Osteoporosis is a condition where your bones become more porous (thinner) and weaker. This means that if you fall you could break your bones and as you become older, the healing process becomes much more difficult.

It mainly affects women who have reached the menopause but if you are taking e.g. steroids or have an overactive thyroid or have rheumatoid arthritis then the condition can be seen in both men and women. (more…)

Diabetes is where the body loses control of the use of glucose. Extra glucose is found in the urine and blood which can be detected by simple tests at your pharmacy or doctor’s. If diabetes is left untreated then it can start to affect organs in the body such as the kidneys, eyes and heart therefore it is important to recognise if you are at risk of having the condition. There are 2 types of diabetes Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 generally affects people under 40and Type 2 over 40 and the older you are, the greater the risk. (more…)

Haemorrhoids (piles)

Haemorrhoids occur when veins found in the lower end of the bowel (the anus) become dilated (swollen) and inflamed. They are similar to varicose veins but are found in the region of the anus.

There are 3 types of haemorrhoids: (more…)

Onychomycosis is the name given to fungal infections of the nails. These infections affect the toe nails more than the finger nails and can be as a result of a primary or secondary infection. A secondary infection can be caused after a previous infection or injury to the nail. (more…)

There still seems to be a lot of stigma attached to bowel symptoms. People would rather talk e.g. about a problem in their sex lives than the fact that they have painful constipation. Irritable bowel syndrome or (IBS) causes a wide variety of symptoms. You may experience constipation, diarrhoea and wind. Other parts of the body can be affected as well e.g. pain in muscles and joints, headache, dizziness and tiredness. More worringly, it can trigger feelings of depression, anxiety and hopelesness. No wonder you may have difficulty talking about it! (more…)

A recent report by the The Food Magazine examined medicines aimed at babies and children under three. They found that some of these medicines intended for young children frequently contained additives banned from food and drink. (more…)