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Cardiovascular Disease
Asthma
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease/Emphysema
Lung Cancer
Diabetes
Osteoporosis
Hormone Replacement Therapy
Impotence
Glaucoma
Indigestion
Colo-rectal
cancer
If you would like information on any other medical topics please let us know.
...back to topCardiovascular disease, heart-attacks and stroke are the commonest cause of death in the United Kingdom.
Major risk factors are:
- Smoking
- High blood pressure
- High blood cholesterol
- Physical inactivity
Other lifestyle factors such as drinking too much alcohol, excessive salt intake and obesity play a part. It is known that 7 out of 10 adults in the UK do not take enough regular physical activity to achieve health benefits to protect their heart.
Our Cardiovascular Clinic which is designed for people with heart disease at which we are able to monitor blood pressure and cholesterol and to advise and encourage life style alterations as well as initiating and monitoring drug therapy.
...back to topThis condition caused by inflammation in the tubes to the lungs is characterised by cough, wheezing, chest tightness and shortness of breath. It is often worse during the night or early morning, with exercise or cold air. It may be triggered by viral infections such as colds and coughs and is seen in people who are allergic to house dust mite and fur etc, and non specific irritants such as cigarette smoke and perfumes and certain drugs, especially Beta-Blockers and Aspirin. It may be caused by contact with certain products found at the work place.
Our Asthma Clinic will:
- Increase your knowledge of the condition
- Enable you to use your inhalers correctly
- Educate you into how to self manage your asthma
Please make an appointment.
...back to topThis is usually a smoking related condition which accounts for approximately six percent of all male and four percent of all female deaths. It is responsible for more than fifty percent of hospital admissions for respiratory diseases. Our specially trained nurses will help with smoking cessation and monitoring of this progressive lung disease.
...back to topThis is the most common cancer in the developed world, affecting currently more men than women, but unfortunately girls are catching up!
The vast majority approximately 90% are directly as the result of smoking tobacco.
Worrying symptoms are coughing up blood, weight loss and shortness of breath. If you are a smoker we would be happy to help you stop this dangerous habit.
...back to topThis is a condition that has raised blood sugar as its hallmark. Symptoms tend to be increased thirst and passing more urine.
It can cause damage to eyes, kidneys nervous system, the heart and blood vessels.
1. Insulin Dependent Diabetes
This most commonly affects children and young adults and requires insulin injections.
2. Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes
There is currently an epidemic in the developed world caused by the increased number of people who are overweight, inactive and eat the wrong food. Healthy eating, weight reduction and increasing activity can often control this, although currently most patients are controlled with tablets and occasionally insulin injections.
Our Diabetic Clinic will help you control this dangerous condition.
...back to topOsteoporosis is now recognised to be a disease of major importance affecting approximately forty percent of women over the age of seventy. Its major consequences are associated with significant mortality and morbidity. Hip fractures alone cost the NHS an estimated nine-hundred and forty million pounds.
Risk Factors Include:
- Family history
- Alcohol excess
- Smoking
- Being underweight
- Post menopausal women
- Premature menopause - under 45 years
- Long term steroid use
Facts about Osteoporosis
- Osteoporosis means thin bones that break more easily.
- It is not painful except when a bone is broken or a vertebrae is compressed.
- It is very common especially in women.
- There is often no particular cause.
- The only way it could affect you is if you broke a bone because it got thin.
- We can stop bones getting thinner with treatment.
Information is available from your doctor or your nurse.
...back to topNHS prescriptions are available to men who suffer from:
- Diabetes
- Multiple sclerosis
- Parkinson's disease
- Polio
- Prostate cancer
- Prostatectomy
- Radical pelvic surgery
- Renal failure on treatment with Dialysis or Transplant
- Severe pelvic injury
- Single gene neurological disease
- Spinal cord injury
- Spina bifida
Ask your doctor for advice regarding treatment options.
...back to topThis is a condition associated with raised pressure within the eye.
1. Acute Closed Angle Glaucoma
This is uncommon but is a medical emergency. It causes severe pain in and around the eye, which is worse on looking at bright light. There is a marked deterioration in vision with redness of the affecting eye, and unless treated rapidly leads to blindness.
2. Simple Glaucoma
This tends to affect the middle ages or elderly. It initially causes little symptoms, but slowly the vision is damaged. It often runs in families and your optician can easily measure the pressure in your eye.
...back to topThis tends to be caused by problems with the gullet or stomach, and is often due to excess stomach acid.
The Gullet (oesophagus)
Symptoms include hot burning discomfort behind the breastbone, noticed when bending or lying down at night. People sometimes wake up with an unpleasant tasting fluid in the mouth (waterbrash). Avoiding tight clothes and elevating the head of the bed can make a considerable difference. If your food sticks on swallowing this may be caused by narrowing of the gullet, and you should see your doctor as soon as possible.
Peptic ulcers occur either in the stomach or in the duodenum, and tend to give abdominal pain that occurs after eating and at night. The majority are associated with a bug called Helicobacter Pylori, and if that is killed by a special course of treatment can often cure indigestion.
Avoidance of smoking and excess alcohol as well as healthy eating can improve symptoms. Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs including low dose Aspirin often used in the treatment of joint pains and arthritis are particularly likely to cause indigestion and increase the risk of bleeding or perforation from the stomach lining. If you are elderly or suffer from indigestion these drugs are dangerous.
...back to topShort term benefits:
Relief of menopausal symptoms, hot flushes, night sweats and disturbed sleep.Medium term benefits:
Maintenance of healthy uterus and cervix enhanced. Vagina moistness making sex less painful and protects against cystitis and incontinence.Long term benefits:
Helps prevent osteoporosis and may protect against heart disease.Fascinating Fact:
Forty-six percent of female GP's of late middle age have used HRT compared with only sixteen percent of other women.Ask your doctor for advice.
Amarant Trust Helpline 01293-413000
...back to topThis is the second commonest cause of cancer mortality in the UK. Early diagnosis is important in determining prognosis.
Alarm symptoms are:
- Change in bowel habit.
- Rectal bleeding.
- Loss of appetite and weight loss.
- Asymptomatic patients with a strong family history of colorectal cancer should undergo screening.
If you have any of these symptoms see your doctor.