Self Help

 

Nose Bleeds    |    Minor Cuts and Grazes    |    Burns    |    Child with High Temperature

Sunburn    |    Insect Bites and Bee Stings    |    Cold and Flu-like Symptoms

Diarrhoea or Gastroenteritis    |    Measles    |    Chickenpox    |    Mumps    |    German Measles (Rubella)

Headlice    |    A Healthy Diet    |    Smoking    |    Alcohol    |    Back Pain

Bedsores    |    Useful medicines to keep in the home

 
Nose Bleeds
  Sit in a chair (leaning forward with your mouth open) and pinch your nose just below the bone for approximately 10 minutes, by which time the bleeding should have stopped. If symptoms persist please consult your A&E Department.
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Minor Cuts and Grazes
  Wash the wound thoroughly with a little soap. To stop the bleeding apply a clean handkerchief or dressing firmly to the wound for about 5 minutes. Cover with clean dry dressing.
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Burns
  Apply large quantities of cold water to the area affected as soon as possible and maintain this until the pain subsides. This may take as long as 15 minutes. If the skin is unbroken but blistered apply a loose dry dressing. If the burn is larger than 2 or 3 inches in width or the skin is broken, consult you Doctor or Casualty Department.
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Sunburn
  Treat as with other burns with cold water to remove heat. Calamine lotion will remove the irritation whislt paracetamol will also help. Children are particularily susceptible to sunburn and great care should be taken to avoid over-exposure to harmful effects of the sun.
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Insect Bites and Bee Stings
  Antihistamine tablets can be obtained from the chemist without prescription and will usually relieve most symptoms. NOTE: Bee stings should be scraped away rather than plucked in order to avoid squeezing the contents of the venom sac into the wound.
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Cold and Flu-like Symptoms
  Even in this day and age there is no magic cure for the common cold. Go to bed. Take plenty of drinks. If you have a headache or are feverish, take aspirin or paracetamol. Antibiotics do not have any effect.
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Diarrhoea or Gastroenteritis
  Gastroenteritis describes a group of diseases affecting the stomach or part of the intestine. Symptoms are often diarrhoea, sickness and stomach ache. Because the lining of the stomach is likely to be inflamed, food and medicine are often vomited up. These should therefore be avoided. Instead, sip large quantities of water, cordials o squashes but not milk. Consult your doctor if symptoms persistfor more than 48 hours. In the case of young children or babies use oral re-hydration fluids which are available from the chemist (such as Rehydrate or Dioralyte) and consult the doctor if the symptoms last for more than a day or are particularly severe.
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Measles
  This usually causes high temperature, cough and sore eyes before the rash appears until about 10 days after that date. The rash is blotchy and red and appears on face on body. It is contagious from 2 or 3 days before the rash appears until about 10 days after that date. The MMR vaccination can prevent this.
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Chickenpox
  The rash appears as small red patches with small blisters in the centre. During the next 3 or 4 days, further patches will appear and the earlier ones will turn crusty and fall off. The rash is itchy and fever may occur. Calamine lotion and paracetamol give relief.
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Mumps
  Painful swelling of the glands in front of one or both ears occurs. The patient is infectious from 2 or 3 days before swelling appears until about 8 to 10 days after that date.
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German Measles (Rubella)
  The rash appears during the first day and usually covers body, arms and legs in pink patches, 2-4mm. It is infectious from 2 days before the rash appears, and up to about 7 days afterwards. It can be harmful to the unborn child, therefore it is important to inform all contacts in order that anyone who may be pregnant can contact their Doctor. All children should be immunised by the MMR vaccine at about 18 months.
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Headlice
  These creatures prefer clean hair, and are therefore not a sign of poor hygiene. Medicated head lotions are available from the chemist.
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A Healthy Diet
  Steps to a healthier diet:
  • Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.
  • Cut down n your fat intake by eating lean meats and using low fat spreads or cooking oils.
  • Choose wholemeal bread instead of white.
  • Try nuts and dry fruits instead of sweets and chocolate.
  • Drink atleast 2 pints of water a day.
  • Cut down on your salt intake.
  • Try not to overcook vegetables as it causes a massive loss of goodness.
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Smoking
  Every cigarette you smoke can shorten your life by an average of five and a half minutes. Giving up smoking is all about motivation. Set a date in the future when you are going to stop smoking and tell all your friends so that they can support you in your decision. When the big day comes plan carefully to keep yourself busy and try to avoid situations, which may tempt you into having a cigarette. You could put aside the money that you would spend and save up to treat yourself. If you have tried everything and still want to give up, contact your doctor for extra help.
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Alcohol
  in small quantities alcohol can be beneficial to health, but you should be aware of the safe limits per week. Men cn have upto 21 units and women are allowed up to 14 units (both spread over the course of the week). When you are consuming alcohol try to drink plenty of water to help your body deal with the effects of alcohol consumption.
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Back Pain
  Back pain causes 13 million working days to be lost in Britain each year. The spine supports the whole weight of the body so it is understandable that it sometimes goes wrong. Because of the complex nature of the spine it is advisable to consult your doctor if the back pain exists for mare than a few days. If as is usual the pain has been caused by abuse ie, lifting heavy weights etc, be sensible and takes things easy. Take care to sit as upright as possible with support for the small of the back. Take aspirin or paracetamol, which will not only help to relieve the pain but will help to relieve the inflammation. Your doctor may well prescribe stronger drugs, heat treatment, gentle exercise or some sort of supportive corset.
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Bedsores
  Bedsores are far easier to prevent than to cure. They are caused by prolonged pressure to certain parts of the body when lying in bed for long periods. They can be prevented by encouraging the patient to shift position as often as possible. Take care to smooth out creases in the botton sheet of the bed linen to avoid irritation. If red marks appear at pressure points such as Heels, elbows, buttocks and hips, inform the doctor before they get worse.
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Useful medicines to keep in the home
Soluble Aspirin Tablets Antiseptic Solution Adhesive Dressing
Paracetamol Tablets Antiseptic Cream Sterile Dressing Strip
Paracetamol Solution Calamine Lotion Wide Crepe Bandage
 
Menthol Crystals Scissors Cotton Wool
Vapour Rub Safety Pins Thermometer
Ephedrine Nose Drops Tweezers  
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Main Surgery
 Balfour Medical Centre
2 Balfour Road
Grays
Essex RM17 5NS

Phone : 01375 373366
Fax : 01375 394562
eMail : info@balfourmc.com

Branch Surgery
 58 Heath Road
Chadwell St Mary
Grays
Essex RM16 4UT

Phone : 01375 842875

 

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Last Modified: Thursday, November 15, 2001.
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