School is back in, and if you as a parent are secretly rejoicing at having a little of your time back during the day, don't relax too quickly. Bugs just Iove a school classroom - from head colds, coughs and respiratory infections, to tummy bugs and pink eye (conjunctivitis). And don’t get us started on creepy crawlies such as nits and threadworms. Read on for our guide to boosting your child’s immunity, and how to minimise the impact of these every day pests!
Summer is the time we have the most skin on show, and you're probably already getting bored of the continued advice to slip/slap/slop! Nevertheless, protecting our skin from the suns rays is vital, and not just to avoid the pain and peeling of sun burn.
Most importantly, avoiding UV exposure is about preventing skin cancer. In this article we look at an easy way to remember some of the key concerning features when checking your moles. We also review self checking resources, and how technology might be able to help you keep track of the landscape of your skin.
Why haven’t my periods started?
If you have a teenage daughter who hasn't got her periods yet, this could very well be a question that she is frequently thinking about. Indeed it is common for teenage girls to worry about this, and think they are somehow abnormal if they are one of the last in their peer group to start their periods.
There are many possible explanations for why a girl's period might not have started, and this article will explore each one so that you can have a reassuring (biologically correct!) conversation with her, answer any questions and know where to turn if you still have concerns.
We invited Winchester GPs friend and associate Sharron Gordon, prescribing consultant pharmacist and aesthetic expert, to share her wisdom about skincare during the peri-menopausal and menopausal phase.
Cholesterol is a fatty substance in our blood. You’ve probably heard of its association with the risk of heart attack and stroke. But actually, not all cholesterol is bad- we all have it, and produce it in the liver, and we all actually need some of it for maintenance and repair. So here’s the good and the bad of cholesterol!
It’s about quality, not just quantity!
There are different types of cholesterol which mean different things regarding your health.
Low density lipoprotein/LDL cholesterol is the ‘baddie’ here, as it deposits itself in to cells around your body, to the point where it can clog your arteries, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke.
By contrast, High-density lipoproteins/HDL cholesterol is the ‘good’ cholesterol which is broken down in the liver, and actually helps to dispose of bad cholesterol from your blood vessels.
Doctors will consider both the total amount of cholesterol in your blood, and also the ratio of of bad (LDL) to good (HDL) cholesterol when assessing your cholesterol levels.
There is much that can be done to influence your cholesterol levels.
Some factors influencing cholesterol levels are beyond our control- such as family history, ethnic background and growing older. However, several lifestyle factors also come in to play, which we can work to improve.
Diet
The types of fat we eat can directly influence our good and bad cholesterol levels.
Foods containing high levels of saturated fat (linked to LDL cholesterol) should be limited in favour of those containing unsaturated fat (linked to HDL cholesterol).
As a general rule of thumb, saturated fats tend to be animal/dairy in origin- such as meat and dairy. However coconut and palm oil are also saturated fats.
Meanwhile unsaturated fats tend to originate from fish or plants in origin- think nuts, seeds, avocados, vegetable oils.
Lifestyle
Reducing your alcohol intake, and increasing exercise also help to restore a healthy balance of cholesterol.
What might your doctor do?
Lifestyle changes are always the first port of call when managing cholesterol. But should these not prove effective on their own, there are many medical options, which are proven to be highly beneficial and should be taken consistently and regularly.
Know your levels
As many people with high cholesterol do not have symptoms, it’s well worth checking your cholesterol levels regularly. See your friendly GP to discuss the various NHS and private screening options available.
Good to know
Naturally, there is heaps more information to be found online. The NHS is a great and reputable source of information on how to lower your cholesterol.
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/lower-your-cholesterol/
Who doesn't like an 'easy win'??
Why is it useful to know your blood pressure? In medical speak, blood pressure is "one of the four modifiable cardiovascular risk factors". More simply put, managing your blood pressure is a relatively 'easy win’, if you would like to minimise your chances of having a stroke or heart attack! Do we have your attention now?
Many people have no symptoms of high blood pressure, so getting a test, even if you feel 'fit as a fiddle', is the only way to know for sure.
What do the numbers mean?
Blood pressure readings come in the form of 2 numbers. The first, higher number is the systolic pressure, when your heart pushes blood around your body. The second lower number is the diastolic pressure, when your heart relaxes. A text book normal blood pressure would be 120/80 which means 120 systolic over 80 diastolic, and a systolic number over 140 or a diastolic number over 90 (on single readings) would be considered high blood pressure. The diastolic and the systolic numbers are equally important, so even if you are just high in one of the other, it’s worth investigating.
Testing your blood pressure at home or in clinic
Monitoring your blood pressure need not be expensive, and can be free via one of the many testing centres, including your NHS GP, where there might even be a monitor in the waiting room. However, testing from home has many advantages including convenience, and removing the possible impact of ‘white coat syndrome’. Omron make excellent home BP monitors which can be bought online or from your local chemist for under £40.
How to test
When monitoring yourself, we suggest taking 2 readings in the morning, 2 in the afternoon, over 5 days. You should be seated at rest. Take the average of all the systolic readings and the average of all the diastolic readings over that period, to give you an average overall reading. Happily, Winchester GP has put together a spreadsheet template, which you can download here- if you just pop your numbers in to the relevant columns it will do the maths-ing for you! If the average systolic number is higher than 135, and/or if the average diastolic number is above 85, this would be considered an elevated reading and worth managing. (Remember, diastolic and systolic are equally important) Don’t panic- there’s lots that can be done, both through lifestyle changes and/or medication. Just book an appointment with a friendly empathetic GP, and let them explain the options to you. Happy measuring!!
With the recent surge in ‘flu cases, we thought it would be worth giving a quick recap of what to do and when to seek medical intervention.
If this is you... it could be 'flu...
Flu is a viral infection which will make you feel absolutely rotten - it’s not simply a ‘bad cold', as it affects your whole body rather than mainly just your nose and throat. If you are a normally healthy adult, the biggest favour you can do yourself (and to limit the chances of spreading this highly infectious virus) is to consign yourself to your bed or sofa. If you have full-blown flu, you will not need any persuading!
Symptomatic relief for fever and aches and pains will come from paracetamol and ibuprofen (take care to keep track of how much you are taking, so as not to exceed safe doses). And make sure that you are taking on plenty of fluids (your pee should be light golden).
While you rest and medicate, your immune system will set to work fighting off the virus and you should expect to be feeling better in around a week. However, there are some circumstances in which you should seek further medical advice:
Summer’s well under way, and, for most of us, the idea of warm sunshine and thinner clothes is a pleasant one. We all feel sweaty from time to time- this is entirely normal- but, for an unfortunate 1% or so of the population, excessive sweating, or hyperhidrosis, is a real pain! The good news is, there is much that can be done – approach a sympathetic GP (like Dr Stephanie Hughes!) for advice rather than suffer in silence.
This week is food allergy awareness week and we have enlisted the help of Joan Gavin, State Registered Paediatric Dietitian within the NHS and holder of a Masters degree in Applied Paediatric Nutrition to advise on the topic of cows' milk allergy in babies. Food fad, or fact? Read on to learn more.
If your baby suffers from any combination of the above symptoms it may be because they have an undiagnosed cows’ milk allergy.
Surprisingly, cows milk allergy can be evident even in exclusively breastfed babies who have never consumed any cows’ milk! Cows milk allergy is one of the most common food allergies in childhood affecting more than 1 in 50 children under the age of 3 years, presenting initially in the first year of life. Babies with a mother, father or sibling with asthma, eczema or hay fever are more likely to develop cows milk allergy than those with no family history of these medical conditions.
The difference between cow’s milk allergy and lactose intolerance
Cows’ milk allergy is an immune reaction to one or more of the proteins found in milk, and is triggered either through cows milk protein present in breast milk, a formula feed or a dairy weaning food. The symptoms are easily confused with lactose intolerance, an enzyme deficiency that creates an inability to digest the milk sugar (lactose) causing similar gut symptoms, but these are not related to the immune system unlike an allergy, and require a different dietary treatment. Lactose intolerance is rarely seen in babies under 1 year except following a bout of gastroenteritis which may cause a temporary lactose intolerance.
Cows’ milk allergy can present in two ways:
a) “immediate onset” reaction, where symptoms such as hives (nettle rash), vomiting, lip swelling, worsening of the eczema, red flushing of the face and body and breathing difficulties rapidly appear after taking a small quantity of cows’ milk
b) “delayed onset” reaction where symptoms such as diarrhoea, constipation, reflux, blood in stools, progressive worsening of eczema appear several hours or even days after ingestion of a larger quantity of cow’s milk
“Immediate onset” reactions can be confirmed by IgE mediated allergy skin prick testing or a specific IgE antibody blood tests undertaken at an NHS hospital through GP referral to a consultant paediatrician.
“Delayed onset” reactions are the most common presentation of cows’ milk allergy and the only way of diagnosing this type of reaction is to exclude cows milk from the formula and diet, or from the maternal diet, if breastfeeding, and reintroduce it after a prescribed period of time.
Elimination of milk and dairy from the diet should always be done under the guidance of a paediatric dietitian who will take a detailed clinical history to assess, diagnose and treat the cow’s milk allergy ensuring both mother and baby are being provided with all the nutrition they need in the absence of this major food group from the diet. This is especially important in the first year of life when a baby’s nutritional requirements are high and growth is rapid. To access a paediatric dietitian, ask your GP to refer your baby to the dietetic department at your local NHS hospital. Alternatively, for direct access to a private consultation with a paediatric dietitian email joangavin@dietitian4kids.co.uk
About Joan Gavin
Joan Gavin has 20 years of clinical experience as a State Registered Paediatric Dietitian within the NHS and holds a Masters degree in Applied Paediatric Nutrition. Her specialities include food allergies and gastroenterology and she has published articles in medical journals and books. Joan can assess, diagnose and treat nutrition related conditions providing up to date practical advice suited to your child’s needs. She is a member of the British Dietetic Association and registered with the Health Professions Council.
Are you happy and satisfied by what you’re getting, in the bedroom? 30% of us regularly don’t get enough .... sleep, of course! If you or someone you care about is an insomnia sufferer, please read on – the good news is, there is a great deal that can be done to help this distressing condition, which does not need necessarily to involve medication.
Frequently referred to as impotence, ED is the inability to attain or maintain an erection sufficient for sexual activity. In one study from North America, almost half of all men over 40 suffered from a degree of erectile dysfunction at some point or another, with 1:10 suffering complete ED. Regrettably, only about 10% of sufferers actually receive treatment. To learn more about the support and treatment options for ED, read this specialist blog post by Hampshire-based consultant urologist Rowland Rees.
Why do men hate going to the doctor? A series of observations, musings, generalisations and general reflection from Dr Steph's surgery swivel chair on why men seem to find it more challenging to seek medical advice, or, when they do, to ask the questions that are really bothering them. This week is Men's Health Week - please share and forward this blog to anyone you know (male or female) for whom you feel it might strike a chord in some way...
The teenage years are DIFFICULT – teenagers can often seem to BE “difficult”. Plenty of parents of teenagers struggle with the new relationship they find they are having with their child, and they wonder whether they are doing something wrong, or whether there might even “be something wrong” with their teenager. Fear not, because Dr Stephanie Hughes is on hand to talk us through the various different factors, or “Tasks of Adolescence”, which are all at play in the teenage years, and how they exert their influences on a teenager’s development and behaviour.
Mindfulness seems to be the buzz word at the moment although this effective way of living was developed in ancient times. It is has been studied extensively since the late 1970’s and modern mindful meditation is a mental skill that can be integrated into all areas of your life. Read on to learn more from mindfulness coach Mandy Papas.
As part of our series of blog posts on mental health issues for Mental Health Awareness Week (16th -22nd May) Jane and Sam of Chilbolton Services, two addiction practitioners specialising in substance misuse, have kindly contributed this helpful piece on recognising the signs of addiction, and how to get help.
Hay fever is an extremely common allergic reaction to certain components of spring and summertime pollen – sadly, its symptoms are all too familiar to the 10 million or so UK sufferers, but there is an increasing number of very effective treatments available. Dr Steph is here to walk you through the 'field' of options without so much as a sniffle!!
