STAYING HEALTHY THIS WINTER!

The Okehampton Medical Centre’s quick guide to staying healthy this winter.

1. GET VACCINATED.

Flu Vaccination

Flu can be unpleasant but if you are otherwise healthy it can clear up on its own in a week or so. However flu can be more severe in certain people who are more likely to develop potentially serious complications. Flu vaccinations are available every year on the NHS to protect adults and children at risk of flu and its complications. These are free of charge to:

• People aged 65 or over
• Pregnant women
• Adults with long term health conditions
• Children over 6 months with a long term health condition or children aged 2, 3 or 4 and those in school years 1, 2 & 3
• Carers

To find out if you are eligible for a free flu vaccination please contact your GP surgery.

Shingles Vaccination

The Shingles vaccination is to prevent shingles, a common painful skin disease mostly affecting those in their 70s. Shingles begins with a burning sensation in the skin followed by a rash of very painful fluid-filled blisters that can then burst and turn into sores before healing. Some people are left with pain lasting for years after the initial rash has healed and is fatal for around 1 in 1,000 over 70s who develop it.

From September 2016 the shingles vaccine is routinely available to people aged 70 – 78. Your Doctor will invite you to the surgery for the vaccine when you become eligible.

1. KEEP YOUR ASTHMA UNDER CONTROL IN THE COLD WEATHER

Cold weather is a common trigger for asthma symptoms. Asthma UK advise the following measures to help you keep your symptoms controlled in the cold.

• Make sure you get the flu vaccination and have an Asthma Nurse review.
• Carry your reliever inhaler with you at all times and keep taking your regular preventer inhaler as prescribed by your Doctor.
• If you need to use your inhaler more often than usual, speak to your Doctor/Nurse about reviewing your medication.
• Keep warm and dry – wear gloves, a scarf and a hat and carry an umbrella.
• Wrap a scarf loosely over your nose and mouth – this will help to warm up the air before you breathe it in.
• Try breathing through your nose instead of your mouth as your nose warms the air as you breathe in.

1. COPING WITH COLDS AND FLU

Most of us will have a cold this autumn or winter, and some of us will have the flu. The main symptoms of winter cold and flu bugs are:

• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Blocked nose
• Sore throat
• Headache
• A slight temperature

If these are the only symptoms you have, it is unlikely that your GP will be able to do anything. You may wish to visit your local pharmacy, where you can get advice on how to manage the symptoms and buy over the counter medicines such as painkillers like paracetamol and ibuprofen as well as decongestants which help to reduce the swelling inside your nose so you can breathe more easily.  It is also important to get rest, eat well and keep hydrated.

Help stop germs spreading

CATCH IT, Always carry tissues and use them to catch your sneeze or cough.

BIN IT, Dispose of your tissues as soon as possible.

KILL IT, Clean your hands as soon as you can.

If you would like any further advice for staying healthy during the winter please visit the NHS website www.nhs.uk or contact your GP surgery.