In small doses, stress can help you to stay focused and alert. However, in the weeks before Christmas, stress can become so intense that it can have an adverse effect on your health. Common symptoms of too much stress include anxiety, headache, tiredness, eating junk comfort foods, not sleeping...

Your weight can make a significant difference to your risk of heart disease. Being overweight not only puts you more at risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol and type-2 diabetes but also puts extra strain on your joints. It is important to be aware of your waist size. Risk of heart disease...

The best way to enjoy Christmas is to plan ahead, keep it simple, stay calm and don’t overdo it! Be prepared by stocking up on over-the counter medicines such as painkillers , throat lozenges, indigestion, cough and cold remedies. Order your prescribed medicines before you run out and remember...

Cholesterol is a fatty substance that plays a vital role in the body. Most of it is produced in the liver from saturated fats found in food. Too high a level of cholesterol in the blood increases the risk of coronary heart disease, heart attacks and stroke as it becomes deposited in the walls of...

At this time of year many of us seek effective relief from symptoms of colds and flu. However, as there is no known cure prevention should be your goal! Echinacea, a popular herbal remedy, can ease your discomfort and help to strengthen your immune system. It has both antiviral and antibacterial...

Would you add this to my blog please? ‘Ask Your Pharmacist Week’ ( 5-12 November) aims to highlight the advice, support and services available through community pharmacies. This year the focus is on encouraging men, of all ages , to step into their local pharmacy and take advantage of the...

At this time of year we start to look forward to the spring and have good intentions to shed the few extra pounds that perhaps have crept on over the winter months! Recent research has shown that the size of your waistline can affect risk of developing diabetes, raised blood pressure and cholesterol...

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer amongst women in Northern Ireland (excluding skin cancer). Around 1,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in Northern Ireland each year. You can reduce your risk of breast cancer by maintaining a healthy weight, regular exercise, avoiding excess...

New research has shown two thirds of us have low Vitamin D levels , particularly after winter months. The action of sunlight on skin helps to produce our main source of Vitamin D with small amounts available in food such as eggs, oily fish and milk. Vitamin D is well known to be essential for...

Stopping Smoking is a very worthwhile New Year’s resolution. If you are a smoker who seriously wants to quit in 2012 but would like some help to kick the habit, then a Pharmacy based Stop Smoking Service might just be what you are looking for! Professional advice and support are available to...

Now that Winter has arrived, we need to think about the basics of skincare. Moisturiser-as cold winds can strip moisture from your skin and make it more sensitive, use a richer moisturiser with SPF protection every day. It is also essential to apply a good night cream. Exfoliator- skin cell turnover...

The Aloe Vera plant is grown in hot countries and has been used for thousands of years as a medicinal aid. A gel is contained within its long, fleshy leaves which is for external use and juice is available as a drink. Both have many beneficial uses. DIGESTIVE TRACT- Aloe Vera is beneficial to those...

Every year many of us suffer from the misery of colds and flu and seek effective relief from symptoms of runny/blocked nose, sneezing, sore throat and cough. Echinacea, a popular herbal remedy, can ease your discomfort and help to strengthen your immune system. It has both antiviral and...

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis affecting the weight bearing joints such as the knees, hips and back and is often caused by ‘wear and tear’ on those joints due to sport, repetitive movement or being overweight. Resulting pain and stiffness occurs because the cartilage...

There is truth in the old wives tale that eating fish is good for your brain! Oily fish such as salmon, sardines and mackerel are rich in omega-3 fatty acids which are essential to health. This fact is backed up by a wealth of scientific evidence. Apart from the odd Einstein-like genius, most of us...