Health Advice
- Weight Management
- Quit Smoking
- Acne
- Child Health
- Pain
- Oral Care & Hygiene
- Aneurysm, abdominal aortic
- Tummy ache
- Abscess
- Periods, absent
- First aid
- Reflux
- Blackheads
- Acupuncture
- Gallbladder, inflammation
- Leukaemia, acute lymphoblastic
- Leukaemia, acute myeloid
- Addiction
- Addison's disease
- Adenoids and adenoidectomy
- Frozen shoulder
- Agoraphobia
- Air embolism
- Alcohol misuse
- Alcohol poisoning
- Alexander technique
- Rhinitis, allergic
- Indoor allergy
- Mountain sickness
- Alzheimer's disease
- Lazy eye
- Macular degeneration
- Memory loss
- Amniocentesis
- Amputation
- Motor neurone disease
- Steroid misuse
- Iron deficiency anaemia
- Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency anaemia
- Anaesthesia
- Anal fissure
- Brain aneurysm
- Angelman syndrome
- Anger management
- Angina
- Angioedema
- Arteriography
- Stent insertion
- Dog bites
- Fractured ankle
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Anorexia nervosa
- Smell sense, loss of
- Antacid medicines
- Penicillin
- Anticoagulant medicines
- Antidepressants
- Antifungal medicines
- Antihistamines
- NSAIDs
- Antisocial personality disorder
- Hypochondria
- Anxiety disorders in children
- Stress
- Appendicitis
- Wrist, broken
- Arterial thrombosis
- Arthritis
- Asbestosis
- Asthma
- Astigmatism
- Eczema
- Atrial fibrillation
- Hearing tests
- Bird flu
- B12 vitamin deficiency
- Skin rashes in babies
- Weaning
- Lumbago (low back pain)
- Septic arthritis
- Halitosis (bad breath)
- Weight loss surgery
- Barium enema
- Bartholin's cyst
- Pressure ulcers
- Bedbugs
- Nocturnal enuresis
- Behçet’s disease
- Facial paralysis
- Tongue pain or soreness
- Prostate enlargement
- Beta-blockers
- Bicarbonate test
- Binge eating
- Biopsy
- Bipolar disorder
- Spider bite
- Eye, black
- Bladder cancer
- Cystitis
- Bladder stones
- Blisters
- Blood donation
- Blood gases test
- Blood groups
- Coughing up blood
- Semen, bloody
- Urine, blood in the
- Vomiting blood
- Septicaemia
- Hypertension
- Low blood pressure
- Blood tests
- Blood transfusion
- Blushing
- Bromhidrosis (body odour)
- Bone cyst
- DXA scan
- Bone marrow donation
- Stem cell transplant
- Borderline personality disorder
- Bottle feeding
- Botulism
- Rectal cancer
- Polyps, bowel
- Leaky gut syndrome
- Orthodontics
- Brain abscess
- Head injury, severe
- Brain tumour, benign (non-cancerous)
- Brain tumour, malignant (cancerous)
- Brain tumours
- Breast abscess
- Breast cancer
- Male breast cancer
- Screening for breast cancer
- Nipple discharge
- Mastitis
- Breast lump
- Breastfeeding
- Shortness of breath
- Osteoporosis
- Fractured collarbone
- Hip fracture
- Leg, broken
- Fractured nose
- Rib injuries
- Toe, broken
- Tooth, broken or knocked out
- Smelly feet (bromodosis)
- Bronchitis
- Teeth grinding
- Thyroid eye disease
- Bulimia
- Burns and scalds
- Heart bypass
- Caesarean section
- Food poisoning
- Cancer
- Thrush
- Thrush, men
- Thrush, oral - adults
- Thrush, oral - babies
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Cardiovascular disease
- Cartilage damage
- Nasal congestion
- Rib, cervical
- Smear test
- Sore lips
- Chemotherapy
- Chest infection, adult
- Chest pain
- Herpes zoster virus
- Statins
- Kidney disease, chronic
- Leukaemia, chronic lymphocytic
- Leukaemia, chronic myeloid
- Cirrhosis
- Claustrophobia
- Cluster headaches
- White coated tongue
- Gluten intolerance
- Herpes simplex virus
- Cold
- Colic
- Colostomy
- Coma
- Combined contraceptive pill
- Pneumonia
- CT scan
- Concussion
- Hole in the heart
- Heart failure
- Conjunctivitis
- Constipation
- Contact dermatitis
- Corns and calluses
- Coronary heart disease
- Vegetative state
- Topical corticosteroids
- Steroid medication
- Cosmetic surgery
- Cough
- Counselling
- Leg cramps
- Crohn's disease
- Swallowing pills (problems)
- Undescended testicles
- Lacerations
- Cystic fibrosis
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Dandruff
- Date rape drugs
- Thyroiditis
- Hearing impairment
- Dehydration
- Tooth abscess
- Teething
- Tooth decay
- Fluoride
- False teeth (dentures)
- Depression
- Dyspraxia in children
- Diabetes insipidus
- Diabetes
- Diabetic ketoacidosis
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Dialysis
- Traveller's diarrhoea
- Nutrition
- Rectal examination
- Double vision
- Nummular eczema
- Shoulder dislocation
- Diverticular disease and diverticulitis
- Lightheadedness
- Down's syndrome
- Dry eye syndrome
- Thirst
- Dyslexia
- Periods, painful
- Indigestion
- Swallowing problems
- Dyspraxia (adults)
- Swimmer's ear
- Earache
- Earwax
- Eating disorders
- Ebola virus disease
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Restless legs syndrome
- Endoscopy
- Threadworms
- Tennis elbow
- Epidural
- Epilepsy
- Watering eyes
- Nosebleed
- Impotence
- Tremor (essential)
- Ocular cancer
- Eye injuries
- Red eye
- Falls
- Family planning
- Fever, childhood
- Fibromyalgia
- Flat feet
- Wind
- Seasonal flu
- Nail patella syndrome
- Food allergy
- Foot pain
- Frostbite
- Gallstones
- Stomach removal surgery
- Gastroenteritis
- Gastritis
- Gastroparesis
- Gastroscopy
- General anaesthetic
- Genetics
- Herpes, genital
- Warts, genital
- Rubella
- Gestational diabetes
- Gum disease
- Goitre
- Gout
- Recurrent limb pain in children
- Iron overload disorder
- Haemophilia
- Haemophilus influenzae type b
- Piles (haemorrhoids)
- Ingrown hairs
- Leukaemia, hairy cell
- Hallucinations
- Hamstring injury
- Hand pain
- Tendon repair, hand
- Hand, foot and mouth disease
- Hangover
- Seasonal allergic rhinitis
- Head and neck cancer
- Head injury, minor
- Nits
- Headaches
- Hearing and vision tests for children
- Myocardial infarction
- Heart block
- Palpitations
- Heart transplant
- Heart-lung transplant
- Heat exhaustion and heatstroke
- Sweat rash
- Periods, heavy
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
- Hepatitis
- Herbal medicines
- Hernia, femoral
- Hiatus hernia
- Hernia, inguinal
- Hernia, umbilical
- Hernia
- Herpes simplex eye infections
- Hip pain in adults
- Hip replacement
- HIV and AIDS
- Welts
- Lymphoma, Hodgkin
- Homeopathy
- Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
- Huntington's disease
- Rabies
- Hyperglycaemia
- Sweating, excessive (hyperhidrosis)
- Joint hypermobility
- Sleepiness in the day (severe and unexplained)
- Thyroid, overactive
- Hypnotherapy
- Testosterone deficiency (hypogonadism)
- Underactive thyroid
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Painkillers, ibuprofen
- Shoulder tendon, trapped
- Urinary incontinence
- Infertility
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Ingrown toenail
- Inquest
- Insomnia
- Type 1 diabetes
- Intensive care
- IVF
- Jaundice in newborns
- Jaundice
- Stings, sea creatures
- Jet lag
- Joint pain
- Kidney stones
- knee-pain
- Knee replacement
- Knee surgery, anterior cruciate ligament
- Milk intolerance
- Laryngeal (larynx) cancer
- Laryngitis
- Laxatives
- Legionnaires' disease
- Weil's disease
- Liver cancer
- Liver disease
- Liver transplant
- Local anaesthetic
- Twisted neck
- Tetanus
- Loss of libido
- Sperm count, low
- Lumbar puncture
- Swelling or lump
- Lung cancer
- Lung transplant
- Lyme disease
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- Lymphoma
- Magnesium test
- MRI scan
- Malaria
- Male contraceptive pill
- Malnutrition
- Mastectomy
- Rubeola
- Shin splints
- Skin cancer (melanoma)
- Meningitis
- Menopause
- Metallic taste in mouth
- MRSA infection
- Migraine
- Miscarriage
- Mobile phone safety
- Moles
- Travel sickness
- Oral cancer
- Mouth ulcers
- Multiple sclerosis
- Mucositis
- Multiple system atrophy
- Mumps
- Muscular dystrophy
- Selective mutism
- Short-sightedness
- Nose and sinus cancer
- Polyps, nose
- Nasopharyngeal cancer
- Natural family planning
- Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Night sweats
- Nightmares
- Rhinitis, non-allergic
- Type 2 diabetes
- Winter vomiting disease
- Obesity
- OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder)
- Sleep apnoea
- Occupational therapy
- Swollen ankles
- Oesophageal cancer
- Periods, irregular
- Organ donation
- Orthopaedics (orthopaedic surgery)
- Osteoarthritis
- Rickets
- Osteopathy
- Pacemaker implantation
- Shoulder pain
- Paracetamol
- Ulcerative colitis
- Pancreas transplant
- Pancreatic cancer
- Pancreatitis, acute
- Pancreatitis, chronic
- Panic disorder
- Pins and needles
- Paralysis
- Parkinson's disease
- Pelvic pain
- Ulcer, peptic
- Ruptured eardrum
- Pericarditis
- Periods
- Peripheral arterial disease
- Peritonitis
- Personality disorder
- Whooping cough
- Strep throat
- Phobias
- Physiotherapy
- Pilonidal sinus
- Plastic surgery
- Pleurisy
- Pneumococcal infections
- Poisoning
- Reflux in babies
- Potassium test
- Pre-eclampsia
- Slipped disc
- Urinary PSA test
- Prostate disease
- Prostatitis
- Psoriasis
- Puberty
- Radiation
- Radiotherapy
- Red blood cell count
- Rheumatic fever
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Root canal treatment
- Roundworm
- Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
- Salivary stones
- Salmonella infection
- Scabies
- Scarlet fever
- Scars
- Schizophrenia
- Sciatica
- Scoliosis
- Scurvy
- Self-harm
- Septic shock
- Sexual health clinics
- STIs
- Shingles
- Social anxiety disorder (social phobia)
- Vomiting in children and babies
- Sinus headache
- Sinusitis
- Skin rashes in children
- Sleep paralysis
- Sleepwalking
- Urine, smelly
- Snake bites
- Snoring
- Spina bifida
- Spinal muscular atrophy
- Sports injuries
- Sprains
- Squint
- Stuttering
- Stomach cancer
- Streptococcal infections
- Stroke
- Stye
- Suicide
- Sunburn
- Swollen glands
- Syphilis
- Tuberculosis (TB)
- Tension-type headaches
- Testicular cancer
- Testicular lumps and swellings
- Thyroid cancer
- Tics
- Tinnitus
- Tongue-tie
- Tonsillitis
- Toothache
- Total iron-binding capacity (TIBC or transferrin) test
- Total protein test
- Tourette's syndrome
- Toxic shock syndrome
- Traction
- Travel vaccines
- Trigger finger
- Typhoid fever
- Ultrasound scan
- Urinary tract infection, children
- Urinary tract infection
- Vaginitis
- Vaginal cancer
- Vaginal discharge
- Varicose eczema
- Varicose veins
- Warts and verrucas
- Vertigo
- Vitamins, minerals and supplements
- Vomiting in adults
- Warfarin
- Weight loss (unexpected and unplanned)
- Whiplash
- Wisdom tooth removal
- X-ray
- Yellow fever
- Bowel cancer screening
Latest from blog
Every parent’s heart sinks when they receive the dreaded note from school warning about head lice. Don’t worry – Jane Brennan from Brennan’s Life Pharmacy in Donabate is here to to give us advice and tips. The first thing to do is to check the child’s head. You will need some tea tree conditioner, a... Read more >
Read moreWe ask Jane Brennan from Brennan’s Life Pharmacy Donabate how to make the most of great sunny summer days whilst protecting our skin from harmful rays. Jane says “The Irish Cancer Society SunSmart program has great guidelines to keep us safe. See below for some useful tips and advice” Ways to protect your skin: Shade... Read more >
Read morePollen Highs & Watery Eyes… Talk to Jane Brennan, your Hay Fever Expert in Donabate Are your eyes itchy, red or watery? Is your throat scratchy? Are you sneezing? Do you have itchy ears, nose or mouth? Do you have a blocked or runny nose? Do you wake up feeling exhausted? Hay fever can cause... Read more >
Read moreNHS Choices - Preventing a minor head injury
(09/10/2014)
Many head injuries are the result of accidents that are difficult to predict or avoid. However, there are some ways to reduce your risk.
Safety helmets
Cyclists and motorcyclists can protect their head by wearing a properly fitting safety helmet. British Standard safety helmets are a legal requirement for motorcyclists.
Research commissioned by the Department for Transport found that bicycle helmets 'should be effective at reducing the risk of head injury'.
However, it is difficult to know the benefit of cycle helmets for certain. This is because data about road accidents involving cyclists may not contain all of the relevant information. For example, the data may not explain where exactly the head injury occurred, which makes it difficult to determine whether a helmet might have prevented the injury.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) all support the use of cycle helmets and suggest that they may help to reduce head injuries.
As well as wearing a helmet when cycling, you should also make sure that both you and your children:
- use lights and wear reflective clothing when cycling in the dark
- are aware of the dangers of the road and know how to stay safe
- always follow the Highway Code (visit GOV.UK to see an online version of the Highway Code)
- check that the bike is in good working order
Read more cycling safety advice.
Safety in the home
Following sensible health and safety guidelines can help prevent accidents in the home. Some advice to help keep your home and garden as safe as possible includes:
- keep stairways tidy so that you do not trip over anything
- use appropriate safety equipment if you are doing any kind of DIY
- do not stand on an unstable chair to change a light bulb – use a stepladder
- clean up any spillages to prevent someone slipping over
For more information, see the RoSPA website.
Childproofing your home
It is not possible to childproof your home completely. However, you can take steps to keep toddlers and young children safe at home, for example by:
- checking that windows are lockable and cannot be opened by your child, especially bedroom windows
- moving furniture, such as beds, sofas and chairs away from windows to prevent your child climbing up and falling out
- fitting safety gates at the top and bottom of the stairs
Read more about preventing accidents to children in the home and teaching your child to stay safe.
Safety at work
To reduce the risk of sustaining a head injury at work, always follow any necessary health and safety guidelines. For example, you may have to wear a hard hat when working in potentially hazardous areas.
Only use ladders in a workplace environment for short-term, light work. Any work that requires spending a considerable amount of time at height, or involves heavy lifting, should be carried out on scaffolding or another suitable platform.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provides more information about the correct use of ladders in the workplace, including a list of common tasks that involve working at height.
Any work that involves going up onto a roof should also be considered high-risk and therefore high standards of safety are essential.
Sport safety
Wear any necessary safety equipment when playing sports, particularly contact sports. Do not play any contact sports after a minor head injury for at least three weeks without talking to your doctor.