0:00:09 > 0:00:11When it comes to our health it seems everyone has an opinion
0:00:11 > 0:00:14and everyone has an agenda.
0:00:14 > 0:00:19So what's the health advice you can really trust?
0:00:19 > 0:00:23We're here to weigh up the evidence and use our expertise
0:00:23 > 0:00:26to guide you...
0:00:26 > 0:00:31Through the contradictions and the confusions.
0:00:31 > 0:00:35We do the research no one else has done.
0:00:35 > 0:00:40And put your health at the heart of what we do...
0:00:40 > 0:00:44to ensure that you get the information that you need.
0:00:47 > 0:00:50We're here when you want to know the latest findings,
0:00:50 > 0:00:55and not just the latest fads.
0:00:55 > 0:00:57I'm Michael Mosley.
0:00:57 > 0:01:00In this series I'm joined by a team of doctors.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03Together, we'll cut through the hype, the headlines
0:01:03 > 0:01:06and the health claims.
0:01:06 > 0:01:13This is Trust Me I'm A Doctor.
0:01:13 > 0:01:19This time we're in Worcester, running a big experiment to find
0:01:19 > 0:01:22out, is going gluten-free really good for us?
0:01:22 > 0:01:25I get hypnotised to discover if this could be the next big thing
0:01:25 > 0:01:26in medicine.
0:01:26 > 0:01:29We reveal the tiny implant which could switch off
0:01:29 > 0:01:30rheumatoid arthritis.
0:01:30 > 0:01:33I have my life back.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36For those of us unsteady on our feet, we reveal the secret
0:01:36 > 0:01:39to better balance.
0:01:39 > 0:01:41And does stretching our muscles before exercise
0:01:41 > 0:01:44actually do any good?
0:01:44 > 0:01:46But first...
0:01:46 > 0:01:50Welcome to the historic city of Worcester.
0:01:50 > 0:01:53The British Medical Association was founded here over 180 years ago.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56We're here, however, to do an experiment to find
0:01:56 > 0:01:59out what the effects of going gluten-free are.
0:01:59 > 0:02:03Over to Dr Chris van Tulleken.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07We now spend about ?180 million a year avoiding gluten,
0:02:07 > 0:02:10with an estimated 8.5 million of us is going gluten-free
0:02:10 > 0:02:14in the last year or so.
0:02:14 > 0:02:18Gluten is a protein found in grains like wheat, rye and barley,
0:02:18 > 0:02:20and foods that many of us take for granted like bread
0:02:20 > 0:02:22and pasta are full of it.
0:02:22 > 0:02:24Giving it up isn't straightforward.
0:02:24 > 0:02:29So who exactly should consider making the sacrifice?
0:02:29 > 0:02:32Well, there are a small number of people who have to avoid gluten.
0:02:32 > 0:02:42About 1% of people have a condition called coeliac disease.
0:02:45 > 0:02:48When they eat gluten their immune system is stimulated in such
0:02:48 > 0:02:50a way that it ends up attacking their own bodies.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53This damages the intestines and limits the body's ability
0:02:53 > 0:02:53to absorb nutrients.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56Coeliac disease can be diagnosed with a biopsy from the intestines
0:02:56 > 0:02:59and then it is a lifetime of avoiding gluten for sufferers.
0:02:59 > 0:03:02There are a few other people for whom gluten-free is a short cut
0:03:02 > 0:03:05to knowing something is free from wheat.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08A tiny proportion of people, around a tenth of 1%,
0:03:08 > 0:03:11are allergic to wheat and going gluten-free is a good way
0:03:11 > 0:03:13of avoiding it.
0:03:13 > 0:03:16Now, if these people eat wheat, within minutes, they have an immune
0:03:16 > 0:03:21response similar to hay fever, sneezing, itching and rashes.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24In rare cases they can have a more severe anaphylactic reaction
0:03:24 > 0:03:28which can be fatal.
0:03:28 > 0:03:30But apart from those who need to avoid these foods,
0:03:30 > 0:03:33there is a significant proportion of the population who have
0:03:33 > 0:03:36voluntarily gone gluten-free.
0:03:36 > 0:03:44In fact, about 15% of people think it is healthier for them
0:03:44 > 0:03:46or they have some sort of intolerance to gluten,
0:03:46 > 0:03:48giving gut symptoms like bloating and wind.
0:03:48 > 0:03:49But are they right?
0:03:49 > 0:03:52For some doctors, gluten intolerance is controversial.
0:03:52 > 0:03:57Patients describe digestive symptoms after eating gluten.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00But on testing they have no abnormality with their immune system
0:04:00 > 0:04:01or their guts.
0:04:01 > 0:04:03So it doesn't appear to be an allergy or coeliac disease.
0:04:03 > 0:04:06The question is, are these people hypochondriacs or are they suffering
0:04:06 > 0:04:10with something that science has yet to describe?
0:04:10 > 0:04:14To find out, we've come to Worcester to run an experiment.
0:04:14 > 0:04:19We're going to see just what effect a gluten-free diet has an 60 people,
0:04:19 > 0:04:22some of whom think they might have a gluten intolerance,
0:04:22 > 0:04:25and others who don't believe it exists.
0:04:25 > 0:04:27If I have a pizza I know about it the next day!
0:04:27 > 0:04:29So bloating, wind?
0:04:29 > 0:04:32More of a sicky feeling, as if you've eaten something dodgy.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35OK.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38Because I've had IBS for over 20 years, I thought this would be
0:04:38 > 0:04:42an opportunity to take part in a proper experiment and to see
0:04:42 > 0:04:45whether I could alleviate some of the bloating and noise...
0:04:45 > 0:04:46Nausea.
0:04:46 > 0:04:48And noise!
0:04:48 > 0:04:50Noisea!
0:04:50 > 0:04:54I joined up in the hope that I would be proven that cynicism rules.
0:04:54 > 0:04:56Why?
0:04:56 > 0:04:58I think I'm allergic to nothing.
0:04:58 > 0:05:01But they won't be gluten-free all the time.
0:05:01 > 0:05:05Although they are being asked to cut out all gluten from their diet
0:05:05 > 0:05:07for the next six weeks, we are supplying them
0:05:07 > 0:05:10with some special pasta.
0:05:10 > 0:05:12This is normal pasta, full of gluten.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15And this is gluten-free pasta.
0:05:15 > 0:05:19Each day of the trial, every volunteer will eat a pasta meal,
0:05:19 > 0:05:22but at no point will they know whether the pasta they are eating
0:05:22 > 0:05:27contains gluten or is gluten-free.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30So all our volunteers will have weeks when they are gluten-free
0:05:30 > 0:05:33and weeks when they are eating gluten but they won't know when,
0:05:33 > 0:05:37nor will the scientists.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40Before the trial starts, we check that none of the volunteers
0:05:40 > 0:05:43actually have coeliac disease or a wheat allergy because we know
0:05:43 > 0:05:49that they will have a reaction to the pasta.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52We want to find out if gluten could affect other people
0:05:52 > 0:05:57without these conditions, so we will be asking everyone
0:05:57 > 0:05:59to record any symptoms they have every fortnight,
0:05:59 > 0:06:02and we will be taking regular blood samples to examine their
0:06:02 > 0:06:04immune system and look for markers of gut inflammation.
0:06:04 > 0:06:10Do some people really suffer gut trouble when they eat gluten,
0:06:10 > 0:06:13and is there a blood test which could confirm if this
0:06:13 > 0:06:14intolerance is real?
0:06:14 > 0:06:16We don't really know what to expect from this trial.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19First of all, we should be able to pin down
0:06:19 > 0:06:20whether the people who claim
0:06:20 > 0:06:23they get symptoms when they eat gluten really do, because of course
0:06:23 > 0:06:26they won't know when they are eating it and when they are not.
0:06:26 > 0:06:29And secondly, we hope that our blood tests should be able to shed some
0:06:29 > 0:06:32light on what is going on in our volunteers' bodies.
0:06:32 > 0:06:36Do those people who get symptoms also show a reaction on their blood
0:06:36 > 0:06:45tests for their immune system and their gut inflammation?
0:06:45 > 0:06:48And finally, could it be that gluten is affecting all of us badly?
0:06:48 > 0:06:50We'll find out the results later in the programme.
0:06:57 > 0:07:01Like many of us, my vision has never been perfect.
0:07:01 > 0:07:05As I get older, it's getting worse.
0:07:05 > 0:07:07Now, most of us don't worry about our eyesight until things
0:07:07 > 0:07:10start to go wrong.
0:07:10 > 0:07:13What can we all do to prevent problems and perhaps even
0:07:13 > 0:07:20improve our eyesight as we get older?
0:07:20 > 0:07:23I've come to Waterford in south-east Ireland to find out
0:07:23 > 0:07:25about some ground-breaking research which suggests what we eat
0:07:25 > 0:07:27could make a difference.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30To discover why, I need to look right to the back of my eye
0:07:30 > 0:07:33as Professor John Nolan explains.
0:07:33 > 0:07:41What we are looking at here, Michael, is an image
0:07:41 > 0:07:45at the back of your eye, an area known as the retina which is
0:07:45 > 0:07:46basically responsible for vision.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49Now, the centre part of the retina is known as the macula.
0:07:49 > 0:07:52And the macula is very important because it is where about 90%
0:07:52 > 0:07:53of our vision is mediated from.
0:07:53 > 0:07:59The macula is protected by special coloured pigments.
0:07:59 > 0:08:01These act as a sunscreen for the eyes to block
0:08:01 > 0:08:06harmful UV light.
0:08:06 > 0:08:09It is thought they are a key part of good eyesight.
0:08:09 > 0:08:12So the researchers here believe that if we boost our pigments, we might
0:08:12 > 0:08:13be able to boost our vision too.
0:08:13 > 0:08:15Pigments in your macula which protect your eyes
0:08:15 > 0:08:18against sunlight come from food, in particular from leafy green
0:08:18 > 0:08:26spinach, kale, bright red peppers and from the yellow yolk of eggs.
0:08:26 > 0:08:29If we eat enough of the right kinds of foods, the theory is
0:08:29 > 0:08:33we end up with three key chemicals in our blood.
0:08:33 > 0:08:40Lutein, zeaxanthin and meso-zeaxanthin.
0:08:40 > 0:08:42If the theory is right, these should make their way
0:08:42 > 0:08:45from our blood to our macula and improve our eyesight.
0:08:45 > 0:08:49To find out if this theory is true, we got a group of ten volunteers
0:08:49 > 0:08:52here in Waterford, and me.
0:08:52 > 0:08:56Every day for the next five weeks, our volunteers will drink a daily
0:08:56 > 0:08:59smoothie made of a special recipe.
0:08:59 > 0:09:02It's not really long enough to expect any improvement
0:09:02 > 0:09:08in their eyesight, but we will be able to test a crucial first stage,
0:09:08 > 0:09:10whether their daily smoothie can boost
0:09:10 > 0:09:14the pigment compounds in their blood.
0:09:14 > 0:09:18I hear the kiwi takes away the amount of kale!
0:09:18 > 0:09:21I want to take part in this experiment as well, but I'm
0:09:21 > 0:09:24going to test a different way to get these crucial chemicals.
0:09:24 > 0:09:29One that is also the subject of research.
0:09:29 > 0:09:30I'm going to be taking some supplements
0:09:30 > 0:09:34and see what effect that has.
0:09:34 > 0:09:36The supplements have concentrated amounts of the three
0:09:36 > 0:09:39key pigment chemicals.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42I'm testing whether these instant high levels will really make
0:09:42 > 0:09:45a difference to my eyesight.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48I'm going to be taking the supplements for 12 weeks.
0:09:48 > 0:09:51At the beginning and end I'm having my eyes tested.
0:09:51 > 0:09:55They'll measure the levels of the pigment chemicals in my eye,
0:09:55 > 0:09:58and also test every aspect of my eyesight, from my perception
0:09:58 > 0:10:02of detail and colour, to my night vision.
0:10:02 > 0:10:05Meanwhile, over in Ireland, our smoothie-sucking volunteers
0:10:05 > 0:10:10are having their blood tested to see if they now have high levels
0:10:10 > 0:10:12of the all-important chemicals.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15So how did we all get on?
0:10:15 > 0:10:19Firstly, our volunteers.
0:10:19 > 0:10:25After five weeks of the smoothie diet, the levels of one of the three
0:10:25 > 0:10:29key chemicals in their blood, lutein was significantly boosted.
0:10:29 > 0:10:32It is not long enough to see the effects on their eyesight
0:10:32 > 0:10:35but research into this is ongoing.
0:10:35 > 0:10:40More is already known about the effect of supplements
0:10:40 > 0:10:43which can deliver a controlled dose of chemicals into the blood.
0:10:43 > 0:10:49So, how have I fared after my 12 week regime?
0:10:49 > 0:10:59After a thorough re-test of my eyes, it is results time.
0:11:04 > 0:11:07The results are interesting, in fact we could
0:11:07 > 0:11:09significantly increase your macula pigment levels.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11So the chemicals definitely went into my eyes and the pigment
0:11:11 > 0:11:12significantly increased.
0:11:12 > 0:11:15But would that make any real difference to my eyesight?
0:11:15 > 0:11:17When we look at your contrast sensitivity measures,
0:11:17 > 0:11:20we can see at the end of the experiment your vision now
0:11:20 > 0:11:21is greatly enhanced.
0:11:21 > 0:11:23So my levels of these vital pigments all went up?
0:11:23 > 0:11:24Yes.
0:11:24 > 0:11:26And my vision improved pretty much across the board?
0:11:26 > 0:11:27Yes.
0:11:27 > 0:11:29I can now see objects that are significantly smaller
0:11:29 > 0:11:31and fainter than I could before.
0:11:31 > 0:11:39I also notice colours more vividly, particularly yellows and blues.
0:11:39 > 0:11:41The most important change though is in my night vision.
0:11:41 > 0:11:46I can see much finer detail in the dark.
0:11:46 > 0:11:48It's an outstanding result, but that's not all.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51John and his team have come across something unexpected that
0:11:51 > 0:11:53could have an even greater impact on our health.
0:11:53 > 0:11:58It's recently been found in studies of people
0:12:00 > 0:12:03It's recently been found in studies of people with Alzheimer's disease
0:12:03 > 0:12:07that there is an unforeseen link to these compounds.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10What is really striking is that the subjects that had
0:12:10 > 0:12:18the high amount of macula pigment have significantly better cognitive
0:12:18 > 0:12:20performance when compared to the subjects with low levels.
0:12:20 > 0:12:23So the idea here is the macula pigment may in fact be a very
0:12:23 > 0:12:24important measure of the risk about sinus disease.
0:12:34 > 0:12:37important measure of the risk of Alzheimer's disease.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40It may be that detecting high levels of these chemicals means that people
0:12:40 > 0:12:42are getting a healthy diet, rich in fruit and vegetables
0:12:42 > 0:12:45which is as good for the brain as it is for the eyes.
0:12:45 > 0:12:48So it seems, many of us could improve our eyesight simply
0:12:48 > 0:12:50by eating more of these colourful plant chemicals.
0:12:50 > 0:12:52But although a healthy diet is important, the research suggests
0:12:52 > 0:12:55for once it is cheaper and more effective simply
0:12:55 > 0:12:55to take supplements.
0:12:55 > 0:12:59Check that they contain lutein, zeaxanthin and meso-zeaxanthin.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02Now, on the whole, I'm not a fan of supplements.
0:13:02 > 0:13:10I would much rather people got their nutrients from real food.
0:13:10 > 0:13:14But in this example I can see that as well as eating lots more leafy
0:13:14 > 0:13:16green vegetables and red peppers, there might be a case
0:13:16 > 0:13:17for having supplements.
0:13:17 > 0:13:19It utterly depends on your personal circumstances.
0:13:19 > 0:13:22To find out more, do visit our website.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29When we took about improving our health, the first things
0:13:29 > 0:13:33that spring to mind are normally diet and exercise.
0:13:33 > 0:13:36But as Dr Saleyha Ahsan has been finding out, there is something
0:13:36 > 0:13:39which is equally as important.
0:13:40 > 0:13:43Balance, it's one of the most underrated aspects
0:13:43 > 0:13:46of our health and fitness.
0:13:46 > 0:13:49Balancing helps improve our core which acts
0:13:49 > 0:13:52as our body's inner stabiliser.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55When you do that you improve your posture and coordination,
0:13:55 > 0:13:59and that helps us avoid injury.
0:13:59 > 0:14:01But, like our muscle strength, if you don't use it,
0:14:01 > 0:14:07you will lose it.
0:14:07 > 0:14:10Well done!
0:14:10 > 0:14:16So, what can we do to improve our own sense of balance?
0:14:16 > 0:14:20Well, the first thing is to work out how good or bad your own balance is,
0:14:20 > 0:14:24and there is a really easy way to test it.
0:14:24 > 0:14:28Simply, close your eyes, lift one of your feet about six
0:14:28 > 0:14:38inches off the ground and time how long you can balance.
0:14:39 > 0:14:42Our brain relies heavily on what our eyes see to keep us steady,
0:14:42 > 0:14:44but there are other parts of the body involved.
0:14:44 > 0:14:51Our inner ear has a series of tubes and chambers containing fluid
0:14:51 > 0:14:57and works a bit like a spirit level.
0:14:57 > 0:14:58While our muscles
0:14:58 > 0:15:02are constantly sending signals to the brain to help us orientate.
0:15:02 > 0:15:05The average time you should be able to stand on one leg with your eyes
0:15:05 > 0:15:06closed declines with age.
0:15:06 > 0:15:08If you're under 40, it's about 15 seconds.
0:15:08 > 0:15:11If you're 65, it's around four.
0:15:11 > 0:15:13But if you're struggling, there are some simple
0:15:13 > 0:15:16things you can do to help.
0:15:16 > 0:15:19I've come to Dumfries to try a set of exercises that have been proven
0:15:19 > 0:15:22to help get any of us back into balance, with
0:15:22 > 0:15:27Professor Dawn Skelton, from Glasgow Caledonian University.
0:15:27 > 0:15:28Push yourself up nice and slowly.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31OK?
0:15:31 > 0:15:34Take a couple of steps backwards.
0:15:34 > 0:15:36Only a couple.
0:15:36 > 0:15:38Pull your bottom in, cos it's sticking out.
0:15:38 > 0:15:41LAUGHTER.
0:15:41 > 0:15:44The idea is that by lessening the amount of contact you have
0:15:44 > 0:15:48with the floor or by looking away from where you normally would,
0:15:48 > 0:15:52you're making your brain work harder to keep you balanced, training it.
0:15:52 > 0:15:55And the more you do this, the better your brain becomes
0:15:55 > 0:15:57at keeping you upright.
0:15:57 > 0:16:00Curl your toes up towards your nose.
0:16:00 > 0:16:01OK?
0:16:01 > 0:16:03Penguin walking.
0:16:03 > 0:16:04Three little steps.
0:16:04 > 0:16:06On your heels.
0:16:06 > 0:16:08That wobbliness is good because that means that your brain
0:16:08 > 0:16:10is having to work at getting everything to work together,
0:16:10 > 0:16:14and that will improve your balance.
0:16:14 > 0:16:1610-15 minutes a day and I guarantee, within three to four weeks,
0:16:16 > 0:16:18you'll feel a big difference in your balance.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21It's that quick.
0:16:21 > 0:16:23In Glasgow, these and similar exercises have been recommended
0:16:23 > 0:16:26for the over-65s and it's made a huge impact, helping reduce
0:16:26 > 0:16:33hospital admissions due to falls by a third.
0:16:33 > 0:16:35But they can improve your balance at any age and they're
0:16:35 > 0:16:39easy to do at home.
0:16:39 > 0:16:41Other activities known to help our balance,
0:16:41 > 0:16:46posture and core strength are dancing, tai chi and yoga.
0:16:46 > 0:16:47Now, balance exercises are quite simple to do,
0:16:47 > 0:16:50but the key is to integrate them into our everyday lives.
0:16:50 > 0:16:53You might never walk the tightrope, but you could soon be seeing
0:16:53 > 0:17:02improvements to your health.
0:17:02 > 0:17:04You'll find the demonstrations of all the balance
0:17:04 > 0:17:06exercises on our website.
0:17:19 > 0:17:24In Worcester, our 60 volunteers are back to have their bloods taken.
0:17:24 > 0:17:28So far, half of them have been gluten-free for two weeks.
0:17:28 > 0:17:32Half of them have been secretly given pasta containing gluten.
0:17:32 > 0:17:35We're recording any symptoms they notice and analysing
0:17:35 > 0:17:38their blood to see whether these match changes in their
0:17:38 > 0:17:41immune system and gut.
0:17:41 > 0:17:43They'll be back in a few weeks' time, after swapping
0:17:43 > 0:17:47to the opposite diet, when we'll retest them.
0:17:47 > 0:17:50We're hoping to discover whether gluten is having a real
0:17:50 > 0:17:54and measurable effect on any of them.
0:17:54 > 0:17:56Now, gluten, of course, isn't the only foodstuff
0:17:56 > 0:17:59that people worry about.
0:17:59 > 0:18:01There are companies out there flogging tests that apparently
0:18:01 > 0:18:03will tell you if you're allergic or, at least, intolerant
0:18:03 > 0:18:06to a whole range of things - from apples to yeast,
0:18:06 > 0:18:09from meat to tea.
0:18:09 > 0:18:13They cost between ?10 and ?300.
0:18:13 > 0:18:16And with allergies on the rise, we're buying a lot of them.
0:18:16 > 0:18:18But do they really work?
0:18:18 > 0:18:22I'm going to try out a few and find out.
0:18:22 > 0:18:25The tests you can buy on the High Street and online vary
0:18:25 > 0:18:28in what they claim to analyse.
0:18:28 > 0:18:31And they'll use anything from a piece of hair to a drop
0:18:31 > 0:18:33of blood to diagnose your problem.
0:18:33 > 0:18:38One tubeful of Mosley blood.
0:18:38 > 0:18:41They promise a healthier you as a result, because the consumption
0:18:41 > 0:18:44of certain foods can have profound effects on the physical and mental
0:18:44 > 0:18:47health of susceptible individuals.
0:18:47 > 0:18:50The results from the different tests tell me that I
0:18:50 > 0:18:52have an intolerance to - amongst other things -
0:18:52 > 0:18:54walnuts, durum wheat, maple syrup, eggs, Mountain Juniper,
0:18:54 > 0:18:59corn, even parsley and dill.
0:18:59 > 0:19:02Another test tells me that I do have food intolerances,
0:19:02 > 0:19:08but I'd have to stump up another ?284 to discover what they are.
0:19:08 > 0:19:11So should I be worried and pay up?
0:19:11 > 0:19:13To find out, I'm meeting allergist Dr Adam Fox,
0:19:13 > 0:19:18from Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital.
0:19:18 > 0:19:22First up, allergies.
0:19:22 > 0:19:25I took one test that claimed to measure my immune system's
0:19:25 > 0:19:28antibodies and it said I had no allergies, although I was actually
0:19:28 > 0:19:31suffering from hayfever.
0:19:31 > 0:19:34What was happening here?
0:19:34 > 0:19:37It's very easy to misinterpret the tests and that test only has
0:19:37 > 0:19:40value if it's done together with the medical history.
0:19:40 > 0:19:43So doing it in isolation, as a screening test -
0:19:43 > 0:19:45which is what lots of parents and patients do -
0:19:45 > 0:19:47waste of time.
0:19:47 > 0:19:51So if this isn't a useful test to do on its own,
0:19:51 > 0:19:53only if you have clear symptoms of analogy such as itching
0:19:53 > 0:19:56and sneezing would your doctor do a test, and for specific likely
0:19:56 > 0:20:01causes.
0:20:01 > 0:20:03And as for the quite expensive allergy test that can apparently be
0:20:03 > 0:20:08done from a hair sample?
0:20:08 > 0:20:10We know that has no scientific validity.
0:20:10 > 0:20:13You can actually hear the quacking coming out of the box
0:20:13 > 0:20:14with something like that!
0:20:14 > 0:20:17So a firm 'no' to any home testing for allergy.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20They need proper medical interpretation.
0:20:20 > 0:20:23How about the test kits for intolerances?
0:20:23 > 0:20:25These are, as we know from our big experiment,
0:20:25 > 0:20:27very difficult to diagnose.
0:20:27 > 0:20:29Intolerances are different.
0:20:29 > 0:20:31They don't involve the immune system.
0:20:31 > 0:20:33They can be unpleasant, but they're never really dangerous.
0:20:33 > 0:20:36For example, lactose intolerance is extremely common,
0:20:36 > 0:20:39so people don't have the enzyme in their gut that breaks down
0:20:39 > 0:20:44the lactose that you find in milk.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47And as a result, when they drink milk, they'll get an upset tummy,
0:20:47 > 0:20:49they'll get diarrhoea and bloating.
0:20:49 > 0:20:51One of the intolerance test kits I used claimed to measure
0:20:51 > 0:20:54an antibody in the blood called IgG.
0:20:54 > 0:20:56It told me I had potential intolerances to wheat,
0:20:56 > 0:21:00rice and milk.
0:21:00 > 0:21:05But Adam has me do the same test again to demonstrate a point.
0:21:05 > 0:21:07IgG is one of the naturally occurring antibodies produced
0:21:07 > 0:21:09by our immune system.
0:21:09 > 0:21:11In fact, they have a very, very important role
0:21:11 > 0:21:14in protecting us from infection.
0:21:14 > 0:21:17They're also produced in response to any number of things that
0:21:17 > 0:21:21you take into your body.
0:21:21 > 0:21:24So if you eat lots of food, your body will be recognising that
0:21:24 > 0:21:26it's food, it will be producing IgG antibodies to it.
0:21:26 > 0:21:28And those IgG antibodies won't really be doing
0:21:28 > 0:21:29anything in particular.
0:21:29 > 0:21:32OK, so it isn't an indication of sickness or disease?
0:21:32 > 0:21:37It's never been shown to be a useful indicator of disease in any way.
0:21:37 > 0:21:40And to illustrate that, my results on this exact same test
0:21:40 > 0:21:42today are different from when I took it previously.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45The levels of IgG in my blood simply indicate what I've been
0:21:45 > 0:21:51eating recently, not whether it was doing me any harm.
0:21:51 > 0:21:53Eggs, it suggested quite strongly here, whereas eggs sort of,
0:21:53 > 0:21:57you know, are very weak according to this one here.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00Yes, and I'm sure if you did this test every day,
0:22:00 > 0:22:03it would come up a little bit differently because your levels
0:22:03 > 0:22:05of any antibody are going to fluctuate from one
0:22:05 > 0:22:06day to the next.
0:22:06 > 0:22:08So Adam's view on these home test kits is clear.
0:22:08 > 0:22:10Across the world, the societies that represent allergists,
0:22:10 > 0:22:12gastroenterologists, are very clear that these tests
0:22:12 > 0:22:18do not have a place in diagnosis.
0:22:18 > 0:22:22So although the kits may accurately measure IgG, that's of no use.
0:22:22 > 0:22:27There is no scientifically valid home test for food intolerances.
0:22:27 > 0:22:29Now, this isn't just about money.
0:22:29 > 0:22:31Eliminating basics like eggs, wheat and dairy from your diet
0:22:31 > 0:22:38is not a good idea, particularly if you're a child.
0:22:38 > 0:22:43It should only really be done if there's a proven need.
0:22:43 > 0:22:44And ideally, under medical supervision.
0:22:44 > 0:22:48If you suspect you or your child has a food allergy, then visit your GP
0:22:48 > 0:22:50to be properly tested for that specific foodstuff.
0:22:50 > 0:22:52If you think you have an intolerance, then the best thing
0:22:52 > 0:22:55you can do is to try and eliminate it from your diet,
0:22:55 > 0:23:05to see whether or not that makes a difference.
0:23:08 > 0:23:10Exactly as our volunteers at the university have
0:23:10 > 0:23:11been doing with gluten.
0:23:11 > 0:23:18And we'll see what differences that made to them later in the programme.
0:23:19 > 0:23:24Still to come: The device that can switch off rheumatoid arthritis.
0:23:24 > 0:23:27And the results of our experiment.
0:23:27 > 0:23:29Should we all go gluten-free?
0:23:29 > 0:23:31But first...
0:23:31 > 0:23:35There are plenty of gadgets out there that are designed to help
0:23:35 > 0:23:38you monitor your health, but are they value for money,
0:23:38 > 0:23:42or do they simply generate unnecessary worry?
0:23:42 > 0:23:45We've invited GP Dr Zoe Williams to investigate.
0:23:45 > 0:23:49One of the commonest things I do as a GP is take people's blood
0:23:49 > 0:23:53pressure using one of these.
0:23:53 > 0:23:56But there are lots of problems with doing that here
0:23:56 > 0:23:58in the consultation room because no matter how unintimidating
0:23:58 > 0:24:06I try to be, sometimes, the patients may feel a bit stressed.
0:24:06 > 0:24:10Now, my blood pressure reading is a bit on the high side just now.
0:24:10 > 0:24:12That's because, frankly, I'm being intimidated by this lot.
0:24:12 > 0:24:14So would we actually be better off measuring our own
0:24:14 > 0:24:21blood pressure at home?
0:24:21 > 0:24:22There's a wide variety of monitors available,
0:24:22 > 0:24:23anything from ?10 to ?150.
0:24:23 > 0:24:26You'll all have slightly different machines, but this is what we use
0:24:26 > 0:24:27here in the surgery.
0:24:27 > 0:24:30Our blood pressure is worth keeping an eye on.
0:24:30 > 0:24:32If it's high, it can damage our blood vessels and put
0:24:32 > 0:24:35a strain on the heart and this can lead to heart failure,
0:24:35 > 0:24:36strokes and other problems as well.
0:24:36 > 0:24:39The measurement is made up of two numbers, the highest and lowest
0:24:39 > 0:24:42pressure your blood exerts throughout every beat of your heart.
0:24:42 > 0:24:45The higher one is known as systolic blood pressure and the lower number
0:24:45 > 0:24:47is the diastolic pressure, and that's the pressure
0:24:47 > 0:24:49between the heartbeats.
0:24:49 > 0:24:51So we've got your reading now, Andre, and the result
0:24:51 > 0:24:52is pretty good.
0:24:52 > 0:24:54So your systolic is 126.
0:24:54 > 0:24:57We want that to be ideally between 80 and 130,
0:24:57 > 0:25:01so yours is fine.
0:25:01 > 0:25:04And the diastolic should be between 70 and 90.
0:25:04 > 0:25:07So yours is absolutely fine, which is great, especially in this
0:25:07 > 0:25:11slightly unusual environment.
0:25:11 > 0:25:14Compared to the professional kit, then, how accurate are the sorts of
0:25:14 > 0:25:22home monitors that we can all buy?
0:25:22 > 0:25:24We've bought two common brands that fit on the upper arm
0:25:24 > 0:25:27and they both compared well against the professional equipment.
0:25:27 > 0:25:2888...
0:25:28 > 0:25:29Mmm, quite close.
0:25:29 > 0:25:30And two wrist monitors.
0:25:30 > 0:25:32These are harder to use as the monitor needs to be held
0:25:32 > 0:25:35at the level of the heart, but one performed very well.
0:25:35 > 0:25:36126 over 84, exactly the same!
0:25:36 > 0:25:39Wow!
0:25:39 > 0:25:43Whilst the other was inaccurate every time.
0:25:43 > 0:25:45So the reading is 139 over 92, which actually means
0:25:45 > 0:25:47you've got abnormal blood pressure.
0:25:47 > 0:25:49Yeah.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52I'd feel worried if I was at home and I saw that.
0:25:52 > 0:25:54Some monitors have been independently tested
0:25:54 > 0:25:59and deemed accurate, and we have details on our website.
0:25:59 > 0:26:01Most of the machines that you can buy over-the-counter
0:26:01 > 0:26:03are actually quite good, but if you're buying
0:26:03 > 0:26:06from a pharmacist, it might be worth just asking them
0:26:06 > 0:26:07to check your machine against their calibrated
0:26:07 > 0:26:11machine so you know you can trust the results.
0:26:11 > 0:26:14But if you're going to measure your own blood pressure,
0:26:14 > 0:26:16you have to know how to do it properly, so here's
0:26:16 > 0:26:18our Trust Me guide.
0:26:18 > 0:26:20Whether you're sitting, standing or lying down
0:26:20 > 0:26:22will make a difference.
0:26:22 > 0:26:27If you're talking or even if you have your legs crossed.
0:26:27 > 0:26:29So you should be sitting, back supported, the pressure cuff
0:26:29 > 0:26:31at the height of your heart, legs crossed, breathing
0:26:31 > 0:26:38normally and not talking.
0:26:38 > 0:26:40at the height of your heart, legs uncrossed, breathing
0:26:40 > 0:26:41normally and not talking.
0:26:41 > 0:26:43Your blood pressure also varies throughout the day,
0:26:43 > 0:26:46so you should take it at the same time each day.
0:26:46 > 0:26:49Take it twice, one minute apart, over four days to get
0:26:49 > 0:26:50an average reading.
0:26:50 > 0:26:52After meals, it can be variable as your body sends blood
0:26:52 > 0:26:53to the gut for digestion.
0:26:53 > 0:26:56And some food and drinks will also affect it,
0:26:56 > 0:26:58as some of our volunteers found through their day.
0:26:58 > 0:27:00Around midday, it started to get really quite high.
0:27:00 > 0:27:05That's, I think, because I had some coffee.
0:27:05 > 0:27:07And if you don't want to buy a home monitor, doctors' surgeries
0:27:07 > 0:27:10and pharmacies often have monitors in public areas to use.
0:27:10 > 0:27:12So measuring your blood pressure at home, then,
0:27:12 > 0:27:15is a good idea.
0:27:15 > 0:27:18But remember, your blood pressure goes up and down all the time
0:27:18 > 0:27:21so if you get the occasional high reading, don't worry.
0:27:21 > 0:27:24If your blood pressure is a bit high, there are lots of things that
0:27:24 > 0:27:26you can do to help bring it down.
0:27:26 > 0:27:28So exercise is one of them.
0:27:28 > 0:27:30Just 20 minutes a day of brisk walking really helps
0:27:30 > 0:27:31to bring it down.
0:27:31 > 0:27:33And then dietary changes.
0:27:33 > 0:27:36So reducing your alcohol intake and increasing the potassium intake
0:27:36 > 0:27:38by eating more vegetables.
0:27:38 > 0:27:42And if that doesn't work, then please do go and see your doctor.
0:27:51 > 0:27:53It seems like every day, we read about so-called 'alternative
0:27:53 > 0:27:58therapies' that claim to do things like relieve pain,
0:27:58 > 0:28:01cure addiction or improve our mental health.
0:28:01 > 0:28:05In this series, we're asking - can any of them really help us?
0:28:05 > 0:28:09This time, we're looking at hypnosis.
0:28:09 > 0:28:11Now, hypnosis has a long and colourful history and its fans
0:28:11 > 0:28:18claim it can cure everything from depression through to phobias.
0:28:18 > 0:28:21Critics, however, say it's nothing more than a cheap parlour trick.
0:28:21 > 0:28:24I'm going to delve into the debate, try hypnosis for myself, and then
0:28:24 > 0:28:29speak to a world-renowned expert.
0:28:29 > 0:28:35I want to get to the truth and decide - should I try hypnosis?
0:28:35 > 0:28:37I'm not convinced that hypnosis is really a state of altered
0:28:37 > 0:28:39consciousness, or that people aren't just pretending,
0:28:39 > 0:28:44so I want to see if I can be hypnotised.
0:28:44 > 0:28:46I'm about to give you some instructions that will help
0:28:46 > 0:28:49you to relax and gradually to enter a state of hypnosis.
0:28:49 > 0:28:51Taking me through the procedure is Professor David Oakley,
0:28:51 > 0:28:54a clinical psychologist who uses hypnosis to help people
0:28:54 > 0:29:00with mental health conditions like depression and anxiety.
0:29:00 > 0:29:04Your breathing is becoming slower and regular.
0:29:04 > 0:29:06Not everyone can be hypnotised, so the first thing David
0:29:06 > 0:29:10is going to try and do is put me into a state of focused attention
0:29:10 > 0:29:13and then test how suggestible I am.
0:29:13 > 0:29:17Pay attention only to my voice and only to such things as I may
0:29:17 > 0:29:19call to your attention.
0:29:19 > 0:29:22Now he gives me a series of suggestions to see if I perceive
0:29:22 > 0:29:25them as real.
0:29:25 > 0:29:30Please extend your left arm straight out in front of you.
0:29:30 > 0:29:34Up in the air, just beginning to get very heavy.
0:29:34 > 0:29:36Heavier and heavier, as though a weight were pulling
0:29:36 > 0:29:38the hand and arm down.
0:29:38 > 0:29:40A little bit down.
0:29:40 > 0:29:41More and more down.
0:29:41 > 0:29:45It gets heavier and heavier and goes down more and more.
0:29:45 > 0:29:48If I were here to give up smoking or lose weight,
0:29:48 > 0:29:52David would use hypnosis alongside other therapies to help me.
0:29:52 > 0:29:57But today, it's just a test of how suggestible I am.
0:29:57 > 0:30:00You haven't noticed that a fly has been buzzing around you and it's
0:30:00 > 0:30:01going round and round your head.
0:30:01 > 0:30:03Go ahead and get rid of it if you want to.
0:30:09 > 0:30:11It's a weird experience.
0:30:11 > 0:30:13I still feel conscious, yet compelled to follow
0:30:13 > 0:30:16David's suggestions.
0:30:16 > 0:30:19The power of these suggestions can be used to help a person
0:30:19 > 0:30:23tackle their fears or negative thoughts or behaviour.
0:30:23 > 0:30:30You will not awaken until I ask you to do so.
0:30:30 > 0:30:33To test how powerful the suggestions can be, David now suggests
0:30:33 > 0:30:35I write some sentences, as if I'm being controlled
0:30:35 > 0:30:38by someone else.
0:30:38 > 0:30:41The sentence begins, "the woman."
0:30:41 > 0:30:47Now.
0:30:48 > 0:30:52It's an eerie sensation.
0:30:52 > 0:30:59Three, two, one, wide-awake and fully alert.
0:30:59 > 0:31:03Blimey, I didn't even know I was writing this.
0:31:03 > 0:31:07It was an involuntary movement.
0:31:07 > 0:31:10It didn't feel directly it was something I was controlling.
0:31:10 > 0:31:14It felt like something was being done to me,
0:31:14 > 0:31:16rather than I was doing which was quite strange.
0:31:16 > 0:31:19To my surprise, hypnosis felt very real, but is there something
0:31:19 > 0:31:22going on in the brain that can be measured?
0:31:22 > 0:31:25Here at Kings College London, they have spent months repeating
0:31:25 > 0:31:35the writing test with volunteers in an MRI scanner.
0:31:35 > 0:31:41As I count, you will feel yourself going down...
0:31:41 > 0:31:43Like me, the volunteers are asked to write
0:31:43 > 0:31:46as if they were being controlled by someone else.
0:31:46 > 0:31:50Their brain scans are then compared to scans taken when they are asked
0:31:50 > 0:31:58to pretend this is happening.
0:31:58 > 0:32:01The study is overseen by Dr Eamonn Walsh.
0:32:01 > 0:32:04When we asked our participants just to pretend that someone
0:32:04 > 0:32:10was controlling their right hand as they wrote, we see a classic
0:32:10 > 0:32:13signature of activation in the front and back of the brain.
0:32:13 > 0:32:15This pattern is totally different from the activation we saw
0:32:15 > 0:32:18when it was suggested that someone else is controlling
0:32:18 > 0:32:28your hand movements as you write.
0:32:28 > 0:32:29This would suggest that in the hypnotised state,
0:32:29 > 0:32:31your volunteers were absolutely convinced that someone had
0:32:31 > 0:32:32taken over their brain.
0:32:32 > 0:32:34Yes.
0:32:34 > 0:32:36It's very striking!
0:32:36 > 0:32:39So the suggestion under hypnosis really does change the patterns
0:32:39 > 0:32:41of activity in your brain.
0:32:41 > 0:32:43It proves hypnosis isn't a trick.
0:32:43 > 0:32:45It's real.
0:32:45 > 0:32:48That is, I must admit, very impressive, isn't it?
0:32:48 > 0:32:51Certainly, as a piece of evidence.
0:32:51 > 0:32:54Seeing the power of hypnosis in the brain is fascinating,
0:32:54 > 0:32:57but does that mean it's useful?
0:32:57 > 0:33:01While it's used by trained experts to treat certain mental conditions,
0:33:01 > 0:33:04can it really help you lose weight or quit smoking?
0:33:04 > 0:33:08To find out, I'm going to speak to another member of the team,
0:33:08 > 0:33:10Dr Quinton Deeley, consultant psychiatrist
0:33:10 > 0:33:13at the Maudsley Hospital at Kings College London.
0:33:13 > 0:33:16So what sort of conditions would you recommend or suggest
0:33:16 > 0:33:26to people that they might like to go and explore hypnosis for?
0:33:31 > 0:33:34The kind of conditios where it is being recommended is in conditions
0:33:34 > 0:33:37like irritable bowel syndrome.
0:33:37 > 0:33:39There is some evidence and recommendation to augment
0:33:39 > 0:33:44weight loss and use for analgesia, pain relief, for example in labour.
0:33:44 > 0:33:47There is a role for the use of suggestion in hypnosis in,
0:33:47 > 0:33:49for example, cognitive behavioural therapy for depression.
0:33:49 > 0:33:52There are some studies and practitioners which relate to that.
0:33:52 > 0:33:55The difficulty we have is there is likely to be a lot
0:33:55 > 0:33:59of individual variability to these types of interventions,
0:33:59 > 0:34:06so if we are making a general recommendation to the public
0:34:06 > 0:34:09as a whole, we still don't have a well conducted
0:34:09 > 0:34:14as a whole, we still don't have a well conducted large-scale trial.
0:34:14 > 0:34:19So there is something real going on in the brain,
0:34:19 > 0:34:21potentially very useful, but it is slightly frustrating to be
0:34:21 > 0:34:22able to pin it down?
0:34:22 > 0:34:24I think it's a fair judgment.
0:34:24 > 0:34:33Clearly, it is being advertised for smoking cessation,
0:34:33 > 0:34:36I found very little evidence at all that it works in those cases,
0:34:36 > 0:34:39and you could spend a lot of money and not get much result.
0:34:39 > 0:34:40Is that broadly accurate?
0:34:40 > 0:34:41I think that's an accurate summary.
0:34:41 > 0:34:51At the moment, we still don't have the evidence
0:35:00 > 0:35:03for the effectiveness of hypnotic intervention for smoking to make it
0:35:03 > 0:35:03a strongly recommended treatment.
0:35:03 > 0:35:07And how do you go about finding somebody who is a decent hypnotist?
0:35:07 > 0:35:08Ideally, the practitioner should have training
0:35:08 > 0:35:09in a recognised health profession.
0:35:09 > 0:35:11So, for example, they should be a qualified psychologist,
0:35:11 > 0:35:13or possibly another health profession.
0:35:13 > 0:35:15And they are part of a professional organisation, regulatory body
0:35:15 > 0:35:17to which they are accountable and which exercises
0:35:17 > 0:35:18supervision over what they do.
0:35:18 > 0:35:21So when is hypnosis useful?
0:35:21 > 0:35:24Well, there is some evidence it is useful for treating pain
0:35:24 > 0:35:27associated with irritable bowel and also with childbirth.
0:35:27 > 0:35:30But in most other areas, the jury is still out.
0:35:30 > 0:35:33So, should I have hypnosis?
0:35:33 > 0:35:36I think it utterly depends on your personal circumstances.
0:35:36 > 0:35:39Are you suggestible?
0:35:39 > 0:35:42What sort of condition is it you are trying to get treated?
0:35:42 > 0:35:46And most of all, who is going to be doing the hypnosis.
0:35:46 > 0:35:50To find out more, do visit our website.
0:35:57 > 0:36:00There are a number of serious diseases like multiple sclerosis
0:36:00 > 0:36:04or rheumatoid arthritis, which happen when somebody's
0:36:04 > 0:36:07immune system begins to attack their own body.
0:36:07 > 0:36:14These conditions are you hard to treat.
0:36:14 > 0:36:16These conditions are really hard to treat.
0:36:16 > 0:36:19But a chance discovery is helping to rewrite our understanding of how
0:36:19 > 0:36:21the immune system works and could help millions.
0:36:21 > 0:36:25Surgeon Gabriel Weston has been investigating.
0:36:26 > 0:36:29As a surgeon, I am always excited to find out about new medical
0:36:29 > 0:36:34developments, but this time it is particularly special.
0:36:34 > 0:36:37It is a treatment that's come from a breakthrough in understanding
0:36:37 > 0:36:39how our bodies work.
0:36:39 > 0:36:44When the body's damaged, the classic response is inflammation.
0:36:44 > 0:36:47You'll know this from the redness and swelling you see
0:36:47 > 0:36:49when you hurt yourself.
0:36:49 > 0:36:52But it also happens in hidden parts of the body.
0:36:52 > 0:36:55In autoimmune disease, where the body's immune system goes
0:36:55 > 0:36:58wrong, and attacks your own cells, the damage this causes can trigger
0:36:58 > 0:37:04inflammation in all sorts of parts of the body,
0:37:04 > 0:37:09leading to disability, pain and illness.
0:37:09 > 0:37:13The main treatment options for autoimmune diseases until now
0:37:13 > 0:37:16have either been anti-inflammatory drugs like steroids to deal
0:37:16 > 0:37:20with the symptoms of the damage, or severely dampening sufferers'
0:37:20 > 0:37:23entire immune system is to stop the attack.
0:37:23 > 0:37:27But at New York's Feinstein Institute, Dr Kevin Tracey
0:37:27 > 0:37:30was studying the problem of inflammation and had
0:37:30 > 0:37:33a moment of breakthrough.
0:37:33 > 0:37:38He realised that signals controlling the immune system were being carried
0:37:38 > 0:37:43by the nervous system which gave rise to a new idea.
0:37:43 > 0:37:47What if we could use our nerves to control the immune system
0:37:47 > 0:37:49and treat disease?
0:37:49 > 0:37:52That was a real sort of eureka moment.
0:37:52 > 0:37:56Nerves work by carrying electrical information to the end of the nerve.
0:37:56 > 0:37:59At the end of the nerve, the nerve releases molecules,
0:37:59 > 0:38:04neurotransmitters, which then instruct the cells next to the nerve
0:38:04 > 0:38:08ending to change their behaviour.
0:38:08 > 0:38:11And theoretically, you could have a device that targets
0:38:11 > 0:38:14the activity of that nerve to just work for a very
0:38:14 > 0:38:19short period of time, only in the place where the disease is.
0:38:19 > 0:38:23That idea really for me, was the birth of bio-electronic medicine.
0:38:23 > 0:38:27I think that some drugs that are used today,
0:38:27 > 0:38:33will be replaced by very small devices that will target nerves.
0:38:33 > 0:38:37The result was a world first, a device that could be implanted
0:38:37 > 0:38:39beside a nerve that could send signals to control
0:38:39 > 0:38:42the immune system.
0:38:42 > 0:38:45The only way to find out if it would work,
0:38:45 > 0:38:48was to try it in a handful of brave patients, and I've come
0:38:48 > 0:38:55to California to see what they were given.
0:38:55 > 0:38:58An implant that could be attached along the vagus nerve in the neck
0:38:58 > 0:39:00which connects the brain to our major organs.
0:39:00 > 0:39:04This device was implanted into patients as part
0:39:04 > 0:39:07of the very first trial to set out whether the basic concept
0:39:07 > 0:39:11would work.
0:39:11 > 0:39:15This battery here is inserted under the skin
0:39:15 > 0:39:19a bit like a pacemaker, and it is connected to this
0:39:19 > 0:39:23lead with this electrode here which coils around the vagus.
0:39:23 > 0:39:30The electrode stimulates the nerve for about a minute a day,
0:39:30 > 0:39:32at a level which is optimal for regulating the inflammatory
0:39:32 > 0:39:35response, but not so high that it interrupts the other really
0:39:35 > 0:39:39important functions of the vagus nerve.
0:39:39 > 0:39:43Amongst the first people to test this implant were a group
0:39:43 > 0:39:48of patients in Amsterdam with severe rheumatoid arthritis.
0:39:48 > 0:39:52In this disease, information is caused when the immune system
0:39:52 > 0:39:58produces too many inflammatory molecules, including one called TNF.
0:39:58 > 0:40:02Researchers hope that by targeting specific fibres in the vagus nerve
0:40:02 > 0:40:05which control TNF production, they could lower levels
0:40:05 > 0:40:08and reduce inflammation.
0:40:08 > 0:40:12One of the patients taking part in the trial was Monique.
0:40:12 > 0:40:15I couldn't walk from one side of the room to the other
0:40:15 > 0:40:18side of the room.
0:40:18 > 0:40:21It took a long time to go downstairs and put my clothes on,
0:40:21 > 0:40:24and take a shower.
0:40:24 > 0:40:27I was the whole day at home.
0:40:27 > 0:40:31I didn't work any more.
0:40:31 > 0:40:34Monique, could you show me how you use the device?
0:40:34 > 0:40:37Yes, this is the magnet.
0:40:37 > 0:40:39I do it on this way.
0:40:39 > 0:40:41It is going now.
0:40:41 > 0:40:44You will hear it maybe on my voice.
0:40:44 > 0:40:48A little vibration on my voice.
0:40:48 > 0:40:49I can hear it.
0:40:49 > 0:40:51Yes!
0:40:51 > 0:40:54And now, now it's gone.
0:40:54 > 0:40:57How big a difference has this made to your life?
0:40:57 > 0:40:59The first thing I recognised was my energy.
0:40:59 > 0:41:03I had more energy to do more things.
0:41:03 > 0:41:07So I can walk, I cycle more.
0:41:07 > 0:41:10I have started with work again.
0:41:10 > 0:41:12Dr Koopman, what do you make of Monique today,
0:41:12 > 0:41:15assessing her, how is she doing?
0:41:15 > 0:41:17For me there is nothing to detect, to show there
0:41:17 > 0:41:21is any sign of arthritis.
0:41:21 > 0:41:24You can see in her hands there has been arthritis,
0:41:24 > 0:41:28but it has, at least for now, it has died down.
0:41:28 > 0:41:32I don't see myself like a patient who has arthritis.
0:41:32 > 0:41:35I don't think about it any more.
0:41:35 > 0:41:39I have my life back as before I got arthritis.
0:41:39 > 0:41:43Monique is now been using the device for three years
0:41:43 > 0:41:47but Dr Frieda Koopman has the results of the trial as a whole.
0:41:47 > 0:41:50How many patients were there in the trial?
0:41:50 > 0:41:52In total there were 17.
0:41:52 > 0:41:54What did you find?
0:41:54 > 0:41:57About two thirds of the patients had clinical response,
0:41:57 > 0:42:01so less swelling and also less painful joints.
0:42:01 > 0:42:04You could see at the same time that TNF was going down,
0:42:04 > 0:42:07and during the study there was a moment that we would stop
0:42:07 > 0:42:10stimulations and then we saw the patients getting a little bit
0:42:10 > 0:42:13worse, but also the TNF was going up.
0:42:13 > 0:42:16And also the anti-inflammatory effect of the stimulation
0:42:16 > 0:42:19was no longer there.
0:42:19 > 0:42:22Of course, TNF is only one part of the problem
0:42:22 > 0:42:25in rheumatoid arthritis.
0:42:25 > 0:42:29But the results of this trial are really promising,
0:42:29 > 0:42:31and what is even more exciting is that the technology involved
0:42:31 > 0:42:36is only going to get better.
0:42:36 > 0:42:40Here in California, the company which developed Monique's implant
0:42:40 > 0:42:44are already working on a new model and it's tiny.
0:42:44 > 0:42:54CEO Anthony Arnold explains how it works.
0:42:54 > 0:43:01The device is a micro regulator we call it.
0:43:01 > 0:43:03A surgeon would implant the device just above the collarbone.
0:43:03 > 0:43:06Would that have any wires or batteries attached to it
0:43:06 > 0:43:07which would also be under the skin?
0:43:07 > 0:43:08Not at all.
0:43:08 > 0:43:09It is entirely self-contained.
0:43:09 > 0:43:11The battery is in it.
0:43:11 > 0:43:13There are no wires.
0:43:13 > 0:43:16The stimulating leads are built into the device so there is no need
0:43:16 > 0:43:18for multiple components.
0:43:18 > 0:43:23How long do you think it might be before this device can actually be
0:43:23 > 0:43:28in necks doing the job it can do?
0:43:28 > 0:43:33Could be four years in Europe, five years in the US,
0:43:33 > 0:43:35assuming everything goes smoothly, and there are no unusual findings.
0:43:35 > 0:43:37It's not just rheumatoid arthritis that could ultimately benefit
0:43:37 > 0:43:40from this technology.
0:43:40 > 0:43:43The vagus nerve is like a transatlantic telephone wire,
0:43:43 > 0:43:47with maybe 100,000 individual telephone lines, and each
0:43:47 > 0:43:50of those has a specific job, and the challenge for
0:43:50 > 0:43:56bio-electronic medicine is to ask what is that fibre doing,
0:43:56 > 0:43:59and how can we control that fibre to the therapeutic benefit of that
0:43:59 > 0:44:02patient with this disease?
0:44:02 > 0:44:06That is the opportunity for the future of medicine.
0:44:09 > 0:44:12What I've seen in the US and here in Amsterdam has absolutely
0:44:12 > 0:44:15blown me away, and it is clear that this rheumatoid arthritis trial
0:44:15 > 0:44:19is just the beginning.
0:44:19 > 0:44:22I wouldn't be at all surprised if in the near future,
0:44:22 > 0:44:26we start seeing bioelectronics being used to treat a whole range
0:44:26 > 0:44:31of previously very difficult to manage medical conditions.
0:44:41 > 0:44:46Most people think that stretching is important when we exercise.
0:44:46 > 0:44:49Do you normally stretch before exercise?
0:44:49 > 0:44:51I do a little bit of stretching, yes.
0:44:51 > 0:44:52Why do you do it?
0:44:52 > 0:44:56I do it because I feel it will stave off injury.
0:44:56 > 0:44:59I feel like I can actually use all my muscles to
0:44:59 > 0:45:02the extent that I need to.
0:45:02 > 0:45:05So the consensus is, we should stretch.
0:45:05 > 0:45:08The idea is it will reduce your risk of injury and improve
0:45:08 > 0:45:09your performance.
0:45:09 > 0:45:12People believe this, but is it actually true?
0:45:12 > 0:45:14Time for me to find out.
0:45:14 > 0:45:19Agh!
0:45:19 > 0:45:22I'm going to do an experiment on myself under the guidance
0:45:22 > 0:45:27of biomechanist Dr Polly McGuigan.
0:45:27 > 0:45:29Firstly, a baseline measure of my muscle power -
0:45:29 > 0:45:35how high I can jump.
0:45:35 > 0:45:37Then - how flexible am I?
0:45:37 > 0:45:42Now, will stretching improve these measures?
0:45:42 > 0:45:43Ooh, blimey.
0:45:43 > 0:45:45Am I supposed to experience pain there?
0:45:45 > 0:45:47You do expect to be able to feel it.
0:45:47 > 0:45:48I can certainly feel it.
0:45:48 > 0:45:49Good.
0:45:49 > 0:45:52Now it's time to re-do exactly the same test to see if all those
0:45:52 > 0:45:57structures had any effect.
0:45:57 > 0:45:58stretches had any effect.
0:45:58 > 0:45:59Polly has the answer.
0:45:59 > 0:46:02OK, so after all that strenuous and slightly painful stretching,
0:46:02 > 0:46:03what were the results?
0:46:03 > 0:46:04Starting with flexibility, you did become more flexible
0:46:04 > 0:46:05after the stretches.
0:46:05 > 0:46:08OK.
0:46:08 > 0:46:10For a given level of force, that muscle tension unit stretched
0:46:10 > 0:46:11a little bit more.
0:46:11 > 0:46:14After the stretching, I was able to extend my knee
0:46:14 > 0:46:16by an extra 90 degrees.
0:46:16 > 0:46:18by an extra 9 degrees.
0:46:18 > 0:46:21My calves were almost 20% less stiff.
0:46:21 > 0:46:25So how did stretching improve my flexibility?
0:46:25 > 0:46:27There is an argument that over a long period of time,
0:46:27 > 0:46:30if you stretch a muscle, you actually do physically
0:46:30 > 0:46:36make it longer.
0:46:36 > 0:46:39But probably, the strongest argument for an immediate effect like we saw
0:46:39 > 0:46:42today is that you just become a little bit more tolerant to that
0:46:42 > 0:46:45degree of stretch and, therefore, you can push yourself a bit further.
0:46:45 > 0:46:48So stretching did make me more flexible, but the key question is,
0:46:48 > 0:46:53does it actually make me a better athlete?
0:46:53 > 0:46:56Time for my jumping results.
0:46:56 > 0:46:58What about power?
0:46:58 > 0:47:01Well, power had the opposite effect.
0:47:01 > 0:47:03Your jump height went down after the stretching.
0:47:03 > 0:47:04It didn't feel like it.
0:47:04 > 0:47:06I mean, I actually felt more limber and
0:47:06 > 0:47:07I was shouting well!
0:47:07 > 0:47:08Yes!
0:47:08 > 0:47:10And I was jumping to the full extent
0:47:10 > 0:47:11of my strength.
0:47:11 > 0:47:14Yeah.
0:47:14 > 0:47:16In fact, my jump height was 20% lower.
0:47:16 > 0:47:21So why does stretching actually harm my performance?
0:47:21 > 0:47:25If things become a bit more stretchy, a bit more compliant,
0:47:25 > 0:47:33the speed with which you can transmit force from the muscle
0:47:33 > 0:47:36which is generating the force to your skeleton, which is producing
0:47:36 > 0:47:38the movement, decreases a bit.
0:47:38 > 0:47:40So stretching makes you less powerful, but what about
0:47:40 > 0:47:41protecting you from injury?
0:47:41 > 0:47:47The vast majority of the research suggests that there is no effect
0:47:47 > 0:47:50on injury risk of stretching before you exercise.
0:47:50 > 0:47:53It's not going to reduce your risk of getting injured.
0:47:53 > 0:47:55Because I imagine that when you stretch, you're
0:47:55 > 0:47:58going to warm up the muscles, and warming up the muscles
0:47:58 > 0:47:59is a good thing.
0:47:59 > 0:48:01Warming up the muscles is a good thing, definitely.
0:48:01 > 0:48:04A muscle will produce more force after it's warmed up a little bit.
0:48:04 > 0:48:07But stretching is not the best way to warm up.
0:48:07 > 0:48:12It's better just to do gentle light exercise.
0:48:12 > 0:48:15So stretching is useful to stay flexible, especially
0:48:15 > 0:48:19as we get older, but not to help your exercise.
0:48:19 > 0:48:24If you're doing any sort of exercise which involves power -
0:48:24 > 0:48:27such as jumping or perhaps sprinting - then doing this sort
0:48:27 > 0:48:29of stretching really isn't going to help.
0:48:29 > 0:48:32Instead, if for example you want to go for a run,
0:48:32 > 0:48:36then what you should do beforehand is go for a stroll, speed it up,
0:48:36 > 0:48:37maybe do a little bit of jogging.
0:48:37 > 0:48:42What this will do is, it will increase the blood flow
0:48:42 > 0:48:47to the muscles that will warm them up and also improve efficiencies.
0:48:47 > 0:48:50In fact, if you do this sort of exercise, the evidence is that it
0:48:50 > 0:48:53will improve your performance.
0:48:59 > 0:49:02When we talk about the signs and symptoms of ill-health,
0:49:02 > 0:49:04we often focus on the physical, but mental illness is
0:49:04 > 0:49:07also incredibly common.
0:49:07 > 0:49:09So what should we be looking out for?
0:49:09 > 0:49:10Over to Saleyha.
0:49:14 > 0:49:17One in four people in the UK will be affected by mental health problems,
0:49:17 > 0:49:22one of the most common of which is depression.
0:49:22 > 0:49:25All too often, depression isn't recognised as a genuine health
0:49:25 > 0:49:27condition or is dismissed as trivial, but it's far more
0:49:27 > 0:49:33than feeling low or unhappy for a few days.
0:49:33 > 0:49:41Depression is a real illness, with real symptoms and real dangers.
0:49:41 > 0:49:45It's a medical condition which can creep up on any of us and its causes
0:49:45 > 0:49:47are many and varied.
0:49:47 > 0:49:51But the most common trigger is a traumatic life event
0:49:51 > 0:49:53like losing a loved-one, going through a stressful situation
0:49:53 > 0:50:01at work, or experiencing a serious physical illness.
0:50:01 > 0:50:04Many people find it difficult to be open about having the condition,
0:50:04 > 0:50:07for fear of seeming weak.
0:50:07 > 0:50:10But Lol, Sarah, Richard and Cath - who have all been diagnosed
0:50:10 > 0:50:13with depression - are happy to talk about their experiences to help us
0:50:13 > 0:50:17all recognise the red-flag symptoms.
0:50:17 > 0:50:19My moods were dropping.
0:50:19 > 0:50:22My behaviours were erratic and quite unpredictable.
0:50:22 > 0:50:26I eventually noticed that my normal behaviours,
0:50:26 > 0:50:29my normal character and personality, had gone.
0:50:29 > 0:50:31I'd really start spiralling down and feeling like
0:50:31 > 0:50:32an impostor, you know?
0:50:32 > 0:50:36I never felt I was quite good enough.
0:50:36 > 0:50:38I'd be waking up once or twice in the night.
0:50:38 > 0:50:41I was having thoughts about, have I done this, have I done that?
0:50:41 > 0:50:43I need to get to work to sort this out.
0:50:43 > 0:50:45I was questioning myself and being self-critical,
0:50:45 > 0:50:47which I wouldn't normally be.
0:50:47 > 0:50:50I just shut myself away, just not interested in anything
0:50:50 > 0:50:53whatsoever, and just wanted to curl up in a ball and just stay
0:50:53 > 0:50:58in my own bubble, so to speak.
0:50:58 > 0:51:01Although people can have very different experiences of depression,
0:51:01 > 0:51:02these are all common signs and symptoms,
0:51:02 > 0:51:09and there are others to look out for.
0:51:09 > 0:51:11Among them, there's a constant flow of negative thoughts
0:51:11 > 0:51:14and low self-esteem.
0:51:14 > 0:51:16People can also suffer from physiological symptoms
0:51:16 > 0:51:18like changes in their eating or sleeping pattern, or feeling
0:51:18 > 0:51:25like their energy levels are so low.
0:51:25 > 0:51:28Sometimes, it's the people around us who notice the change
0:51:28 > 0:51:30in our behaviour.
0:51:30 > 0:51:32My children actually pointed it out because they'd ask me
0:51:32 > 0:51:34for something and I'd bite their head off for it,
0:51:34 > 0:51:38not meaning to.
0:51:38 > 0:51:42And it was at that point, I said, right, I've got to go to my GP
0:51:42 > 0:51:42and get this sorted.
0:51:42 > 0:51:44I tried to mask it.
0:51:44 > 0:51:47And then on this particular day, I was so emotional and my manager
0:51:47 > 0:51:49said, look, you're clearly not well.
0:51:49 > 0:51:52We've seen this for a long time, we've been seeing the signs.
0:51:52 > 0:51:55I think tomorrow, you need to go and see a doctor.
0:51:55 > 0:51:58And that was almost like a weight had been lifted off my shoulder.
0:51:58 > 0:52:00I know it's a cliche, but...
0:52:00 > 0:52:03If you do experience some of these symptoms every day for two weeks
0:52:03 > 0:52:07or more, then visit your doctor, as there are many forms of treatment
0:52:07 > 0:52:12and therapy to help you recover.
0:52:12 > 0:52:15One of the things that they might prescribe you is CBT,
0:52:15 > 0:52:20cognitive behavioural therapy.
0:52:20 > 0:52:22CBT is a talking therapy.
0:52:22 > 0:52:25It helps you to identify negative thoughts and gives
0:52:25 > 0:52:28you coping strategies on how to deal with them.
0:52:28 > 0:52:31I found it...
0:52:31 > 0:52:35I found it quite useful.
0:52:35 > 0:52:38It kind of gave me a different outlook, to look at things
0:52:38 > 0:52:39in a different way.
0:52:39 > 0:52:42It kind of shed a lot of light on different things.
0:52:42 > 0:52:44Some people find self-help techniques effective.
0:52:44 > 0:52:48Mindfulness is a big one for me, and meditation.
0:52:48 > 0:52:51I do that every day and I swear by it.
0:52:51 > 0:52:55Your GP may also suggest a course of antidepressant medication.
0:52:55 > 0:52:58They've been a life-saver for me because they keep me buoyed up
0:52:58 > 0:53:01so that I'm able to function and able to get to the point
0:53:01 > 0:53:09where I can start to recover properly.
0:53:09 > 0:53:14But whatever therapy is prescribed, it's important not to give up hope.
0:53:14 > 0:53:18If you're a man in particular, or a young man, not to feel it's
0:53:18 > 0:53:25a sign of weakness and to not feel stigmatised by having depression.
0:53:25 > 0:53:27Certainly, don't shy away from it.
0:53:27 > 0:53:29And also, talk about it to either friends,
0:53:29 > 0:53:32family or go to your GP.
0:53:32 > 0:53:35Ring up the NHS.
0:53:35 > 0:53:38You know, I would say to them everyone's got their mental health
0:53:38 > 0:53:41as much as we have physical health, so why not talk about it
0:53:41 > 0:53:43in the same way that you would if you had
0:53:43 > 0:53:47a terrible cold?
0:53:47 > 0:53:50As an A doctor, one of the hardest parts of the job is losing a patient
0:53:50 > 0:53:53due to a preventable cause, and that includes mental
0:53:53 > 0:53:57health illnesses.
0:53:57 > 0:53:59So if you or someone you know is suffering
0:53:59 > 0:54:02from depressive symptoms, don't ignore them.
0:54:02 > 0:54:06Getting help and the right treatment can save lives.
0:54:06 > 0:54:10Don't suffer in silence.
0:54:10 > 0:54:12If you want more information, go to our website...
0:54:29 > 0:54:31Back in Worcester, our trial into going gluten-free
0:54:31 > 0:54:34is coming to an end.
0:54:34 > 0:54:36Our volunteers all cut out gluten for six weeks.
0:54:36 > 0:54:39But we secretly slipped each of them gluten containing pasta for two
0:54:39 > 0:54:44weeks during that time.
0:54:44 > 0:54:46Not even the researchers knew when each person had their gluten
0:54:46 > 0:54:48until the results were analysed.
0:54:48 > 0:54:51But some of our volunteers thought they could tell which weeks
0:54:51 > 0:54:54they were eating gluten just from the way they felt,
0:54:54 > 0:55:02and they generally preferred being gluten-free.
0:55:02 > 0:55:04Do you feel better off gluten or on gluten?
0:55:04 > 0:55:05I definitely felt a difference.
0:55:05 > 0:55:07And my teenage son has noticed a difference
0:55:07 > 0:55:08in the digestive system.
0:55:08 > 0:55:09In YOUR digestive system?
0:55:09 > 0:55:10Yes.
0:55:10 > 0:55:12He said to me, "Mum, you're not gluten-free
0:55:12 > 0:55:13anymore, are you?"
0:55:13 > 0:55:15And the rest, I'll leave to your imagination!
0:55:15 > 0:55:18My eyes are clear and my skin is clear and my bloat has gone down.
0:55:18 > 0:55:22It's been a really interesting experience, yeAH.
0:55:22 > 0:55:23It's been a really interesting experience, yes.
0:55:23 > 0:55:24Why?
0:55:24 > 0:55:27Well, I have to say, I was a cynic.
0:55:27 > 0:55:27Were you?
0:55:27 > 0:55:30Yes, but I may convert now.
0:55:30 > 0:55:32Yes, but I'm a convert now.
0:55:32 > 0:55:34But anecdotes aren't scientific, so we asked people to record
0:55:34 > 0:55:35their symptoms each fortnight.
0:55:35 > 0:55:38Once the experiment was over, we then looked up who'd been given
0:55:38 > 0:55:41gluten when and compared their symptoms on the different diets.
0:55:41 > 0:55:45And actually, those that recorded gut symptoms like bloating
0:55:45 > 0:55:47and nausea reported fewer when they were truly gluten-free.
0:55:47 > 0:55:50And they did suffer significantly more in the weeks
0:55:50 > 0:55:52we slipped them gluten.
0:55:52 > 0:55:55We also recorded things like tiredness and skin health.
0:55:55 > 0:55:57And here, there was no significant difference between gluten
0:55:57 > 0:56:01and gluten-free weeks.
0:56:01 > 0:56:03So what do our volunteers and the scientific team
0:56:03 > 0:56:09make of these results?
0:56:09 > 0:56:11Over to Justine, from the University of Worcester.
0:56:11 > 0:56:13First of all, thank you very much for taking part.
0:56:13 > 0:56:16I'm now going to hand you to Justine, our expert,
0:56:16 > 0:56:18to give the results - which are pretty interesting.
0:56:18 > 0:56:20So the symptom questionnaire data that we've got is showing
0:56:20 > 0:56:22a statistically significant difference and a benefit
0:56:22 > 0:56:25for following a gluten-free diet.
0:56:25 > 0:56:28So in a sense, from your point of view as a scientist,
0:56:28 > 0:56:29that is an important result?
0:56:29 > 0:56:30Yes.
0:56:30 > 0:56:32So people are feeling better.
0:56:32 > 0:56:34And we have anecdotally asked people if they're going to continue
0:56:34 > 0:56:37with the gluten-free diet and out of the 50 people who completed,
0:56:37 > 0:56:40we think seven are going to return to eating normally and the rest
0:56:40 > 0:56:42of the people have indicated that they will either
0:56:42 > 0:56:44restrict their gluten or follow a gluten-free diet,
0:56:44 > 0:56:50so that's quite significant.
0:56:50 > 0:56:54So going gluten-free helped a lot of people's guts feel better,
0:56:54 > 0:56:57but was this mirrored by changes in their immune system
0:56:57 > 0:56:59or gut inflamation?
0:56:59 > 0:57:01Could there be a medical test to help classify gluten
0:57:01 > 0:57:06intolerance as a condition?
0:57:06 > 0:57:09Well, when we looked at their blood test results, there was no
0:57:09 > 0:57:11significant change in either their immune markers or information
0:57:11 > 0:57:13markers when they went gluten-free or when they had gluten secretly
0:57:13 > 0:57:20reintroduced into their diets.
0:57:20 > 0:57:23Nor were there any differences between those who recorded suffering
0:57:23 > 0:57:29a lot of symptoms when eating gluten and those who didn't.
0:57:29 > 0:57:32But that doesn't matter to those who feel better.
0:57:32 > 0:57:34Bryony, what was your experience of the experiment like?
0:57:34 > 0:57:35Really good.
0:57:35 > 0:57:36Was it?
0:57:36 > 0:57:37Yes, really good.
0:57:37 > 0:57:38I'm going to stay gluten-free now.
0:57:38 > 0:57:39You're going to stay gluten-free?
0:57:39 > 0:57:41Yes, 100%.
0:57:41 > 0:57:43A lot more energy.
0:57:43 > 0:57:46I'm exercising a lot more now.
0:57:46 > 0:57:49The bloating's gone and I've lost some weight as well, so brilliant.
0:57:49 > 0:57:52Now, it's possible that our volunteers could taste
0:57:52 > 0:57:55the difference in the pastas and that this influenced them.
0:57:55 > 0:57:57Perhaps simply thinking they were cutting out the gluten
0:57:57 > 0:57:59was enough to make them feel better.
0:57:59 > 0:58:02Or maybe gluten was doing something to their bodies that we just didn't
0:58:02 > 0:58:05pick up with the blood markers that we looked at.
0:58:05 > 0:58:07It could be, for example, that gluten affected some
0:58:07 > 0:58:10people's gut bacteria badly.
0:58:10 > 0:58:13Now, if you're going to exclude gluten from your diet, you should
0:58:13 > 0:58:16take the appropriate medical advice.
0:58:16 > 0:58:18But the good news is that all the tools are readily
0:58:18 > 0:58:21and cheaply available for anyone to try this out on.
0:58:30 > 0:58:32That's it from Worcester.
0:58:32 > 0:58:35Next time: We're coming from Newcastle, where we're doing
0:58:35 > 0:58:37a big experiment to see whether turmeric can help
0:58:37 > 0:58:41protect us against cancer.
0:58:41 > 0:58:45We'll also be revealing the secret behind glucosamine pills.
0:58:45 > 0:58:50And investigating the current craze for mindfulness.
0:59:17 > 0:59:18There's a brand-new way to stay
0:59:18 > 0:59:20on top of the Premier League action.
0:59:20 > 0:59:22We look ahead to the weekend's fixtures,