PodcastsCienciasWhat's Up Docs?

What's Up Docs?

BBC Radio 4
What's Up Docs?
Último episodio

155 episodios

  • What's Up Docs?

    Doctors’ Notes: Heart Palpitations

    30/06/2026 | 21 min
    Chris and Xand van Tulleken take a deeper dive into heart palpitations and the rise of wearable technology.
    With devices like smartwatches now able to detect irregular heart rhythms, more people are being alerted to potential problems, often without any symptoms. But is this early detection saving lives, or creating new challenges?
    Joined again by Consultant Cardiologist Dr Pranev Sharma, the docs explore how wearables actually work, how accurate they are, and what happens when they flag something abnormal. They unpack the balance between prevention and overdiagnosis, and ask whether we risk medicalising normal bodily sensations. They also look at how decisions are made about treatment, and whether these decisions are changing as more cases are detected through technology.
    If you’d like to share your thoughts on this or any other topic covered on the podcast, you email us at whatsupdocs@bbc.co.uk or Whatsapp on 08000 665 123.
    Presenters: Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken
    Guest: Dr Pranev Sharma
    Producer: Maia Miller-Lewis
    Executive Producer: Rami Tzabar
    Editor: Kirsten Lass
    Researcher: Grace Revill
    Tech Lead: Reuben Huxtable
    Visual Producer : Leon Gower
    Digital Lead: Richard Berry
    Composer: Phoebe McFarlane
    Sound Design: Olga Reed
    At the BBC:
    Assistant Commissioner: Greg Smith
    Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts
    A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4.
  • What's Up Docs?

    What are your heart palpitations telling you?

    30/06/2026 | 28 min
    Welcome to What’s Up Docs?, the podcast where doctors and identical twins Chris and Xand van Tulleken explore the ideas shaping our health and wellbeing.
    In this episode, they turn their attention to heart palpitations. That sudden flutter, skipped beat or racing heart can feel alarming, but what’s actually going on, and when should you be concerned?
    They break down what palpitations are, what causes them, and what’s happening in the heart when you feel them. From everyday triggers like stress and caffeine to more serious rhythm problems, they explore the full spectrum, from completely normal to potentially dangerous.
    They also look at how doctors investigate palpitations, the warning signs not to ignore, and what to do if you’re worried.
    To help them unpack it all, they’re joined by Dr Pranev Sharma, Consultant Cardiologist at Midland Metropolitan Hospital in Birmingham.
    If you want to get in touch, you can email us at whatsupdocs@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08000 665 123.
    Presenters: Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken
    Guest: Dr Pranev Sharma
    Producer: Maia Miller-Lewis
    Executive Producer: Rami Tzabar
    Editor: Jo Rowntree
    Researcher: Grace Revill
    Tech Lead: Reuben Huxtable
    Social Media: Leon Gower
    Digital Lead: Richard Berry
    Composer: Phoebe McFarlane
    Sound Design: Melvin Rickarby
    At the BBC:
    Assistant Commissioner: Greg Smith
    Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts
    A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4
  • What's Up Docs?

    Doctors’ Notes: Body Odour

    23/06/2026 | 30 min
    Chris and Xand continue their conversation about body odour with Matthew Cobb, Professor Emeritus of Zoology at the University of Manchester.
    They explore whether it’s possible to predict how someone experiences an odour based on their DNA, and how our sense of smell compares to that of other animals.
    Many people lost their sense of smell during the Covid-19 pandemic, bringing greater awareness to just how central this sense is to our everyday lives. They discuss the role that smelling ourselves and each other plays in everyday life, what happens when that sense is lost, and what support is available for those experiencing anosmia.
    If you’d like to share your thoughts on this or any other topic covered on the podcast, you email us at whatsupdocs@bbc.co.uk or Whatsapp on 08000 665 123.
    Presenters: Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken
    Guest: Professor Matthew Cobb
    Producer: Jo Rowntree
    Assistant Producer: Dr Samara Linton
    Researcher: Dr Samara Linton
    Executive Producer: Rami Tzabar
    Visual Producer: Leon Gower
    Technical Lead: Reuben Huxtable
    Digital Lead: Richard Berry
    Composer: Phoebe McFarlane
    Sound Design: Melvin Rickarby
    At the BBC:
    Assistant Commissioner: Greg Smith
    Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts
    A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4.
  • What's Up Docs?

    What does my body odour say about my health?

    23/06/2026 | 28 min
    Welcome to What’s Up Docs?, the podcast where doctors and identical twins Chris and Xand van Tulleken explore the ideas shaping our health and wellbeing. In this episode, they explore something that affects every one of us - body odour.
    Body odour plays a significant role in our emotional and social lives, and even in our health. Chris and Xand explore what body odour actually is, where it comes from, and why it varies so much from person to person. They also examine the many ways we try to mask our natural scent and separate fact from fiction when it comes to what our body odour can tell us about each other and our health.
    To help unpack it all, they’re joined by Matthew Cobb, Professor Emeritus of Zoology at the University of Manchester, whose research explores how smell evolved and how animals use it to navigate and communicate.
    If you want to get in touch, you can email us at whatsupdocs@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08000 665 123.
    Presenters: Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken
    Guest: Professor Matthew Cobb
    Producer: Jo Rowntree
    Assistant Producer: Dr Samara Linton
    Researcher: Dr Samara Linton
    Executive Producer: Rami Tzabar
    Visual Producer: Leon Gower
    Technical Lead: Reuben Huxtable
    Digital Lead: Richard Berry
    Composer: Phoebe McFarlane
    Sound Design: Melvin Rickarby
    At the BBC:
    Assistant Commissioner: Greg Smith
    Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts
    A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4
  • What's Up Docs?

    Doctors’ Notes: Healthy Longevity Special at Hay Festival

    16/06/2026 | 48 min
    This extended episode of What's Up Docs? features Chris and Xand van Tulleken's full live conversation with Professor Devi Sridhar at Hay Festival.
    Going deeper than the main episode, they explore the tension between individual responsibility and structural change, and why asking "how do I stay healthy?" might be the wrong question altogether. Devi draws on her work across governments and health systems worldwide to examine what genuinely moves the needle on population health. Chris and Xand also ask how Devi's work shapes the way she lives, and what single policy change she'd make tomorrow if she could.
    If you’d like to share your thoughts on this or any other topic covered on the podcast, you email us at whatsupdocs@bbc.co.uk or Whatsapp on 08000 665 123.
    Presenters: Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken
    Guest: Professor Devi Sridhar
    Producer: Maia Miller-Lewis
    Executive Producer: Rami Tzabar
    Editor: Jo Rowntree
    Researcher: Grace Revill
    Tech Lead: Reuben Huxtable
    Video Producer: Leon Gower
    Digital Lead: Richard Berry
    Composer: Phoebe McFarlane
    Sound Design: Melvin Rickarby
    At the BBC:
    Assistant Commissioner: Greg Smith
    Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts
    A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4.
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Acerca de What's Up Docs?
In this BBC Radio 4 podcast, Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken are on a mission to help us take better care of ourselves.Although they are identical twins, Chris and Xand are very different and they never stop thinking and arguing about science and health. They want to lead healthy, happy lives and as doctors, they want this for everyone. Yet they tussle over how best to get there.When it comes to looking after our own health, it can be confusing. Medicine and science produce amazing new treatments and diagnostics every day and we are bombarded with so many headlines and pieces of advice; but how are we supposed to know what's really best for us and then successfully apply it to our lives?Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken embrace this challenge; even as they marvel at the scientific breakthroughs, they grapple with the competing claims about health, wellbeing and how to live.From understanding testosterone therapies to microplastics in our diets, and the concept of 'hangriness' to the power of saying no - this podcast deals with the health stresses we all face every day, while taking on board how the decisions by corporations and governments affect all our health.Each episode, Chris and Xand are joined by an expert guest to examine the latest research, psychological insights, and data, to help listeners navigate the overwhelming amount of information and advice out there. They talk about the trials and tribulations in their own lives in their characteristically witty way - each teasing the other as they search for solutions. Xand has trouble sleeping , Chris has noisy knees, one of them has got an embarrassing itch. They have different ways of looking at things and find it really helpful to get the other one's point of view. These doctors are trying their best and encouraging listeners to do the same.Email: whatsupdocs@bbc.co.uk Whatsapp: 08000 665123A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4.
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