Whelehans Health News

Eamonn Brady is a pharmacist and the owner of Whelehans Pharmacy, Pearse St, Mullingar. If you have any health questions e-mail them to info@whelehans.ie

This is the conclusion to last week’s article on haemochromatosis. To re-cap haemochromatosis is a hereditary condition caused by the body’s iron levels building up excessively. It can also be referred to as “iron overload disorder”.

Diagnosis

Many of the usual symptoms of haemochromatosis are similar to other conditions meaning it can be tricky diagnosing. Haemochromatosis is often diagnosed during unrelated blood tests. There is a one in four chance of developing haemochromatosis if a close blood relative (parent, sibling) is diagnosed.

Blood tests

Blood tests are used to diagnose haemochromatosis and the two blood tests that can diagnose include transferrin saturation (reveals how much iron is readily available to use by the body; transferrin saturation levels of below 45% may indicate haemochromatosis) and serum ferritin (determines the amount of iron in storage in the body)

Eamonn Brady is a pharmacist and the owner of Whelehans Pharmacy, Pearse St, Mullingar. If you have any health questions e-mail them to info@whelehans.ie

Haemochromatosis is a hereditary condition caused by the body’s iron levels building up excessively. It can also be referred to as “iron overload disorder”. Haemochromatosis is called the “Celtic Curse” as it is more common in Ireland than any other country in the world. Approximately one in 83 people in Ireland are affected whereas frequency in other northern European countries varies from one in 200 to one in 400.

Causes

Haemochromatosis is a hereditary condition due to a faulty gene called HFE meaning too much iron is absorbed from our diet. Without the condition, the body only takes in as much as is needed; however haemochromatosis causes more iron to be absorbed than is needed thus causing excess iron to build up in the body eventually leading to symptoms and organ damage including liver and heart damage.

Eamonn Brady is a pharmacist and the owner of Whelehans Pharmacy, Pearse St, Mullingar. If you have any health questions e-mail them to info@whelehans.ie

Influenza (flu) is a highly infectious acute respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus. It can affect people of any age. If you have not yet received the flu vaccine for 2015/16, it is not too late. You can still get the flu vaccination your GP surgery or local pharmacy. The flu vaccine is available from Whelehan’s pharmacy for €20.

Those considered more “at-risk” from flu

There are certain groups of at-risk people who are more at risk of serious complications or even death if they get flu. Health authorities strongly advise these groups get vaccinated. They include everyone aged 65 and older, children and adults with long-term illnesses such as asthma, diabetes and heart problems or any condition which weakens the immune system, residents of long stay institutions, people who attend schools or day centres for people with disabilities and pregnant women. Health care staff and carers are also advised get the flu vaccine (to protect their patients). Flu vaccination is free of charge in GP surgeries and pharmacies for medical card holders and GP visit card holders.

Symptoms of Flu

Symptoms of flu include sudden fever, chills, headache, muscle pain, sore throat, non-productive dry cough, exhaustion and weakness. Flu characteristically causes a temperature of 38 to 40° C that lasts 3-4 days.

Difference between cold and flu?

A cold will develop slowly over a few days with symptoms like a sore throat and a blocked or runny nose. The symptom of flu hits you suddenly and severely with symptoms like fever and muscle aches. Flu hits you like a brick. Often people suffering from a bad cold wrongly believe they have flu. Flu causes extreme exhaustion, muscle aches, severe sweats and leaves you so weak you will not be able to get out of bed. Work and other normal routines are not possible with flu.

Complications of flu

Most people recover from flu in 2-7 days, but in some people it can last for up to two or three weeks. Flu can be severe and can cause serious illness and death, especially in the very young and in the elderly. Serious respiratory complications can develop, including pneumonia and bronchitis. Older people and those with certain chronic medical conditions are at particular risk of these complications. Pregnant women and women up to six weeks after giving birth have also been found to be at increased risk of the complications of flu. Hospital treatment is needed in some cases, usually in the elderly or people with or serious long term conditions. 80 to 90% of reported deaths from influenza occur in the elderly, mainly from bacterial pneumonia (200 deaths per year in Ireland), but also from the underlying disease.

This article is shortened to fit within Newspaper space limits. More detailed information and leaflets is available in Whelehans

Arthritis: Techniques to help manage pain

You may have to accept that sometimes medicines, physical therapies and other treatments cannot relieve all of your pain. Pain may limit some of the things you do, but it doesn’t have to control your life. There are many techniques you can use to cope with pain so you can go on living your life the way you want to. Your mind plays an important role in how you feel pain. Thinking of pain as a signal to take positive action can help turn it to your advantage. Also you can learn ways to manage your pain. What works for one person may not work for another, so you may have to try different techniques until you find what works best for you.

Ways to manage your arthritis pain:

• Make sure you are making the most of your medicines and physical therapies
• Visit your doctor regularly to make sure you are getting the best treatment for your arthritis symptoms.
• Take care of your body. Exercise to improve your fitness and strength, eat a healthy diet, and get a good night’s sleep every night.
• Use heat and cold treatments for extra pain relief. A warm bath or shower, or a heat pack placed over a painful joint for 15 minutes, can provide effective pain relief.

Thank you to Arthritis Ireland for statistics and information in this article. Check www.arthritisireland.ie or Locall 1890 252 846 for more information

For comprehensive and free health advice and information call in to Whelehans or log on to www.whelehans.ie or dial 04493 34591.

Living with Arthritis: Don’t Delay to see your doctor

Because arthritis can get worse if left untreated, you need to see your doctor as early as possible to get a proper diagnosis. This will help you understand your arthritis and develop a plan for managing it. Early diagnosis and treatment will mean you can get early treatment to prevent serious irreversible joint damage and will limit the effects of arthritis on your life and help you stay active and independent.

What to expect when you go to the doctor?

When you first visit your doctor, you will be asked a number of questions about your symptoms including:

• How long have you experienced pain?
• Which joints are affected?
• When do you experience pain and what seems to cause it?
• What makes the joint feel better or worse?
• Does anybody else in your family have arthritis or joint pain?

What are the different types of tests?

There is no single test for arthritis, and diagnosis can be complicated.