Whelehans Health Blog

Smoking Cessation Part 3 Help to give up   I will discuss nicotine replacement therapy like nicotine patches and gum soon in this column. This week, I discuss other options.   E-cigarettes   Electronic cigarettes (E-cigarettes) are electronic devices that mimic cigarettes and release nicotine vapour. They allow inhalation of nicotine without the negative effects of tar and carbon monoxide. There are hundreds of different types of devices and juices available. As E-cigarettes are relatively new on the market, and research is ongoing on their benefits and negative effects, the HSE still doesn’t endorse E-cigarettes as an option to help...

Smoking Cessation Part 2   Drug interactions with smoking Drug interactions between tobacco smoke and drugs are often underestimated by patients and clinicians alike. Tobacco smoke affects the absorption, distribution, metabolism (or elimination) of drugs thus potentially giving an altered response. Tobacco smoke accelerates the metabolism of certain drugs by inducing hepatic cytochrome P450 enzymes (primarily CYP1A2). It is believed the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in tobacco smoke are responsible for the induction of cytochrome P450 rather than nicotine meaning that nicotine replacement products do not have the same degree of drug interactions   The HSE’s Brief Intervention for Smoking Cessation...

Smoking Cessation Part 1 Three steps to giving up   Deciding to give up smoking and really wanting to succeed are important steps in becoming a non-smoker. There are three steps to giving up smoking: preparing to stop, stopping, and staying stopped. It can take up to three months to become a non-smoker, but it usually takes less time. The physical craving for a cigarette often disappears in less than a week, but the psychological craving can last longer. Step 1 - Preparing to stop It is important that people stop smoking because they want to. Think of the many...

Coeliac disease (Part 3) Over the last week I discussed causes, symptoms, and diagnosis of Coeliac Disease (CD)   Treatment From a medical perspective – the GP may require the patient to attend an annual check-up. This may not be much more than a discussion on progress together with maybe height and weight check. This relates to full absorption of calories and any height loss related to potential osteoporosis concerns. Depending on the situation, the GP may also recommend supplements such a Calcium and Vit D, particularly in the months following diagnosis. The simplest and most effective treatment for CD...

Coeliac disease (Part 2) Last week I discussed causes of Coeliac Disease (CD)   Symptoms For some, symptoms may only be mild and perhaps occasional, whilst for others, they may be persistent and severe. With CD, because the body is unable to absorb nutrients fully (malabsorption), the most common symptom of CD is Diarrhoea, often severe and foul smelling. This symptom is often misdiagnosed or presumed by the sufferer to be irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).   Other common symptoms may include: - Constipation Excessive wind/ flatulence Persistent or unexplained gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting Recurring stomach pain, cramping...