Nightingale Medical Centre

26/11/2025

🫁💙 Living with COPD? While there’s no cure, there’s plenty you can do to manage it and improve your quality of life. COPD happens when the lungs become inflamed, damaged and narrowed - often due to smoking, long‑term exposure to dust/fumes or genetic factors.

Here are some ways to live well with COPD:
🔹 Stop smoking - the single most effective step.
🔹 Take inhalers and follow your treatment plan to reduce flare‑ups.
🔹 Stay active, eat well, keep weight in check and avoid triggers like pollution or cold air.
🔹 Be alert to symptoms like persistent cough with phlegm, shortness of breath or wheezing - mention them to your GP.

Need more support or want to learn how to cope?
👉 https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease-copd/
👉 https://patient.info/news-and-features/how-to-live-healthily-with-copd

Living with COPD or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can be challenging, but there are many ways to live healthily with COPD.

24/11/2025

🤢💧 Vomiting and diarrhoea affect both children and adults, but the risks and care needs can differ. Here’s what to watch out for and how to respond 🧠

👶 Children vs 🧔 Adults - What’s Different?

Children:
‑ Dehydrate more quickly - loss of fluid builds up faster
‑ More vulnerable to electrolyte imbalance
‑ May refuse drinking or have a harder time telling how they feel
‑ Risk signs: dry nappies, sunken eyes, irritability, listlessness

Adults:
‑ Might manage symptoms longer before seeking help
‑ Risk of complications if they have chronic conditions (e.g. diabetes, kidney disease)
‑ The underlying cause can vary (infection, foodborne, side effect of meds)

✅ What to Do (For All Ages)
🛌 Rest & stay home
💧 Sip small amounts of fluids frequently
🍚 Once able, introduce bland, easy-to-digest foods
🧼 Wash hands often, especially after bathroom or caring for sick
❌ Avoid preparing food for others until 48 hours after symptoms subside

⚠️ When to Seek Medical Help
Watch for these red flags (in both children & adults):

• Persistent vomiting or diarrhoea lasting more than a few days
• Blood in vomit or stool
• Unable to keep fluids down
• Signs of dehydration (dizziness, extreme thirst, low urine output)
• High fever or unexplained pain

More trusted advice here:
👉 https://www.nhs.uk/symptoms/diarrhoea-and-vomiting/

Stay alert, act early, and take care 💚

Diarrhoea and vomiting are common in adults, children and babies. Find out how to treat and avoid spreading them, and when to get medical help.

21/11/2025

🥦🧠 It’s Malnutrition Awareness Week - and while it’s often associated with undernutrition, malnutrition can affect anyone, even those trying to lose weight.

Healthy eating isn’t just about cutting calories - it’s about getting the nutrients your body needs to thrive 💪

💡 Did you know?
⚠️ Weight loss medications like Mounjaro, Wegovy or Saxenda can reduce appetite so much that people may miss out on essential nutrients.
⚠️ Malnutrition symptoms can be subtle - like fatigue, slow healing, or feeling cold all the time.
⚠️ Even if you're eating, you could be missing key vitamins or minerals.

✅ Learn more:
🍽️ NHS Better Health tips: https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/
📋 Malnutrition symptoms: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/malnutrition/symptoms/
💊 Weight loss med side effects: https://onlinedoctor.boots.com/weight-loss/wegovy-saxenda-side-effects
🥕 10 nutrients you might be lacking: https://patient.info/news-and-features/10-essential-nutrients-you-might-be-lacking

Eat well. Stay strong. Be informed. 💚

HSIS's study reveals that UK diets are surprisingly low in essential nutrients that play a key role in protecting us against health conditions such as diabetes, hea

19/11/2025

👨‍⚕️📋 International Men’s Day is approaching – and it’s the perfect moment to prioritise our health checks!

Did you know the NHS offers a free health check for adults to help spot risks like heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease and more? Check it out:
👉 https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/nhs-health-check

Want to know what happens at the check? Learn more at:
👉 https://patient.info/news-and-features/what-to-expect-at-an-nhs-health-check

📌 This is important for every man – whether you feel fine or not. Strong health starts with awareness and action.

17/11/2025

🦠💊 Antibiotics are powerful medicines - but they aren’t always the answer. Using them when they’re not needed can cause harm and make future infections harder to treat.

Here’s what you should know:
✔️ They only work against bacterial infections, not viruses like colds or flu.
✔️ Overuse is driving antibiotic‑resistance (“superbugs”) - which means common infections can become untreatable.
✔️ Do these things to help protect their effectiveness:
‑ Only take antibiotics when prescribed by a healthcare professional
‑ Complete the full course exactly as directed
‑ Never save antibiotics for later or share them with others

📚 Learn more here:
👉 https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/antibiotics/antibiotic-antimicrobial-resistance/
👉 https://patient.info/news-and-features/why-antibiotics-should-not-be-overused

Antibiotic resistance is a global problem. Here's why your doctor won't give you antibiotics and why antibiotics should not be overused.

14/11/2025

🩺🔍 Worried you could be at risk of type 2 diabetes? A few changes in your family history, lifestyle or symptoms might mean a lot.
Here’s what to keep in mind:

• 👪 Family history matters – If a parent, sibling or relative has diabetes, your own risk goes up.
• 🍔 Lifestyle factors count – Being overweight, inactive or having higher waist size can all raise risk.
• 🚩 Symptoms might be subtle – Increased thirst, tiredness or needing to wee more may be signs.
• 📊 Want to know your risk? Try this tool: https://riskscore.diabetes.org.uk/start
• 📖 More reading on what to expect and why this matters: https://patient.info/diabetes/diabetes-mellitus-leaflet

It doesn’t mean diabetes is inevitable - taking action now could make a real difference. 💪

Diabetes is a condition that causes blood sugar levels to become too high. There are two main types: type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Written by a GP.

12/11/2025

🥂✨ Not drinking? That’s a valid choice - and one worth celebrating.

is about creating a space where everyone feels comfortable with their own decisions, whether they drink or not.
Some people are cutting back for health, others are taking a break, and some simply don’t enjoy it - and that’s okay 💬🧃

👂 How can we be more supportive?
✔️ Respect someone’s choice without questioning it
✔️ Offer non-alcoholic options
✔️ Keep social events welcoming for everyone

Learn more from:
👉 https://alcoholchange.org.uk/get-involved/campaigns/stopsobershaming
👉 https://patient.info/news-and-features/what-not-to-say-to-someone-who-doesnt-drink-alcohol
👉 https://patient.info/news-and-features/is-sobriety-becoming-trendy

Let’s help make every setting inclusive, whatever’s in your glass 💚

Even though Dry January can feel like a struggle, for some it offers a much-needed socially acceptable reason to take a break from drinking and reassess their relationship with alcohol. Is it just a temporary trend, or are more people staying sober for good?

10/11/2025

💙 It’s Anti‑Bullying Week 2025: Power for Good! Time to stand up, speak out, and build kinder communities 🌟

Bullying can happen anywhere: in schools, workplaces, online, even in organisations up and down the ladder. It affects everyone.

Here’s how we can make a difference together:
👫 Be an ally, not a bystander - if you see something, say something
🏫 In schools: encourage safe spaces, peer support, and open dialogue
💼 In workplaces & organisations: promote respect, zero tolerance, and clear reporting structures
🗣️ Share stories, challenge harmful behaviour, and support those who feel alone

Learn more and access resources:
👉 https://anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk/
👉 https://www.acas.org.uk/discrimination-and-bullying

Let’s work together for environments where everyone feels safe, respected, and valued 💪

05/11/2025

🧠🌀 Feeling overwhelmed? Stress isn’t just “part of life” — it can affect your body, mind and behaviour in real ways.

Here’s what you might experience:
✔️ Physical: headaches, muscle tension, stomach issues, chest‑racing heartbeats
✔️ Mental: trouble concentrating, making decisions, constant worrying
✔️ Behavioural: irritability, sleep too much or too little, eating changes, pulling away from others

When stress becomes long‑term, it can lead to burnout — extreme exhaustion, cynicism, reduced performance.

You don’t have to cope with it alone.

👉 Learn more and find help:
https://ow.ly/1ImJ50XmxkW
https://ow.ly/75LF50Xmxle
https://ow.ly/M5TV50XmxkU

Take a pause. Talk it out. You matter. 💚

Stress is our body's response to pressure that manifests itself in many different ways. It's the feeling of being overwhelmed and finding it hard to cope emotionally or mentally. Taking time to identify the emotional and mental pressures in our lives and addressing them is a good way to understand a...

03/11/2025

🎇 Bonfire Night is here - and it’s a time for fun, but also for staying safe! 🔥 Before you light those fireworks and dig into all the good food, here’s what to watch out for:

🍗 Food Safety / Food Poisoning
• Don’t let food sit out too long - especially meats or salads
• Keep raw and cooked foods separate
• Store leftovers promptly at safe temperatures

🔥 Fire & Fireworks Safety
• Always follow firework instructions carefully
• Keep a safe distance
• Never relight a dud firework
• Always supervise children
• Have a bucket of water or hose nearby in case of fire
👉 Safety info:
https://ow.ly/b3YI50XjLhX
https://bonfire-night-safety.co.uk
https://www.firstaid.co.uk/fireworks-safety--first-aid/

🚑 First Aid for Firework Injuries
• Minor burns: cool under running water for 10+ minutes
• Seek medical help for deeper burns, wounds, or if you see smoke inhalation symptoms
• Use sterile dressings, don’t apply creams or adhesives until checked

Have a safe and happy Bonfire Night! 🎆

Top tips to keep yourself and your loved ones safe during fireworks displays. What to do if things go wrong and first aid advice for burns.

31/10/2025

🎃🔪 Thinking of carving up a spooky pumpkin this Halloween? Before you do, here’s how to stay safe - and how to keep your sugar intake in check 👻🍬

How to carve a pumpkin safely:
🛠️ Use a clean, dry, well-lit area with a sturdy surface.
🧼 Wash and thoroughly dry your hands and tools to avoid slips.
🛡️ Use a proper pumpkin carving kit (small serrated saws) instead of large kitchen knives.
🔄 Always cut away from your body and use small, controlled motions.
👨‍👩‍👧 Leave the carving to adults; kids can draw the design or scoop out pulp.
⚠️ If you get cut and heavy bleeding continues for more than 15 minutes, seek medical care.

Too many sweets can impact your health in more ways than one.
Read how sugar affects your body and tips for moderating consumption:
👉 https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/food-types/how-does-sugar-in-our-diet-affect-our-health/

Balance is everything - carve safely, enjoy treats mindfully, and take care.

Most adults and children in the UK eat too much sugar. Cut down by eating fewer sugary foods, such as sweets, cakes and biscuits, and drinking fewer sugary fizzy drinks.

29/10/2025

Movember is coming up - and we’re calling on everyone who cares about men’s mental health.

Globally, 3 out of 4 suicides are men. That’s 1 man every 60 seconds.
This isn’t just a statistic - it’s someone’s brother, father, partner, or friend 💔🕯️

It’s time to stop the silence. It’s time to unite.

Together, we can:
🧪 Fund life-saving mental health research
📚 Support training and education
🫂 Provide real help for those in crisis

💥 Ready to take action?
👉 Register, grow a Mo, fundraise or simply spread the word:
https://movember.com/register

✊🏽 Let’s change the face of men’s health together.

Movember, the month formerly known as November, is a moustache growing charity event held during November each year that raises funds and awareness for men's health.