Aroundtown Magazine Nov/Dec 2023 edition

HEALTH & BEAUTY
You&your
ho ho health
with Andrew Watson of Good Measure Pharmacy
As it’s the season of festivities, this edition’s
health page is a light-hearted take on what advice
I would give to three popular Yuletide characters.
Father
Christmas
The outlook for jolly old Saint
Nick is bleak, as his poor diet,
busy lifestyle and lack of exercise
are wreaking havoc on his health.
Santa can always pop into his
local pharmacy to get his health
checked out – as can you.
We believers may be feeding
those binge eating habits by
leaving him a calorie laden mince
pie and glass of sherry. All this
midnight munching, along with
swallowing lots of air during
the sleigh-ride, will leave Santa
feeling bloated with heartburn and
indigestion burning away in his
bowful of jelly belly. Stocking up on
antacids which contain aluminium
and magnesium will help neutralise
Mary
All pregnancies are a
blessing. But for Mary, being
heavily pregnant in the lead up to
Christmas may not have felt like it
at times.
What with hemorrhoids and
heartburn, the last thing she
probably wanted to do was trek 70
miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem
when she should have been putting
her feet up in her third trimester.
Swollen ankles are a common
side effect of pregnancy, but be
aware of sudden swelling of the
face, hands or feet, along with high
blood pressure, severe headaches
and vomiting which can be signs of
pre-eclampsia.
With no room at the inn and
being forced to sleep surrounded
by animals, she should have
ensured she’d had her vaccinations
such as the flu jab and whooping
stomach acid.
That red suit gets tighter every
year and his cherry red nose
and rosy pink cheeks could be
warning signs of hypertension,
or high blood pressure, putting
him at risk of serious conditions
such as heart disease, stroke and
vascular dementia.
I would advise Santa to ensure
he has enough medication to
cover the Christmas period.
You too should check your
supply and arrange for any
repeat prescriptions before your
community pharmacist gets into
the swing of Christmas. If you do
run out, remember you can call
NHS 111 who will refer you to
the closest pharmacy with your
medication in stock for an urgent
supply without the need for a
prescription.
cough between 16 and 32 weeks.
If you’re travelling while pregnant
this winter, make sure you keep
your maternity records with you just
in case you need medical advice
while away from home.
Winter means shorter daylight
hours so it’s important that
pregnant women continue to take
a vitamin D supplement. Mary
should also have been mindful
about the use of herbal remedies
and aromatherapy – the wise men’s
gifts of frankincense and myrrh
would not have been advised.
Breastfeeding women should also
seek advice from a pharmacist or
GP before taking decongestants,
antihistamines and aspirin.
If you are growing your own
miracle over Christmas, make
sure you follow the recommended
foods to avoid such as mouldripened
cheeses, pate and cured or
undercooked meats.
Frosty the
Snowman
Stood in the cold for long hours
with only a scarf on, it’s no surprise
that Frosty is susceptible to a range
of winter illnesses.
His carrot nose is running, his
stony eyes streaming, and his
snowball head feels like it may
explode into a flurry of flakes. But is
it just a common cold or could it be
a more serious case of flu?
With a cold, symptoms may be
sneezing and coughing, loss of
taste and pressure in the ears. It is
best to rest, keep warm, drink lots
of fluids and take over-the-counter
decongestants.
WE COLLECT
DISPENSE
The flu causes sudden fever,
aching body, tiredness and difficulty
sleeping, with tummy trouble or
nausea. Seek advice from your GP
if you are over 65, pregnant or have
a chronic condition.
The cold winter air may also
trigger Frosty’s asthma, causing
him to feel wheezier and short of
breath. Wearing a scarf over his
nose and mouth can soften the cold
air he breathes in and he would be
wise to keep an inhaler handy.
His twig arms and joints may
also feel stiffer in winter and he
could develop itchy red chilblains
in his fingers and toes, caused by
narrowing of the blood vessels.
Keeping extremities covered and
warm can prevent this.
DELIVER
We wish you a
happy, healthy
Christmas
From Andrew and the
Good Measure team
WE DON’T JUST DELIVER, WE CARE
Covering the Rotherham area daily
Unit 18 Alexandra Centre, Parkgate, Rotherham S62 4JE
aroundtownmagazine.co.uk 7