About Wolfe & Lois

Wolfe & Lois is a small online journal built around one simple habit: taking an ordinary health question seriously and answering it calmly. The questions are the kind people ask a friend over the kitchen table rather than in a consulting room. Is it fine to go for a jog with a blocked nose? Should the toothbrush come out before or after the coffee? Why does a warm bedroom make the night feel so long? We think those questions deserve more than a one-line reply, and less than a textbook.

What lives in the archive

Every article starts from a question and tries to answer it near the top, then explains the reasons, the common exceptions and the point at which it makes sense to ask a professional. The journal is organised into five themes:

• Healthy Lifestyle covers broader topics such as dental check-ups, menopause, men's self-image, stepping away from cigarettes and how clinics communicate with patients.
• Sleep Questions looks at the bedroom, the wind-down and the small things that shape a night.
• Moving More is about getting and staying active without overdoing it.
• Kitchen & Plate deals with food choices that fit real shopping lists and real evenings.
• Smile Care answers everyday questions about teeth and gums.

If you are new, the page Start Your Reading Here suggests a sensible first route through the archive.

Who writes it

Two writers share the work under pen names, Philippa and Bastien. Neither of us is a doctor, dentist, nurse, pharmacist or dietitian, and we do not present ourselves as one. What we bring is curiosity, patience with reading official guidance, and a stubborn preference for plain words. You can read a little more about how we split the topics on The Two Voices Behind It.

How we approach health topics

We stay general. An article can explain what usually happens, what people commonly try and which signs are worth a closer look, but it cannot know your history, your medicines or your body. That is why nearly every answer ends with a short note on when to see a GP, pharmacist or dentist. We avoid doses, diagnoses and miracle language, and when evidence on a topic is thin or mixed we say so instead of smoothing it over.

Some articles on the site discuss products or services, for example devices used by adults who are trying to leave cigarettes behind, or dental practices. Those pieces follow the same cautious approach as everything else, and they are never a substitute for advice from someone who knows your situation. The Health Content Notice sets out the limits of what we publish in more detail.

What a good visit looks like

Good health is mostly built from unremarkable things: a reasonable bedtime, a walk most days, vegetables on the plate, two minutes with a toothbrush, and the confidence to book an appointment when something does not feel right. If an answer here helps you take one of those small steps, or helps you walk into an appointment with a clearer question, it has done its job.

Getting in touch

We read every message, whether it is a question you would like answered, a correction or a suggestion for a theme we have missed. The contact page explains the best way to reach us and what we can and cannot help with by email.