Health Information

• Alcohol Alcohol is a compound of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, which is produced when glucose is fermented by yeast. The alcohol content of a particular drink is controlled by the amount of yeast and the...
• Anxiety Everyone gets anxious from time to time. But if you worry so much that it stops you getting on with life, you may have an illness called generalised anxiety disorder. We call it anxiety disorder for...
• Asthma Asthma is common. The typical symptoms are wheeze, cough, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. Symptoms can range from mild to severe. Asthma cannot be 'cured', but treatment is usually...
• Back Pain About 3 in 4 people have one or more bouts of back pain . Most bouts soon ease and are not due to serious back problems. In most cases the usual advice is to keep active, and do normal activities as...
• Blood Tests How is a blood test normally done? Your name and other details are written on a form and blood bottles. The vein used for blood sampling is usually on the inside of your elbow or back of your...
• Burns Cool a burnt or scalded area immediately with cool water (preferably running water) for at least 20 minutes. This leaflet also gives further advice.
• Cancer What is cancer? Cancer is a disease of the cells in the body. There are many different types of cell in the body, and many different types of cancer which arise from different types of cell....
• Depression Depression is common. Symptoms affect day-to-day life and can become very distressing. Treatments include talking treatments and antidepressant medicines. Treatment takes time to work but has a good...
• Diabetes The NE Derbyshire Diabetes Education Team now have an excellent web-site containing more detailed information. The address is www.neddiabetes.nhs.uk and to access it click here . Here is a...
• Ear Infection Ear infection is common in children, but can occur at any age. The main symptoms are earache and feeling unwell. Painkillers are the main treatment. Antibiotics are not usually needed but are...
• Gallstones Gallstones occur when bile, which is normally fluid, forms stones. They commonly contain lumps of cholesterol-like (fatty) material that has solidified and hardened. Sometimes bile pigments or...
• Gastroenteritis Gastroenteritis is an infection of the guts (intestines). Many bacteria, viruses, and other microbes (bugs) can cause gastroenteritis. It can range from a mild stomach upset for a day or two with...
• Glaucoma Glaucoma is an eye condition where the nerve at the back of the eye (the optic nerve) is damaged. This can lead to loss of vision. In most cases, the damage to the optic nerve is due to an increased...
• Heart Disease Coronary heart disease is the most common cause of death in the United Kingdom. More than 270,000 heart attacks occur each year, and of these patients, about 43% die within 28 days of their heart...
• High Blood Pressure In the UK, about half of people over 65, and about 1 in 4 middle aged adults, have high blood pressure . It is less common in younger adults. High blood pressure usually causes no symptoms ....
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gut disorder. The cause is not known. Symptoms can be quite variable and include abdominal pain, bloating, and sometimes bouts of diarrhoea or...
• Meningitis Meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia (blood posoning) are not always easy to recognise at first. In the early stages, signs and symptoms can be similar to many other more common illnesses,...
• Migraine Migraine attacks can make it hard to live your life normally. But there are treatments that can help. Migraine causes attacks of headaches, often with feeling sick or vomiting. Treatment...
• Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis can make your joints feel stiff and painful. But there are treatments that can help. Osteoarthritis causes pain and stiffness in joints. Symptoms may be helped by exercises, some...
• Rheumatoid Arthritis Rheumatoid arthritis causes inflammation, pain, and swelling of joints. In time, affected jo ints typically become damaged. The severity can vary from mild to severe. Treatments include medication...
• Stopping Smoking MOST SMOKERS WANT TO STOP SMOKING - WE CAN HELP YOU! Your doctor or nurse will support you and not lecture you. Did you know that Nicotine patches and gum are available on prescription? ...
• Teenage Health Being a teenager is never very easy - just ask a parent! Teenagers have health issues of their own and often don't find it easy to access health care. They often have concerns about...
• Thyroid Disease Thyroxine is a body chemical (hormone) made by the thyroid gland in the neck. It is carried round the body in the bloodstream. It helps to keep the body's functions (the metabolism) working at the...
• Urinary Incontinence Urinary incontinence is passing urine when you did not not mean too (an involuntary loss of urine). It can range from a small 'dribble' now and then, to large floods or urine. Incontinence may cause...
• Vaginal Thrush Thrush is the second most common cause of a vaginal discharge. (The most common cause of vaginal discharge is bacterial vaginosis.) The discharge is usually creamy white, but is sometimes watery. It...