http://www.measurehealth.co.uk/

Measure Health, centinneal medical centre, Centinneal Avenue, Elstree (2026)

Q: What is the address?

Centinneal Medical Centre, Centinneal Avenue

26/11/2025

This week, Lord Cameron shared he had been treated for prostate cancer after his wife encouraged him to get a check-up which included a PSA blood test.

Regular health screening allows for early detection of health problems and dramatically increases options for effective, less invasive interventions.

This is reason why I set up Measure Health—to help people detect conditions early and address lifestyle factors that can improve long-term health and lifespan.

What to know about prostrate cancer?

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, with around 1 in 8 men developing it at some point in their lives.

Although prostate cancer can be detected with a PSA blood test, it’s important to interpret the result in the context of any symptoms you may be experiencing.

Symptoms that may suggest prostate cancer include:

🩺 Difficulty passing urine
🩺 Passing urine more frequently than usual (day or night)
🩺 A weak or poor urinary flow
🩺 Dribbling after finishing urination

These symptoms can also occur with benign prostate enlargement, which is common as men get older. That’s why, if you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s important to book an appointment with your doctor. They can examine your prostate and arrange a PSA blood test if appropriate.

19/11/2025

***STRESS AND HEART DISEASE/STROKE***

We all know that lack of exercise and a poor diet can raise the risk of cardiovascular diseases, such as heart attacks and strokes, which remain the leading causes of death worldwide.

But here’s something people often overlook: chronic stress is also a major risk factor.

Research shows that chronic stress can trigger low-grade, ongoing inflammation in the body. Over time, that inflammation becomes part of the chain of events that damages blood vessels and contributes to cardiovascular disease, eventually increasing the likelihood of heart attacks and strokes.

The good news? Everyday stress isn’t destiny. Simple habits—like mindfulness, spending time in nature, or practicing meditation—can help dial down stress and help reduce inflammation in the long run.

What do you do to relax?

12/11/2025

**60 SECONDS ON EXERCISE & WHAT ACTIVITIES YOU SHOULD BE DOING**

•Physical activity and exercise can prevent or ameliorate lifestyle-related diseases, extend health span, enhance physical function, and reduce the burden of diseases including cardiometabolic disease, cancer, musculoskeletal and neurological conditions, and chronic respiratory diseases as well as premature mortality.

Current guidelines recommend a multifaceted exercise regimen for health promotion and longevity that includes 4 domains:

•Aerobic exercise
•Resistance training
•Balance exercises
•Flexibility training

🏃‍♀️The positive exercise on the body at a cellular level:

•Increased size of teleomeres which are the protective ends on DNA chromosomes(shortening of telomeres is a key factor in the aging of cells and tissues)
•Growth of new small vessels which help deliver oxygen to cells
•Boosts activity of mitochrondria which burn oxygen for energy

🏃‍♀️ Exercise reduces the risk of:

•Cardiovascular disease – heart attacks and stroke
•Cancer
•Dementia
•Depression
•Kidney disease

WHO recommends 30 mins of physical activity (which raises heart rate and breathing rate) 5 times a week.

How often do you exercise and are you covering all four domains in your exercise routine?

✔️

05/11/2025

****60 SECONDS ON THE GUT MICROBIOME****

What is the gut biome?

The gut microbiome refers to the trillions of microorganisms—mainly bacteria, but also fungi and viruses—that inhabit the gastrointestinal tract. Your gut microbiome is unique to you. Infants inherit their first gut microbes during vaginal delivery or breastfeeding. Later, your diet and other environmental exposures introduce new microbes to your microbiome. Some of these exposures can also harm and diminish your gut microbiota.

Why is the gut microbiome important?

A health microbiome is important in:

•Efficient digestion and nutrient absorption
•Immune system regulation and defence against pathogens
•Metabolic health, including glucose and lipid balance
•Gut–brain communication, influencing mood and cognitive function
•Inflammatory control, with imbalances (dysbiosis) linked to conditions such as autoimmune diseases, inflammatory bowel disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and depression.

How do I support a healthy gut biome?

•Eat a fiber-rich diet (fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains) to fuel beneficial bacteria.

•Include fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, kimchi, and sauerkraut for natural probiotics.

•Limit processed foods, refined sugars, and unnecessary antibiotics, which can disrupt microbial balance.

•Manage stress through mindfulness or relaxation techniques—stress hormones can alter gut flora.

•prioritise adequate sleep and regular physical activity, both of which support microbial diversity

A balanced gut microbiome is now recognized as a cornerstone of both physical and mental health and this is an exciting area of continued research.

Lifestyle choices to promote gut health play a key role in promoting long-term wellness.

15/10/2025

The Importance of a Balanced Diet Over Supplements

As a private health screening doctor, I’m frequently asked which nutritional supplements I would recommend. I often hesitate before answering this question because the evidence surrounding nutritional supplementation remains inconclusive.

In general, a high-quality, balanced diet—rich in a wide variety of foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, and olive oil, while limiting red and processed meats, butter, sugary drinks, and alcohol—can provide most of the essential vitamins and minerals the body needs to function optimally.

Interestingly, the body may respond differently to nutrients depending on whether they are obtained from food or supplements. For instance, the Cancer Prevention Study (CPS)-II Nutrition Cohort found that men who consumed calcium supplements at doses ≥1000 mg/day had an increased risk of all-cause mortality. In contrast, high calcium intake from food sources showed no such risk.

In certain cases where a clear nutritional deficiency is identified—such as vitamin B12, vitamin D, or iron—supplementation may be necessary to restore normal levels, especially when dietary changes alone are insufficient. However, the role of supplements in individuals who already meet their nutritional needs through diet is still under debate. In fact, some studies have shown that excessive intake of certain micronutrients through supplements may have harmful effects.

Ultimately, focusing on a varied and balanced diet remains the safest and most effective way to ensure adequate vitamin and mineral intake. While supplements may have a role in specific clinical contexts, they are not a substitute for healthy eating—and more research is needed to fully understand their long-term impact.

18/06/2025

THE POWER OF FOOD AS MEDICINE - 60 SECONDS OF CRUCIFEROUS VEGETABLES

Cruciferous vegetables are a powerful source of fibre and help to reduce inflammation within the body. Body inflammation can be the starting point for several diseases such as cancer, type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

What are cruciferous vegetables?

Examples include:
Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower and Kale

What are the benefits of Cruciferous vegetables in the diet?

* Cruciferous vegetables, when broken down in the body, are rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds that can help reduce inflammation throughout the body.

* This can be beneficial for overall health and may help reduce the risk of chronic diseases associated with inflammation such as cancer, heart disease and type 2 diabetes

**Prevention is better than cure- let’s using food as medicine to optimise our health**

07/05/2025

**As we age, our bodies need a smarter approach to exercise.**

It’s not just about burning calories anymore — it’s about staying strong, stable, and mobile for the long run.

That means your weekly routine should include:

- **Strength training** to maintain muscle and bone health

- **Balance & flexibility** work (think yoga or Pilates) to prevent falls and keep joints happy

- **Cardio** to keep your heart and lungs in shape

A balanced approach to exercise, incorporating these three elements helps to reduce the risk of the top three causes of death:

•Cardiovascular disease
•Dementia
• Cancer

Get moving!

29/01/2025

What is our lifetime cancer risk?

Lifetime cancer risk of developing or dying from cancer refers to the chance a person has, over the course of their lifetime of being diagnosed with or dying from cancer.

When I started as a medical student, we were taught that the lifetime risk of developing any type of cancer was 1 in 3; this risk is now 1 in 2.

What are the risk factors for developing cancer?

A risk factor is something that increases your chance of developing a disease. Some risk factors are non-modifiable (i.e we cannot do anything about it e.g. age, family history, genetic risk), and other risk factors are called modifiable i.e we can alter our risk by changing certain behaviours.

It is thought that 4 in 10 cancers are preventable through lifestyle changes.

What are the protective factors against cancer?

Protective factors against developing cancer are:

· Exercise & maintaining a healthy weight- at least 30 mins of moderate exercise, 5 times a week

· Optimal diet- a diet rich in fruit and vegetables

· Not smoking/vaping/using Sh**ha

· No alcohol- drinking alcohol can increase your risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, oesophagus, larynx (voice box), liver, and breast. The more you drink, the higher your risk

The Elite Wellbeing Health Screen focuses on these modifiable lifestyle risk factors, allowing us to jointing create a personalised plan to optimise health and aim to minimise cancer risk.

28/01/2025

What is Healthspan vs longevity?

Healthspan focuses on the duration of time a person remains healthy and free from serious disease, whilst longevity refers to the length of time an individual lives.

The goal is not merely to extend life but to enhance the quality of those additional years.

What are the main factors that influence lifespan?

Medical advancements have significantly increased average lifespans. However, these extra years are often accompanied by chronic illnesses e.g. heart disease, cancer, dementia which can significantly decrease quality of life.

Several factors influence healthspan including:

Genetics- family history of certain conditions can put you at higher risk

Lifestyle- regular physical activity, a balanced diet rich in nutrients, not smoking and limiting alcohol intake

Social connection- studies have shown that maintaining strong social connections and having a sense of purpose contribute significantly to a longer and healthier life.

The top three leading causes of death in the UK are:

Heart Disease
Dementia
Cancer

The risk factors are the same for all three: optimising your health by focusing on the lifestyle factors above can significantly lower your risk of developing these conditions and maximising your healthspan

15/01/2025

The Importance of Health Screening in Early Disease Detection**

· Health screenings are one of the most powerful tools we have to detect potential health issues before they develop into serious conditions.
·
1. **Catch Diseases Early**

Many serious conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease, often begin silently, showing little to no symptoms in their early stages. Regular health screenings can identify these issues before they progress, allowing for timely intervention.

2. **Increase Treatment Success Rates**

The earlier a condition is detected, the more treatment options are available. For instance, cancers like breast and colon cancer, when caught early, have significantly higher survival rates compared to those diagnosed later.

3. **Prevent Complications**

Screenings don’t just detect existing conditions; they also identify risk factors such as high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, or prediabetes. Addressing these risks early can prevent complications like heart attacks or kidney disease.

4. **Empower Lifestyle Changes**

Screenings provide valuable insights into your overall health. They offer an opportunity to reassess lifestyle habits, such as diet, exercise, and stress management, empowering you to take proactive steps toward a healthier life.

Health screenings are not just about detecting disease—they’re about prevention and empowerment. By investing in regular check-ups, you take control of your health and ensure a longer, healthier life.

Prevention is always better than cure.

Make your health a priority—schedule your screenings today!

27/11/2024

***WHOLE-BODY MRI SCANNING ***

Benefits of WB MRI Scanning:

· Early detection of cancer can lead to more effective treatment and better outcomes

· Radiation-free

· WB MRI has a high sensitivity which means it is good at detecting cancers that are present even at low disease prevalence

· Peace of mind that comes with knowing you have been screened for cancer

To book a free 15-minute telephone appointment to ask any questions or to book an appointment for a health screen, email clinical@measurehealth.Co.Uk

08/11/2024

Sixty seconds on… THE THYROID GLAND

What is the thyroid gland?

The thyroid gland is a small, butterfly-shaped gland in the neck which produces a hormone that regulates your metabolism.

What happens if my thyroid gland doesn’t work properly?

As we get older, the thyroid gland may not produce an adequate amount of hormone that our body needs (what we refer to as an ‘underactive’ thyroid gland), and this can cause several symptoms such as tiredness, low mood, weight gain, constipation and hair loss.

Can the thyroid gland also produce too much hormone?

Yes, the thyroid gland can also become ‘overactive’ and produce more hormone than is required. This can be caused by several reasons. Symptoms of an overactive thyoid gland include new-onset anxiety, unexplained weight loss, palpitations and sweating.

What factors increase my risk of having thyoid problems?

Risk factors for thyroid disease include older age, being female, a family history of thyroid disease, having other autoimmune conditions such as coeliac diease or rheumatoid arthritis.

How do I know if my thyroid gland is working correctly?

A simple blood test can check your hormone levels. The blood test can also show if you are at higher risk of having an ‘underactive’ thyroid gland in the future.

If there is an under active thyroid gland, it can be easily treated with a daily tablet to replace the missing hormone and a quick improvement in symptoms.

*A part of the Measure Health Well-man and Well- woman checks the thyroid function is routinely screened for*

Measure Health

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