022•22 min
Type 1 diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterised by hyperglycaemia due to absolute insulin deficiency. The condition develops due to destruction of pancreatic beta cells, mostly by immune-mediated mechanisms. In this podcast, Rajesh Garg, Professor of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, gives us an overview of the condition. For more on type 1 diabetes, visit BMJ Best Practice: bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/25 - The purpose of this podcast is to educate and...
Feb 03, 2022•24 min
Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) is a common condition defined as chronic, excessive worry for at least six months that causes distress or impairment. Christopher Gale, Research Director and Consultant Psychiatrist, Southern District Health Board, New Zealand gives a clinical overview of the condition. For more on GAD, visit BMJ Best Practice: bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/120 - The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. The content of this podcast does not constitute medical...
Jan 28, 2022•12 min
Lyme disease is an infectious disease transmitted to humans through the bite of infected ticks. Erythema migrans develops at the site of tick bite usually within 1 to 2 weeks and is a pathognomic feature. Constitutional symptoms such as fever, headache, myalgias, fatigue, and arthralgias may occur. In this podcast, Janak Koirala, Professor of Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Division of Infectious Diseases, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, gives us an overview of the condition. ...
Jan 13, 2022•14 min
Jet lag and sleep phase disorders affect millions of travellers worldwide. Rapid change in time zone produces a constellation of symptoms called jet lag disorder. Symptoms include difficulty initiating and maintaining sleep, reduced daytime alertness, general malaise, and gastrointestinal symptoms. In this podcast, Ashish Adlakha, Assistant Clinical Professor, Neurology and Sleep Medicine, Connecticut Healthcare, gives us a clinical overview. For more on jet lag, visit BMJ Best Practice: bestpra...
Jan 10, 2022•14 min
Post-traumatic stress disorder may develop (either immediately or delayed) following exposure to a stressful event or situation of an exceptionally threatening or catastrophic nature. According to DSM-5, it is characterised by 4 groups of symptoms: intrusion symptoms, avoidance, negative alterations in cognition and mood, and alterations in arousal and reactivity. These symptoms must impair function for a diagnosis to be made. In this podcast, Mathew Hoskins, Consultant Psychiatrist and Clinical...
Nov 05, 2021•16 min
Chronic congestive heart failure is a complex clinical syndrome that can result from any structural or functional cardiac disorder that impairs the ability of the ventricle to fill with or eject blood. It is a major and growing public health problem. In this podcast, Syed Wamique Yusuf, FACC, FRCPI Syed Wamique Yusuf, Professor of Medicine, Department of Cardiology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, gives a clinical overview of the condition. For more on chronic congestive heart fai...
Sep 20, 2021•17 min
Kieran Walsh, clinical director at BMJ, asks editors from BMJ Learning and BMJ Best Practice to summarise the latest clinical guidance related to Covid-19. Abigail Davis, GP and section editor, covers the latest evidence around vaccine immunogenicity in different immunosuppressed populations, as well as the use of interleukin-6 inhibitors in COVID-19 patients. And Emma Scott, section editor, updates us on mucormycosis, or black fungus infection in COVID-19 patients. For more, see: BMJ Best Pract...
Jul 28, 2021•12 min
Persistent depressive disorder is a category that includes various forms of chronic depression in which depressive symptoms are present 'more days than not' over at least a 2-year period (1 year in children and adolescents). David J. Hellerstein, Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, gives us a clinical overview of the condition. For more on persistent depressive disorder, visit BMJ Best Practice: bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/805 - The purpose of this podcast...
Jul 19, 2021•19 min
