Some helpful Tips for Cold, Cough, Sore throat etc.

Lot of people are suffering from Cold, Cough, Sore throat or nasal congestions at the moment. So I thought I would share with you some helpful tips from your Pharmacists at East Hill Pharmacy about how to treat yourself better if you are unfortunate enough to suffer from any of the symptoms.

 

 

Most symptoms of a cold, cough ,sore throat or nasal congestion will get better between 4 days and 3 weeks and won't be a sign of something more serious.  You can treat yourself better within this time without  needing to see your GP and remember that antibiotics will not help with these symptoms. If however you notice any of the signs below please speak with  your Pharmacist or  contact  your  Doctors' surgery. 

 

What do I need to look out for?UGH

Coughing up blood: You cough up blood for no obvious reason. 

 

Duration: Your cough is not getting better within three to four weeks. 

 

Chest or shoulder pain: In addition to your cough, you have chest and/or shoulder pain. 

 

Breathlessness: You also find it difficult to breathe.

 

Weight loss: You’re losing weight for no apparent reason over a period of six weeks or more.  

Voice changes: Your voice becomes hoarse for longer than three weeks, and the hoarseness persists after the cough has settled.  

New lumps or swellings: You notice new swellings anywhere in the neck or above your collarbones.

Symptoms start after you’ve choked on something . D

High fever: You develop a high temperature (above 39°C), which can be a sign of a more serious type of infection. 

Confused: You’re feeling confused or disorientated .  

Chest pain: You notice a sharp pain in your chest. 

Phlegm: You cough up blood-stained phlegm (thick mucus) . 

Breathing: You find it difficult to breathe.  

Swelling: You notice a marked swelling of the glands in your neck and/or armpits. 

Duration: Your symptoms last longer than three weeks. SORE THROAT

Duration: Your symptoms are no better after two weeks . 

Frequency: You have frequent sore throats that do not respond to painkillers . 

High fever: You have a persistent high temperature over 38°C for more than three days that does not come down even if you take ibuprofen and/or paracetamol. 

Glandular fever: A sore throat that doesn’t get better within 10 to 14 days or that gets worse rather than better may suggest glandular fever.  

Breathing: You find it hard to breathe in, and your throat feels like it’s closing up.

Drooling and swallowing: You’re drooling and find it difficult to swallow – this is an emergency. 

Severity: Your pain is severe and does not respond to over the counter painkillers.  

Voice changes: Your voice becomes muffled. 

Fluid intake: You find it difficult to drink enough fluids and become dehydrated..  

Effect on day to day life: Your symptoms are so bad that they severely affect your quality of life and prevent you from functioning normally.  

HIV/AIDS or other causes of reduced immunity: If you  suffer from a sore throat and have a deficient immune system because, for example, you have HIV/AIDS or you take certain medication (such as chemotherapy, high dose steroids disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, or a drug called carbimazole). NASAL CONGESTION

High fever: You develop a high temperature (above 39°C), which can be a sign of a more serious type of infection.  

Confused: You’re confused or disorientated.  

Other medical conditions: You’re at high risk of complications because you suffer other medical

conditions.

Facial pain: You suffer severe pain or discomfort in your face.  

Green/yellow fluid: Your nose produces lots of thick green/ yellow fluid. 

Antibiotics aren't an effective treatment for winter symptoms such as cold, cough, flu, sore throat or nasal congestion. These symptoms are caused viruses and antibiotics only work against bacteria. If you take antibiotics unnecessarily then they might not work when you need them to treat a bacterial infection. Why not save yourself a trip to your Doctors' surgery and pop in to your local Pharmacy for some expert advice?  Most symptoms of a cough, cold, sore throat or

asal congestion will normally get better between
4Over the counter medicines are available to help to relieve your symptoms. Speak to your pharmacist who can help you choose the medicine that will work best for you, advise you on whether you need to see a doctor and provide guidance on selfcare and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.  

We are better during this time without needing to see your GP, and remember antibiotics will not work for these symptoms.

If however, you notice any of the signs below, speak

to your pharmacist or call www.easthillpharmacy.com

Happy New Year from all of us at East Hill Pharmacy

Best wishes for the new year from all of us at East Hill Pharmacy. This year we will bring you more useful information on various health issues. Please do get in touch if you need specific information on any topic. We will try our best to help you. You can of course come in any time to speak face to face with one of our Pharmacists. We are at 53, east Hill, Wandsworth, SW18 2QE.
As we are in the middle of winter now and daylight hours are short so we think talking about Vitamin D would be very appropriate now(our body produces vitamin with the help of Sunlight).
So please read the article about Vitamin D below.
   

Is Your Vitamin D level too low?    

Vitamin D occurs naturally in the body following exposure to UVB sunlight. Normal summer sunshine exposure should be sufficient for most people to provide adequate levels, however, for certain groups of people sunlight exposure may not provide adequate levels of vitamin D.

Due to being at risk of vitamin D deficiency, the current guidance from the UK Health Departments1 is that daily vitamin D supplementation should be taken by the following:

all pregnant and breastfeeding women

breastfed infants from one month of age if mother did not take vitamin D supplementation through pregnancy

all children aged six months to five years old (except those who are receiving more than 500ml of formula milk, which is fortified with vitamin D)

people aged 65 and over

people who are not exposed to much sun, such as those who cover up their skin for cultural reasons or those who are housebound or confined indoors for long periods.

 

Other patients at risk of deficiency2 include:

people with darker skins such as people of African, African-Caribbean and South Asian origin

those with medical conditions that alter how the body handles vitamin D including those with Crohn’s disease, coeliac disease and certain liver and kidney diseases

those taking medicines that put them at risk including carbamazepine, phenytoin, primidone, barbiturates and some anti-HIV medicines.

 

Sunscreen

Sunscreens provide important protection from UV skin damage, however, they reduce the body’s exposure to sun, which is the body’s main source of vitamin D. The British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) states3 that there is not a precise level of sun exposure that safely provides adequate levels of vitamin D because of the number of variables involved, including individual skin type, geographical location, time of year, time of day and weather conditions. They advise that once the body has produced the maximum level of vitamin D, further exposure to sunlight does not increase production and will result in skin damage. BAD do not advise deliberate exposure to the sun to increase vitamin D levels.

A “consensus vitamin D position statement” published in 20104 by BAD along with a number of other health organisations advises: “The time required to make sufficient vitamin D is typically short and less that the amount of time needed for the skin to redden and burn. Regularly going outside for a matter of minutes around the middle of the day without sunscreen should be enough.”

The organisations advise that little and often is the best method for sun exposure as well as increasing the amount of skin exposed. 

 

Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency

Many people have no symptoms. Low levels of vitamin D (defined by the Department of Health as a plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D level of less than 25nmol/l) can lead to increased disease risk. Persistently low levels (below 25nmol/l) are associated with an increased risk of rickets and osteomalacia . The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance also states that levels below 25nmol/l indicate a risk of deficiency.

 Dietary sources

Dietary sources of vitamin D include oily fish and eggs. Infant formula milk is fortified with vitamin D, and some manufacturers of breakfast cereals, dairy products and low-fat spreads add small amounts to their products5. However, it is difficult to get adequate levels of vitamin D from diet alone. www.easthillpharmacy.com