Your teen has an earache again, your mum needs help getting to the shops after her knee sprain, your husband still hasn’t done anything about that persistent cold and, unsurprisingly, you have a migraine coming on – but which family health problems urgently need medical attention… and which can you treat at home?
To ensure we’re all equipped with the right information, GP Dr Nighat Arif‘s latest book, The Complete Guide To Family Health, distils her 10 years of medical knowledge and experience into a ‘one-stop shop’ guide that everyone can turn to. ‘There’s so much misinformation around health and I’m hoping this book will be an antidote to Google and AI, which can give misinterpretations. This is advice from a real-life NHS doctor,’ says Dr Nighat.
Here, she breaks down six of the most common health concerns she sees at the surgery and explains what the symptoms are, how to treat them – and the red flags that mean you should seek emergency help.
The problem: frozen shoulder
This painful condition, also known as adhesive capsulitis, is caused by the shoulder joint becoming thickened and stiff, limiting movement. There are usually three stages of symptoms.
Pain: the shoulder is always sore, and feels worse at night when you’re trying to sleep. Stiffness: while the pain may decrease, the amount of movement in the shoulder
Recovery: the range of motion comes back slowly. This may happen by itself, but if not, the treatments below will help you to reach this phase sooner.
Make it better: Treat the pain with over-the-counter pain medication, ibuprofen gel and/or a heat rub such as Deep Heat. Try a cold pack or, after a few days, a heat pack – you can also try alternating this with a cold pack every 15 minutes to decrease inflammation. A therapy called transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), which uses a low-voltage electrical current to block or change how the pain is perceived, is found by some to be helpful. Exercise is very important, when you can manage it… See a physiotherapist for advice.
Red flags: If the pain means you can’t live your life as normal and it’s affecting your sleep, or if you have swelling, a fever and/or the joint feels hot to touch, see your GP.
The problem: eczema
Sadly there’s no cure for eczema and the earlier you treat symptoms, the better. Eczema shows up as dry, itchy patches of skin that may appear darker or lighter than your skin tone. These can occur behind the knees, on the inside of the arms or anywhere there are creases or folds in the skin. See a GP if you think you or your child has eczema; allergens such as pollen and cigarette smoke can be triggers, as well as stress and gut inflammation. Make it better: Moisturise the affected area a few times a day and use emollient bath products. Over-the-counter antihistamines work well if the eczema is related to allergies. Steroid treatments may be prescribed by a GP for more serious flare-ups and it’s better to start steroids as early as possible. A dermatologist referral may be necessary.
Red flags: If the eczema becomes infected – constantly opening up, oozing, weeping or forming crusts – then antibiotics can be prescribed. Eczema can’t be cured, but it’s important to manage it before it causes scarring or infection.
The problem: migraine
Migraines can be debilitating. Symptoms can include a throbbing pain that increases in intensity and an ‘aura’ – seeing a sort of halo, sparkles or flashing lights, wavy lines or even temporary vision loss. Numbness or tingling in one side of the body can also occur, as can nausea, watery eyes and a runny nose.
Make it better: The best approach to stopping an attack is this combination, taken with food unless you’re vomiting. Retake it after four hours if needed, up to three times in a 24-hour period:
■ 300mg aspirin.
■ Stomach-protecting tablets. such as omeprazole or ansoprazole (if you’re nauseous or have acid reflux).
■ 400mg ibuprofen.
■ 2× 500g paracetamol tablets.
■ There is no conclusive data on supplements but magnesium and vitamin B2 may help. If that stops working for you, your doctor may prescribe triptans to treat the migraines, tricyclic antidepressants, anti-seizure medication or beta blockers.
Red flags: It’s unlikely that a persistent headache is the sign of something serious, but if the head pain comes on suddenly and is extremely severe (known as a thunderclap headache), seek further help. Likewise, if you also have a fever, stiff neck and confusion, this could be a warning sign for meningitis.
The problem: sprains and strains
A sprain is when you injure a ligament; a strain is an injury to a muscle or tendon – sometimes called a pulled muscle. Symptoms include soreness and stiffness around the injury, and difficulty moving it without pain.
Make it better: In the first 24 hours…
■ P = Protect: support the injury, by wearing the right shoes, for example.
■ R = Rest: rest it as much as possible.
■ I = Ice: apply an ice pack for 15-20 minutes every three hours.
■ C = Compression: wrap a bandage around the area. Take it off at night.
■ E = Elevate: keep sprained knees, ankles and wrists raised.
Days 2-3… Gently move the injured area as much as possible every few hours. Too much rest will cause the joint to stiffen up and it will take longer to heal. Continue taking painkillers.
Up to two weeks… Most non-serious sprains and strains will heal within two weeks. Listen to your body. It needs to move to get better, but if you try to do something and you feel it’s screaming at you to stop, then do!
Red flags: If you heard a cracking sound when the injury was sustained; if you can’t move or weight-bear without extreme pain; if it’s an odd shape, there’s immediate swelling or if it’s numb or tingling.
Francesco Carta fotografo//Getty Images
The problem: colds and flu
The main difference between cold and flu is the severity – how ill it makes you. Flu is generally worse and you’re more likely to feel extreme fatigue and have a raised fever, chills, aches and nausea. Cold symptoms come on gradually over a few days and often start with a sore throat; you’re also more likely to have a stuffy or runny nose with a cold. People who are immunocompromised, have an underlying health condition, are very elderly or are generally in poor health can become very ill with a cold. These groups may be eligible for free NHS flu vaccines.
Make it better: Get plenty of rest and fluids plus healthy food to support the immune system. Painkillers, such as ibuprofen, paracetamol and aspirin, or cold remedies, such as Night Nurse, Lemsip or a generic ‘Cold & Flu Relief’ drink, can help, as can decongestants, such as nasal sprays, vapour rubs or cough syrups. Steam inhalations can also be used by adults. Remember, you’re most infectious when you first get the virus, although this might be before you’re aware you’re ill.
Red flags: If you have difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, your GP will want to rule out pneumonia.
The problem: heartburn and acid reflux
Our stomach produces a strong acid to help digest food. If this gets into your oesophagus, it can cause a burning sensation in the upper chest and throat – known as heartburn. This can also cause a bad taste in the mouth, being sick, bloating and having bad breath.
Make it better: Try having smaller and more frequent meals and don’t eat or drink alcohol in the four hours before bed. Create a symptom diary to check for food and drink patterns, and raise the head end of your bed by 20cm (8in). A pharmacist can provide over-the-counter medication such as antacids and a GP may prescribe a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) medication, which reduces the amount of acid the stomach makes. Rarely, surgery may be needed to tighten the muscle at the top of the stomach.
Red flags: Unintentional weight loss alongside heartburn – though rare – could be a warning sign of stomach cancer. Chronic issues can lead to stomach ulcers or cause the cells in your oesophagus to change, which is called Barrett’s oesophagus. Some people with this condition will go on to develop cancer of the oesophagus, although again, this is rare.
The Complete Guide To Family Health (Hamlyn) by Dr Nighat Arif is out now
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