Friday 14 October 2016

Know About Winter Vomiting Bug

Here comes the winter that can increase the risk of norovirus infection in the UK. It is one of the common stomach bugs that can cause vomiting and diarrhoea. Norovirus is also called winter vomiting bug, as it is more commonly seen in winter. However, people can catch it at any time of the year.

The infection caused by winter vomiting bug usually clears up within a couple of days. You can look after yourself or your child at home. Most of the experts advise people to avoid visiting a GP, as the infection can spread very easily. It can spread through close contact and by sharing towels of flannels. The other modes of transmission are eating contaminated foods and touching infected objects.   

Signs and Symptoms
  • Suddenly falling sick
  • Profuse watery diarrhoea
  • Vomiting
  • Headache
  • Body pain
  • Stomach cramps
  • Fever

These symptoms typically last up to a couple of days. If they persist for more than three days, you need to check with your GP.

Managing the condition
The best thing you can do to is take adequate rest if you experience projectile vomiting and diarrhoea. This is a viral infection, so do not take antibiotics. You need medical attention only if the symptoms aggravate. Meanwhile, you can –
  • Drink plenty of fluids to stay away from dehydration; have fruit juice or soups
  • Eat plain foods such as rice or bread
  • Take Paracetamol to reduce fever and aches
  • Use anti-diarrhoeal or anti-emetics to treat diarrhoea or vomiting, respectively

Special attention should be given to babies, as they may easily get dehydrated due to fluid loss caused by diarrhoea and vomiting. Ask your doctor to know more about managing the symptoms in babies.

Effective preventive steps can help the virus from spreading. Stay off from work or school until your infection is completely treated. Wash your hands with soap and water before and after meals. Try to disinfect the contaminated objects and wash your clothes and bed sheets in hot water. Do not share towels and flannels. More importantly, avoid eating raw and uncooked food.

Thursday 13 October 2016

Common Facts About Gingivitis

Gingivitis is a very common infection of gums, which comes under the group of periodontal diseases. It causes redness, irritation and swelling of gums. Most of the cases are mild so you may not be aware of the condition unless you experience pain. However, it is important to take this gum disease seriously, and get rid of it promptly. If left untreated, gingivitis can lead to severe periodontitis and even tooth loss.

The most common reason behind gingivitis is poor oral hygiene. You can stay away from this condition simply by following good dental habits such as brushing twice daily, flossing and getting regular check up with a dentist. Professional help is required in advanced cases. Surgery is indicated very rarely.

Signs and symptoms
  • Swollen gums
  • Puffy and soft gums
  • Tenderness on touch
  • Bleeding on brushing or flossing
  • Halitosis – bad breath

Causes
As said earlier, poor oral hygiene is the main cause of gingivitis, but there are other reasons why you suffer from this gum disease. Plaque (sticky film composed of bacteria) formation on your teeth is what makes you develop gingivitis. The remaining of tiny food particles can lead to plaque formation. Daily removal of plaque is necessary, as it re-forms within 24 hours.

Plaque that adheres to your teeth can harden your gum-line by forming calculus (tartar). Calculus makes it difficult to remove plaque and bacteria. It is not easy to get rid of tartar simply by brushing or flossing; you need professional dental cleansing to get rid of it. If left untreated, this can lead to tooth decay and tooth loss.

Treatment
Early diagnosis helps implement timely treatment and prevent more serious gum diseases. Gingivitis treatment include dental cleansing to remove the plaque and tartar, brushing twice and flossing once daily, regular dental check-up and fixation of filling or crowns.

Gingivitis often clears up after a proper professional cleansing and good oral dental hygiene. Your dentist will help you with an effective dental plan. Make sure you follow the plan to keep your gums away from inflammation and swelling. Oral mouthwashes are a good way to prevent dental problems. In addition, they keep your mouth free from bacteria or plaque and improves your breathing.

At PharmacyOutlet, you can acquire a wide range of clinically proven products that are useful in treating gingivitis. You can get clinically tested mouthwashes, fluoride-based toothpaste and creams for optimal oral hygiene.

Tuesday 4 October 2016

Sun Protection Is Extremely Important

The incidence rate of skin cancers, particularly melanoma, has increased over the past decades due to excessive exposure to sun. Overexposure to sunrays is broadly accepted as one of the underlying causes of skin diseases. Medical experts opine that the risk of skin cancer can be dramatically reduced by preventing sun exposure.

The harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays emitted from the sun can cause sunburn and melanoma. So, prevent your skin from the harmful rays by following these vital steps –
  • Limit midday sun exposure – The sun emits harmful UV rays more between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. So, try to limit the exposure during these hours; better if you stay away from them.
  • Check out UV index – Adopt sun safety measures when UV rays are extremely high or above the normal range.
  • Wear protective clothing – Loose fitting clothes provide good protection from the sunrays. Wear a hat or cap that provides all round protection to your eyes, ears, neck and back.
  • Use sunglasses – Make sure you use sunglasses that provide 100% protection from UV rays; this prevents eye damage.
  • Apply sunscreen – Apply a quality and board-spectrum sunscreen of SPF of at least 15 or 30. Reapply every two hours if you are supposed to stay outdoors for a long time.
  • Get under the shade – Look for a shade when you suspect UV rays are stronger.

Special care should be taken when it comes to protecting children from sun. Children are more susceptible to sun than adults are, as they are in a state of growth and development, plus their skin is quite sensitive and delicate. Schools are the most important sources to educate and promote about sun protection by conducting programmes.


At PharmacyOutlet, you can acquire some clinically proven medical products that are useful in protection your from UV rays. To know more about sun protection, you can visit your GP.