Last year my elderly mother ran out of her medication over the Christmas holidays.
What can I do this year to prevent this from happening again?
To avoid your mother running out of her medication over this festive period, make sure she checks what she has left, and only order what she'll need to get her through the holidays. She should make sure any repeat prescription she needs is ordered in plenty of time (by Friday 19th December at the latest) and collected before the holidays. This year, GP surgeries will be closed for four days over Christmas (December 25-28) and for four days over New Year (January 1-4) so it even more important to be well prepared.
If for whatever reason someone does happen to run out of their repeat medicine, and their GP surgery is closed, a community pharmacist should be able to help out in most cases under the NHS national scheme for the urgent supply of repeat medicines/appliances. If your medicine is not covered under this scheme, they can advise on what course of action you should take.
To find out your nearest local pharmacy and its opening times, call the NHS Helpline on 0800 22 44 88 (8am to 10pm, 7 days) or use the online search tool at www.nhs24.com For further information on keeping healthy this winter, visit www.nhsinform.co.uk
Do you have any advice for treating hangovers?
The best way to treat a hangover is to avoid getting one! Most of the symptoms of hangover are cause by dehydration. Pace your drinking and ensure you take drinks of water or fruit juice along with any alcoholic ones. It is better to remain sober and remember a good night out, than pass out and forget it. You are also less likely to be injured or attacked if you are sober and alert.
Treatment of hangovers involves rehydrating the body and dealing with the painful symptoms. Over-the-counter pain killers will help to cope with the pain of headaches and muscle cramps. Paracetamol-based remedies are preferable as aspirin or ibuprofen may further irritate the stomach and increase nausea and sickness.
There is evidence to suggest that fructose, a natural sugar found in fruit juice and honey, helps the body to process alcohol faster. Bouillon soup (a thin vegetable-based broth) is also a good source of vitamins and minerals (including salt and potassium) to top up the body's depleted resources.
Alcohol causes dehydration due to the loss of salt and minerals from the body.
You can replace these by drinking plenty of bland liquids such as water and soda water. Some isotonic drinks are now available in most shops, which replace lost salt in the body.
What is Gum Disease?
Gum disease (also known as gingivitis) and periodontitis, which can follow a case of gum disease, are two conditions that affect the teeth and gums.
Gum disease causes red and inflamed, swollen gums and bleeding gums when brushing teeth.
Gum disease is usually caused by a build-up of plaque on the teeth. Plaque is a sticky substance made up of bacteria. It is usually removed by brushing the teeth but, if it builds up, the bacteria can irritate the gums and cause inflammation.
Regular visits to the dentist will ensure the health of your teeth and gums is kept up to date.
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