Is it true that the weather can affect your moods?

I feel that it has been a particularly long winter and I am looking forward to the spring.

The amount of sunlight we get can affect our mood, energy levels, sex drive and appetite. If you feel less sociable and down in the winter months, you may be affected by a condition know as the winter blues. More severe depressive symptoms linked to changes in daylight are known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

Here are our 3 top tips for beating the winter blues:

1. Get active - exercise can help; a walk for an hour at midday can help you to feel energised and improve overall wellbeing.

2. Light therapy - one way to get light therapy at home in winter is to sit in front of a special type of light box which gives out very bright light at a particular intensity . There is no strong evidence to support long-term benefits but in the short-term this may help to lift your mood.

3. Talking treatments - treatments such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), where you talk through how you are feeling with a therapist or coach may help you cope with symptoms. CBT helps you think more positively about situations and can help you change how you react to problems.

If you are interested in find our more about the winter blues or SAD, visit www.nhsinform.co.uk

I hurt my back playing squash and now I am worried about it happening again.

You should take your time before taking part in any sports after a back problem.

If you take part in sports too soon you could be injured again. You should only take part in sports when you can move freely. Be prepared, however, for slight discomfort at first.

Remember to stretch and warm up fully before sports. There is lots of helpful advice and information about back pain and other musculoskeletal issues available at www.nhsinform.co.uk/msk

What is Laryngitis?

Laryngitis is inflammation of the larynx (voice box). Symptoms of laryngitis include:

€¢ hoarseness,

€¢ loss of voice, and

€¢ sore throat.

The larynx is a tube-like structure found at the entrance of the trachea (windpipe). The lump you can see at the front of your throat, commonly known as the Adam's apple, is your larynx.

The larynx has three main functions:

€¢ It helps channel oxygen into your trachea when you breathe.

€¢ It acts like a valve, closing off the trachea when you swallow to prevent food or liquid entering your airways.

€¢ It contains two membranes (the vocal cords) which vibrate as air passes through them, producing the sound of your voice.

Laryngitis causes these membranes to become inflamed. They cannot vibrate properly, which leads to the loss of voice associated with laryngitis.