Why Disease Isn’t Inevitable with Dr Ayan Panja #232

CAUTION: Please be aware that this podcast contains reference to suicide. Today I’m pleased to welcome back Dr Ayan Panja, who’s a close friend and now a regular podcast guest – as well as an accomplished podcaster himself. He’s a busy NHS GP, brilliant health communicator, and my partner in delivering our RCGP-accredited Prescribing Lifestyle Medicine course to fellow clinicians. We start off the conversation talking about the current challenges that exist for NHS GPs. We talk about the desperate need for more mental health care, and how and why the pandemic has lowered resilience levels in all of us. Ayan takes us through the Symptom Web which we developed as part of our Prescribing Lifestyle Medicine course, but it’s also a tool we could all start using. It’s about looking at the eight key lifestyle factors that influence health, to help us identify and then address potential issues. We discuss the bias that exists in modern medicine towards treating acute illnesses, while chronic conditions that build with time go overlooked. But there is so much we can all do to take control of our health and reduce the likelihood of getting sick. We also chat about the recent death of Ayan’s father and share our experiences of grief. We discuss how other people’s reactions can often be surprising, and what they can teach us about how best to help when someone is bereaved. Compassionate listening, we agree, is key – something that’s as important among friends as it is in the doctor-patient relationship. Ayan also tells me about his own health podcast (called Saving Lives In Slow Motion, which I highly recommend) and the book he’s writing, to empower more people to understand their own health. It’s not published until 2023 but I know it’s going to be a must-read. I really enjoyed chatting with one of my closest friends face-to-face while the mics were running – I hope you enjoyed listening. Thanks to our sponsors: https://www.leafyard.com/livemore https://www.blublox.com/livemore http://www.athleticgreens.com/livemore RCGP Prescribing Lifestyle Medicine course https://www.prescribinglifestylemedicine.org Order Dr Chatterjee's new book Happy Mind, Happy Life: UK version and US & Canada version Show notes available at https://drchatterjee.com/232 DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified health care provider with any questions you have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.