Aroundtown Magazine November/December 2022 Edition

HEALTH & BEAUTY
You&Your
health
The 12 Pains
of Christmas
‘Tis the season to be
poorly as the drop in
temperature brings with
it a range of common
winter ailments.
By keeping warm and well
this winter, and visiting your local
pharmacy for help, you can still
enjoy the festive period without
going into hibernation.
01
On the first day
of Christmas,
my pharmacist
gave to me...
Tissues to catch a cold into
When you have a cold, it may
feel like you can’t remember
the time when your nose wasn’t
blocked or streaming but
symptoms of this mild viral infection
usually only last for a week or so.
There is no cure but you can
self-help by eating fresh produce,
taking supplements such as zinc,
echinacea and vitamin C, and
keeping hydrated. Washing your
hands regularly and discarding
used tissues can also help stop
germs from spreading.
02
On the
second day of
Christmas,
my pharmacist gave
to me...
A flu jab to protect me through
the winter
Cold’s bigger, meaner, tougher
sibling, the flu shows similar
symptoms to that of a cold but
often more intense and include
headache, fever and sore muscles.
Flu is more serious than a
cold and anyone with a long-term
health problem, seniors, and other
vulnerable people such as pregnant
women should be vaccinated
before flu season hits. This is
free on the NHS for people most
susceptible or you can pay a small
charge if not.
03
On the third day
of Christmas,
my pharmacist
gave to me...
Lozenges to ease a sore throat
Like a cold, a sore throat is
caused by a viral infection and so
cannot be treated with antibiotics.
There is no real need to seek
medical advice but you can try
over the counter remedies such
as lozenges and throat sprays
which may ease some symptoms.
However, the most recommended
way to ease inflammation is to
gargle warm saltwater.
04
On the
fourth day of
Christmas,
my pharmacist gave
to me...
Vapour rub to prevent chilblains
Being outside in the cold
temperatures can cause extremities
such as toes, fingers and ears
to develop small, red and itchy
swellings called chilblains. This
burning sensation is made worse
when you heat up too quickly after
periods in the cold weather.
People with poor circulation,
Lupus or Raynaud’s disease are
more susceptible. Wearing gloves
and thick socks can help prevent
them, and applying vapour rub can
boost circulation but shouldn’t be
applied to broken skin.
05
On the fifth day
of Christmas,
my pharmacist
gave to me...
Emollient cream for my dry skin
Chronic skin conditions such
as eczema can also flare up in
winter due to the combination
of cold temperatures, lack of
sunlight, and dehydrating
central heating.
Relieve dry, red, itchy or cracked
skin by regularly applying a thick,
non-scented moisturiser to seal
in moisture. For severe or painful
cases, a topical steroid such as
hydrocortisone can be bought
from your pharmacy.
06
On the sixth day
of Christmas,
my pharmacist
gave to me...
Antihistamines to relieve
allergies
Even if you don’t usually
have allergies, if you have a real
Christmas tree in the house you
may find yourself with hay fever-like
symptoms such as wheezing,
coughing, watery eyes or a
tight chest.
Mold that grows on the festive
fir releases spores into the air
which grow faster in the warm
indoors; this can trigger attacks in
people with asthma. Keep trees in
cool, ventilated rooms and avoid
touching them. An antihistamine will
help relieve any symptoms.
07
On the
seventh day
of Christmas,
my pharmacist gave
to me...
Antacids to reduce indigestion
Overindulging on mince pies,
chocolates, brandy sauce and a
3,000 calorie Christmas dinner is
bound to wreak havoc on our poor
stomachs. Excess acid used to
digest all this food irritates the lining
of the stomach and oesophagus
which causes heartburn, nausea
and chest pain.
Over the counter indigestion
remedies can reduce discomfort
but going for a walk after eating can
also aid digestion.
08
On the
eighth day of
Christmas,
my pharmacist gave
to me...
Diarrhea meds to ease an
upset tummy
Similarly, excess food equals
mountains of leftovers which are
often kept out of the fridge to
graze over. However, this can be a
breeding ground for bacteria and
the Food Standards Agency reports
December is the most common
time for food poisoning.
Use any leftovers within 48
hours or freeze. Defrost the turkey
in the fridge for 10-12 hours per
kilo and never wash poultry as this
spreads bacterium that would be
killed during cooking.
09
On the ninth day
of Christmas,
my pharmacist
gave to me...
Paracetamol to reduce the
hangover sore head
‘Tis the season to be jolly but
waking up with headache every
day from too much booze is not
so fun. Alcohol is a diuretic so
removes fluids from the body,
resulting in you being dehydrated
which causes sickness, dizziness
and headache.
To prevent a hangover, drink
plenty of water before bed and
in between drinks to keep your
hydration up. Painkillers will
help ease a banging head the
morning after.
8 aroundtownmagazine.co.uk