Whelehans Health Blog
Breast Cancer Facts
Posted by Eamonn Brady on
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
Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women after skin cancer. Irish women have a 1 in 12 chance of developing breast cancer in their lifetime. Only about five to ten per cent of breast cancers are believed to have a family link. Approximately 80%of breast cancers occur in women over 50 years. Early diagnosis is a key to surviving breast cancer. If you notice any change in your breasts, see your GP as soon as possible. 9 out of 10 suspicious lumps are not cancerous. Pain isn’t usually a sign of breast cancer. If you have pain in one or both breasts, rest assured it’s probably due to hormonal changes, a benign cyst, a ligament strain or another condition; however it is important to get unexplained pain checked by your GP. More common warning signs of breast cancer include a palpable lump, a change in the size or shape of the breast, puckering of the skin, nipple changes (like scaling or discharge), or increased warmth. A mammogram (X-ray of the breast) is the most common way to check for breast cancer. 80.6% of all women diagnosed with breast cancer survive for 5 years or longer; early detection is the key to survival.
Importance of self-checks
74% of Irish women with breast cancer discovered the lump themselves.
Understanding signs and treatment of serious allergies can save lives
Posted by Brady Bunch on
Dry Eyes - Part 2 Treatment
Posted by Eamonn Brady on
ASK YOUR PHARMACIST
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 a continuation of last week’s article in the Westmeath Examiner on dry eyes. This week I discuss treatment options. Many cases of dry eyes is caused by medication (both prescription or over the counter) such as anti-histamines, blood pressure medication, some anti-depressants anti-inflammatory medicines. Where medicines are causing severe dry eye problems, you can discuss with your doctor or pharmacist if there are alternative options that do not cause the problem (eg. newer anti-depressants do not cause as many dry eyes issues). In some cases there is no safe alternative. In these cases, artificial tears are the only effective treatment option.
Food allergies V Food intolerance
Posted by Brady Bunch on
Food allergy or intolerance?
Food intolerance is an adverse reaction to a particular food or ingredient, which occurs every time the food is eaten. It's often confused with a food allergy, but it's very different because the immune system...The myths about alcohol and hangovers (uncovered)
Posted by Brady Bunch on