Think Self Care for Life: Think the Pharmacist for expert health advice

It’s Self Care Week 2022 (14 – 20 November) and NHS Lincolnshire ICB wants to remind you of the health expert on the high street – the community pharmacist.

Pharmacists are highly trained experts in medicines and can provide advice on the best medication or treatments for a wide range of common winter health problems such as coughs, colds or flu-like symptoms, stomach aches, ear-aches, sickness and diarrhea, rashes, allergies, aches and pains.

They can also offer lots of useful advice on how to make sure you take medicines safely and make you aware of any possible side effects, in order to help you get the most from your, medicines.

People go to the doctor with common ailments because they are unsure how long symptoms last and need reassurance that it isn’t anything more serious.  Instead of waiting for an appointment at your surgery, consider going to your local pharmacist first.

Pharmacists will help you choose the right treatment for your ailment and can explain the normal duration of symptoms. They can also offer you help to stop smoking, manage your weight, and can often provide flu jabs and blood pressure checks. Many pharmacies also have private consulting rooms.

If you have a cold or flu virus it is worth remembering that antibiotics won’t help. In fact, taking them can reduce their effectiveness when they’re needed for ailments they can help with. In addition, pharmacies are an invaluable addition to the winter vaccination programme by administering the flu vaccination.

If you have a long-term condition and are worried how common ailments may be affecting you, or if you want advice on managing your medicines, visit your pharmacist first.

Also check your medicine cabinet and make sure you have the following basics which can all be bought from your local pharmacy or supermarket:

  • Painkillers
  • Cold and flu remedies
  • Anti-diarrhoea medicine
  • Oral rehydration salts
  • Indigestion remedies
  • Plasters
  • Bandages
  • A thermometer

Published 14/11/2022