Whelehans Health Blog

Holistic Therapy is principally a form of healing, treating the body as a whole; mind, body and spirit. It is a way of bringing about balance in the entire body. Holistic Therapy involves examining the root cause of the condition, as well as alleviating the symptoms, working at many levels, helping the client overcome physical, emotional and mental issues. It may help to boost the immune system, eliminate toxins, improve sleep patterns, increase energy levels, induce relaxation, relieve stress and anxiety and to balance the body bringing about homeostasis. Stress has a huge negative impact on our health- 80% of...

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 A new American study reported in the Guardian in 2014 indicateed that regular brisk walks can slow down the shrinking of the brain associated with old age, thus benefiting mental ability. A study found that people aged 60 to 80 who took a short walk three times a week over a year long period had an increase in size of brain regions linked to planning and memory. The walking stimulated an increase in size of the...

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 concluding part of my series of articles on Parkinson’s disease. Last week I discussed medication.   A physiotherapist can advise and help with movement. They will concentrate on posture, walking and exercises, thus maximising the length the person can move and manage independently. An occupational therapist can advise on areas that will make the person’s day to day living easier to manage and will advise on home adaptations and devices which can simplify...

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 continuation of last week’s article on Parkinson’s. There is no cure for Parkinson’s but treatments can ease symptoms and slow progression. It can take 8 to 10 weeks from the start of treatment before the patient notices improvement in symptoms.   Levodopa Levodopa tends to give a good improvement in symptoms. Levodopa is converted to dopamine in the brain. The dose is started low but tends to be increased to control symptoms. Levodopa is...

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 Parkinson's disease is a long-term disorder of caused by the degeneration of dopamine generating cells in the mid-section of the brain. Its cause is unknown. Symptoms gradually worsen over time. Symptoms include stiffness, shaking (tremor) and slowing of movement.  There is no cure but treatment can slow down its progression and can provide relief of symptoms for several years. Modern treatment options means you can have a normal or near normal life expectancy.   Profile of...