THACKLEY TRUMPIT JULY 2014 HEALTH MATTERS - BE SMART IN THE SUN

Health Matters - Be smart in the sun

By Consultant Pharmacist - Nick Parmar

How does the sun damage skin?

Sunlight is made up of different types of radiation: the Visible part which we see, the infrared part which we feel as heat and the one we cannot see or feel - Ultraviolet (UV) radiation.  It’s this ultraviolet (UV) radiation that damages skin cells. There are two types of UV rays UVA and UVB. Both types cause skin cell damage and skin cancer and it is UVA that is responsible for sunburn. So as the Aussies say Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek, Slide.

Slip on sun protective clothing 

Cover up with clothing made of a closely woven material such as cotton, polycotton or linen to block out the sunlight. If we can see through it, the UV can get through.
Remember wet clothes let through more UV than dry clothes.

Slop on a sunscreen with at least SPF15

The higher the SPF the greater the protection from UVB, children and those with pale skin should use SPF30.
Choose a ‘broad spectrum’ sunscreen which means it protects against both UVB & UVA rays. The UVA star rating should be 4 or 5.
Apply generously – around 2 teaspoons for your head, arms & neck at least 2 tablespoons to cover exposed skin if you’re in your swimming gear.
Re-apply sunscreen every 2 hours – it comes off through washing, sweating etc.
Re-apply after swimming even if it’s labelled waterproof.
Watch out for those easy to miss areas – lips, ears, around your eyes, neck, scalp particularly if the hair is thinning, backs of hands and feet.
Health Matters - Be Smart in the Sun 
by Nick Parmar - Senior Pharmacist at Thackley Pharmacy

Slap on a hat

A broad brimmed hat gives good protection for the neck, face, nose and ears – the areas most commonly affected by sun damage.

Seek shade

The UV radiation is most intense between 11am and 3pm.  Even when we find a shady spot we still need to use other sun protection because the UV rays are reflected off surfaces around us such as sand, water and concrete.

Slide on some sunglasses

The sun can burn/damage the eyes. Sunglasses offer good protection but not all of them are adequate – look for a pair that has one of the following:
The ‘CE Mark’ and British standard BS EN 1836:1997
A UV400 label
A statement that the sunglasses offer 100% UV protection.

Did you Know ?

Sunscreens can go off - so check the use by date printed on the bottle. Most have a shelf life of 2-3 years.
Being kept in the sun can cause the sunscreen to deteriorate and become less effective – avoid buying sunscreen that has been kept on the shelf in direct sunlight or outside when abroad. Keep your sunscreen in the shade.
You can burn in the water – even if you are swimming in a pool or snorkelling in the sea
Clouds can give a false sense of security - UV radiation from sunshine still comes through thin cloud
The sun’s rays are more powerful at high altitudes – so even though it’s cooler up the mountain you will need more skin protection
There is no such thing as a healthy tan. A tan is the skin’s  response to the sun’s damaging rays and is therefore an    indicator of the amount of sun damage.
Sun beds are just as damaging as sunshine.

For further help and information www.sunsmart.org.uk run by Cancer Research, the UK’s national skin cancer prevention campaign.

THACKLEY TRUMPIT JUNE 2014 ECCLESHILL TREATMENT CENTRE

Possible Closure of Eccleshill Treatment Centre

A reader in Idle contacted me last month regarding the closure of  the Eccleshill Treatment Centre and has received the following information and is happy to pass it on to all Trumpit readers.
From: Jeanette Sunderland 
Hello Peter 
I understand that you have rung the office about the Eccleshill Treatment Centre. Please see below the latest info put out be David (about an hour ago). If you want anything else then please don't hesitate to get in touch. Hope all is well. Jeanette
Eccleshill Treatment Centre
Care UK was awarded the contract to provide services at Eccleshill Treatment Centre from July 2010. The Treatent Centre was one of the first Independent Treatment Centres in the country and was established in 2005.
The current contract for the services provided from Eccleshill Treatment Centre started in July 2010 and was awarded to a private company, Care UK, for three years and extended for one year to allow for a new contract to be awarded. Contracts for services for patients in Bradford are awarded by the Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG’s)  Intensive efforts are being made to ensure that services currently provided by Care UK at the Eccleshill Treatment Centre continue to be provided, either at the Centre by other qualified providers for example by another private contractor or by the National Health Service itself or elsewhere if capacity spare capacity exists.
I have been told that Care UK "are being fantastic with staff" in terms of informing them about what is happening. There still seems to be a lack of understanding about what has happened and why Care UK was not awarded the contract for a further three years. This lack of understanding is not helped by the failure of the CCG to publicly state, in detail, why the contract was not renewed. The CCG state that this failure to provide further details is because of the commercial sensitivity of the information at a time when the CCG is working hard to find alternative providers. This may well be true but it is resulting in not only a degree of suspicion about the motive behind the failure to renew the contract but also a belief by some of the Care UK staff that they are purposely being kept in the dark. At a time when the Care UK staff are fearful of their futures this can only make matters worse for them.
The whole issue was discussed at a meeting of the Council's Health and Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 7 May. Because of the commercial confidentiality already referred to, the meeting had to go into a private session with the public excluded. In the public session of the meeting it became quite clear that the contract with Care UK has been subsidised with funding that had to be taken elsewhere from the NHS budget. The meeting agreed to receive a report after the 7th July with details of the services that would continue to be provided after the present contract with Care UK came to its end.
Progress by the CCG in ensuring that services continue to be available after the 7th July were reported to a meeting of GPs and Practice Managers on 8th May. It seems that some of the work currently carried out at the Eccleshill Treatment Centre will continue to be carried out there by qualified providers* with some of the other work being carried out elsewhere by existing providers. The CCG gave assurances that the    Eccleshill Treatment Centre will not close. The following services of the Eccleshill Community Hospital Campus are NOT affected by the retendering of services from the Treatment Centre and continue as normal. These are the Eccleshill Community Hospital, Ashcroft Surgery, GP Out of Hours Service, Ear, nose and throat services (ENT), the Community Hospital and the Musculoskeletal (MSK) services.
In Westminster, I have met with the Head of Hospital Inspections for the Care Quality Commission and received reassurances that anyone who takes over these contract would be subject to rigorous monitoring and regulation.
*A qualified provider can either be a part of the National Health Service or a private contractor. Since April 2012, patients have more choice about which health services they can use within the NHS. The Any Qualified Provider (AQP) scheme means that, for some conditions, patients will be able to choose from a range of approved providers, such as hospitals or high street service providers. Patients and GPs can choose a service based on what's important to them – perhaps one that is closer to home, has a shorter waiting list or better outcomes.
With Best Wishes  David Ward MP

Eccleshill Treatment Centre
I have again discussed with the CCG the progress that is being made to protect the services provided at the Eccleshill Treatment Centre (ETC). I have been assured that intensive efforts are being made by the CCG to seek a way forward that involves maximising the provision of NHS services in the ETC when the existing contract with Care UK ends on 7th July.  
All the adverts for Alternative Qualified Providers are now out but there then has to be a four week period so they can write their bids and we will know the level of interest. A tentative expression of interest in taking over the whole of the building has been received from two potential service providers but it would contravene the strict procurement rules to develop these further until the tender period has ended when all expressions of interest can be evaluated.
The building is not owned by the CCG (it is owned by NHS Property Services) and this adds to the complexity of seeking future service providers.
It is important to once again stress that the Community Hospital, Ashcroft GP Surgery & GP out-of-hours service are all unaffected by the changes that are now being considered for the ETC.
The CCG will be shortly providing a more detailed update along with a comprehensive Q&A statement which will be published on their website  www.bradfordcityccg.nhs.uk/ 
With Best Wishes   David Ward MP

Let us all hope this matter will be resolved to the satisfaction of all concerned and the area has its Treatment Centre back in operation as swiftly as possible. Thank you Peter for your efforts in this controversial matter.

THACKLEY TRUMPIT JUNE 2014 HEALTH MATTERS - DIFFICULTY SLEEPING

Health Matters - Combating Difficulty Sleeping...

By Consultant Pharmacist - Nick Parmar

Insomnia is difficulty getting to sleep or staying asleep for long enough to feel refreshed the next morning. It's difficult to define what normal sleep is because everyone is different. Your age, lifestyle, environment and diet all play a part in influencing the amount of sleep you need. 
The most common symptoms of insomnia are:
Difficulty falling asleep
Waking up during the night
Waking up early in the morning
Feeling irritable, tired and finding it difficult to function during the day.
It is important to try and identify a cause of the insomnia, that way the cause can be dealt with or avoided in order to prevent insomnia from continuing.
Before resorting to over-the-counter medication or prescription only medication, there are many lifestyle changes that can be made in order to promote healthy sleeping patterns…

Sleep hygiene

There are a variety of different practices that are necessary to have normal, quality nighttime sleep and full daytime alertness.

Why is it important to practice good sleep hygiene?
Sleep hygiene is important for everyone, from childhood through adulthood. A good sleep hygiene routine promotes healthy sleep and daytime alertness. Good sleep hygiene practices can prevent the development of sleep problems and   disorders.

What are some examples of good sleep hygiene?

The most important sleep hygiene measure is to maintain a regular wake and sleep patterns seven days a week. It is also important to spend an appropriate amount of time in bed, not too little, or too excessive. This may vary by individual. 

Good sleep hygiene practices include:

Avoid napping during the day. It can disturb the normal pattern of sleep and wakefulness.

Avoid stimulants such as caffeine, nicotine and alcohol too close to bedtime. While alcohol is well known to speed the onset of sleep, it disrupts sleep in the second half as the body begins to metabolize the alcohol, causing arousal.

Exercise can promote good sleep. Vigorous exercise should be taken in the morning or late afternoon. A relaxing exercise, like yoga, can be done before bed to help initiate a restful night's sleep.

Food be disruptive right before sleep.  Stay away from large meals close to bedtime. Also dietary changes can cause sleep problems, if someone is struggling with a sleep problem, it's not a good time to start experimenting with spicy dishes. And, remember, chocolate has caffeine.

Ensure adequate exposure to natural light. This is particularly important for older people who may not venture outside as frequently as children and adults. Light exposure helps maintain a healthy sleep-wake cycle.

Establish a regular relaxing bedtime routine.

Associate your bed with sleep. It's not a good idea to use your bed to watch TV, listen to the radio, or read.

Self-treatment of insomnia with over-the-counter (OTC) drugs is advisable only for transient or short-term insomnia. OTC products should only be used for a short period of time in   conjunction with changes in sleeping habits. Chronic use of these drugs may result in dependence on them. This creates a situation in which sleep is not possible unless the drug is used.
If lifestyle changes fail to help create a healthy sleeping pattern speak to the Pharmacist regarding other options or to discuss whether speaking to your doctor would be appropriate.

THACKLEY TRUMPIT MAY 2014 HEALTH MATTERS - HAY FEVER

Health Matters - Hay fever?

By Consultant Pharmacist - Nick Parmar

Now the summer weather is on its way, some of you may have noticed your nose has been itching, or you’ve been sneezing more than usual...

What is hay fever?

Hay fever (seasonal allergic rhinitisis) is an allergy caused by pollen grains released  during the pollen season which normally runs from March to November in the UK.

What are the symptoms?

Common hay fever symptoms include sneezing, runny or blocked nose, itchy eyes, mouth and throat. Less common hay fever symptoms are headaches and hives.

How can it be relieved?

Although it is very difficult to avoid exposure to pollen there are a number of measures you can take that will help you to minimise exposure and ease the severity of your hay fever symptoms. Following these steps may help provide some relief from your symptoms:

Keep windows closed when at home and overnight. Most pollen is released in the early morning and falls to ground level in the evenings when the air cools.

When outdoors, wear sunglasses to keep pollen out of your eyes. Hay fever sufferers can experience itchy eyes when coming into contact with pollen spores.

Avoid drying your clothes outside when pollen counts are high. If you do, shake items before bringing them inside. 

Keep car windows closed when driving and fit a pollen filter to reduce the impact of pollen spores.

When indoors, there are a number of useful tips to reduce the impact of hay fever symptoms such as: vacuuming regularly, avoid bringing fresh flowers indoors, and be aware that pets can bring pollen in on their fur.

Don't allow smoking in the house as this will irritate the lining of your nose, eyes, throat and airways, making your hay fever symptoms worse.

After being outside, shower and wash your hair to remove pollen.

Hay fever sufferers can benefit from a wide range of medication which can be prescribed by your GP, or alternatively purchased over the counter here at the Pharmacy. 

OTC treatments include:Antihistamine tablets or nasal sprays – 

Antihistamines treat hay fever by blocking the action of the chemical histamine, which the body releases when it thinks it is under attack from an allergen. This prevents the symptoms of the allergic reaction from occurring. Antihistamines are   usually effective at treating itching, sneezing and watery eyes, but they may not help with clearing a blocked nose.
Corticosteroid nasal sprays and drops - Corticosteroids (steroids) are used to treat hay fever because they have an anti-inflammatory effect. Corticosteroids (steroids) are used to treat hay fever because they have an anti-inflammatory effect and also can help treat a blocked nose.

Nasal decongestants - 

A decongestant, in the form of a nasal spray, can relieve blocked nose. Decongestants reduce the swelling of the blood vessels in your nose, which opens your nasal passage and makes breathing easier.

Eye drops - 

Eye drops are available from your pharmacist to treat the hay fever symptoms that affect your eyes, such as redness,     itchiness and watering. These drops contain antihistamine to reduce the inflammation in your eyes, which will relieve the symptoms.
Please do not hesitate to come and speak to us if you are  suffering this pollen season so we can help you find the most suitable OTC treatment for you!

THACKLEY TRUMPIT APRIL 2014 HEALTH MATTERS - BLADDER PROBLEMS?

Health Matters - Bladder Problems?

By Consultant Pharmacist - Nick Parmar

Urinary incontinence is a common problem, affecting women more commonly than men. Many people are embarrassed by the problem but, importantly, incontinence is often treatable through life style changes and, if necessary, medication which can be prescribed by your doctor.

So what is urinary incontinence?

If you have urinary incontinence it means that you pass urine when you do not mean to.  Incontinence may cause you distress as well as being a hygiene problem. It is not clear   exactly how many people are affected, but it is estimated that between three and six million people in the UK have some degree of urinary incontinence. Stress incontinence and urge incontinence are the most common types of incontinence.

stress incontinence – when the pelvic floor muscles are too weak to prevent   urination, causing urine to leak when your bladder is under pressure, for example when you cough or laugh 

urge incontinence – when urine leaks as you feel an intense urge to pass urine, or soon afterwards.

What causes urinary incontinence? 

In urge incontinence, the urgent and frequent need to pass urine can be caused by a problem with the detrusor muscles in the walls of the bladder. The detrusor muscles relax to allow the bladder to fill with urine, then contract when you go to the toilet to let the urine out.

Stress incontinence happens when the pressure inside your bladder as it fills with urine becomes greater than the strength of your urethra to stay closed (the urethra is the tube through which urine passes out of your body).

How can you manage your urinary incontinence?

Urinary incontinence can usually be diagnosed after a consultation with your GP, who will ask about your symptoms and may carry out a pelvic examination.

Your GP may suggest you keep a diary in which you note how much fluid you drink and how often you have to urinate.

If your GP thinks a urinary infection might be the underlying cause, they will test a sample of your urine.

Treatments of urinary incontinence include:

lifestyle changes, such as losing weight

pelvic floor muscle training (exercising your pelvic floor      muscles by squeezing them) 

bladder training, so you can wait longer between needing to urinate and passing urine

If these measures are not effective, medication may be used to treat stress and urge incontinence. 

Other lifestyle changes include:

Changing how much you drink. If you drink large volumes, it follows that you will pass more urine. If you suffer with incontinence, you should not restrict your fluid intake too much, as you risk having a lack of body fluid (dehydration).

Changing what you drink. Drinks containing caffeine (for   example, tea, coffee, hot chocolate and cola) make urge    incontinence worse. 

Avoiding constipation. Try to maintain a healthy balanced diet that contains plenty of fruit, vegetables and soluble fibre. Severe long-term (chronic) constipation can stop the bladder emptying properly and cause overflow urinary incontinence.

Preventing urinary incontinence

It is not always possible to prevent urinary incontinence, but there are some steps you can take to reduce the chance of the condition developing, such as:

controlling your weight

reducing or stopping your alcohol consumption

keeping fit

If you feel that urinary incontinence is something that interferes with your daily life do not hesitate to speak to your GP about it. It is a common problem that shouldn't be ignored - don't be embarrassed to talk about it! 

THACKLEY TRUMPIT DECEMBER 2013 HEALTH MATTERS

Health Matters- Dealing With Asthma as the Cold Weather Sets In...

By Consultant Pharmacist - Nick Parmar

As the temperatures drop and colds and flu are on the increase, asthmatics may find that their condition worsens. If you're one of the 5.4 million people with asthma in the UK, then the following advice on how to deal with asthma as   winter arrives may be of benefit to you…

Why does asthma get worse at this time of year?

So you might wonder why asthmatics suffer more during the winter months. Its usually one of two reasons - One, the air is cold and dry which can trigger an asthma attack and two, having a cold or flu can worsen asthma considerably. The signs of worsening asthma symptoms may include wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, a cough and waking up during the night.

How to deal with worsening asthma caused by winter weather, colds and flu

If your asthma is well-controlled, you are less likely to suffer during the winter months. The best piece of advice we at Thackley Pharmacy can give is that asthma sufferers keep their condition under control by using their medication as  prescribed by their doctor. Regular use of a preventer inhaler can stop asthma attacks from occurring so reducing the need of a 'reliever' inhaler which is used once an attack has set in. In order to ensure that inhaler treatment is sufficient and appropriate during the winter months, it is vital to have regular asthma reviews with your doctor or pharmacist. Here at Thackley, our pharmacist will happily review your inhaler use during a 'Medicines Use Review'. If you are using your reliever inhaler more regularly or, perhaps your 'preventer' inhalers aren't doing the trick, our pharmacist will advise you on your inhaler technique and may refer you to your doctor if he feels that your asthma treatment needs amending to get you through the winter months.

Colds and flu are the main culprits for causing asthma attacks around this time of year. Those with asthma who happen to get the flu are at a higher risk than the general population of developing complications of influenza, such as bronchitis and pneumonia. Because of this, it is important that measures are taken to avoid the flu. The best way to prevent      influenza is to have the 'flu jab'. It does not 100% guarantee you will not suffer from the flu but it does make the chances of you getting the flu less likely and significantly reduces the severity of the illness. No matter how old you are, those with respiratory illnesses including asthma are eligible for the flu jab. If you need any advice ask our pharmacist or visit your GP.

Having good hygiene is the best way to avoid illnesses       including coughs, colds and flu. Washing your hands regularly can help reduce the likelihood of you catching a cold,          especially if your work colleagues or family members are coughing and sniffling!

Generally keeping warm and looking after yourself at this time of year is very important. If you're venturing out on a cold day make sure you wrap up warm. Cold air may trigger an asthma attack, so wearing a scarf over your nose and mouth can help warm up the air before you breathe it in reducing the risk of the cold air causing an attack. 

Win the war with worsening asthma this winter...

To give you the best chance of keeping your asthma under control this winter follow this advice:

-  Avoid going out if possible on very cold, windy days.
-  If you do have to venture out, wear a scarf over your nose and mouth and keep yourself warm.
-  Make extra effort to take your regular medications and ensure that you keep your reliever inhalers close by in case of an attack.

-  Don't be afraid to pop by and speak to the Pharmacist here at Thackley if you have any concerns about your condition or feel like your asthma isn't under control.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!