Original version

BBC World Service Online

Health Check

Factual: Health & Wellbeing

Factual: Science & Nature: Science & Technology

Health issues and medical breakthroughs from around the world.

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service East Asia

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

BBC World Service South Asia

BBC World Service

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

Health Check: Health Corruption

Magazines & Reviews

Backhanders##.jpg

2017/08/09 GMT

Health Corruption

BBC World Service - Health Check, Health Corruption

Health corruption; broken heart syndrome; brain stimulation helps people with schizophrenia

Health corruption is hidden, but can happen anywhere from the smallest, remote clinic to the billion dollar health systems, from low income countries to the richest places in the world.  Tim Mackey, Director of Global Health at University of California San Diego explains the impact it has on patients and how it can be challenged.  

We’ve all heard of the term “a broken heart” to describe the terrible sadness we feel after the loss of a loved one. Until recently it’s been thought of as just a metaphor, but now doctors think the heart can stop beating as a result of an emotional event. Medically it’s not the same as a heart attack, but it can be very serious. Mark Porter reports on what’s called Takotsubo syndrome. 

People with schizophrenia can find that the condition affects their memory and concentration. Now Dr Natasza Orlov at the Institute of Psychiatry in London has been trialling a technique called transcranial direct current stimulation in which she puts a mild electric current put through the brain. Claudia Hammond talks to her and a patient and finds out that it can bring about improvements in memory for day to day activities.   


 (Photo: Getty Images)

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Health Check

Health Corruption

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service Online

About BBC World Service