About time we had a proper doctor on.
Does it have to be only about winter nasties?
To go through chemo therapy or choose not to?
Army horses loose on London streets
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The temperature has dropped - and the season of coughs and colds is well and truly upon us. But what can you do to help ward off these and other winter nasties such as chilblains and the like?
And what about the old wives' tales? Does going out with wet hair really make you more likely to catch a cold? Does taking lots of vitamins actually help? Dr Rosemary Leonard joins us on Monday 17 November to answer all your questions on winter health.
Dr Rosemary Leonard’s work as a consultant to national television, radio and newspapers makes her one of the country’s best-known doctors.
She is the resident doctor on BBC Breakfast, and also writes a weekly page for the Daily Express and a weekly column in “S” magazine. She is the medical editor and feature writer for Woman and Home magazine. Rosemary’s latest book, ‘Doctor’s Notes: more incredible tales from a GP’s Surgery’, was published earlier this year.
Rosemary is still a practicing doctor, working as a part-time GP partner in a busy practice in South London. She has just completed five years as the GP representative on the Committee on Safety of Medicines, the national body licensing all medicines in the UK and has now been a member of the Human Genetics Commission for over a year. She was awarded an M.B.E. for her services to healthcare in the New Year’s Honours List in 2004 and was appointed to the Board of the Health Protection Agency in the UK in 2008. You can find out more on her website
jings I know! I almost expected a sub-heading "How the Looming Threat of Winter Affect Those Who Are No Longer Quite So Young" 
.
And GNHQ - the pedants will jump on you for "ward of" - so glad it's not just me!
jing agreed
I think most of us are aware of the truth or otherwise of Old Wives' Tales (e.g. going out with wet hair makes you bound to contract pneumonia, likewise getting your feet wet or going out without a vest...).
And there are at least two GNetters who are well up on the value, or otherwise, of vitamins.
We're not all old biddies who visit our GPs at the drop of a hat, so I hope Dr Rosemary Leonard is prepared for more than just questions about chilblains! Does anyone get those these days? 
Well, that's just it - we old uns know all about avoiding chilblains, having suffered the consequences of sticking our freezing cold toes onto hot water pipes or roasting them in front of an open fire!
Oh! Is she the doctor who told tales about her former patients in her book...? 
lovely pictures on the doctor's website
How charming.
Do click on that link several times.
Blimey - fancies herself a bit, doesn't she?
Lovely photos Jings!
Rosemary, it's good to hear that you are 'still a practicing doctor' - that is reassuring!
I bought a bottle of zinc tablets today as I heard that if you take them within a day of developing cold symptoms, the duration of the cold/cough should be shortened or at least alleviates the symptoms. Is this true? If so, why? I hope it is not just a case of the pharmaceutical companies jumping on the bandwagon and making a quick buck? Not got symptoms - yet. No doubt it will sit on the shelf with the unopened B12, echinacea, rose hip and multi-vitamin capsules. Better to 'Be Prepared' than caught on the hop!
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