Dr Xand's Con or Cure 

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Simulcast of network BBC One in high definition. From 03/11/2010

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Dr Xand's Con or Cure

Factual: Health & Wellbeing

The facts, not the fakes, about your health.

The facts, not the fakes, about your health with Dr Xand van Tulleken and Ashley John-Baptiste. From social media scams to health scares, they'll shine a light on bad medicine.

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Alexander van Tulleken

Ashley John-Baptiste

Richard Collier

Brendan Hughes

Karen Donnelly

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Dr Xand's Con or Cure: Series 2: Episode 6

Episode 6

BBC One - Dr Xand's Con or Cure, Series 2, Episode 6

Can robotic pets be a therapy for dementia?

A look at some of the latest back pain gadgets and robotic pets that help people with dementia. There's also a shocking tale of care home abuse. And is stifling a sneeze dangerous?

Care homes should be a place where the sick and elderly are nursed and cared for – the clue is in the name. But across seven months, in one nursing home just outside Belfast, 79-year-old Lily’s injuries included a fractured nose, a broken finger and two head wounds. Poppy Everton from Hourglass, a charity set up to challenge and prevent abuse of older people, joins us in the studio with some advice on what to look out for if you suspect someone you care about might be suffering some form of abuse.

We regularly test devices and remedies for things on Con or Cure to find out what works and what’s a waste of money. Here, we look at what is available to help back pain - something that more than 80 per cent of us are affected by during our lives. Physiotherapist Kirsty Walker joins us to run through a couple of the latest gadgets and gives us some easy exercises we can do at home to help support our backs.

Depending on the circumstances, sneezing can be embarrassing, so at times some of us may try to stifle a sneeze. But is it safe to do that? Dr Xand is on hand to run through some of the myths behind sneezing.

People with dementia can feel lonely and vulnerable. Deborah’s aunt was diagnosed with dementia, and while she was looking at ways of trying to help her, she came across robotic companion pets. She now designs her own range of animals and sends them to people who have relatives and friends with dementia. These realistic-looking animals can move, make sounds and react to touch, bringing all the therapeutic benefits of animals when the disease means owning a real pet might not be practical.   

And, there's a look at bed rotting. Is spending the day in bed bad for you?

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