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Cyberchondriacs ! A report in the Daily Express says that three quarters of us now check the internet regarding their symptoms before deciding what treatment to seek and almost as many seek help from the web rather than visit their doctor, then visit their pharmacist. Although many may be misdiagnosed by this method many also said they did not visit their doctor because they (1) were too embarrasses (2) hadn't the time (3) didn't want to bother then GP. The research did not say how many did not trust the doctors to be any better ! The top searches were for Skin complaints, muscles, joints and bones, digestive, colds/flu, anxiety, migraine, Pregnancy, Sexual health, infections and Nutrition. One can only conjecture what the stats are like in countries where people have to pay for a consultation or where medical help is inaccessible.
The Queen now dispatches, on average, more than a dozen 100 year Birthday telegrams a day, an almost twentyfold increase on the 200 a year when she first ascended the throne. The birthday itself will no doubt be a happy occasion, although it carries the risk of centenarian hand (or arm) syndrome.....
A family doctor from Swansea describes how one of his patients was admitted to hospital the day after his 100th with reduced movement of his right arm that was attributed to a small stroke. "When he subsequently came to the surgery, I was surprised that his right hand grip was as strong as ever," he writes. Further careful examination revealed signs of repetitive stress injury of the shoulder joint from having shaken so many well-wishers' hands. "He was, needless to say, delighted to hear of his much less serious diagnosis."
This reflects the more general hazard in this age group where an eminently treatable condition is misinterpreted as being due to some incurable "chronic degenerative" disease. Those with pain and stiffness in the joints may too readily be labelled as suffering from "arthritis" when a simple blood test would reveal the true cause to be polymyalgia, which responds almost miraculously to a small dose of steroids.
After a trial in Scotland, the facility to make an appointment with the doctor via digital TV is being introduced countrywide. Eventually, it should also be possible to order repeat prescriptions in this way. People who have cable, Freeview or Sky TV will be able to access this service via the 'Looking Local' portal.
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I have often wondered whether to write a Health Page as I am no more qualified to do so than anyone else. But on the same basis as my Financial Page (7), where I state that I am merely quoting what I have gleaned from newspapers, magazines and the internet, here goes.
This page comprises mainly links to sites concerned with particular diseases but also deals with things such as painkillers. To see extracts from articles on various conditions see the next page
Health Links :
For people who have to pay for prescriptions costs can mount up if they have to have quite a few. Did you know that you can get a PPC (Prescription Prepayment Certificate fron the NHS. People who have to pay for more than 3 prescription items in 3 months, or 14 items in 12 months, could save money by buying a PPC. From 1 April 2008, the charge for a single prescription item is £7.10, whereas a 3-month PPC will cost you £27.85 and a 12-month PPC £102.50. The most convenient way to pay for your 12 month PPC is by Direct Debit meaning you can spread the yearly cost over 10 monthly instalments. The site to contact is http://www.ppa.org.uk/ppa/ppc_intro.htm
http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/. The first port of call: The official Health Service website (in various languages) includes
Health encyclopaedia; Common health questions;
Self-help guide;
Find a local health service;
Mind & body magazine;
Send an enquiry;
Useful links include Department of Health. Health and care in Northern Ireland.
National Library for Health . HealthSpace : A secure place on the Internet
where you can store all of your personal health information. It also includes
Choose and Book; NHS 24 (Confidential health advice and information service
for Scotland). NHS Direct Wales. NHS in England (Health information for England
only, including how to find a local service in your area).
Other 'General' Sites
Tesco are introducing a £10 in-store health test : weight, blood pressure, cholesterol and risk of diabetes. The pharmacist may give advice after the half hour test. So far only available at Chichester, Horsham, Shoreham-on-sea and Crawley
Technology to assist people with special needs :
http://www.aacawareness.org This is ISAAC which is the International Society for Augmentative Alternative Communication (!) They try to help develop alternative ways for disabled people to communicate
and http://www.fastuk.org Foundation for Assistive Technology
and Http://www.nhsinnovationslondon.com Cash for innovations
It is similar to http://www.ommunicationmatters.org.uk and
http://www.abilitynet.org.uk/enation85
Fitness, stress and exercise : http://www.channel4.com/health/microsites/0-9/4health/stress/tsg_step3.html
http://www.allexperts.com/ Ask a question.
http://www.bupa.co.uk/health_information/asp/your_health/factsheets/
http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home.html
http://www.healthsites.co.uk/patientzone.php Excellent links including a massive alphabetical list of diseases, which leads onto definitions
They even have a Doctor Zone !
http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/
http://www.arc.org.uk Arthritis research
www.ataxia.org.uk 0845 644 0606
http://www.balancetraining.org.uk/fallsAdvice/index.jsp Advice about practicing balance from Southampton University
http://www.besttreatments.co.uk/btuk/home.html (NHS)
www.bhf.org.uk (British Heart Foundation) See also www.heartstats.org and www.heartuk.org.uk
www.britishlivertrust.org.uk. British Liver Trust
http://www.britishlungfoundation.org/
www.macmillan.org.uk Help with cancer, including financial help
http://www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/ The various cancer screening programs
http://www.caredirections.co.uk
www.circlecity.co.uk (Sleep and apnoea problems)
www.britishsnoring.co.uk sell various pieces of equipment.. even ear plugs!
www.stopsnoring.co.uk. . have some ideas, too. But see also CircleCity above.
Computer neck Just my own opinion on this, which deals with computing related neck pain
RNIB.org.uk Royal National Institute for the Blind
RNIB (blind, shop)
RNID, (deaf) They do a hearing t6est if you call 0845 600 55 55
Deafness My own page on this subject . See also http://www.workingwithouthearing.com/s/stories.htm for encouraging stories of people who have found work despite their deafness
www.deafnessresearch.org.uk Good site, will email news to you
www.e-gp.com GP consultation. A charge is made
http://www.expertpatients.nhs.uk/ Expert patients are people living with a long-term health condition, who are able to take more control over their health by understanding and managing their conditions, leading to an improved quality of life.
http://www.extralife.org.uk/ Private hospital based in Oxford specialising in heart conditions. Free information pack.
www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk help with a gambling addiction
Hereditary Haemochromatosis Excess iron in the blood http://www.ghsoc.org/home.html. Can (and should ) be treated, usually by having blood taken until the iron level stabilises. For symptoms see http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/h/hemochromatosis/symptoms.htm#symptom_list Haemochromatosis due to frequent transfusions is another matter.
http://www.allaboutincontinence.co.uk Help with incontinence
www.maketimeforhealth.org (Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health)
http://www.my-blood-pressure.com/ Keeps track of, and displays, blood pressure readings. You can input directly via a USB port from the BP monitor, or manually. There is a 30 day trial and buy it on the net for £13.
http://www.ucarewecare.com/nursing-home-websites.php Nursinghomes with websites (by area)
www.ocdaction.org.uk (0845 226 3110) Obsessive-compulsive Disorder. (See below)
www.optimax.co.uk for permanent contact lenses.
Pain www.britishpainsociety.org
http://www.privatehealthcareguide.com/ Private Health Care Guide. This covers all types of private health related services.
www.prostate-cancer-awareness.co.uk
http://www.prostate-cancer.org.uk/
http://www.thepcrf.org/ Another Prostate cancer site
http://www.psoriasis-association.org.uk Psoriasis
www.sada.org.uk (SAD) People who suffer from insufficient sunlight in winter
http://www.saga.co.uk/goodhospitalguide/ Did you know that from 1st January you have the opportunity to choose between four hospitals for non urgent treatment ? Check out the standard of the hospitals in your area. Things like success rate !
Shingles www.herpes.org.uk/shingles or 0845 123 2305
Stammer www.stammering.org
www.remoteemployment.com Specialist site for home working jobs
If you want to check out the cost of surgery or dental treatment abroad take a look at http://www.treatmentabroad.net/
http://www.uktransplant.org.uk/ukt/default.jsp
Although I bet most of my 'bits' are pretty worn out I always carry a Donor
Card with me and have registered with the Organ Transplant folk here.
You never know, they might find something useful ! Sorry about the gall bladder.
It is already taken.
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Back Pain According to the Mature Times paper this is affects over a quarter of the adult population. They suggest
Don't slouch. Poor posture puts a strain on your lower back
Use correct lifting and moving techniques
Exercise regularly to keep muscles strong and flexible
Maintain a proper body weight to avoid staining muscles (and joints)
When doing daily activities try to rotate tasks to avoid repetitive
movements
As a fellow suffer, I cannot agree more with these comments. The worst
thing, I find is to slouch on sofas (and in a computer chair). Sofas
are designed for only one size of person, who appears to have very long legs,
so the average person sits in a curved position (unless they put two or three
cushions behind them). With regard to exercise my doctor (who suffers
likewise) suggests that one uses certain floor based exercise techniques
and gave me a leaflet and what to do. When my back pain eases I promise to
start them !
Did you know that Heat Therapy stimulated blood flow, helping to decrease stiffness and relax sore muscles. Cold Therapy (the frozen peas technique) works by lowering the temperature of the skin, helping to reduce swelling but also numbing the nerve endings. For sudden nuscle strains and strains the suggestion is RICE Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. The frozen peas should be applied for 20 minutes every few hours. Compression is done with an elasticated bandage. After two days move to massaging with and external pain relief product e.g Transvasin Heat Rub or Spray (or if you can't stand the strong smell try Lloyds Cream)
PAINKILLERS. These facts are quoted directly from the Good Health section of the Daily Mail (the only bit I read apart from the Financial section !) As with my financial page I claim no special knowledge.
Paracetemol : (Branded names : Panadol and Hedex) Tablet, capsule, syrup. It numbs the point of pain, such as a cut, and blocks the formation of prostoglandins, which are responsible for pain and inflammation. For headache, toothache, backache. Used for children in syrup form. Best if you suffer from stomach irritation, so better if you have ulcers. Will not reduce swelling in arthritic joints.
Ibuprofen : (Nurofen, Cuprofen) Tablet, capsule, syrup, cream and gel. The last two are for muscles and joints. Joint, muscle and dental pain. Can reduce swelling and lower temperature. It is a non steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, blocking chemicals produced by the body as a response to pain. Read the instructions/consult doctor, especially if you have high blood pressure, kidney or liver problems, stomach ulcer or other digestive problems.
Codeine : Related to Morphine, blocking pain receptors found in the ends of nerves, stopping pain from reaching the brain. Good for one-off pain relief e.g. tooth extraction, menstrual pain. Some people may experience constipation.
Aspirin : (Disprin, Aspirin Clear). Often combined with other tablets such as Anadin. Sometimes coated, partly to protect the stomach from irritation but also to release more slowly. Use for pain relief, reduce inflammation and joint pain, cold and 'flu (lowers temperature). Use soluble aspirin in a gargle for throat infections. Use as a 'one-hit' drug for headache or toothache (but note the bleeding effect) rather than for a continual problem. In low doses can prevent clots and strokes - but consult the doctor. Like Ibuprofen it numbs the point of pain, such as a cut and blocks the formation of prostoglandins, which are responsible for pain and inflammation. it also breaks down platelets in the blood, making them less likely to clot. Can irritate the stomach causing stomach ulcers and bleeding. It can have a serious side effect in younger children and should not be given to them except under medical supervision. Can also trigger asthma attacks and some people are allergic to it. So avoid if subject to asthma, have stomach problems or are taking other anti-coagulants. Don't take before of after surgery (because of the increased bleeding) and do not continue for more than two days unless on doctor's advice.
All the above section re painkillers is quoted directly from the Daily Mail Health pages. I claim no special knowledge.
HEALTH INSURANCE A friend said that it is a shame that he cannot afford health insurance just at an age when he is likely to need it ! Worth a look at www.amii.org.uk (Association of Medical Insurance Intermediaries) to find a specialist Financial Advisor who can help you through various possibilities. They are quite thin on the ground and you may have to increase the search area to 25 miles. There are BUDGET PLANS, which cover in-patient, day patient and possibly limited out-patient treatment. Some may limit the number of approved hospitals. STANDARD PLANS will cover Out-patient treatment but still may have a financial limit. Some may offer private ambulance services. COMPREHENSIVE PLANS will, in addition, cover other benefits such as Optical and Dental treatment and private GPs. You may be able to keep costs down by taking a higher excess e.g. agreeing to pay the first £500 of costs may reduce the premium by 40%. You can assume that pre-existing conditions are likely to be uncovered, as will conditions which have no known cure, such as diabetes and asthma.
N.B.
As well as the 'flu jab it is recommended that the over 65s get an
anti pneumonia jab at the doctor's. Just ask.
A pneumococcal infection can cause septicaemia and meningitis as well as
breathing difficulties
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Medical advances come thick and fast : The following page (click Here) concentrates upon articles extracted from newspapers and magazines dealing with drugs and procedures, some of which are still in the early stages of development but which, nevetheless, may give hope to some people who are suffering.
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