Inside Health

The issue of sexual assault hasn’t been far from the headlines in recent weeks - but what kind of help is available for people who have been through it? James visits Saint Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Manchester where he meets the people who offer invaluable medical and emotional support to patients. He also talks to a young woman who describes her experience of using the service, which she credits with saving her life.And why does Covid-19 seem to be flooring people again? James finds out that the body’s own defences are partly to blame. Lastly, is it safe to flush dog poo down the toilet? We clear up a family debate…Presenter: James Gallagher Producer: Gerry Holt Content editor: Erika Wright Production coordinator: Jonathan Harris Technical producer: Tim HefferIf you have been affected by child or adult sexual abuse or violence, details of help and support are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline, or you can call for free, at any time to hear recorded information on 0800 077 077.

Experts discuss understanding migraines and headaches, debunking myths, exploring food triggers and associations, exercise headaches, potential triggers including hormones and weather changes, treatment options, importance of timing medications, and pronunciation differences.

Discover the harmful effects of prolonged sitting and the importance of breaking up sitting time with movement. Learn about the potential health risks of excessive standing and the need to find a balance between sitting and standing for optimal health. Explore a school in East London implementing an active movement program to combat sedentary behavior.

Exploring the resurgence of syphilis with personal experiences and insights on the rising cases. Delving into the stigma and historical prevalence of the disease. Also, discussing the use of exercise monitoring technologies in cycling and the balance between tracking data and enjoying the workout experience.

Explore the emergence of the dangerous street drug xylazine, known as a zombie drug. Take a tour of a substance abuse service facility and hear powerful stories of addiction. Learn about the process of analyzing drugs in a toxicology lab. Discover the worry of xylazine mixed with opioids and emerging threats for heroin users. Discuss trauma-informed services and the importance of empathy. Hear a journey of recovery and healing through gardening.

Two new Alzheimer's drugs show promise in slowing memory and thinking problems; personal experiences of individuals affected by dementia; understanding the role of amyloid protein in Alzheimer's disease; opportunity for new Alzheimer's drugs; analysis of hot flushes during menopause; understanding menopause symptoms and avoiding misdiagnosis.

Barely a day goes by without more headlines around new weight-loss drugs, from the issue of global shortages, to investigations into suicide risk, and debate over just how long people will need to be on them. But in this episode of Inside Health we’re going to look at something slightly different - and perhaps unexpected. James Gallagher meets lifelong dieter Cheri who has lost just over three stone on semaglutide but she’s also noticed other effects from her weekly injection; a calmer mind and a complete lack of desire for her much-loved vapes. She wants to know what’s going on – so we seek out some scientists to help us get to the bottom of it. From the evidence gathered so far, are there hints that these drugs could offer potential to treat serious addiction?And have you ever heard of “bed rotting”? It doesn’t sound particularly enticing - but James gives it a go in the name of science and we explain all in the programme with the help of two experts.What health questions do you want us to answer? Email the team at insidehealth@bbc.co.ukDeclared interests: Professor Giles Yeo: "I have a PhD student part-funded by Novo Nordisk. I consult for Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly." Dr Tony Goldstone: "I have previously been a member of Data Safety Monitoring Board for clinical trials of Liraglutide for obesity by Novo Nordisk, and have received an honorarium as a conference speaker from Novo Nordisk."Presenter: James Gallagher Producer: Gerry Holt Editor: Erika Wright Production Coordinator: Jonathan Harris Studio Producer: Duncan Hannant (Photo: Cheri Ferguson with her Ozempic pen. Credit Cheri Ferguson)

One year after the peak of UK infections, can we determine what actions brought mpox cases down? A year ago, mpox – the virus formally known as monkeypox – was spreading in the UK. These infections largely impacted the gay, bisexual and men who have sex with men community, with news cases peaking at 350 per week. One of these individuals was Martin Joseph, who tells James Gallagher how a lack of accessible information and the stigma he observed during his illness inspired him to create a mpox-based podcast so others wouldn’t feel so alone. Thankfully, 2023 so far has told a different story for mpox. Infections in the UK have remained relatively low, and in May, the World Health Organisation declared the mpox global health emergency over. But what helped bring the UK outbreak under control? James is joined by Jake Dunning, infectious diseases doctor and researcher at the University of Oxford, and Claire Dewsnap, sexual health doctor and president of the British Association of Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH), to discuss potential factors, takeaways and whether we are really ‘done’ with mpox. How often should we go to the dentist? Listener Mary emailed insidehealth@bbc.co.uk to query the time needed between check-ups. James hears the evidence from Janet Clarkson, professor of dentistry at the University of Dundee, who explains the unlikely origins of our bi-annual appointments! Presenter: James Gallagher Producer: Julia Ravey Editor: Erika Wright Production Co-ordinator: Jonathan Harris Studio Producer: Donald McDonald (Photo: Monkeypox Credit: Uma Shankar sharma | Getty Images)

Our guinea-pig presenter James Gallagher has been eating either extremely fast or excruciatingly slow to figure out what our eating speed does to our health. Dr Sarah Berry from Kings College London explains it’s not good news if you devour your dinner! And we get to the bottom of the headlines on cancer and the artificial sweetener aspartame. James and Prof David Spiegelhalter discuss why these cancer-scare stories keep on happening. Get in touch with the team (especially if you have any questions about headache or migraine) on InsideHealth@bbc.co.uk Presenter: James Gallagher Producer: Julia Ravey Editor: Erika Wright Production Co-ordinator: Jonathan Harris Studio Manager: Giles Aspen

After the hottest June in history and record-breaking temperatures last year, the UK is really feeling the heat. But, we’re not alone. Last week the world experienced the hottest day in history - and forecasters warn this is just a taste of what is to come. Here on Inside Health we love a tricky question - so in the first episode of the new series we’re chasing down the answer to a pretty timely one, how hot is too hot for our health. James heads into the lab to explore exactly what is going on inside our bodies when it gets hotter. He gets wired up and locked inside a heated chamber to find out what factors matter most, from core temperature to humidity, and learns which is more deadly, cold or heat. He also hears about a surprising tip to stay safe in the heat. Do join us on what promises to be a rather hot and sweaty journey… How hot is too hot for you? And what other health issues should we be covering? Do get in touch via email at inside.health@bbc.co.uk Presenter: James Gallagher Producer: Gerry Holt Editor: Erika Wright Production Coordinator: Jonathan Harris Technical Producer: Tim Heffer Image: James Gallagher in the lab. Credit: Dan Welsh