What are the opening hours?

Monday 8:30am - 12pm 2pm - 5pm Tuesday 8:30am - 12pm 2pm - 5pm Wednesday 8:30am - 12pm 2pm - 5pm Thursday 8:30am - 12pm 2pm - 5pm Friday 8:30am - 12pm 2pm - 5pm Saturday 8:30am - 12pm

The Spa Pharmacy

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The Spa Pharmacy

An independent community pharmacy serving Montpellier and Cheltnham for over 150 years. A free collection and delivery service - all local surgeries.

27/01/2026

Coeliac 2

What causes coeliac disease?

Coeliac disease is an autoimmune condition. This is where the immune system (the body’s defence against infection) mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. In coeliac disease the immune system mistakes substances found inside gluten as a threat to the body and attacks them.
This damages the surface of the small bowel disrupting the body’s ability to take nutrients from food. It is not entirely clear what causes the immune system to act in this way, but a combination of genetics and the environment appear to play a part.

Complications of coeliac disease

These only affect people who continue to eat gluten, or those who have not yet been diagnosed, which can be a common problem in milder cases. Potential long complications can include:
• Weakening of bones
• Iron deficiency anaemia
• Vitamin B 12 or folate deficiency

Less common and more serious complications include some types of cancer, such as bowel and problems affecting pregnancy, such as your baby having low birth weight.

20/01/2026

Coeliac 1

What is coeliac disease?

Coeliac disease is a condition where your immune system attacks your own tissues when you eat gluten. This damages your gut (small intestine) so your body cannot properly take in nutrients.
Coeliac disease is caused by an adverse reaction to gluten, which is a dietary protein found in 3 types of cereals: wheat, barley and rye. So, gluten is found in any food that contains these cereals Including:
• Pasta
• Cakes
• Breakfast cereals
• Most types of bread
• Certain types of sauces
• Some ready meals
• Most beers as they contain barley
• Eating any of these foods can trigger a range of gut symptoms such as:
• Diarrhoea which may be particularly unpleasant
• Stomach aches
• Bloating and farting
• Indigestion
• Constipation

There can also be more general symptoms like:
• Tiredness because you are not getting enough nutrients from your food
• Unintentional weight loss
• An itchy rash
• Problems getting pregnant
• Nerve damage
• Disorders that affect co-ordination, balance and speech.

Children with coeliac disease may not grow at the expected rate and may have delayed puberty.

13/01/2026

Walking 6

Quiz & Answers

Q1. Why is it important to stay active as you get older?
A1. It can help you maintain your strength and flexibility and improve your energy levels
Q2. How can I improve my strength and balance?
A2. Climbing the stairs frequently, rising slowly and repeatedly to a standing position from a chair, walking, playing badminton, dancing or practising yoga, doing strength and balance exercise classes.
Q3. What if I have a condition that causes joint pain?
A3. The exercises that improve muscle strength and balance are especially helpful for joint pain.
Q4. How do I stay motivated?
A4. Do something that you enjoy like walking the dog, dancing or joining a walking club.
Q5. How can taking care of what you wear help you feel steadier?
A5. Keep your toenails short, always wear shoes, sandals or slippers that fit well, avoid high heels, make sure your clothing doesn't trail on the ground.
Q6. What is the best way to walk to avoid falls?
A6. Keep your head up, swing your arms, slightly tighten your stomach muscles, roll your foot from heel to toe.
Q7. What should I do if I have a fall?
A7. Try to get up if you are not injured.
Q8. What is the best way to do this?
A8. Try rolling onto your hands and knees, then hold onto something stable such as a bed or armchair.
Q9. What do I do if I am injured?
A9. If you have a personal alarm or mobile phone call for help or bang on the door, windows or walls to try to attract attention.
Q10. What do I do while I am waiting for help to arrive?
A10. Try to keep warm by covering yourself with something in reach like a coat or blanket, if you can, try to keep moving to help you keep warm and maintain blood flow.

06/01/2026

Walking 5

Quiz

Q1. Why is it important to stay active as you get older?
Q2. How can I improve my strength and balance?
Q3. What if I have a condition that causes joint pain?
Q4. How do I stay motivated?
Q5. How can taking care of what you wear help you feel steadier?
Q6. What is the best way to walk to avoid falls?
Q7. What should I do if I have a fall?
Q8. What is the best way to do this?
Q9. What do I do if I am injured?
Q10. What do I do while I am waiting for help to arrive?

30/12/2025

Walking 4

What to do if you fall

If you are not hurt and you’re in a safe place, try to get up. The best way to do this is by rolling onto your hands and knees, then holding on to something that is stable like a bed or armchair. Try not to get up too quickly.
Even if you are not injured it’s a good idea to speak to your GP so you can discuss ways to reduce your risk of falling in the future. Having a personal alarm may be a good idea.
If you are unable to get up or you’re injured, you could bang on the wall or floor to try to attract the attention of neighbours or passers-by. Many areas have a falls response service which you can call if you don’t have serious injuries.
While waiting for help to arrive, try to keep warm by covering yourself with something in reach like a coat, blanket or rug. If you can and it’s not too painful, try to keep moving which will keep you warm and maintain blood flow.

23/12/2025

Walking 3

Tips on what shoes to wear and how to walk

Problems with your feet and footwear can stop you getting out and about. These tips can help you feel steadier:

• Report problems with your feet to your doctor or practice nurse
• Keep your toenails short
• Always wear shoes, sandals or slippers. Don’t walk indoors with bare feet, tights or socks
• Wear shoes that fit well with high sides and low heels
• Don’t wear high heels
• Make sure your clothing doesn’t trail on the floor.
• The best way to walk to prevent falls:
• Keep your head up, look forward and not at the ground
• Your neck, shoulders and back are relaxed, not stiffly upright
• Swing your arms freely with a slight bend in your elbows.
• Keep your stomach muscles slightly tightened, and your back straight
• Walk smoothly, rolling your foot from heel to toe.

16/12/2025

Walking 2

How do I stay motivated?

Sometimes it can seem like a lot of effort to start doing more, so a good way to get started is to try different activities and find something you enjoy and works for you.
Getting a dog is a good idea as not only will it provide company, it will also give you a reason to walk every day.

09/12/2025

Walking 1

Why is it important to stay active as we age?

As we get older many of us start to feel a bit unsteady on our feet and become worried about falling. However, there are simple things you can do to feel more confident and avoid a slip or fall.
You might be reluctant to ask for help. You might worry that accepting help will make you less independent. But really, admitting that things have changed and doing something about it could help you stay independent for longer.
It might feel as if moving less will help you avoid a fall. But, moving more and staying active is actually the best thing you can do to stay as mobile and independent as possible.
Activities that improve your strength and balance are particularly important as you get older because they can help your posture and co-ordination, so climb the stairs frequently, rise slowly and repeatedly to a standing position from a chair, start walking, playing badminton, dancing or practising yoga and take part in special strength and balance exercise classes, tai chi classes or exercise to music classes. If you have a condition that causes joint pain doing exercises that improve muscle strength and balance can be helpful.

02/12/2025

Atrial Fibrillation 6

Quiz & Answers

Q1. What is atrial fibrillation?
A1. It is a type of heart problem where your heartbeat is not steady.
Q2. What are the symptoms of atrial fibrillation?
A2. Irregular heartbeat, suddenly feeling like your heart is pounding, heartbeat faster than 100 beats per minute, feeling very tired, finding it harder to exercise, chest pain or tightness, feeling short of breath, lightheaded, dizzy or like you might faint.
Q3. What if there are no symptoms?
A3. Then AF may be found as part of a routine check up of when you are having tests for something else.
Q4. When should I see a GP?
A4. If you think you have symptoms of AF, you have heart palpitations that keep happening or getting worse, you have been diagnosed with AF and treatment is not helping your symptoms.
Q5. What is the difference between paroxysmal AF and persistent AF?
A5. This is when your symptoms may start and stop on their own whereas persistent AF is when the symptoms stop after treatment.
Q6. When do I need to call 999?
A6. If you have a fast or irregular heartbeat and any of these symptoms - chest pain, shortness of breath, sweating, feeling or being sick, fainting, feeling dizzy or falling over, server headache, weakness or numbness on one side of your body, blurred vision or loss of sight, confusion or difficulty speaking.
Q7. What tests may be done?
A7. An electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, a chest x-ray, blood tests.
Q8. What are the causes of AF?
A8. Anyone can get it but you are more likely to get it if you are 55 or older, a man, overweight, you smoke, you take certain medicines, you do endurance sports.
Q9. How will it affect my life?
A9. There is currently no cure, but treatment should help manage the symptoms and lower risk of complications.
Q10. What can I do to help?
A10. Avoid triggers like caffeine, spicy food, stress, dehydration and lack of sleep, keep to a healthy weight, eat a balanced diet, exercise regularly.

25/11/2025

Atrial Fibrillation 5

Quiz

Q1. What is atrial fibrillation?
Q2. What are the symptoms of atrial fibrillation?
Q3. What if there are no symptoms?
Q4. When should I see a GP?
Q5. What is the difference between paroxysmal AF and persistent AF?
Q6. When do I need to call 999?
Q7. What tests may be done?
Q8. What are the causes of AF?
Q9. How will it affect my life?
Q10. What can I do to help?

18/11/2025

Atrial Fibrillation 4

Treatment for atrial fibrillation

If you have been diagnosed with AF, you will have regular check-ups to make sure your symptoms are under control. You may be given medicines to:
• Control the rate and rhythm of your heart, such as beta blockers
• Lower the risk of blood clots or stroke (anticoagulants).
Other possible treatments include:
• Surgery to burn or freeze a section of the heart (ablation)
• Using electricity to reset your heart rhythm (electrical cardioversion)
• Having a pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator fitted.
There are things that you can do yourself to help with atrial fibrillation and lower the chances of complications:
• Avoid triggers such as caffeine, spicy food, stress and dehydration
• Try to keep to a healthy weight
• Eat a balanced diet
• Exercise regularly-aim to do at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week, like walking, bike riding or gardening.
• Don’t smoke
• Don’t drink too much alcohol
• Don’t exercise too hard.

11/11/2025

Atrial Fibrillation 3

Causes of atrial fibrillation

You are more likely to get AF if:
• You are over 55
• You are a man
• You are overweight
• You smoke
• You take certain medicines
• You do endurance sports like long distance running.
AF can also be caused by high blood pressure, heart conditions, chronic kidney disease, overactive thyroid, diabetes, sleep apnoea.

Address

12 Rotunda Terrace Montpellier Street
Cheltenham
GL511SW

Opening Hours

Monday	8:30am - 12pm
	2pm - 5pm
Tuesday	8:30am - 12pm
	2pm - 5pm
Wednesday	8:30am - 12pm
	2pm - 5pm
Thursday	8:30am - 12pm
	2pm - 5pm
Friday	8:30am - 12pm
	2pm - 5pm
Saturday	8:30am - 12pm

Telephone

+441242522130

Website

http://www.spapharmacycheltenham.co.uk/

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