Blog Archive | Page 4 of 17 | General Practice Private Doctors in UK

December 23, 2020 by Gogodoc Editor 0 Comments

Fatigue: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

There are times we experience tiredness and lack of energy and this can be relieved by sleep and rest. Some of the reasons are; spending late nights at work, too many late nights, etc. can be some of the reasons. But tiredness and exhaustion that goes for a long time isn’t normal, it may affect your ability to get on with your life.

Fatigue is a lack of motivation or energy, but it’s not the same as simply being drowsy or sleepy. It is when the tiredness is often overwhelming and cannot be relieved by sleeping or resting.

Fatigue is caused by a combination of lifestyle, social, psychological and general wellbeing issues rather than an underlying medical condition.

Causes of fatigue:

Not enough sleep
Sleep Apnea
Eating too little
Anemia
Depression
Hyperthyroidism
Having too much caffeine
Experiencing urinary tract infection (UTI)
Diabetes
Dehydration
Food allergies

Common symptoms of fatigue:

Some of the common symptoms of fatigue are;

Dizziness
Headache
Chronic sleepiness or tiredness
Muscle weakness
Poor concentration
Appetite loss
Lack of motivation and energy
Moodiness

Treating fatigue:

Fatigue is not a disease, it’s something you can feel and describe. Initially you need to understand the underlying reason for your fatigue.

To find ways of relief then consider speaking to a health specialist regarding your fatigue. If necessary, your doctor might suggest certain medical tests if there’s a reasonable chance the cause of your fatigue may be due to an undiagnosed medical issue. Such as Anemia, Thyroid Dysfunction.

Some of the other measures that can be taken to reduce fatigue are;

Get enough of sleep
Practice healthy eating habits
Stay hydrated (drink enough of fluids)
Exercise on regular basis
Abstain from alcohol or other drugs

‘Ask Gogodoc About’ is an educational series providing information on various symptoms, pains, and disorders. (*intended for educational purposes only. If you are experiencing symptoms, please reach out to book an online GP consultation with a Gogodoc GP.) Talk to a doctor online at a time that suits you from home with a phone or video appointment. You can easily book an appointment with a GP.

Book a video consultation today, and get expert advice!

December 9, 2020 by Gogodoc Editor 0 Comments

Age – Related Macular Degeneration Treatment (AMD)

Macular degeneration is the principle cause of age-related vision, mostly in older adults.

Macular degeneration happens when the cells in the eye become damaged. Therefore, as a result the brain receives images that are unclear or gnarled

Normally, in a healthy eye, light travels through the pupil that hits the pupil and then reaches the retina which is the inner back layer of your eye. Thin layers of cells in the retina sends electrical signals along the optic nerve to the brain, where images you see are translated.

The macular is located at the center of the retina. Here, millions of light sensing cells provide sharp, central vision.

Causes of macular degeneration:

Its major risk factor is aging, which normally happens to older adults.

Macular degeneration causes are complex, this includes both heredity and environment factors.

There are 2 types of AMD,

Dry AMD – This is a common eye disorder among people over 50 years. A blurred, or reduced central vision is experienced due to thinning of the macular.
Wet AMD- This is a persistent eye disorder. Blurred or blind spots in your vision field are experienced. This develops when abnormal blood vessels grow into the macular.

Common symptoms of macular degeneration:

At initial stages macular degeneration may not affect the vision, but some of its symptoms are;

Blurring of the central vision
Experiencing blurred, dark or empty spots
Distortion

Treatments for macular degeneration:

Some of the treatments for macular degeneration are;

Eating eye-healthy foods such as; Dark leafy greens, yellow fruits and vegetables, a balanced, nutrient-rich diet.
Undergoing medications called anti-VEGF drugs (Anti-antiangiogenic drugs) for wet AMD
Laser therapy for wet AMD
Photodynamic laser therapy

Risk factors of macular degeneration:

Several risk factors are controllable even though age-related macular degeneration are complex.

Some of its controllable risk factors are;

Smoking
Being overweight overall and around abdomen
High blood pressure
Long term exposure to the sun without eye protection
Unchecked cardiovascular disease.

Book a consultation today, and get expert advice!

December 7, 2020 by Gogodoc Editor 0 Comments

Emergency Contraception

Emergency contraception is a way to prevent pregnancy after sexual intercourse. As Over 95% of pregnancies are prevented by the use of emergency contraception.

For the emergency contraception pill to be effective, the pill should be taken within 3 to 5 days after an unsafe sexual intercourse. This depends on the type of pill taken and your physician would discuss the most appropriate one to take with you. The use of an emergency contraceptive pill can make your next period earlier, later or more painful than usual.

Side Effects

You may experience symptoms such as:

Stomach pain
Nausea
Vaginal bleeding
Headaches

When to see your GP.

If your period is more than 7 days late.
If your period is shorter or lighter than its usual.
If you experience a sudden pain in your lower stomach.

If the above-mentioned symptoms don’t go away after a few days, then you must consult a GP.

Book a consultation today, and get expert advice!

December 2, 2020 by Gogodoc Editor 0 Comments

Allergy Testing

Allergy tests are done to test whether your body has an allergic reaction to common substances. Allergy test can be done in the form of skin test, blood test or an expulsion diet. An allergic reaction is the body’s immune response to a substance. This can be a chemical or food.

Substances like pollen, bee venom or animal dander or even food which is normally harmless can cause your body to overreact. This over reaction can lead to;

Sneezing
A runny nose
Itchy, watery eyes
Blocked sinuses

Common allergic conditions include:

Hay fever
Asthma
Allergic Eczema
Hives
Allergic Rhinitis
Allergic eyes

Allergic conditions are tested in different ways such as;

Skin prick tests
Patch tests
Blood tests

Book a consultation today, and get expert advice!

December 1, 2020 by Gogodoc Editor 0 Comments

Cough

Coughing is a typical reflex activity that frees a person’s throat from bodily fluid. There are several circumstances that cause more regular Coughing.

Acute Cough is a cough that lasts for less than 3 weeks and a Subacute Cough is a cough that lasts between 3 to 8 weeks. If a cough precedes for more than 8 weeks it’s called a chronic cough.

Causes for a cough

Cough can be caused due to temporary or permanent conditions. Some of them are identified as follows.

Clearing the throat

This is a standard way of clearing a person’s throat when it’s blocked with bodily fluid or unfamiliar particles. For example: dust and smoke.

Infections like bronchitis
Allergies such as hay fever
Acid reflux (heart burn)

Treatments for cough

Treatments are done in various ways depending on the cause. These are some simple home treatments that could be done to prevent Coughing.

Prevent smoking and dust.
Always stay hydrated
Use more pillows while sleeping.
Wash the throat every morning with warm salt water to get rid of mucus or bodily fluid.
Adding ginger or honey to tea will prevent blocking the throat with mucus and other unfamiliar particles.
Using cough drops and decongestant sprays prevents coughing.

Gogodoc also provides an educational series of information on various blood tests (*intended for educational purposes only. If you are experiencing symptoms, please reach out to book an online GP consultation with a Gogodoc GP.) Talk to a doctor online at a time that suits you from home with a phone or video appointment. You can easily book an appointment with GP.

Book a consultation today, and get expert advice!

November 30, 2020 by Gogodoc Editor 0 Comments

Asthma: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

Asthma is a lung condition that causes occasional breathing difficulties. In other words, it is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the lungs. This tends to be common in those with a family history of asthma.

1 in 11 children and 1 in 12 adults suffer from asthma in the UK. Asthma can start at any age but most commonly starts in childhood.

Causes of Asthma:

The triggers for asthma attacks differ from person to person. Some of them are:

Stress and strong emotional responses,
Exposure to cold air,
Some of the medications,
Allergens such as animal allergens, pollen, dust or food.

Common symptoms of Asthma:

Breathlessness
Wheezing, cold and breathlessness getting worser
Breathing gets faster.

Treatments for Asthma:

Asthma is not currently preventable or curable, but can be well managed with a healthy lifestyle and medication.

Inhaler devices are the main treatment for asthma. If the condition is severe, tablets and other medications can also be used under doctor’s advice.

Tablets such as Leukotriene receptor antagonists, theophylline and steroid tablets can be used under doctor’s prescription.

There are other treatments too. Some of which are; Injections, surgery, other complementary theories.

The main tests for Asthma are:

Spirometry: Here, you blow into a machine that measures how fast you can breathe out and how much air you can hold in your lungs. This is a main test doctors generally use to diagnose asthma in people which 5 years or older.
Peak flow test: Here, you blow into a handheld device that measures how fast you can breathe out.
FeNO Test: Here, you breathe into a machine that measures the level of nitric oxide in your breath, which is a sign of inflammation in your lungs.

Allergen tests are also performed. These can be skin tests, blood tests or both. Although not used to diagnose asthma, allergy tests help identify an allergic condition, such as hay fever, that may be causing your symptoms or worsening existing asthma.

Book a consultation today, and get expert advice!

November 25, 2020 by Gogodoc Editor 0 Comments

Thyroid function test

Determining your hormone levels through a blood test is the precise way to find out if there is an issue.

By doing a Thyroid Function Test, it examines your levels of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) and Thyroxine (T4) in the blood.

Underactive thyroid

An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) is the point at which your thyroid organs don’t produce enough of the hormone thyroxine (additionally called T4).
Most of the time Hypothyroidism is caused due to the Thyroid being affected or damaged by the immune system or if any damage is caused due to treatments for thyroid cancer or an overactive thyroid.
If you have an elevated level of TSH and a low level of T4 in your blood, this could mean you have Hypothyroidism.
It is recommended that you have a repeated blood test every now and then to check if you eventually develop an underactive thyroid.
Also, blood tests are used to get other estimations, for example, to check your hormone level which is known as Triiodothyronine (T3). However, this is not in the normal routine.
It’s important that an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) is analyzed as soon as possible.
Low degrees of thyroid-producing hormones, for example, Triiodothyronine (T3) and Thyroxine (T4), can change the manner in which the body develops it’s fat.
This can cause an elevation in Cholesterol and Atherosclerosis (blockage of Arteries), which can possibly bring about severe heart-related issues, such as angina or a coronary failure.

Treatment for underactive thyroid

An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) is generally treated by taking a day-to-day synthetic hormone tablet called levothyroxine.

Levothyroxine replaces the thyroxine hormone, which your thyroid doesn’t make enough of.

At first you will have regular blood tests until the right amount of levothyroxine is reached. This can take a while to get right.

Book a video consultation today, and get expert advice!

November 24, 2020 by Gogodoc Editor 0 Comments

Hay fever

What is Hay fever?

Hayfever is a common allergic reaction which occurs at particular times of the year. It is known as seasonal rhinitis. It can affect both children and adults.

Causes

It is caused when the body makes allergic antibodies (IgE) to certain substances such as dust, pollen mould or house mites. These are known as allergens. Grass pollen is the most common allergen May-July and tree pollen February-June and weed pollen June-September

Common Symptoms

Itchy Eyes
Sneezing
Tiredness
Shortness of Breath
Red/ Watery eyes
Headaches
Blocked Sinuses
Post-Nasal Drip. (Running mucus and the back of the throat).

Medications

You are able to use over the counter medications such as antihistamines. These help with common symptoms such as sneezing and itchy eyes. Eye drops and saline nasal drops are also good for relieving mild to moderate symptoms.

When To See A Doctor

Speak to your GP when over the counter (OTC) medications do not help or cause unwanted annoying side effects. You could also have another condition which may need seeing to such as nasal polyps, asthma or frequent sinus infections.

Treatments for Hay fever:

Treatment for Allergic Rhinitis depends on how radical your symptoms are and the way they’re affecting your daily performances.

Most of the time treatment plans focus on reducing the symptoms such as wheezing and a blocked or runny nose.

If you have mild signs of Allergic Rhinitis, you can frequently treat the symptoms by yourself.

However, you should visit your GP if your symptoms are more radical or if self- improvement measures have not worked.

Ask Gogodoc About’ is an educational series providing information on various symptoms, pains, and disorders. (*intended for educational purposes only. If you are experiencing symptoms, please reach out to book an online GP consultation with a Gogodoc GP.) Talk to a doctor online at a time that suits you from home with a phone or video appointment. You can easily book an appointment with a GP.

Book a telephone or video consultation today, and get experts advice!

November 18, 2020 by Gogodoc Editor 0 Comments

Bowel-Treatment

Bowel incontinence is powerlessness to control defecations, bringing about automatic dirtying. It’s additionally once in a while known as faecal incontinence.

The experience of entrail incontinence can change from individual to individual. A few people feel an abrupt need to go to the latrine yet can’t arrive at a latrine as expected. This is known as urge inside incontinence.

A few people experience incontinence consistently, while for others it just occurs occasionally.

It’s an idea 1 out of 10 individuals will be influenced by it sooner or later in their life. It can influence individuals of all ages, although it’s more normal in older individuals. It’s likewise more normal in ladies than men.

Reasons for bowel incontinence

Bowel incontinence is typically brought about by an actual issue with the pieces of the body that control the inside.

The most well-known issues are:

Problems with the rectum – the rectum can’t hold crap appropriately until it’s an ideal opportunity to go to the latrine
Problems with the sphincter muscles – the muscles at the lower part of the rectum don’t work appropriately
Nerve harm – the nerve signals sent from the rectum don’t arrive at the mind

Why bowel incontinence occurs

Bowel incontinence is an indication of a fundamental issue or ailment.

Numerous cases are brought about by the runs, obstruction, or debilitating of the muscle that controls the kickoff of the butt.

It can likewise be brought about by long haul conditions, for example, diabetes, numerous sclerosis and dementia.

Bowel incontinence can be upsetting and difficult to adapt to, yet treatment is viable and a fix is regularly conceivable, so ensure you see your GP.

It’s critical to recollect that:

Bowel incontinence isn’t something to be embarrassed about – it’s a clinical issue that is the same as diabetes or asthma.
It can be dealt with – there’s a wide scope of fruitful medicines.
Bowel incontinence is anything but a typical piece of maturing.
It won’t normally disappear all alone – the vast majority need treatment for the condition.

Treating Bowel incontinence

Much of the time, with the correct treatment, an individual can keep up typical inside capacity for an incredible duration.

Treatment will frequently rely upon the reason and how extreme it is, however, potential choices include:

Lifestyle and dietary changes to alleviate obstruction or looseness of the bowels
Exercise projects to reinforce the muscles that control the inside
Medication to control looseness of the bowels and clogging
Surgery, of which there are various alternatives

Book a video consultation today! and get expert advice.

November 16, 2020 by Gogodoc Editor 0 Comments

Conjunctivitis: Causes, Symptoms and Prevention

Pink eye (conjunctivitis) is an inflammation or infection of the transparent membrane (conjunctiva) that lines your eyelid and covers the white part of your eyeball. When small blood vessels in the conjunctiva become inflamed, they’re more visible. This is what causes the whites of your eyes to appear reddish or pink.
Pink eye is commonly caused by a bacterial or viral infection, an allergic reaction, or — in babies — an incompletely opened tear duct.
Though pink eye can be irritating, it rarely affects your vision. Treatments can help ease the discomfort of pink eye. Because pink eye can be contagious, early diagnosis and treatment can help limit its spread.

Causes:

Causes of pink eye include:

Viruses
Bacteria
Allergies
A chemical splash in the eye
A foreign object in the eye
In newborns, a blocked tear duct

Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis

Most cases of pink eye are typically caused by adenovirus but can also be caused by herpes simplex virus, varicella-zoster virus, and various other viruses, including the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Both viral and bacterial conjunctivitis can occur along with colds or symptoms of a respiratory infection, such as a sore throat. Wearing contact lenses that aren’t cleaned properly or aren’t your own can cause bacterial conjunctivitis.

Both types are very contagious. They are spread through direct or indirect contact with the liquid that drains from the eye of someone who’s infected. One or both eyes may be affected.

Allergic conjunctivitis

Allergic conjunctivitis affects both eyes and is a response to an allergy-causing substance such as pollen. In response to allergens, your body produces an antibody called immunoglobulin E (IgE). Your body’s release of histamine can produce a number of allergy signs and symptoms, including red or pink eyes.
If you have allergic conjunctivitis, you may experience intense itching, tearing and inflammation of the eyes — as well as sneezing and watery nasal discharge. Most allergic conjunctivitis can be controlled with allergy eyedrops.

Conjunctivitis resulting from irritation

Irritation from a chemical splash or foreign object in your eye is also associated with conjunctivitis. Sometimes flushing and cleaning the eye to rid it of the chemical or object causes redness and irritation. Signs and symptoms, which may include watery eyes and a mucous discharge, usually clear up on their own within about a day.
If initial flushing doesn’t resolve the symptoms, or if the chemical is a caustic one such as lye, you need to be seen by your doctor or eye specialist as soon as possible. A chemical splash into the eye can cause permanent eye damage. Persistent symptoms could also indicate that you still have the foreign body in your eye — or possibly a scratch over the cornea or the covering of the eyeball (sclera).

Risk factors

Risk factors for pink eye include:

Exposure to something for which you have an allergy (allergic conjunctivitis)
Exposure to someone infected with the viral or bacterial form of conjunctivitis
Using contact lenses, especially extended-wear lenses

Complications

In both children and adults, pink eye can cause inflammation in the cornea that can affect vision. Prompt evaluation and treatment by your doctor for eye pain, a feeling that something is stuck in your eye (foreign body sensation), blurred vision or light sensitivity can reduce the risk of complications.

Symptoms:

The most common pink eye symptoms include:

Redness in one or both eyes
Itchiness in one or both eyes
A gritty feeling in one or both eyes
A discharge in one or both eyes that forms a crust during the night that may prevent your eye or eyes from opening in the morning
Tearing

When to see a doctor?

There are serious eye conditions that can cause eye redness. These conditions may cause eye pain, a feeling that something is stuck in your eye (foreign body sensation), blurred vision and light sensitivity. If you experience these symptoms, seek urgent care.
People who wear contact lenses need to stop wearing their contacts as soon as pink eye symptoms begin. If your symptoms don’t start to get better within 12 to 24 hours, make an appointment with your eye doctor to make sure you don’t have a more serious eye infection related to contact lens use.

Prevention:

Preventing the spread of pink eye

Practice good hygiene to control the spread of pink eye. For instance:

Don’t touch your eyes with your hands.
Wash your hands often.
Use a clean towel and washcloth daily.
Don’t share towels or washcloths.
Change your pillowcases often.
Throw away your eye cosmetics, such as mascara.
Don’t share eye cosmetics or personal eye care items.

Preventing pink eye in newborns

Newborns’ eyes are susceptible to bacteria normally present in the mother’s birth canal. These bacteria cause no symptoms in the mother. In rare cases, these bacteria can cause infants to develop a serious form of conjunctivitis known as ophthalmia neonatorum, which needs treatment without delay to preserve sight. That’s why shortly after birth, an antibiotic ointment is applied to every newborn’s eyes. The ointment helps prevent eye infection.

Book a video consultation today! and get expert advice.

In-Clinic GP Consultation, Online Consultations & GP Home Visit

Causes of fatigue:

Common symptoms of fatigue:

Treating fatigue:

Causes of macular degeneration:

Common symptoms of macular degeneration:

Treatments for macular degeneration:

Risk factors of macular degeneration:

Side Effects

When to see your GP.

Common allergic conditions include:

Causes for a cough

Treatments for cough

Causes of Asthma:

Common symptoms of Asthma:

Treatments for Asthma:

Underactive thyroid

Treatment for underactive thyroid

What is Hay fever?

Causes

Common Symptoms

Medications

When To See A Doctor

Treatments for Hay fever:

Reasons for bowel incontinence

Why bowel incontinence occurs

Treating Bowel incontinence

Causes:

Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis

Allergic conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis resulting from irritation

Risk factors

Complications

Symptoms:

When to see a doctor?

Prevention:

Preventing the spread of pink eye

Preventing pink eye in newborns