4th February – National Libraries Day

The library is perhaps not the first place you would think of going to find out about your health – but it contains a wealth of useful information. We have a small but extremely useful library in Selsey and as a library member you can make the most of all the facilities.

GPs can prescribe “Books on Prescription” and the Selsey library can find the book you have been recommended. There is also a large reference section. Books on health matters can be found by looking for the number 610 at the start of the longer number. This is for health, medicine, human biology etc.

 If you do not have internet access at home you may wish to use the  PCs in Selsey library (for a small charge). Please note that the library staff are not able to take you step by step in using the computers, but if there was a problem they will try to sort it out for you.  Those people who are computer novices or would like to develop their computer skills,  may wish to enrol in an adult education class.More information »

For people with visual handicap, you are able to borrow audio books free of charge (talking books). There are also large print books.

The Housebound Reader Service
If you are housebound and unable to get to the library, a volunteer can collect your books and deliver them for you.   The library is also looking for more volunteers to do this.   More information »

Like a lot of things, you don’t miss them until they have gone. Our library is a valuable resource and so we should all make an effort to use it.

For more information on library services and a volunteer application forms please Click here »
For more information on local computer classes  Click here »

National Bug Busting Day - 31st January 2012

Male head louse. Source: Wikipedia

Head lice are a real problem for children, so easily passed from head to head at school whist at work in the classroom or playing together. What seems like a simple remedy is to get an insecticide and apply that. However, by regularly using the Bug Buster kit, you can keep your child free from infestation and without possible side effects from the chemicals in insecticides. Also there is no risk of the lice developing immunity to the insecticides.
A head louse usually hatches 7-10 days after the egg (nit) is laid, but can be anything from 5 to 11 days. Once hatched the louse becomes full grown after a minimum of 6 days. Full grown lice tend to move from head to head whereas immature lice tend to stay put. Full grown lice also mate and the female can start laying eggs at the earliest one week after she hatched!

Bug busting is all about breaking the life cycle, prevent them from spreading by removing them before the 6th day of hatching and preventing them from reproducing.

Most of the chemical products rely on killing hatched lice as it is very difficult for the chemical to penetrate the egg and difficult to remove all the eggs by combing alone. When insecticides are used a week apart, the risks are the lice can hatch and start laying their own eggs before the next application, or the live hatch after both applications. There may be re-infection from another head!

The Bug Buster Kit is recommended by the Department of Health and is re-usable. By using the specially designed comb, your regular shampoo and conditioner, you can easily remove head lice. It is recommended that you use the special combs twice a week for 2 weeks, which should rid you of an infestation (unless there is re-infection from another source).

More information »

Medical Centre Opening

The medical centre is open as normal, closing at the usual time on Friday December 23rd. We reopen on Wednesday 28th December and work normally until closing Friday 30th December to reopen for 2012 on Tuesday 3rd January.

Because of the bank holidays, it is likely that we will be busy and if you wish to discuss an ongoing problem or need to be seen for a routine check, please try and avoid making an appointment just before Christmas. It is important that you make sure you have adequate medication for the holidays. Have a look now to see if you will run out and get your repeat slip to the medical centre in good time. Not only are we very busy, but the Chemists also need adequate time to dispense your medication. If everyone drops in their repeat on 23rd and expects it before Christmas, neither the staff at the Medical centre nor the chemists could cope.

Remember to check your first aid kits at home for minor ailments and injuries so that you are well prepared. You should have simple analgesics (paracetamol, ibuprofen and aspirin) and if you have small children make sure you have preparations suitable for them. A good range of plasters, simple bandages and antiseptic cream or ointment is a good investment. Your chemist will be able to help and advise.

Everyone at the Selsey Medical Centre would like to wish you a very Happy Christmas and a Healthy New Year.

Keep your Cool this Yule

The British Association of Anger Management
What an odd subject for Christmas but according to the British Association of Anger Management (BAAM) more than half of us have family disagreements at Christmas and the average family has its first argument at 9.58am on Christmas day morning.  Not good for the season of goodwill to all men!
So what can you do to avoid all this angst?

The BAAM has come up with a superb check list to ease the festive season.

Pre- Christmas Preparation
Don’t give yourself a hard time about making Christmas perfect – it is not all your responsibility and it is just one day in the year.

Think about what makes you angry and work out in advance how you are going to deal with it.

Plan to share the responsibility for the day.  Get firm agreements on what each person will do adults and children alike.

Do as much as possible in advance.

Agree with other family members rules and arrangements that will make things go smoothly.

On the Festive Day(s)
Don’t drink too much, alcohol fuels arguments.
Listen to what other people are saying, show you understand their point of view even if you do not agree.  Don’t shout, speak.  Don’t argue, discuss.
If you feel that you are getting angry, remove yourself from the situation. Go for a walk. Give yourself time to calm and think about the bigger picture.  You can always use the excuse you have overeaten and need to walk it off!
If you shout, other people will shout back!
Try not to cover controversial matters on the ‘phone, email or text.  Seeing the other person gives vital body language clues to how they are feeling.
Break recurring conversations that always lead to argument.  Change the subject as smoothly as you can.
If you are getting frustrated, take deep breaths and count to 10.  Think about the consequences and step back.
Accept the inevitable (mess, relations you may prefer not to spend time with etc).
Look at the positives (happy memories for the children, enjoying the meal etc)

For the young people
Try to get enough rest before Christmas day as tiredness makes everyone grumpy.
If you get overexcited or if some-one is annoying you, walk away and find a quiet place.
If your brothers or sisters are annoying you, tell a grown-up who isn’t busy.
You may find listening to your favourite music or repeating a calm word to yourself while breathing deeply will help avoid an angry outburst.

More information »

World Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Day 16th November 2011

COPD is a term used for a number of lung conditions including emphysema and chronic bronchitis. It leads to damaged airways in the lungs, making the airways narrower and so harder for air to get in and out of the lungs.

The commonest cause of COPD is smoking. Once you stop smoking, your chances of developing COPD lessen and if you already have COPD, stopping smoking slows down the progression of COPD. Some occupational factors also cause COPD such as coal dust and there are some inherited factors that cause COPD.

The best way of diagnosing COPD is through Spirometry, a simple breathing test that can be done at your GP surgery. Early diagnosis as in most illness is better and symptoms include cough, phlegm and shortness of breath, sometimes symptoms only occur in winter. Occasionally, further tests are needed in hospital.

How people with COPD feel is very different from person to person. In mild cases, the symptoms are as described earlier. As the disease progresses people feel more short of breath to the point that normal activities become very difficult. The reaction to this is often to lessen physical activity in order to lessen the symptom of breathlessness, but this makes the person even more unfit, so that when they try to do any activity, the breathlessness is even worse. Shortness of breath can also cause a feeling of panic or anxiety. Fitness can be preserved and there are pulmonary rehabilitation courses which help with this.

COPD cannot be cured once you have it, but things can be done to help with symptoms and try to slow the progression.

Stopping smoking will help improve cough and phlegm and also slow the progression of the illness.

Diet. Sensible eating and maintaining a healthy weight means your lungs do not have to work as hard as someone who is overweight.

Exercise to maintain fitness levels and lessen breathlessness.

Bronchodilators can help in some people whose main symptom is breathlessness. The medicine is inhaled and works directly on the lungs.

Nebulisers can provide bigger doses of medicine but in most cases inhalers work just as well. What you are given depends on your response to treatment.

Steroids are sometimes used if you become suddenly short of breath with worsening symptoms. Your doctor may decide to give you steroids for a few days. Some people have inhaled steroids on a regular basis if the doctor feels these will help.

Antibiotics are also sometimes used for an exacerbation (sudden worsening) when phlegm changes colour, becomes much stickier or increases in amount.

Flu vaccination every autumn helps to reduce the risk of exacerbations caused by flu.

Some people with COPD have low oxygen levels in the blood. Oxygen will improve this but not help with the breathlessness. The decision about oxygen at home is made by tests done in hospital. Oxygen at home is given either by cylinders which can be portable, or an oxygen concentrator which is a machine that can take the oxygen out of the air. Oxygen is given via small plastic tubes which are soft and fit just inside the nostrils. The supply tube can be very long so you can move around your home easily.
The most important thing to remember is that there are treatments for COPD and the earlier you get help, the better it is.

More information »

Seasonal Flu Vaccine Winter 2011-12

Now is the time to start thinking about your seasonal flu vaccine. It is wisest to get it as soon as you can, don't wait until 2012 when flu is already rampaging through the community.

Reconstructed 'flu virus

Seal Medical Group will start making appointments on 19th September and vaccination will commence the first week in October once we have the supplies from the manufacturer.

Selsey Medical Practice will make appointments from September and vaccination will commence the first week in October also.

Who should be vaccinated?

1. Anyone aged 65 years or older
2. Any pregnant woman
It is recommended that all pregnant women have the flu vaccination irrespective of the stage of pregnancy. Evidence suggests that pregnant women are more likely to get serious complications with flu, especially if they catch the H1N1 strain. The vaccine itself does not cause complications to either the mother or the child.
3. People with a serious medical condition.
• Chronic (long term) respiratory disease including severe asthma, COPD, Bronchitis etc
• Chronic heart disease such as heart failure
• Chronic kidney disease
• Chronic liver disease
• Chronic neurological disease such as Stroke, TIA, Polio syndrome
• Diabetes
• A weakened immunological system due to conditions such as HIV/AIDS, or treatments that suppress the immune system such as chemotherapy
4. People living in a long stay residential care home or other long stay care facility (but not prisons, young offender institutions or university halls of residence)
5. People who are the main carer for an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if that person is ill
6. People who are frontline health or social care workers. In this case your employer is responsible for ensuring their staff has access to the seasonal flu vaccine - usually through occupational health

Flu vaccines are made from a variety of flu strains. The World Health Organisation decides each February which flu strains are likely to be the biggest threat in the coming winter months. The flu viruses are grown in hens' eggs. The virus is then inactivated (killed) and purified before being made into a vaccine.

7-10 days following your flu jab, your body starts to make antibodies to the dead virus. The antibodies are then able to recognize the live virus if you become infected and stop them multiplying and kill the invading virus before they are able to make you ill.

Side effects from the flu jab are minor, occasionally mild fever and slight muscle ache for a day or so. The flu jab will not give you flu. The virus in the vaccine is killed so cannot multiply to make you ill. However you may be unfortunate enough to catch other flu like viruses or to catch flu before you body has had chance to make the antibodies from the vaccine.

Allergic reactions to the vaccine are rare.

Who should not have the flu jab?

1. People who have had a previous allergic reaction to a flu vaccine (rare)
2. People who have a serious allergy to hens' eggs (very rare)
3. If you have a fever, do not have your flu jab until you have recovered
4. If you are healthy, under 65 and do not fall into the above list of 6 categories who should be vaccinated. You do not need a flu jab as your body can fight off the virus if you become ill with it.