Health

Timely health advice for Christmas & New Year

With the festive period nearly upon us, it is a good time to look at some of the seasonal health issues that you may encounter: 1) Coughs and sneezes – colder weather, central heating and more indoor activities mean colds and flu viruses spread easily at this time of year. Hand washing and safely binning used tissues reduce transmission. Fluids, rest and over the counter treatments ensure these virtually always settle on their own without the need to visit your doctor. 2) Norovirus – aka winter vomiting bug. As the name suggests, an unpleasant highly infectious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhoea at this time of year. It will usually settle in 48 hours or so with rest and fluids. It is very important to wash hands frequently and to isolate yourself from work or school until the symptoms have been gone for at least two days. 3) Indigestion – ‘Tis the season to overindulge, with rich food, large meals and alcohol. Unfortunately this can be a recipe for heartburn and bloating. Keep portion sizes down by using smaller plates, avoid alcohol on an empty stomach and avoid eating late at night. Propping yourself up more upright at night and the use of over the counter antacids can also help. Remember though, if things don’t settle down, persistent indigestion is something you should see your doctor about. 4) Alcohol – Heartburn isn’t the only downside to drinking too much - hangovers are not on anyone’s Christmas list. Try alternating alcoholic drinks with soft drinks, drink plenty of water to counter the dehydrating effects of the alcohol and try and have some alcohol free days to allow your body a chance to recover. 5) Stress – Christmas is meant to be a happy time to spend with family and friends, but the reality is that sometimes families cooped up together, coupled with the pressure of producing a ‘perfect’ day, can cause a huge amounts of stress. Try not to focus on ‘perfect’ but on things being ‘good enough’. It is only one day after all. 6) Loneliness – On the other end of the scale, while some are struggling with a houseful, others can feel very isolated at this time of year. There are lots of helpful agencies out there including The Silver Line for older people, offering information, friendship and advice 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 0800 470 8090. 7) Food poisoning – A common problem at this time of year, with underdone turkey and reheated food being prime culprits. Store raw meat at the bottom of the fridge where it can’t drip on any other food, don’t refreeze food, cool leftovers quickly in the fridge and use within two days and wash hands and surfaces with hot soapy water if they have been in contact with raw meat. 8) Icy conditions – When the weather turns icy, emergency departments start to fill up with broken bones. If you need to head out in icy weather, make sure you wear suitable footwear, take short shuffling steps, bend forward slightly to keep your centre of gravity forward, so that if you fall you are less likely to fall back and bang your head, keep your hands out of your pockets and keep to treated paths if possible. 9) Accidents – Over the years I have seen all kinds of yuletide-related accidents: electrocuting oneself on fairy lights, falling out of the loft while getting the decorations down and a broken toe from dropping a frozen turkey on it! Try to be careful, and if there are roller skates under the tree – make sure there’s a helmet and knee pads too! So eat, drink and make merry . . . but not too much! And here’s to a happy and healthy 2021 n

Dr Rachel Tyler is a doctor at

Stirling Road Surgery, St Budeax

HEALTH & BEAUTY Better care for have all the information about their care available in one place, and be able to better self-manage their Parkinson’s sufferers condition. ‘This new approach has led to a much more reactive, flexible service. It means that patients are seen when they need to be, and can access support and People with Parkinson’s in the South West are being information easily.’ supported to better manage their condition with an A resource folder is given to patients when they innovative new ‘Home Based Care start the pathway. It contains Pathway’ launched last October. attractively designed materials, The service reform, brought and includes information on about by a team of researchers led how to recognise and manage by University Hospitals Plymouth different Parkinson’s symptoms, (UHP) and University of as well as what to do if help Plymouth, could reduce waiting is needed. The team is using lists and improve quality of care patient feedback to improve for patients. upon the materials. Despite guidelines that consultant The resources also highlight reviews should be every six other important aspects of months, a patient experience wellbeing such as exercise, and survey found 46% of patients provides support information for had appointments delayed by carer partners. more than six months, and some As well as the self-management had not seen a community nurse information, patients are within a year. monitored regularly at home. By changing the setup of review Patients wear a wrist-worn device appointments, patients are now which monitors movement seen when they need it most. In symptoms and is supplemented addition, they are provided with with questionnaires which asks a suite of resources and wearable technology to closely monitor their condition at home. “ The goal, according to Dr Camille Carroll, patients about other Parkinson’s symptoms, such as their mood. This information is then fed to The goal, according to Dr Camille Carroll, consultant consultant neurologist at the Parkinson’s team who can work remotely to support patients neurologist at UHP and associate UHP and associate to manage their troublesome professor at the University of professor at the symptoms and provide additional Plymouth, is to empower patients to be in control of managing their University of Plymouth, is help, or review, if needed. The Home Based Care pathway condition. to empower patients to has been rolled out across She said: ‘We learned that be in control of managing Plymouth, West Devon and East patients wanted to be better informed about their Parkinson’s, their condition. ” Cornwall with 87 people with Parkinson’s on the new pathway. n

Dr Camille Carroll Consultant Neurologist UHP Associate Professor University of Plymouth