A Prescription for Healthy Living

Dr. Emma Short studied pre-clinical medicine at Cambridge University and clinical medicine at Oxford University. She lives in Cardiff, with her GP husband and two young daughters. She completed her basic surgical training in Devon, before moving to Wales to specialise in histopathology. She has a PhD from Cardiff University in cancer genetics: Genetic Mechanisms in Colorectal Polyposis, 2018. Dr. Short has published extensively in the scientific literature and has an active role in medical education.She is interested in the interaction between the mind and the body, and the impact that mental wellbeing and social connections have on health. Dr. Short is a qualified meditation teacher and is a great advocate of showing kindness in all spheres of life. She loves exploring different aspects of holistic wellbeing and has diplomas in Mindful Nutrition and Shrinrin Yoku. She is a keen runner, having completed an ultramarathon, two marathons and many half-marathons, and is passionate about health-promotion and disease-prevention. She set up and runs a not-for-profit community running group in Cardiff, Sirius Running, and is a qualified personal trainer.

• Section 1. Society, Health and Behaviour 1. Social and Environmental Determinants of HealthLiza Kirtchuk and Ann Wylie 2. How Early Childhood Events Impact Upon Adult HealthLiz Forty 3. The Psychology of Health-Related Behaviour ChangeAria Campbell-Danesh 4. Health Literacy and How to Communicate Effectively with Patients to Elicit a Long-Term Behavioural ChangeSonal Shah 5. The Role of the Healthcare System in Social PrescribingEmma LaddsSection 2. Mental Health and Wellbeing 6. The Role of Stress in Health and DiseaseAthanasios Hassoulas 7. The Importance of a Good Night’s SleepDevina Leopold and Thom Phillips 8. Gratitude: Being Thankful is Proven to Be Good for YouSonal Shah 9. Loneliness as a Risk Factor for Chronic DiseaseSonal Shah 10. The Health Implications of Achieving a Satisfactory Work-Life BalanceEmma Short and Laura Sheldrake 11. Happiness and HealthAlka Patel 12. The Role a Mentor can Play in improving Well-BeingNita MahaSection 3. Physical Activity and Physical Health 13. Fit for Life: The Health Benefits of Cardiovascular ActivityCaroline Deodhar 14. Sedentary Behaviour and Adverse Health OutcomesEmma Short 15. The Gut MicrobiomeVenita Patel 16. Cigarettes: The Facts, Strategies for Smoking Cessation, e-cigarettes and VapingAdam Douglas and Arfa Ahmed 17. Alcohol: Its Impact on Wellbeing, Morbidity and MortalityHayley S. McKenzie 18. Cancer: How to Help Your Patients to Reduce Their Cancer RiskAilsa Sita-Lumsden 19. Lifestyle Factors and Women's HealthAlexandra J. Kermack 20. Skin Health: What Damages and Ages Skin? Evidence-Based Interventions to Maintain Healthy SkinLorna Jeng and Anjaly Mirchandani 21. Western Medical AcupunctureCarolyn RubensSection 4. Nutrition and Healthy Eating Habits 22. Fruit and Vegetables: Prevention and Cure?Gemma Newman 23. Macronutrients and MicronutrientsLaura Gush, Sonal Shah and Farah Gilani 24. Caffeine in Health and Disease: A Brief OverviewEmmajane Down 25. Water: How Much Should be Consumed and What are its Health Benefits?Ekua Annobil 26. Intermittent Fasting: A Health Panacea or Just Calorie Restriction?Ellen Fallows and Hayley S. McKenzie Concept Boxes: Mindfulness, Healthy Weight and Bone HealthSaba Jaleel, Emma Short and Claire Stansfield Conclusions and How to Access Reliable Health InformationEmma Short