Q1. A colleague recently burnt themselves in the office kitchen. Everyone had a different idea of the best way to treat it: ice, cold water, creams or ointments... What should we have done
A. Immediate treatment with cold running water is best for minor burns. If possible, hold under a running cold tap or shower for 20 minutes. Cold, wet cloths may be used instead, but must be changed often to ensure they stay cool. Do not apply ice to a burn because it can further damage the skin. After initial treatment, burns can be managed with pain relievers and appropriate non-stick dressings, and should be checked daily for any signs of infection. Never break blisters. Always seek medical advice for a severe burn or for a minor burn that blisters and is larger than a 20-cent piece. A first-aid course is a great way to learn essential skills and to gain confidence.
Q2. I am a 38-year-old mother of four. A recent blood test showed I was anaemic and my doctor prescribed an iron supplement. This seems to be causing constipation. Help!
A. This is a common side-effect and may be relieved by a high-fibre diet, increased fluids and exercise. Try to improve the amount of iron in your diet – animal sources are better absorbed by the body than iron from plant sources. Red meat is an obvious choice. If you are vegetarian, include iron-fortified cereals, tofu, spinach, legumes and nuts. Vitamin C assists absorption of iron, so include fruit or juice at meal times. Depending on the cause of your anaemia and the level
Q3. I am breastfeeding my six-month-old twins and take Nurofen (ibuprofen) for muscular pain in my neck and shoulders. Recently, I tried Nurofen Plus and found the pain relief much better, but it says on the box not to use it while breastfeeding. What is the safest pain reliever to take while breastfeeding?
A. Ibuprofen and paracetamol are both safe to use while breastfeeding. Many pain relievers for stronger pain (such as Nurofen Plus and Panadeine) contain codeine, which is not recommended for ongoing use while breastfeeding. If you need regular strong pain relief talk to your doctor. Breastfeeding twins can be tricky and awkward postures are a common cause of neck and shoulder pain, so consider seeing a physiotherapist
for advice.
Q4. I suffer with hay fever and have been prescribed a nasal spray by my doctor. I don’t like using it as all the spray seems to end up in my throat and tastes terrible. Any advice on technique?
A. This is a really important question. Without correct technique, the medication can miss the nasal passages altogether. To use a nasal spray effectively, tilt your head forwards, bringing your chin toward your chest. This opens the sinuses allowing for best penetration to the right areas. While the head is down, spray into the nostril in an upward and outward direction (towards the ear). Inhale gently while spraying. Sniffing too deeply will drag the medication back into the throat. Ask your pharmacist
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Q1 My ten-year-old niece has a nut allergy. She spends a lot of time with us and I’m terrified she’ll have an anaphylactic reaction while in our care. My brother tells me not to worry as she always carries an EpiPen, but I’m not sure I’d be confident to use it in an emergency.
A. First, you need to wise up and toughen up, because using an EpiPen is no big deal. It was designed precisely with someone like you in mind – you don’t need any medical training to use one. The best things you can do for your niece are learning
to recognise the signs of an attack and becoming more familiar with the pen.
Your doctor or pharmacist can show you an EpiPen training device, a dummy model without a needle that’s used for educational purposes. This should help give you more confidence. Also, check out the website www.allergyfacts.org.au for booklets and DVDs that help spread the word on food allergies and their treatment.
Q2 I’m a 35-year-old mother of two and I have acne. I've been taking doxycycline for three months and the results are great, but I notice that the box warns against excessive exposure to sunlight. Does this mean I’m at greater risk of getting skin cancer?
A. This antibiotic gets an A+ as a solution to acne, but it can make your skin more sensitive to the sun. You need to be vigilant with sunscreen, and to think carefully about taking doxycycline through our harsh summer months.
Now might be a good time to switch to antibiotic lotions, a low-dose contraceptive or even a vitamin A retinoid. Make an appointment with your GP or dermatologist to discuss the next move.
Q3 I’m 48 and have high cholesterol. I have been on medication for 12 months but I’d like to do more. Is there any sense in trying dairy products that are promoted to reduce cholesterol absorption, or are they just hype?
A. Sterol-enriched products such as milk, yoghurt and cereal are worth including in your diet. The addition of plant sterols to these products helps to reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol levels by as much as 10% – and this is on top of the reductions achieved with medication.
There is a catch, however: you need to eat a significant amount to achieve such benefits. The recommended intake is two to three serves of sterol-enriched foods daily. If you’re relying on the margarine, you’d need six teaspoons a day – a hefty whack.
A better idea may be to plan ways to build more sterol-enriched foods into your overall diet.
Q4 In a few weeks I’m going on a ten-day cruise. I just know I’ll get seasick. Any suggestions?
A. First off, stop worrying; you have a number of options. Motion sickness is the body’s normal reaction to extremes of movement, so a cruise on calm seas isn’t likely to be a problem. As a precaution, take some antihistamines with you (but note that they may cause drowsiness).
Ask your pharmacist to show you the available range of hyoscine combination products, such as Kwells, which are effective in treating motion sickness (although some people do experience a dry mouth
and blurred vision).
Acupressure wristbands and ginger tablets are popular alternatives to medications and may be worth packing.
