Health Concerns

Shoulder pain can be caused by a minor injury, bad posture, or an underlying health condition. Conditions that can cause shoulder pain include: frozen shoulder  rotator cuff disorders shoulder instability …

Your GP may be able to diagnose the cause of your shoulder pain by discussing your symptoms with you and examining your shoulder. In some cases, tests may be needed. As well as asking exactly where the pain is, your GP will also need to…

The type of treatment offered for your shoulder pain will depend on the underlying cause and your symptoms. Options such as heat or ice packs and painkillers may help reduce pain and treat minor injuries at home.  You should see your GP if…

To prevent the spread of infections that cause diarrhoea, you should always maintain high standards of hygiene. For example, you should always: wash your hands thoroughly after going to the toilet and before eating or preparing food…

The best way to prevent balanitis developing is to always maintain good levels of hygiene. For example: if you get up during the night to urinate, make sure that the tip of your penis (glans) is completely dry and free of urine…

Your GP should be able to diagnose balanitis by the redness and inflamed (swollen) appearance of the glans. You may initially feel embarrassed about visiting your GP with the symptoms of balanitis, but it's important that you do. This is…

The causes of balanitis include poor hygiene, fungal infections, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Poor hygiene Poor hygiene is the most common cause of balanitis, with young boys being at particular risk. This is usually due to…

Balanitis (balanoposthitis) is swelling of the head of the penis. The foreskin (the loose flap of skin that covers the head of the penis) is also often affected. Balanitis is a common condition affecting both boys and men, although it…

People with Raynaud's phenomenon have an increased risk of developing other problems, such as scleroderma. Scleroderma Around one in 16 woman and one in 50 men with Raynaud’s will develop a condition called scleroderma, usually between the…

Treatment for Raynaud's phenomenon usually involves self-help techniques, although medication is sometimes necessary. If you have been diagnosed with primary Raynaud’s you will probably be treated by your GP. If you have been diagnosed with…

Raynaud's phenomenon can usually be diagnosed after an examination of your symptoms and some blood tests. Your GP may place your hands in cold water or cool air to see if you show symptoms of Raynaud’s. Further testing is usually…

Raynaud's phenomenon is the result of over-sensitive blood vessels in the body's extremities. In many cases, no cause is identified, although it is sometimes linked to other health conditions. When your body is exposed to cold temperatures,…

The main symptoms of Raynaud's are changes to the skin colour in the affected areas. These changes to the skin usually happen in three stages: stage one: the affected body part turns white because blood supply is…

Raynaud’s phenomenon is a common condition that affects the blood supply to certain parts of the body, usually the fingers and toes. You may have heard of it referred to as Raynaud’s syndrome, Raynaud’s disease or just Raynaud's.…

Antacids are a type of medication that can control the acid levels in your stomach. They are available over the counter from pharmacies and are commonly used to treat the symptoms of heartburn and indigestion. How antacids work…

Antacids are not suitable for everyone, sometimes they need to be taken with caution or avoided completely. Use in children Many antacid medicines are not recommended for children under the age of 12. Antacids containing calcium are…

Diarrhoea is passing looser or more frequent stools than is normal for you. It affects most people from time to time and is usually nothing to worry about. What causes diarrhoea? There are many different causes of diarrhoea, but a bowel…

Diarrhoea can have a number of associated symptoms depending on the cause and who is affected. In terms of severity, you may only have slightly watery stools and a brief upset stomach, or your stools may be very watery for a prolonged…

Diarrhoea usually occurs when fluid cannot be absorbed from the contents of your bowel, or when extra fluid is secreted into your bowel, causing watery faeces. Short-term diarrhoea Diarrhoea is usually a symptom of gastroenteritis (a bowel …

Most cases of diarrhoea get better within a week and you may not need to visit your GP. Read more about when to visit your GP if you have diarrhoea. The information below explains what will happen if you need to see your GP. Identifying the…

A miscarriage can have a profound emotional impact, not only on the woman herself but also on her partner, friends and family. Advice and support is available during this difficult time. Remembrance  It is usually possible to arrange a…

Diarrhoea will usually clear up without treatment after a few days because the immune system fights off the infection. In children, the symptoms of diarrhoea will usually pass within five to seven days. In most cases, diarrhoea does not…

Treatments for back pain will vary depending on how long you have had the pain, how severe it is and your individual needs and preferences. Short-term back pain Most cases of back pain that last no longer than six weeks can be treated with…

In many cases, the cause of a miscarriage is not known and you wouldn't have been able to prevent it.  However, there are ways to lower your risk of miscarriage, including: not smoking during pregnancy  not drinking alcohol or…

If there is no pregnancy tissue left in your womb, no treatment is required. However, if there is still some pregnancy tissue in your womb, your options are: wait for the tissue to pass naturally out of your womb (expectant management)…

If you see your GP or midwife because of vaginal bleeding or other symptoms of miscarriage, you may be referred to an early pregnancy unit at a hospital for tests.  Tests The hospital can carry out tests to confirm whether you are having…

The most common sign of miscarriage is vaginal bleeding. This can vary from light spotting or brownish discharge to heavy bleeding and bright red blood. The bleeding may come and go over several days. However, light vaginal bleeding is…

A miscarriage is the loss of a pregnancy during the first 23 weeks. The main sign of a miscarriage is vaginal bleeding, which may be followed by cramping and pain in your lower abdomen. If you have vaginal bleeding, contact your GP. Most…

As so little is known the causes of congenital heart disease, there is no guaranteed way of avoiding having a baby with the condition. However, if you are pregnant, the following advice can help to reduce the risk: Ensure you are…

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is a condition that causes pain, stiffness and inflammation in the muscles around the shoulders, neck and hips. Polymyalgia rheumatica may also cause other symptoms, including: a high temperature (fever)…