Inside Health

We investigate the growing business of full-body MRI scans.

The clinics argue they can spot diseases and problems early before people feel unwell - but critics say it’s a waste of thousands of pounds and creates unnecessary anxiety about things that may never become a problem.

Laura visits a clinic to learn more and also hears about the risks.

Also this week, new research shows strokes are increasing among black African and bl...

Right now, research is gathering pace in revolutionising our understanding of inflammation, which could transform the treatment of so many chronic diseases - cancer, Alzheimer's, heart disease, depression, type 2 diabetes and many more.

So, what is inflammation, how is it implicated in these diseases and can we do anything about it?

Immunologist Professor Eleanor Riley at the University of Edinburgh explains what inflammation actua...

Insulin has been used to treat type 1 diabetes for more than a century but now there is a new treatment being rolled out on the NHS that can delay the onset of the disease for years. Alongside, screening is gathering pace, identifying those that could benefit. So, is this the beginning of a new era for type 1 diabetes treatment?

Dima and his mum Elena explain what it was like to be told that he had tested positive for developing ty...

More than six years since the start of the Covid pandemic, it might feel like we're pretty over it, yet that's simply not the case for the millions of people who suffer from long Covid. But could there be hope on the horizon?

A new clinical trial led by University College London and University College London Hospitals found that over-the-counter antihistamines and a prescription anti-inflammatory drug called colchicine offered a sm...

We’ve had two heatwaves already this summer with warnings that even young and healthy people should rethink their fitness routines in the heat.

So how can we keep exercising when it’s so hot you barely want to move?

James chats with physiologist Damian Bailey from the University of South Wales.

Next, James is at Rother Valley Country Park in Sheffield to meet Calli Hauger-Thackery who made headlines for running the Bost...

Earlier this summer, there was some incredible progress in cervical cancer. Women who have been vaccinated against the human papillomavirus (HPV) now have an almost zero chance of dying from cervical cancer before the age of 30. But does that mean women will no longer need cervical screening? Dr Jo Morrison, a consultant gynaecological oncologist from Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, joins James Gallagher and resident GP Dr Margaret ...

An experimental treatment to “reset” the immune systems of people with autoimmune disease is showing transformative results in early trials.

James visits the NIHR Clinical Research Facility in Manchester to meet Kathy. She was diagnosed with lupus just after the birth of her baby and in 2024 became the first person in the UK to try CAR-T therapy as part of a clinical trial. How is she feeling now?

We’ll also hear f...

A new non-hormonal drug has been approved to treat menopausal hot flushes. It works by regulating the body's cooling signals and is now available on the NHS in England for those who cannot use hormone replacement therapy.

Before delving into the evidence with resident GP Dr Margaret McCartney, James finds out what it feels like to have a hot flush.

Also this week, James chats to Dr Manjula Meda, a microbiologist who is spearheading ...

Little over a week on from the first meningitis cases in Canterbury, many crucial questions remain.

So this week we're taking an in-depth look at those questions and what we’ve learnt from this outbreak - and could it happen again?

James also hears from author Michael Rosen whose son Eddie died from meningitis aged 18 about just how quickly the disease struck and how he deals with his grief.

And would you trust health advice f...

More than 30,000 people are being contacted in the Canterbury area regarding the outbreak of bacterial meningitis in Kent. Two people have died, and others are seriously ill. James Gallagher speaks with immunologist Sir Andrew Pollard about the disease, and finds out what could have caused the outbreak.

That’s the major headline from the UK. But more broadly, for the last few weeks the news has been dominated by the situation ...

There have been nearly 200 cases of measles in the UK so far this year.

Measles can be prevented with vaccines - but the proportion of children being immunised is declining across the UK, particularly in parts of London.

James visits Hackney, which has one of the lowest vaccination rates in the country, to find out why and to see what is happening to tackle this issue.

And have you tried an adaptogenic drink? They claim to relax the m...

Penis fillers were an unexpected talking point at the recent Winter Olympics after claims that male ski jumpers were having them to improve performance.

So this week we’re digging into the UK’s penis filler industry.

James visits a private clinic in Manchester to hear about about the procedure, which involves hyaluronic acid being injected to temporarily increase penis girth. 

He meets Jason, who had his first penis filler...

ME – also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – has long been one of medicine’s most perplexing conditions. With no definitive diagnostic test and a legacy of scepticism in parts of the medical community, patients have often struggled to be believed. But a surge of new research may finally be shifting the landscape. The emergence of Long COVID – a condition with striking similarities to ME – has accele...

Over 1.5million adults in the UK tried weight loss drugs in 2024-25. Many swear by them, but they have been associated with side effects including nausea and, in some cases, extremely painful gallstones. But what does the evidence actually tell us, and what is the wider impact on the way we view our bodies in society?

James Gallagher is joined by Professor of Cardiometabolic Medicine at the University of Glasgow Naveed Sattar, Dr Be...

Dentistry is high on the public and political agenda. There have been dozens of headlines about access to NHS dentistry, with some people having to travel huge distances to find a dentist, or being put onto long waiting lists to get an NHS appointment.

In this episode of Inside Health, James Gallagher is joined by chairman of the British Dental Association Eddie Crouch, the Oral Health Foundation's Dr Rachael England, and consulta...

Most of us have Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) hiding in our bodies.

You may know it as the cause of glandular fever or “kissing disease”.

But more research is suggesting that it can turn our immune systems against us to cause autoimmune disease, such as multiple sclerosis or lupus. So, what is the virus doing in our bodies - and can we do anything about it?

James is joined by Dr Claire Shannon-Lowe, a virologist at the U...

This week we’re looking at government plans to start sequencing the DNA of every newborn baby in England within the next decade.

Each newborn would undergo whole genome sequencing to assess their risk of hundreds of diseases, under NHS plans.

It promises a revolution in spotting disease early - but are there also risks?

And use of nicotine pouches is rising, especially among young men.

But these little sachets that fit under th...

James Gallagher stands by four lanes of traffic and inhales exhaust fumes all to see if he can see air pollution in his body. He looks at an intriguing finding that an mRNA vaccine might benefit people being treated with immunotherapy for some cancers and could we be on the cusp of a holy grail in dentistry? A breakthrough could mean we will soon be able to replace the enamel on our teeth. Presenter: James Gallagher Producer: Tom...

Saunas are popping up all over the country, with many people claiming they relax muscles and help ease stress. But what does the science say? This week, James Gallagher travels to Môr A Sawna in Jackson’s Bay, Barry, where he treats himself to a sauna session and undergoes a number of physical tests to find out what benefits the sweaty heat could offer.

Next up, James visits The Advanced Neuropathies Centre in Cardiff to spe...