Latest news with #DrSermedMezher
Daily Mail
11-08-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Doctor shares ten questions that could reveal if you're on the autism spectrum
A doctor has revealed the key questions you can ask yourself if you suspect you might be on the autism spectrum. The prompts are taken from the AQ-19 test, a widely used screening tool for people aged 16 and over, which helps doctors decide whether a full autism assessment is necessary. The self-report test asks participants to rate a series of statements using responses such as 'definitely agree', 'slightly agree' or 'definitely disagree'. It explores areas including sensory processing, social interaction, need for routine, and ability to cope with change. Raising awareness: In a viral TikTok video, London-based Dr Sermed Mezher has shared a questionnaire that you can take if you think you have autism The AQ-10 I often notice small sounds when others do not. When I'm reading a story, I find it difficult to work out the characters' intentions. I find it easy to 'read between the lines' when someone is talking to me. I usually concentrate more on the whole picture, rather than the small details. I know how to tell if someone listening to me is getting bored. I find it easy to do more than one thing at once. I find it easy to work out what someone is thinking or feeling just by looking at their face. If there is an interruption, I can switch back to what I was doing very quickly. I like to collect information about categories of things. I find it difficult to work out people's intentions. If you selected the following, you get one point per each prompt: Agree Agree Disagree Disagree Disagree Disagree Disagree Disagree Agree Agree Advertisement !- - ad: - -> While some critics have argued autism is now being overdiagnosed, others say the rise is due to growing awareness of how the condition presents – particularly in girls and women, who were historically underdiagnosed. Autism has long been viewed as a predominantly male condition – with earlier studies suggesting a male-to-female diagnosis ratio of 3:1. But growing evidence suggests this gap may be down to gender bias in how the condition is recognized and assessed. One recent analysis estimated that if these biases were accounted for, the true ratio could be closer to 1.8:1. Experts now believe many girls and women are slipping through the cracks because they're better at masking their symptoms – either consciously or subconsciously – in order to fit in socially. Earlier this year, Professor Ahmed Hankir – a UK professor and consultant psychiatrist working in Canada – shared five common signs of autism in women in a viral TikTok video. Top of the list was stimming, which refers to repetitive or ritualistic movements such as skin picking, rocking, hand flapping, feet rubbing or hair twirling. Statistics: The number of diagnoses of autism among both men and women have both increased over the 20 year period, but autism diagnoses had particularly grown among females The second he highlighted was emotional dysregulation and meltdowns which he said can be overwhelming. A 'meltdown' is a physical reaction to an overwhelming emotional or sensory experience and all adults across the spectrum can be vulnerable to them. The loss of control may be shown through crying, screaming or even physically lashing out. The third trait he highlighted was camouflaging or aka 'masking' which we previously mentioned. But he added: 'It can drain their social battery and result in emotional, physical and mental exhaustion, which can then lead to burnout.' The fourth trait was sensory sensitivity which he explained can involve smells, tastes, pressure touch and sounds. Meanwhile, the fifth trait was intense interests, which he revealed, may in fact seem to be 'perfectly normal'. But the differences lie in the fact the fact for an autistic person the interest becomes 'almost necessary rather than optional'. In comparison to autistic men, who often have focused interests in niche topics such as transport links, girls' intense interests may be more 'socially acceptable'.
Daily Mail
08-08-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Could YOU have hidden autism? Doctor shares ten questions which could reveal if you do - as waiting lists for a diagnosis stretch on for years
A top doctor has revealed the key questions you can ask yourself if you suspect you might be on the autism spectrum—as demand for formal assessments continues to skyrocket. The prompts are taken from the AQ-19 test, a widely used screening tool for people aged 16 and over, which helps doctors decide whether a full autism assessment is necessary. In a viral TikTok video that has racked up more than 56,000 views, London-based GP Dr Sermed Mezher said: 'Scores of six or less make autism unlikely.' The self-report test asks participants to rate a series of statements using responses such as 'definitely agree', 'slightly agree' or 'definitely disagree'. It explores areas including sensory processing, social interaction, need for routine, and ability to cope with change. The video comes as NHS waiting lists for autism diagnoses have ballooned, with some patients forced to wait years for an appointment. According to the latest NHS figures, more than 212,000 people were waiting for an autism assessment as of December last year. While some critics have argued autism is now being overdiagnosed, others say the rise is due to growing awareness of how the condition presents—particularly in girls and women, who were historically underdiagnosed. The AQ-10 I often notice small sounds when others do not. When I'm reading a story, I find it difficult to work out the characters' intentions. I find it easy to 'read between the lines' when someone is talking to me. I usually concentrate more on the whole picture, rather than the small details. I know how to tell if someone listening to me is getting bored. I find it easy to do more than one thing at once. I find it easy to work out what someone is thinking or feeling just by looking at their face. If there is an interruption, I can switch back to what I was doing very quickly. I like to collect information about categories of things. I find it difficult to work out people's intentions. If you selected the following, you get one point per each prompt: Agree Agree Disagree Disagree Disagree Disagree Disagree Disagree Agree Agree Autism has long been viewed as a predominantly male condition—with earlier studies suggesting a male-to-female diagnosis ratio of 3:1. But growing evidence suggests this gap may be down to gender bias in how the condition is recognised and assessed. One recent analysis estimated that if these biases were accounted for, the true ratio could be closer to 1.8:1. Experts now believe many girls and women are slipping through the cracks because they're better at masking their symptoms—either consciously or subconsciously—in order to fit in socially. This 'camouflaging' can involve mimicking social cues, suppressing self-stimulatory behaviours (or 'stimming'), and rehearsing scripted responses for different situations—all of which can make autistic traits harder to detect. Earlier this year, Professor Ahmed Hankir—a UK professor and consultant psychiatrist working in Canada—shared five common signs of autism in women in a viral TikTok video. Top of the list was stimming, which refers to repetitive or ritualistic movements such as skin picking, rocking, hand flapping, feet rubbing or hair twirling. The number of diagnoses of autism among both men and women have both increased over the 20 year period, but autism diagnoses had particularly grown among females The second he highlighted was emotional dysregulation and meltdowns which he said can be overwhelming. A 'meltdown' is a physical reaction to an overwhelming emotional or sensory experience and all adults across the spectrum can be vulnerable to them. The loss of control may be shown through crying, screaming or even physically lashing out. The third trait he highlighted was camouflaging or aka 'masking' which we previously mentioned. But he added: 'It can drain their social battery and result in emotional, physical and mental exhaustion, which can then lead to burnout.' The fourth trait was sensory sensitivity which he explained can involve smells, tastes, pressure touch and sounds. Meanwhile, the fifth trait was intense interests, which he revealed, may in fact seem to be 'perfectly normal'. But the differences lie in the fact the fact for an autistic person the interest becomes 'almost necessary rather than optional'. In comparison to autistic men, who often have focused interests in niche topics such as transport links, girls' intense interests may be more 'socially acceptable'.
Daily Mail
19-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
The subtle change to your skin that could mean deadly blood cancer, according to doctor
Bruising without explanation should never be ignored as it can be a little-known sign of deadly blood cancer, a doctor has warned. According to GP Dr Sermed Mezher, the small purple, brownish marks could in fact indicate a range of hidden diseases, including thyroid conditions and liver failure. In an Instagram clip posted to Dr Mezher's page, where he has over 349,000 followers, he revealed an image of a woman's legs that illustrated the type of bruising to watch out for. 'Bruising without a clear explanation—such as not recalling an injury or impact—is a potential sign that something more serious may be going on beneath the surface and should not be ignored',' he said in the video. 'Frequent or severe bruising without cause can be a red flag.' Social media users took to the comment section to echo Dr Mezher's warning. 'My dad had small bruises all over his legs (before) leukemia. May he rest in peace,' said one. Another, @nay_theposho, said: 'Before my diagnosis (acute T-cell leukemia at ten) I had all these weird things happen. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sermed Mezher (@drsermedmezher) 'Mum remembers I had started getting chubby but I had lost all the weight so she didn't think about it, nor my numerous bruises since I was a clumsy child. 'Then my breathing got funny and I was seen four times before they officially diagnosed me.' 'A very key sign that had been missed was a strange purple bruise. Always be vigilant.' Excessive bruising is common in blood cancer due to a deficiency in a type of blood cell called platelets, which help the blood to clot after an injury. A lack of these cells mean the body cannot stop blood vessels from bleeding under the skin, leading to bruising. Other signs of blood cancer include fevers, night sweats, weight-loss, tiredness and swollen lymph nodes, Dr Mezher added. Blood cancer is not the only potentially fatal condition bruising can be a sign of. If it is accompanied with yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes, it can also be a tell tale symptom of liver disease that kills over 12,000 Britons and 50,000 Americans every year, he warned. When the liver is damaged, it cannot produce sufficient amounts of proteins needed to help the blood clot. Meanwhile excessive bleeding from other areas like the nose gums or during menstrual periods it could be a sign of a bleeding disorder such as hemophilia. This is when someone is prone to excessive bleeding because the body is unable to clot. These conditions are estimated to affect 7,625 women and 4,310 men in the UK, but many thousands remain undiagnosed, according to The Haemophilia Society. 'If you also can't tolerate the cold and are gaining weight easily and are tired all the time, it could be a sign of a thyroid problem,' Dr Mezher added. This is a medical condition that prevents the thyroid—the little, butterfly-shaped gland in the neck—from making the right amount of hormones, leading to a range of symptoms including muscle weakness, depression, and brain fog. It's estimated that one in 20 people in the UK have a thyroid problem, with women six times more likely to suffer from the condition than men. 'If you also have hypermobility or stretchy skin, then it could be a sign of a connective tissue disorder like Ehlers Danlos syndrome (which can cause life-threatening complications in a rare cases),' he added. 'Getting evaluated by a healthcare professional can help rule out serious causes and insure that, if treatment is needed, it begins early.
Daily Mail
04-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Doctor warns of 'highly toxic' effect of popular natural remedy - after it puts toddler in a coma
Ingesting tea tree oil could result in life-threatening organ damage, seizures and even a coma, a GP has warned. According to Dr Sermed Mezher, a UK based doctor, swallowing tiny amounts of the essential oil can result in serious poisoning 'within a minute'. In an Instagram video that has so far been viewed over 2.1million times, Dr Mezher explained the risks in response to a video of a young boy who ended up in a coma after swallowing it. Dr Mezher said: 'Swallowing tea tree oil can be highly toxic due to its potent chemical composition, which includes terpinen-4-ol, cineole, and other volatile compounds.' Terpinen-4-ol is the most abundant compound in tea tree oil—extracted from the Melaleuca alternifolia tree—which posses antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties. However when ingested, the oil can rapidly affect the nervous system, leading to drowsiness, loss of coordination and seizures. In 2022 alone, the US poison control centre treated more than 2,200 cases of toxicity linked to tea tree oil. 'One of them was a 23-month-old boy who drank just 10mls which put him in a coma for five hours until he thankfully recovered,' Dr Mezher explained. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sermed Mezher (@drsermedmezher) He added that its supposed benefits for skin health may also be bogus. 'Tree oil has been sold as a miracle cure to multiple skin conditions, and yet there's very little evidence that it works,' he said. A 2023 study found that tea tree oil has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that helped treat teenage and adult acne—though researchers cautioned it was not possible to draw conclusions on its safety. The poison control centre treated twice as many cases of toxicity caused by tea tree oil compared to any other essential oil, including cinnamon, clove and eucalyptus oil. 'I don't know about you, but I am not keeping this at home,' Dr Mezher cautioned. As well as attacking the nervous system, ingesting the 'horrifically toxic' product can also irritate the gastrointestinal tract, causing nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. 'Tea tree oil is also harsh on the liver,' Dr Mezher added. 'The body struggles to metabolise its toxic components, potentially leading to organ damage with repeated or high-dose exposure.' 'Because tea tree oil absorbs quickly into the bloodstream, poisoning symptoms can appear within minutes to a few hours. 'If ingestion occurs, immediate medical attention is essential to prevent serious complications.' The NHS warns against trying to make someone who has swallowed something poisonous and is unconscious sick, and recommends instead putting them in the recovery position until an ambulance arrives. Tea tree oil, a common ingredient in many skincare products, has previously been linked to a number of superbug infections including MRSA—a type of bacteria that is resistant to treatment and causes life-threatening infection. US scientists discovered that repeated low-dose use of the essential oil made the MRSA bacteria, as well as and salmonella, more resistant to antibiotics. Professor David McDowell, from the University of Ulster, warned that people who use tea tree oil on their skin repeatedly to treat acne, could be 'stressing' the bacteria on the skin rather than killing it—increasing their resistance to antibiotics. 'Although tea tree oil may be an effective antimicrobial agent when appropriately used at high concentrations, its application at low concentrations may contribute to the development of antibiotic resistance in human pathogens,' he warned.
