What’s your New Year’s resolution for 2015? To lose weight, quit smoking or have you decided to live an all-round healthier lifestyle? These are all great goals, but the truth is, it’s not as easy as those infomercials on TV make you believe! Continue reading “Apps to help you keep your New Year’s Resolutions”
Tag: prevention
Apps to make life easier!
App, app, app – there’s one for every possible want or need these days, but are we really using this technology to our advantage? Sure, games, instant messaging and social media apps are great and they’ve changed the way we communicate, but there’s so much more out there! Continue reading “Apps to make life easier!”
How clean is your shopping trolley?
How many of you actually take one of those sanitary wipes at the entrance to your local supermarket and wipe your trolley? Most people don’t even notice it, but it could be the difference between you being healthy or sick this festive season. Continue reading “How clean is your shopping trolley?”
Mom, when should you see the doctor?
You aren’t feeling well or your child has the flu – do you treat the symptoms from the medicine cabinet, or do you go to the doctor? Here are a safe pointers to help you decide.
Babies
Your baby’s first cold or flu can be a difficult experience for both you and your little one. If your little one is sick and feverish, you’re probably losing sleep over what to do next. See the family doctor if:
- your baby refuses to drink fluids, is only taking small sips, is vomiting every time he or she drinks and/or isn’t passing urine – these are all signs of dehydration.
- your baby’s fever won’t go down, even after a dose of baby paracetamol or ibuprofen, or has not resolved completely after 3 days.
- your baby vomits more than three times in a 24-hour period or has severe diarrhoea.
- your baby is having difficulty breathing and is gasping for air, breathing rapidly or wheezing.
- your baby has severe breathing difficulties, or his/her lips are turning blue; can’t move or has a stiff neck; or has a seizure or convulsion.
- there’s a large rash on your baby’s body, which could be a sign of measles, chicken pox or meningococcal disease, rather than cold or flu.
- your baby is under three months of age, was born prematurely or suffers from a chronic disease such as a heart condition, diabetes or respiratory conditions (asthma or cystic fibrosis for example).
Pregnant moms
It’s vital to see your doctor as soon as you know you’re pregnant as pre-natal care will makes a great difference both to your healthy pregnancy and your baby’s development. Also see your doctor if you contract a cold or stomach virus – do not take over-the-counter medications without getting them approved. If you experience any of the symptoms below, see your doctor:
- vaginal bleeding
- pelvic or abdominal pain
- gush of fluid from vagina
- regular contractions prior to 37 weeks
- swelling of the hands/face
- persistent back pain
- severe headaches, blurry vision
- no foetal movement
Sources: NHS.uk, howstuffworks.com
Men, don’t shy away from the prostate exam
We all know that breast cancer is the most common cancer for women, but did you know that prostate cancer is one of the most common in men? Particularly in older men, as the risk increases with age. The good news, however, is that treatments for prostate cancer are very effective if it’s detected early enough. Let’s take a look at how it’s diagnosed and what you can do to decrease your chances of developing this cancer. Continue reading “Men, don’t shy away from the prostate exam”
Our top 8 Hello Doctor tips
We’re all about giving you actionable health tips, and over the past year we’ve posted hundreds! We’ve covered everything from male and female health, exercise, nutrition and pregnancy to chronic health conditions and more! These are our Top 8 Health Tips, based on feedback you’ve given us on social media. What’s your favourite Hello Doctor tip? Continue reading “Our top 8 Hello Doctor tips”
What can you expect during your health assessment?
When you go for your annual medical check-up, you can expect a full physical check-up and you’ll be asked about your medical history. You might also need to have certain blood tests, for example if your doctor thinks you’re at risk for high cholesterol, or thyroid problems. More advanced testing includes ultrasound and mammograms – which become more important as you get older.
Continue reading “What can you expect during your health assessment?”
Cyberchondria – taking Dr Google too far?
Cyberchondria, so what’s it all about? Well, while it might sound like the latest video game, cybercondria is actually the online equivalent of hypochondria – and it’s fast becoming a worrying trend. If you’re someone who tends to use Google to find out more about your health symptoms, then you could be a cyberchondriac!
Continue reading “Cyberchondria – taking Dr Google too far?”
Lifestyle diseases are on the rise – are you at risk?
Lifestyle diseases are directly associated with the way a person lives, and the type of lifestyle they lead. These diseases include arteriosclerosis, heart disease, stroke, obesity, diabetes, certain cancers including colon, bowel and lung cancer, and diseases associated with smoking, alcohol and drug abuse.
Continue reading “Lifestyle diseases are on the rise – are you at risk?”
New breast cancer jab could help high risk women
It’s a huge advancement in medicine – a newly developed injection which could prevent the development of breast cancer in women. Scientists have created the jab, which is capable of stopping cancer before it begins to grow and reach its earliest stage, i.e. ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Although it’s only been tested on mice, scientists are amazed by the results, and hopeful of its potential.
Continue reading “New breast cancer jab could help high risk women”