One of the most common questions I hear from women attending my Metabolic Health Clinic in Biggleswade is: “I’m eating the same, exercising the same and yet I’m gaining weight. What has happened to my body?” For many women, the years leading into menopause can feel incredibly frustrating. Weight begins accumulating around the abdomen, sleep becomes more disrupted, energy levels become less predictable and the diet and exercise habits that worked for decades suddenly seem ineffective. Many...

High blood pressure is often treated as though the body has simply malfunctioned. The usual pattern is familiar. One medication is prescribed. Then another is added. Then a third. The number is monitored, but the reason the pressure went up in the first place is rarely investigated in any meaningful depth. Persistently elevated blood pressure can increase the risk of stroke, heart disease, kidney disease and vascular damage. It should never be ignored. The issue is that blood pressure rises...

Menstrual pain is often dismissed as a normal part of being a woman. Whilst mild discomfort can occur as part of a healthy menstrual cycle, severe pain should never be considered something that simply has to be endured. Understanding what drives menstrual pain requires an appreciation of the menstrual cycle itself, the role of ovarian hormones, inflammatory mediators, the nervous system and the wider physiological factors that can influence symptoms. The Menstrual Cycle: More Than Just...