Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a fatty substance found in your blood.If you have too much cholesterol in your blood, it can increase your risk of heart disease and other cardiovascular diseases. To find out more about cholesterol and how to lower yours visit the British Heart Foundation website.
Visit the British Heart Foundation for more information.
Dehydration
Hot weather and lack of fluids can cause symptoms of dehydration like dizziness , dry mouth (including lips) and dry eyes. Feeling tried and having dark yellow and strong smelling pee.
You can reduce your risk of dehydration by:
- Having plenty of cold drinks and avoiding excessive alcohol, caffeine and hot drinks.
- Eating plenty of cold foods, particularly salads and fruit with a higher water content.
- If you start to feel dizzy or lightheaded, have a sit-down somewhere safe and ask someone to stay with.
Click here for more information form the NHS Website
Insect bites and sting
Insect bites and sting
Most insect bites are not serious and will get better within a few hours or days. Occasionally, a severe allergic reaction can occur, causing symptoms such as breathing difficulty, dizziness and a swollen face or mouth. This requires immediate medication treatment.
To treat an insect bite or sting:
- Wash the affected area with soap and water.
- Apply a cold compress or an ice pack to any swelling for at least 10 minutes.
- Avoid scratching the area, to reduce the risk of infection.
Click here for more information from the NSH Website
Vitamins and Minerals
Vitamins and minerals are nutrients your body needs in small amounts to work properly and stay healthy. Most people should get all the nutrients they need by having a varied and balanced diet, although some people may need to take extra supplements.
Click here for more information from the NHS Website
Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency anaemia
Vitamin B12 or B9 (commonly called folate) deficiency anaemia occurs when a lack of vitamin B12 or folate causes the body to produce abnormally large red blood cells that cannot function properly.
Anaemia is the general term for having either fewer red blood cells than normal or having an abnormally low amount of haemoglobin in each red blood cell.
Click here for more information from the NHS Website
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is essential for keeping bones, teeth and muscles healthy. In the UK we get most of our Vitamin D through sunlight exposure.
It is however important that we don’t spend too much time in the sun as sunligt contains ultraviolet (UV) rays, which are the main cause of skin cancer, so it is import to protect your skin against sun damage at any age.
To protect yourself whilst in the sun you should:
- Spend time in the shade between 11am and 3pm.
- Use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. (This may vary if you’re travelling abroad)
- Cover up with clothes, a hat and sunglasses.
Current advice is that many people should consider taking a vitamin D supplements in the darker autumn and winter months although in most cases this is not available on prescription. Supplements can also be taken during the summer months if you are unable to or do not want to obtain Vitamin D through sunlight exposure. Vitamin D is also particularly important for children under 5 years and pregnant women. There are some occasions when vitamin D supplements can be obtained on prescription or on the free Healthy Start scheme.
Click here for more information from the NHS Website