The people behind PlainReview
Every guide here is written, tested and signed by a person. Four regulars, no ghostwriters.
Willa Farrow Lead writer
Worked in a screening centre reading reports for worried people. she separates what needs action from what needs nothing.
- Screening for complications: three months in this order
- Measuring blood pressure properly: knowing when to stop
- What HbA1c actually averages, from judgement to action
- Long-term uric acid control: fixing it point by point
- Travelling with a chronic condition: where most people stall
- Exercise intensity during your period: set the standard first
- Weight management in pregnancy: knowing when to stop
- How to do a breast self-check, from judgement to action
Curtis Vale Contributing editor
Nursing background with long experience in chronic care follow-up. he prefers checklists you can use the same day.
- How many self-checks a day: is it worth doing at all
- A home blood pressure sheet: is it worth doing at all
- Recognising hypoglycaemia: six beginner deviations
- What to bring to a follow-up: knowing when to stop
- Why pressure climbs in winter: six beginner deviations
- Self-help for low mood: cost, time and results
- Cycle and mood swings: set the standard first
- The order of postpartum recovery: set the standard first
Harriet Lowell Staff writer
Six years in hospital health management, used to turning markers into plain language. she writes only what has evidence behind it.
- Can you stop when numbers improve: knowing when to stop
- Do emotions move the numbers: three months in this order
- Timing blood pressure medication: set the standard first
- The dietary limits of lipid management: where most people stall
- Drug and food conflicts: a checklist you can tick
- Building a cycle log: six beginner deviations
- Baseline tests before conceiving: is it worth doing at all
- Medication while breastfeeding: where most people stall
Desmond Okonkwo Regular contributor
Ten years writing medical explainers, wary of inflated risk. he stratifies first, then decides how loud to be.
- Building a condition file: read this before you start
- Insurance with a diagnosis: three months in this order
- When to check blood glucose: knowing when to stop
- Handling a gout flare, from judgement to action
- Setting exercise intensity: fixing it point by point
- Graded approach to period pain: knowing when to stop
- When to start folic acid: fixing it point by point
- Common menopause symptoms: set the standard first