The Spa Pharmacy

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

Whooping Cough & RSV 5QuizQ1. What is pertussis?Q2. What causes it?Q3. What are the symptoms?Q4. How long does w...
29/07/2025

Whooping Cough & RSV 5

Quiz

Q1. What is pertussis?
Q2. What causes it?
Q3. What are the symptoms?
Q4. How long does whooping cough last?
Q5. How many cases of whooping cough were reported in the UK in 2024?
Q6. What is RSV?
Q7. How common is it?
Q8. Can it be dangerous?
Q9. How is RSV spread?
Q10. What are the symptoms?

Whooping Cough & RSV 4Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)There is no specific treatment for the RSV infection. It often ge...
22/07/2025

Whooping Cough & RSV 4

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)

There is no specific treatment for the RSV infection. It often gets better on its own in 1-2 weeks and you can usually look after yourself or your child at home. Children and adults who get a more serious infection may need to be treated in hospital. This may include being given fluids to avoid dehydration or oxygen to help you breathe.

The NHS has been rolling out a new vaccination for RSV to protect older people 75-79 and newborn babies all year round. Older people will need just one dose for protection that will last multiple years while women should get the vaccine every time they get pregnant to protect each baby.

Recent analysis suggests that with an uptake of 60%, the maternal programme could result in 70,000 fewer RSV illnesses in infants, 20,000 fewer GP consultations and avoid more than 200 infants being admitted to intensive care.

It also suggests that the first season of the older adult’s catch-up programme could prevent around 2,500 hospital admissions, 15,000 GP visits and 60,000 illnesses in adults.

Whooping Cough & RSV 3Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)This is a common cause of coughs and colds. Almost all children u...
15/07/2025

Whooping Cough & RSV 3

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)

This is a common cause of coughs and colds. Almost all children under 2 get it at least once. People usually get better by themselves, but it can sometimes be serious for babies and older adults. Those who are at a higher risk of getting ill include:
• Babies under 6 months old
• Young children who were born prematurely
• Adults over 75
• Babies, children and adults with a weakened immune system, or long -term, lung or heart conditions
• People who smoke to***co and babies exposed to to***co smoke.
RSV is spread in the coughs and sneezes of someone who has the virus. The symptoms of an RSV infection usually start within a few days of getting infected. Most people only get cold like symptoms such as:
• A runny or blocked nose
• A cough
• Sneezing
• Tiredness
• A high temperature - signs include your back or chest feeling hotter than usual, sweatiness and shivering
Babies with RSV may also be irritable and feed less than usual. If RSV leads to a more serious infection (such as pneumonia or bronchiolitis) it may also cause:
• A cough that gets worse
• Shortness of breath
• Faster breathing or long gasp between breaths
• Difficulty feeding (in babies) or loss of appetite
• Noisy breathing
• Confusion in older adults.

NIAID, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Whooping Cough & RSV 2Whooping cough (pertussis)Treatment for whooping cough depends on your age and how long you’ve had...
08/07/2025

Whooping Cough & RSV 2

Whooping cough (pertussis)

Treatment for whooping cough depends on your age and how long you’ve had the infection. Hospital treatment is needed if you have severe whooping cough, or if your baby is under 6 months old and has whooping cough. If whooping cough is diagnosed within two weeks of your cough starting, you will be given antibiotics to help stop it spreading to others, but these may not reduce the symptoms. It is important to stay off school, work or nursery until 48 hours after starting antibiotics or 2 weeks after your cough started if you’ve not had antibiotics.

The cough may last several weeks or months. A study of 5,222,860 people aged 50 and over between 2009 and 2018 found that there was an increase of direct medical costs of £318 with those diagnosed with pertussis compared to those who were not. This highlights the need for increased awareness of whooping cough infection in the older population.

Whooping Cough & RSV 1Whooping cough (pertussis)This is an infection of your lungs and breathing tubes caused by the bac...
01/07/2025

Whooping Cough & RSV 1

Whooping cough (pertussis)

This is an infection of your lungs and breathing tubes caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. It spreads very easily and can be serious. It is characterised by severe coughing fits, followed by a high pitched “whoop” sound during the subsequent intake of breath.

This disease although preventable by vaccination has been resurging in the UK in the last couple of years. There were 14,905 cases in the UK in 2024. The first signs of whooping cough are similar to a cold, then after a week you or your child:

• Will get coughing bouts that last a few minutes and are worse at night.
• May make a “whoop” sound – a gasp for breath between breaths
• May have difficulty breathing after a bout and young infants may turn blue
• May bring up thick mucus, which can cause vomiting
• May become very red in the face (more common in adults)

Health on Holiday 5Quiz & AnswersQ1. Can I take medication in my hand luggage?A1. Yes, as long as you have the prope...
24/06/2025

Health on Holiday 5

Quiz & Answers

Q1. Can I take medication in my hand luggage?
A1. Yes, as long as you have the proper paperwork.
Q2. Name two things you should keep in a medical kit.
A2. Travel sickness medicines, painkillers, plasters, anti-diarrhoea medicine, indigestion tablets, tweezers and scissors, insect bite cream, sterile gauze and bandage, after sun lotion, antihistamines.
Q3. How do you avoid creases when packing?
A3. Try rolling your clothes or use packing cubes and compression bags.
Q4. Why is it important that I keep hydrated?
A4. Keeping drinking is essential to keep your kidneys healthy.
Q5. What can I do to keep active while I'm on holiday?
A5. Try hiking, swimming or using the hotel’s gym.
Q6. How do I avoid putting on weight?
A6. Watch your portion sizes especially with creamy curries or buttery pastries and try to stick to lean proteins, vegetables and whole grains.
Q7. Why should I take rest periods when I am on holiday?
A7. A well-rested mind and body not only enhances the enjoyment of each moment but also plays a crucial role in shaping the creation of lasting memories.
Q8. What damage can the sun cause?
A8. Repeated sunburns, particularly in childhood and adolescence, greatly increase the risk of skin cancer later in life.
Q9. What percentage of people in the UK were sunburnt at least once during the heatwave of 2022?
A9. 40%.
Q10. What can I do to keep safe in the sun?
A10. Choose light fitting clothes in light colours, use sunglasses and wear a hat, liberally apply sunscreen above SPF of at least 30 and stay in the shade from noon to 3pm.

Health on Holiday 4QuizQ1. Can I take medication in my hand luggage?Q2. Name two things you should keep in a medical...
17/06/2025

Health on Holiday 4

Quiz

Q1. Can I take medication in my hand luggage?
Q2. Name two things you should keep in a medical kit.
Q3. How do you avoid creases when packing?
Q4. Why is it important that I keep hydrated?
Q5. What can I do to keep active while I'm on holiday?
Q6. How do I avoid putting on weight?
Q7. Why should I take rest periods when I am on holiday?
Q8. What damage can the sun cause?
Q9. What percentage of people in the UK were sunburnt at least once during the heatwave of 2022?
Q10. What can I do to keep safe in the sun?

Health on Holiday 3The Danger of the SunOne of the major draws of travelling is enjoying the sun but it can cause long t...
10/06/2025

Health on Holiday 3

The Danger of the Sun

One of the major draws of travelling is enjoying the sun but it can cause long term damage. Repeated sun burn, especially in childhood and adolescence, increases the risk of skin cancer in later life. Even in this country it is possible to get serious sunburn. In the heatwave of 2022, 40% of people in the UK got sunburnt at least once.

Ways to reduce the chances of sunburn are:

• Choose the right sunscreen for your skin type, where you are travelling to and the time of day
• Apply it 30 minutes before you go out
• Apply the correct thickness – about 30ml to cover a whole adult body. This means you will need 420ml per adult for a two-week holiday.
• Choose light fitting clothes in light colours, use sunglasses and wear a hat
• Remember to re-apply after swimming, strenuous exercise or every two hours.
• Keep babies and young children covered up at all times.
• Avoid the sun between 12 noon and 3pm.

Health on Holiday 2Staying HealthyWhile you are away it is important to keep hydrated, especially if you are going somew...
03/06/2025

Health on Holiday 2

Staying Healthy

While you are away it is important to keep hydrated, especially if you are going somewhere hot. Keeping your fluid intake up is essential for healthy kidneys. Women need about 1600ml a day and men about 2000ml from drinks. In hot climates you may need more. Alcohol acts as a diuretic and so makes you more prone to dehydration.

Make sure you drink bottled water and use it for cleaning your teeth. Do not have ice in your drink and avoid ice creams unless you are holidaying in the UK, Europe, USA, Australia and New Zealand.

Staying active will invigorate your body and rejuvenate your soul, fostering a sense of holistic renewal and vitality. You can stay active by hiking, swimming, or using the hotel’s gym.

Watch the amount you eat particularly when indulging in calorie laden rich dishes, like creamy curries and pastries. Try to stick to lean protein, vegetables and whole grains. It is so easy to put weight on and so hard to get it off once you are back home.

It’s very easy to be busy throughout your holiday so when you get home, you don’t feel you have had a break at all. A well-rested mind enhances the enjoyment and plays a crucial role in creating lasting memories. So, make sure you take breaks to rest.

Health on Holiday 1Plan and Pack with CareIf you have a pre-existing medical condition such as asthma, diabetes, high bl...
28/05/2025

Health on Holiday 1

Plan and Pack with Care

If you have a pre-existing medical condition such as asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure or heart problems make sure you take enough of your medication to last the whole holiday and a week or two more, in case of delays, loss or damage.

Always keep it in its original name-labelled packaging along with its patient information leaflet and a copy of your repeat prescription. Keep your medication in your hand luggage and ideally split it with somebody else, so if one bag gets lost you still have some to go on with.

Pack a small medical kit to deal with any minor problems that may arise. This kit should contain travel sickness medicines, painkillers, plasters in different sizes, anti-diarrhoea medicine, indigestion medicines, tweezers and scissors (put in checked in luggage), insect bite cream, sterile gauze and bandage, after sun lotion, antihistamines, electrolytes.

Don’t leave packing till the last minute as this can lead to stress and crucial items being missed. Having carefully chosen what clothes you want to take, the last thing you want is creased clothing when you arrive. Try rolling your clothes or using packing cubes and compression bags.

Mental Health 7Quiz & AnswersQ1. How many people experience a mental health illness at some point in their lives?A1. ...
20/05/2025

Mental Health 7
Quiz & Answers

Q1. How many people experience a mental health illness at some point in their lives?
A1. 1 in 4.
Q2. What percentage of adults reported their mental health as “bad” in 2024?
A2. 15.5%.
Q3. What is the cost of poor mental health in England per year?
A3. £300 billion.
Q4. What is the life expectancy of people with a severe mental illness?
A4. About 15-20 years less than those without any mental health issues.
Q5. How many people are there on the waiting list for NHS mental health support in England?
A5. Over 2 million.
Q6. How many suicides were registered in 2023?
A6. 6,069.
Q7. What are the 5 steps to mental wellbeing?
A7. Connecting with other people, being active, learning new skills, giving to others and mindfulness.
Q8. How does being physically active improve your mental wellbeing?
A8. It raises your self-esteem, helps you set goals and causes chemical changes in your brain which can help to positively change your mood.
Q9. Why is connecting with people important?
A9. It helps build a sense of belonging, gives you an opportunity to share positive experiences, it provides emotional support.
Q10. What should you do to build stronger relationships?
A10. Rely on technology or social media, play games and eat together.

ID 332136354 © Dmitriiavramchik | Dreamstime.com

Mental Health 6QuizQ1. How many people experience a mental health illness at some point in their lives?Q2. What perc...
13/05/2025

Mental Health 6

Quiz

Q1. How many people experience a mental health illness at some point in their lives?
Q2. What percentage of adults reported their mental health as “bad” in 2024?
Q3. What is the cost of poor mental health in England per year?
Q4. What is the life expectancy of people with a severe mental illness?
Q5. How many people are there on the waiting list for NHS mental health support in England?
Q6. How many suicides were registered in 2023?
Q7. What are the 5 steps to mental wellbeing?
Q8. How does being physically active improve your mental wellbeing?
Q9. Why is connecting with people important?
Q10. What should you do to build stronger relationships?

ID 183365395 © Chanintorn Vanichsawangphan | Dreamstime.com

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

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