Latest news with #PunamKrishan


Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
BBC doctor says 40p item will 'sort out frazzled hair'
The doctor often appears on BBC's Morning Live BBC's Dr Punam Krishan has urged people to try a "cheap" hair treatment that "anyone can do". Taking to Instagram to share a video of her getting the treatment, she listed all the benefits. She said: "On arrival to India, my Nani ma took one look at my hair and literally sat me down to sort it out! I grew up having weekly coconut oil head massages. "It's the done thing in Indian culture and coming from an Ayurvedic family, this was a norm for us. I used to be so militant about doing this (and still do it every week for the kids) but as I've recognised recently, my own sense of self-care has fallen behind as I've become so caught up in the hectic, working/mum life juggle of it all." Noting that her aunt "doesn't hold back" when it comes to her massage technique, she said she could "feel the difference on my heat frazzled hair." Promising to do this more at home to herself, she says it's "easy to do" and all you need is "some warmed coconut oil." Massage it into the scalp (just rub it in - no fancy techniques needed!) Once all your hair is covered, leave it in overnight Wash as usual next day When it comes to the benefits of Coconut Based Hair Oils (CBHO), research says: "The pore surface area data clearly show the benefit of introducing coconut-based hair oils (CBHO) into the hair by preventing increase in hair porosity. "A statistically significant decrease in break stress and toughness were observed and the same were reversed by the application of CBHO. A pronounced color protection effect was also recorded with the application of CBHO." Their conclusion reads: "The study confirms the damage repair potential of CBHO and that it works by increasing the hydrophobicity of hair - both on the hair surface and in the cortex." You can pick up coconut oil for £2.02 at Asda - or just over 40p per 50g serving. So why coconut oil and not hair specific products? Dr Punam explains: "It helps to moisturise the hair and scalp, helps restore any damage from heat/chemicals which can strip the natural oils from our scalp and conditions the hair." So try this first and see how you get on. And bonus points, you don't need to spend hours researching the best products. Simply grab a good quality coconut oil jar, and reveal silky, healthy hair.


Daily Mirror
19-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Food poisoning alert as doctor says one meat has 'a lot' of bacteria
The common meal can easily lead to some uncomfortable health issues if people are not fully aware of these dos and don'ts A BBC doctor has issued a health alert to anyone cooking this summer to watch out for something 'really common' that could result in serious sickness. Speaking on BBC's Morning Live, Dr Punam Krishan shared some tips to make sure people are able to avoid food poisoning this season. It often spikes in the summer due to the warmer weather conditions, making it much easier for bacteria to spread. She said: "In warmer weather, bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli tend to multiply much faster, so it's really important to store [and cook] your food properly." The practising GP said that the simplest defence is knowing how the use your fridge, so Dr Punam provided a list of tips to keep your food safe, including: Keep your fridge set to between 0C and 5C: Some fridges have built-in thermometers, but you can buy and fit a separate one Don't overfill your fridge: It leaves little to no space for cold air to move about. Get food into the fridge as soon as possible: Avoid leaving your groceries in the car for long periods between shopping. Dr Punam issued some advice to anyone who eats chicken, turkey and duck. She said: "Raw poultry has a lot of bacteria, like salmonella and Campylobacter, that sit on the surface of your poultry. If it's not cooked properly, you can get really unwell." Leftovers might pile up if you cook for a crowd but don't have room for them on your plate. But even if you avoid all the food poisoning pitfalls, your leftovers might offer bacteria a second chance to infect. Dr Punam stressed the importance of letting cooked food cool completely before storing it in the fridge. If you know you won't eat the dish within the next couple of days, freeze it instead. She also warned that defrosting anything frozen could also lead to food poisoning and said the best thing to do is to transfer items from the freezer into the fridge to thaw gradually and safely. She said: "It might all sound like common sense, but [food poisoning] is one of the common culprits for why so many people get diarrhoea and vomiting." What are the signs of food poisoning? According to the NHS, food poisoning symptoms usually start within a few hours or a few days of eating food that caused the infection. Sometimes symptoms do not start for a few weeks - which could make it hard to pinpoint the meal that caused the issue - but this kind of delayed reaction is very rare. You can typically spot the signs of food poisoning in yourself or others by checking for the following red flags: feeling sick or being sick diarrhoea tummy pain a high temperature feeling generally unwell How to treat food poisoning? Any type of food can cause this poisoning, although it is rarely serious and usually gets better within a week. However, battling through the symptoms can be quite uncomfortable. You can normally treat yourself at home. The NHS says that "the most important thing is to have lots of fluids to avoid dehydration". Speak to a pharmacist if you have signs of dehydration (such as dark, smelly urine or peeing less than usual). People who are older, have a weakened immune system, or have other health conditions that increase their risk of dehydration should also get additional help from a pharmacist, who may recommend some oral rehydration powder that you mix with water to make a drink. The experts add that people should try to eat when they feel able to, and it may help to avoid foods that are fatty or spicy. Taking paracetamol if you're in discomfort should also help.


Daily Record
04-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Scots BBC Morning Live doctor on why you may be getting more headaches recently
Dr Punam Krishan, a familiar face on BBC Morning Live, has sounded the alarm for those battling headaches. On her Instagram, she revealed an uptick in such cases, assuring followers: "It's not you going crazy." She queried her audience: "Have you been experiencing more headaches or more migraines recently? Because I have certainly seen a lot more patients coming in with headaches or asking for their headache and migraines medications." The Glasgow GP comforted those concerned, stating: "No, you're not imagining it. Spring headaches are usually caused by three big seasonal triggers." Identifying the first culprit, she pointed to allergy season reports the Mirror, saying: "When pollen levels rise, your body detects the allergen, pollen, but it also releases, in response to a chemical called histamine to fight it off." She continued, explaining the impact of histamine: "But histamine doesn't just cause sneezing and itchy eyes. It also causes inflammation, especially in your sinuses, which causes them to swell, become all congested and blocked, and that causes pressure in the head, resulting in that awful tension, headache." For her second explanation regarding the surge in headaches and migraines, Dr Krishan remarked: "Next is barometric pressure changes. Spring weather can be so unpredictable - especially if you live here in Scotland - one minute it's cold and the next minute we're having a mini heat wave." Dr Punam, who appeared in Strictly Come Dancing, has shed light on the whims of British weather, explaining that the ever-fluctuating air pressure can have a tangible effect on our bodies. They detailed: "But this does mean the pressure in our air is constantly changing. When the air pressure drops suddenly, it creates a pressure and balance between the air and the environment and the air-filled spaces in your body like your sinuses. "Research shows that this barometric pressure can cause your blood vessels in your brain to constrict - or narrow - or expand and dilate which can trigger a headaches and migraines in people who are prone to those". "Therefore, if you begin to feel a headache before rainfall, it's not just in your head—this could be due to a heightened sensitivity to atmospheric pressure changes." The doctor then touched on "the most common cause of all": dehydration, emphasizing the increased risk as temperatures rise, which is currently happening in the UK. "As the weather warms up, which is happening in the UK at the moment, you will sweat more - even if you don't notice it." They noted that even mild dehydration "can cause your brain to contract slightly, which can lead to a headache." With a nod to health and seasonal enjoyment, people were encouraged "to be aware and be prepared if you are prone to spring time headaches." Top BBC news In order to prevent such discomforts, the GP encourages monitoring weather apps for signs of pressure change and staying hydrated. "If you know that your body reacts to the shifts then you can plan ahead - especially with hydration. "Keep a consistent routine because even things like sudden changes and sleep or stress or caffeine can make your body more vulnerable to triggers." She also recommended that individuals monitor their triggers to potentially avoid them and to ensure they have medication on hand. According to NHS advice, you should consult a GP if you're experiencing recurrent headaches, if pain relief doesn't help and your headache intensifies, or if you suffer from severe throbbing pain at the front or side of your head; experience nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light or noise, and/or if you frequently get headaches around your menstrual cycle. Join the Daily Record's WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.


Daily Mirror
04-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
BBC doctor explains why you may be getting more headaches lately
Have you noticed an increase? If so, you are not alone Doctor Punam Krishan, a regular guest on BBC Morning Live, has issued a warning to people who suffer with headache. Taking to her own Instagram account, the expert said that she's been seeing an increase of these complaints a lot - and it's not you going crazy. She posed the question: "Have you been experiencing more headaches or more migraines recently? Because I have certainly seen a lot more patients coming in with headaches or asking for their headache and migraines medications." Reassuring patients that they're not making it up, she said: "No, you're not imagining it. Spring headaches are usually caused by three big seasonal triggers." In her first trigger, she lists allergy season as one of them. She explained: "When pollen levels rise, your body detects the allergen, pollen, but it also releases, in response to a chemical called histamine to fight it off. "But histamine doesn't just cause sneezing and itchy eyes. It also causes inflammation, especially in your sinuses, which causes them to swell, become all congested and blocked, and that causes pressure in the head, resulting in that awful tension, headache." In her second reasoning for why you may notice an increase in headaches and migraines, she notes: "Next is barometric pressure changes. Spring weather can be so unpredictable - especially if you live here in Scotland - one minute it's cold and the next minute we're having a mini heat wave." Hailing from Glasgow, the Scottish GP continued: "But this does mean the pressure in our air is constantly changing. When the air pressure drops suddenly, it creates a pressure and balance between the air and the environment and the air-filled spaces in your body like your sinuses. "Research shows that this barometric pressure can cause your blood vessels in your brain to constrict - or narrow - or expand and dilate which can trigger a headaches and migraines in people who are prone to those "So if your head starts pounding before the rain hits, you're not crazy, you're not making it up. You're probably just really sensitive to the pressure swings." She concluded her list with "the most common cause of all" which is dehydration. She stresses: "As the weather warms up, which is happening in the UK at the moment, you will sweat more - even if you don't notice it." Even mild dehydration "can cause your brain to contract slightly, which can lead to a headache." Wanting people to enjoy the good weather, she urged people "to be aware and be prepared if you are prone to spring time headaches." You can do this by looking at weather apps which look for pressure changes. She suggested: "If you know that your body reacts to the shifts then you can plan ahead - especially with hydration. "Keep a consistent routine because even things like sudden changes and sleep or stress or caffeine can make your body more vulnerable to triggers." She also suggested that people track their triggers so they can try to avoid it where possible and to stop up on medication. As per NHS guidance, you should see a GP if your headache keeps coming back, if painkillers do not help and your headache gets worse, if you have a bad throbbing pain at the front or side of your head; you feel sick, vomit and find light or noise painful, and/or if you regularly get headaches before or during your period.


Wales Online
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
BBC's Dr Punam Krishan made big life change after Strictly Come Dancing
BBC's Dr Punam Krishan made big life change after Strictly Come Dancing BBC Strictly Come Dancing star Dr Punam Krishan has opened up about her life away from the cameras and the changes she's made, after appearing on the hit dancing show (Image: BBC ) Strictly Come Dancing's Dr Punam Krishan made a big life change after appearing on the popular television show. The BBC Morning Live star, who came 11th on Strictly while partnered with Gorka Marquez, took part in the show last year. However, while competing on Strictly, she realised she struggles with a lack of sleep. The 41-year-old now says she likes to make sure she finds time to wind down. She finds that reading a book helps her relax and fall asleep more easily. In an interview with Closer magazine, she explained: "After realising during Strictly how much a lack of sleep affects me, I now make sure I get at least seven to eight hours of rest each night. To wind down, I read a few pages of a book before bed - it helps me drift off peacefully." The NHS recommends that adults aim for seven to nine hours of sleep per day, noting that children and babies require even more. Sleep needs can vary from person to person, influenced by health and age, reports Edinburgh Live. Article continues below Dr Punam Krishan took part in Strictly last year (Image: Punam Krishan/PA ) Poor sleep over extended periods can adversely affect both physical and mental health, according to the NHS, which advises winding down before bedtime to improve sleep quality. Punam has taken this advice to heart, making a conscious effort to disconnect from work and spend quality time with family, which she believes is crucial for her to "recharge" and maintain equilibrium in her life. Punam shared: "I make it a ritual to put my phone on airplane mode disconnecting from work and screens to focus on my family. We love watching a film or playing board games together." Strictly Come Dancing's Punam Krishan and Gorka Marquez (Image: Guy Levy/BBC/PA ) She has learned the importance of self-care, especially as she balances her television career with her GP work in Scotland. She relishes a "scenic walk" and "enjoying the beauty of the outdoors". The star feels fortunate that Scotland offers "stunning hills and beaches" which she considers "essential" for unwinding during the weekend. Punam has been candid about her time on Strictly, confessing she experienced a sense of "imposter syndrome" while on the show. Morning Live's Dr Punam Krishnan will be taking to the Strictly Come Dancing floor next month (Image: BBC ) Initially, Punam found the experience "overwhelming". However, she has learned to manage the fear as she has ventured into other TV shows, such as Big Night at the Musicals, featuring comedian Jason Manford. Article continues below he now says she has "come to realise that vocalising fear can be incredibly empowering" and opts to discuss her nerves with others. Punam believes this helps "take the pressure off".