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Showing posts from October, 2015

Autumnwatch - health issues discussed...

The clocks will be going back soon and days are getting shorter; its time to protect ourselves from the winter blues and to keep as well as we can.  Here are a few things to look out for. Cough and colds If you suffer from asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) you need to take extra care of yourself at this time of year.  Make sure that you have had your seasonal flu vaccination (readily available at OPMP from 0830-1800 on weekdays). Get regular exercise, eat a balanced healthy diet and make sure you do what you can to have a good sleep pattern.  At the first sign of fever and productive cough seek professional advice. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) SAD is thought to affect up to one in 50 people in the UK with as many as one in eight suffering from the milder form "winter blues". Symptoms of depression most commonly occur between September and November.   It's thought SAD is caused by the lack of sunlight which affects mood-related chemic

Thinking about quitting smoking?

Stopping smoking is challenging but worthwhile.  It is the best way to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease and many types of cancer.  We want to work with out to help you as you consider how you might go about quitting.   The best thing to do is to book an appointment with the practice nurse.  She has lots of experience of talking to people who are thinking about stopping smoking.  She will be able to give you advice on the best way of doing it. Just so you are aware, there are several types of drug therapy that are available to help you when you decide to stop.   Nicotine replacement therapy (patches, gum, lozenges, inhalators, mouth and nasal sprays) Champix (Vareniciline) tablets Zyban (bupropion) tablets Nicotine replacement therapy is widely available on prescription or over the counter via your pharmacist Zyban and Champix are prescription-only.  In studies Champix has been shown to work better than Zyban though if one doesn't suit you it is al

The chickenpox vaccine to avoid the calamine lotion

The smell of calamine brings memories of fever, itch and a few days in bed with chickenpox. The itching, fever and calamine could, however, be a thing of the past. If your child has not had chickenpox we advise that you consider the merits of this safe and effective vaccine. Children with chickenpox develop flu like symptoms with fever, runny nose, headache and loss of appetite. They will also have the typical itchy chickenpox rash with perhaps 200 to 500 blisters. The rash lasts a week or more and some parents report permanent scarring. Further complications are rare in children, but do include secondary bacterial infection of the blisters, pneumonia and encephalitis. In the United States, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) issued a recommendation in 2006 for two doses of varicella vaccine to be given universally to children. Several European countries including Germany vaccinate all children against chickenpox. In the UK, the vaccine is curr

Am I at risk of type 2 diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the pancreas doesn't produce enough insulin to maintain a normal blood glucose level, or the body is unable to use the insulin that is produced-known as insulin resistance. Here are a list of some risk factors for type 2 diabetes Age Your risk of developing type 2 diabetes increases with age It is important to maintain a healthy weight by eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly However, despite increasing age being a risk factor for type 2 diabetes, over recent years younger people from all ethnic groups have been developing the condition Genetics This is a main risk factor for type 2 diabetes A child who has a parent with type 2 diabetes has about a one in three chance of also developing it Being Overweight Putting fat around your tummy (abdomen) increases your risk. This is because it may directly put pressure on the pancreas and it is thought chemicals released upset the body's ability to process glucose (sug