BrooksideMost common summer minor ailments such as sunburn, hay fever, bites and stings can be seen by your local pharmacy team. They are healthcare experts who are available to help you and your family stay well this summer. They will give clinical advice, right there and then, and if symptoms suggest it’s more serious, they will direct you to the most appropriate service.
Hay Fever (Allergic Rhinitis)
Hay Fever is usually a common complaint between late March and September, especially when it is warm, humid and breezy. This is often when the pollen count is at its highest and people suffer the most.
For more information about Hay Fever and how to treat it, please visit our Hay Fever information page.
Bites and stings
Most insect bites and stings are not serious and will get better within a few hours or days. If minor symptoms are experienced, such as pain, itchiness and swelling, ‘over-the-counter’ medication can be used to ease the discomfort, however do always ask your pharmacist for advice. Occasionally they can become infected, cause a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) or spread illness such as Lyme Disease or Malaria so if symptoms do worsen please contact us or call 111 for advice.
For more information about bites and stings, please view our information page.
Sunburn
We don’t often have many weeks in the UK when the sunshine is out and we can enjoy being outside all day. We are also told that we need to expose our skin to the sunlight to increase our vitamin D. However, if we do not take the correct precautions we can be doing irreversible damage to our skin and wellbeing.
For more information about avoiding sunburn and sun safety, please visit www.nhs.uk/sunsafe
How much have you moved today?
Did you know that even a brisk walk of 30 minutes a day can reduce your chances of getting diabetes, heart disease or cancer? Being active is really good for your body, mind and health and there are lots of ways you and your family can get moving. Just a few small changes can have a very positive impact on your life and how you feel.
For more information and some great ideas on how you can get moving more, please visit www.nhs.uk/oneyou
There are also some helpful apps that have been developed by One You in conjunction with the BBC and Public Health England. So whether you want to walk more or learn to jog or run 5k, click here to find out more www.nhs.uk/apps