IQ Doctor

07/09/2026

🥤 Remember when having a mini fridge in your bedroom was the ultimate noughties luxury? Well… they're back.

But the reason behind their return might say something interesting about how our everyday habits have changed.

Metro has been looking at the resurgence of bedroom mini fridges, and the growing tendency to keep food and drinks within arm's reach while we're relaxing, working, scrolling or watching TV.

The problem is that when food is constantly available, it can become much easier to eat because we're bored, stressed, tired or simply because it's there, rather than because we're genuinely hungry.

Our environment can have a surprisingly powerful influence on our habits, particularly when the boundaries between work, relaxation, sleep and eating start to blur.

That doesn't mean the humble mini fridge is responsible for our health choices! 😄 But it is an interesting reminder that small changes to our surroundings can sometimes make healthy routines easier (or harder) without us even noticing.

It’s great to see iQ Doctor contributing to Metro's look at the trend and the health behaviours sitting behind it.

Read the full Metro article: https://metro.co.uk/2026/08/03/noughties-mini-fridges-one-depressing-reason-29285767/

Remember when all the cool girls had one of these in the 2000s?

04/09/2026

💉 Pen jammed? Spotted an air bubble? Not sure whether your injection has worked properly?

Using an injectable medicine can sometimes come with practical questions, particularly if your pen doesn't seem to behave quite as expected.

Our Mounjaro Pen FAQ looks at some of the common issues patients may encounter when using a prescribed Mounjaro KwikPen, including:

What to do if the pen feels jammed or the dose k**b is difficult to use
Bent or blocked needles
Leaking pens
Air bubbles and priming
Storing your pen correctly
What the leftover liquid sometimes called the “golden dose” actually is

The important thing is not to force or dismantle a pen if something doesn't seem right. Following the correct instructions, and asking a healthcare professional when you're unsure, helps ensure medication is used safely and as prescribed.

Our guide has been medically reviewed by Omar El-Gohary, Superintendent Pharmacist at iQ Doctor.

Read the Mounjaro Pen FAQs on the iQ Doctor Health Hub: https://www.iqdoctor.co.uk/blog/mounjaro-pen-faq/?srsltid=AfmBOorJcn5IXSsUMV0afY72nVLN9ZXtkkmGvED-3Wm8oOhYeRXwnChl

03/09/2026

🍹 Could an alcohol-free drink really give you a “buzz”?

As more people choose to drink less alcohol, a new generation of alternatives is appearing, and some are designed to do more than simply recreate the taste of your favourite tipple.

UNILAD Tech has been looking at drinks that claim to produce feelings of relaxation and sociability without alcohol, and asked Dr Suzanne Wylie, GP and Medical Adviser at iQ Doctor, to explain the science behind them.

Some of these drinks contain botanicals and other compounds intended to influence the brain's GABA system, which plays a role in relaxation and anxiety. But as Dr Suzanne explains, people's responses can vary, and the long-term effects of regularly consuming some of these newer formulations are still not well understood.

💭 It's a useful reminder that “alcohol-free” doesn't necessarily mean a product is completely without effects on the body.

For anyone looking to reduce their alcohol intake, having more choice can certainly be welcome. But it's still worth understanding what's actually in the glass and how those ingredients may affect you.

Great to see Dr Suzanne bringing some medical context to this growing wellness trend.

Read the full UNILAD Tech article: https://www.uniladtech.com/science/news/sentia-spirits-alcohol-free-drinks-reviews-932067-20260101

02/09/2026

“It’s only hair.” But is it really that simple?

Hair loss is incredibly common in men, but that doesn’t mean every man experiences it in the same way, or that it doesn’t matter.

For some, a receding hairline or thinning crown is simply part of getting older. For others, noticing their hair beginning to change can affect confidence, self-image and how they feel about their appearance.

And men aren't always particularly good at talking about that.

Male hair loss can have several causes, with genetics and hormones playing an important role in male pattern hair loss, while factors such as stress, illness, nutrition and certain health conditions can also contribute to changes in the hair.

That’s why understanding what type of hair loss you're experiencing and what may be causing it is important before deciding what, if anything, you want to do about it.

Our iQ Doctor article explores how men experience hair loss, why its emotional impact shouldn't simply be dismissed and the options that may be available.

Because being concerned about your hair doesn't make you vain.

If something affects how you feel about yourself, it's worth being able to talk about it.

Read: How Men Experience Hair Loss Differently: https://www.iqdoctor.co.uk/blog/how-men-experience-hair-loss-differently/

It's common, so we assume it's easy. The psychology of male pattern hair loss, the stigma that keeps men quiet about it, and what actually helps.

02/09/2026

We’ve got some exciting news to share!

We’re delighted that our CEO and founder, Omar El-Gohary, has been named a Bronze Winner in the Male Entrepreneur of the Year category at the Great British Business & Community Awards 2026.

With more than 200 nominations in the category, it’s fantastic recognition of Omar’s leadership and the journey iQ Doctor has been on as we continue to grow and develop our healthcare services.

Most importantly, that growth has been made possible by the brilliant team behind iQ Doctor and a shared commitment to making healthcare more accessible while putting patients, safety and quality of care at the heart of what we do.

And the journey isn’t over yet… 👀

Bronze Winners now progress to the final judging stage, where the Silver and Gold winners will be decided.

A huge congratulations to Omar and the whole iQ Doctor team! 👏🥉

01/09/2026

🧠 Do your emotions sometimes feel much bigger than the situation that triggered them?

A small criticism feels crushing. A minor frustration suddenly becomes overwhelming. An unexpected change of plan can leave you feeling disproportionately upset or angry.

For some people with ADHD, this can be part of emotional dysregulation, an often overlooked aspect of the condition.

We're delighted to see Dr Suzanne Wylie, Clinical Advisor at iQ Doctor, featured in Psychologies, helping explain why ADHD can affect much more than attention and concentration.

As Suzanne discusses in the article, difficulties with emotional regulation can mean feelings arrive quickly and intensely, and it can take longer to return to an emotional baseline afterwards.

That doesn't mean someone is simply being “too sensitive” or “overreacting”.

Understanding what's happening, and recognising potential triggers such as stress, tiredness or sensory overload, can be an important first step towards finding strategies that help.

The article also looks at practical ways of managing emotional dysregulation and when it may be worth seeking professional support.

💙 Sometimes understanding why you feel the way you do can make those feelings a little easier to navigate.

Read the full Psychologies article: https://www.psychologies.co.uk/emotional-dysregulation-adhd-symptom-you-may-not-know-about/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Psychologies Magazine

31/08/2026

Ever wondered why the same diet seems to work brilliantly for one person, and barely shifts the scales for someone else?

The answer isn't always about effort or willpower.

Our metabolism is influenced by a much bigger picture, including age, muscle mass, sleep, stress and hormones. And while men and women share many of the same biological systems, our bodies don't necessarily experience them in exactly the same way.

For women, hormonal changes throughout the menstrual cycle and later during perimenopause and menopause can influence appetite, energy, sleep, fluid retention and where the body tends to store fat.

For men, testosterone and typically higher levels of lean muscle mass can contribute to a higher resting metabolic rate, while changes associated with ageing can alter body composition and energy levels over time.

And then there's stress and sleep, which can affect both sexes and make managing appetite, energy and weight feel considerably harder.

So when somebody says, “We're eating exactly the same things, why are they losing weight faster than me?”, the answer may be more complicated than calories alone.

💡 One-size-fits-all health advice doesn't always fit real human bodies.

Our iQ Doctor guide takes a closer look at hormones and metabolism in men and women, and why understanding what's happening inside the body can sometimes be more helpful than simply telling somebody to “try harder”.

Read: How Hormones Shape Metabolism in Men and Women: https://www.iqdoctor.co.uk/blog/hormones-and-metabolism-men-vs-women-weight-loss-energy/

Weight, energy and appetite are shaped by hormones as much as habits. Explore how male and female metabolism differs, and why one-size-fits-all advice often fails.

28/08/2026

💇‍♀️ Noticing more hair in your brush, shower or on your pillow?

Hair loss in women is more common than many people realise, and it can be particularly upsetting when you don’t know why it’s happening.

There isn’t one single cause.

Hormonal changes, menopause, stress, genetics, nutritional deficiencies, certain health conditions and some medications can all potentially play a part.

And because our hair can be so closely connected to identity, confidence and how we feel about ourselves, being told that hair loss is “only cosmetic” can seriously underestimate its impact.

The good news is that understanding the type and underlying cause of hair loss can help determine what to do next. Sometimes shedding may be temporary; in other cases, investigation or treatment may be appropriate.

Our iQ Doctor guide looks at some of the common causes of hair loss in women, the treatments that may be considered and when it’s worth speaking to a healthcare professional.

Most importantly, you don't simply have to put up with a significant change in your hair without asking why. 💜

Read: Hair Loss in Women: Causes and Treatment: https://www.iqdoctor.co.uk/blog/hair-loss-in-women-causes-treatment/

If you're noticing thinning or shedding, you're not alone. Discover what causes hair loss in women, the treatments that help, and when to get support.

27/08/2026

👨‍👧‍👦 Dads get burnout too. We just don't talk about it enough.

Work. Bills. Children. Relationships. Family responsibilities. The never-ending mental list of things that need sorting out.

For many dads, the response is simply to keep going.

But constantly functioning doesn't necessarily mean you're coping well.

Burnout can creep up quietly. It might look like persistent exhaustion, becoming more irritable, struggling to concentrate, losing enthusiasm for things you normally enjoy or feeling as though you have very little left to give once you've dealt with everyone else's needs.

And because there's still an expectation for many men to simply get on with things, recognising that you're struggling, let alone talking about it, isn't always easy.

Our iQ Doctor article explores dad burnout, why it can be overlooked and why looking after your own wellbeing isn't something that should come last on the family to-do list.

Sometimes being there for everybody else starts with recognising when you need some support too. 💙

Read: The Dad Burnout Conversation Nobody Is Having: https://www.iqdoctor.co.uk/blog/the-dad-burnout-conversation-nobody-is-having/

Work, family, finances and the invisible load of modern fatherhood. Dad burnout is real, it has physiological drivers, and it deserves a proper conversation.

26/08/2026

💭 “I just don't seem to have the motivation I used to.”

It’s something many men experience in midlife, but it can be surprisingly difficult to talk about.

Work pressures, poor sleep, stress, changing responsibilities, relationships, physical health and simply spending years putting everyone else first can all leave their mark.

And sometimes what looks like a lack of motivation from the outside can feel very different to the person experiencing it.

You might still be going to work and getting everything done, but find yourself putting off things you once enjoyed, exercising less, struggling to concentrate or simply feeling as though you've lost some of your drive.

Our iQ Doctor article looks at why motivation can change during midlife, some of the factors that may sit behind it, and why persistent changes in mood, energy or enjoyment shouldn't simply be dismissed as “getting older”.

Most importantly, struggling with motivation isn't something men should feel embarrassed about.

Sometimes the useful question isn't “Why can't I pull myself together?”

It's “What's changed, and what might help me feel more like myself again?”

Read: Why Men Lose Motivation in Midlife: https://www.iqdoctor.co.uk/blog/why-men-lose-motivation-midlife/

Loss of drive, energy, and purpose in midlife isn't a mindset problem. It's often a biological one. A clinically-informed guide for men who notice something has quietly shifted.