Whelehans Health Blog

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

Symptoms of dry eyes can include irritation and redness, itchy eyes, burning eyes, blurred vision (that improves with blinking), excessive tears (eye tries to over compensate) and the sensation of grit in the eyes.

People can find that dry eye symptoms are fine in the morning (as the eyelids have been closed overnight and tears do not evaporate) but gets worse as the day goes on as the eyes are exposed to the elements and evaporation of tears increases. The most common treatment for dry eyes is artificial tears that are available over the counter in pharmacies.

Having a nutritious lunch is important to refuel as it can be a busy morning since breakfast and lunch is needed to increase your blood sugars when concentration is decreasing. It’s recommended you have a small healthy snack in-between breakfast and lunch and in between lunch and dinner. The most ideal time to have lunch is usually 4-5 hours after breakfast and this can renew your energy keeping...

Healthy Lunchbox workshop for kids and parents

Our “Healthy Lunchbox Workshop” is this Thursday August 20^th at 10am in Miller and Cook and aims to help mums and/or dads and their kids to learn to prepare a healthy lunchbox in a fun and relaxed environment. This event is FREE OF CHARGE, however with numbers limited; book early to avoid disappointment

This is the final of three articles in the Examiner on addiction. Ask in Whelehans for a longer version of this article including extra information on the likes of diagnosis.

Complications of Addiction

 Complications can include Coma, unconsciousness or death (from the likes of overdose); some diseases (eg. injecting drugs especially if sharing needles increases risk of hepatitis and HIV/AIDS), Accidental injuries/death (due to risk of accidents and injuries etc); Suicide; Relationship problems; Child neglect/abuse and Unemployment, poverty and homelessness.

Treatment options for Addiction

The first step to treatment is for the person to acknowledge and realise they have an addiction. There is little (or no) chance of a person giving up unless they want to give up. Treatment can include community and hospital based options including counseling (psychotherapy), self-help groups, and medication. The HSE Community Alcohol and Drug Service (CADS) offers help and have centres in all parts of the country

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 second of three articles in the Examiner on addiction.

Signs and symptoms of Addiction

Substance dependence

The person can no longer control use of the substance due to intense cravings. Often at least one serious attempt was made to give up but the person relapsed.

Withdrawal symptoms include cravings, moodiness, ill-tempered behaviour, poor focus, depression, sense of emptiness, frustration, anger, bitterness and resentment.

Physical symptoms from abusing substances can include an increased appetite, especially an urge for sugary and fatty foods (occurs with the likes of cannabis use or heroin use), nausea and vomiting, insomnia, constipation or diarrhoea, trembling, seizures, hallucinations, and sweats.

Ask The 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

Causes of addictionThis is the first of three articles in the Examiner on addiction. Addiction is a strong and uncontrollable urge to take substances like drugs or alcohol or carry out activities like gambling or sex. Common addiction is to alcohol or drugs, but can be anything from gambling to “less harmful” products such as fizzy drinks or addiction to the likes of work or the internet. Thus addiction can be substance dependence (e.g. alcohol or drug addiction) or behavioural addiction (e.g. gambling, sex, work, and video game addiction). 

 Causes of addiction are varied and complex and due to a combination of mental, physical, circumstantial (eg. being introduced to a drug when young and prone to peer pressure) and emotional factors. Repeated use of an addictive substance is thought to change the way the brain experiences pleasure which can lead to the urge for further and more frequent use