Emdoc Health, Suite 6 Beacon Consultant Clinic Sandyford Dublin 18, Dublin (2025)

08/11/2025

The HOUSE WITH THE NEVER ENDING COUGH is real. Let's save your sanity - and €€€ - and understand the NEVER ENDING COUGH

1. Firstly, LOTS of viruses come with a cough. And after the virus is over -- the cough lingers FOR WEEKS. At least 3 weeks is not usual!!

2. After a virus, ASTHMA can show up and it can sound like a cough that worse at night or triggered by cold. This is for kids and adults! So worth checking with your doc if you are worried.

3. Skip the supplements and cough bottles. HONEY (never give honey to children younger than age 1) was shown to be just as effective as cough bottles in studies. Store own-brand works just as well on a budget - but if any but if you can - support a local beekeeper.

Sometimes - but not always - viruses CAN cause a second infection in the chest that is caused by bacteria and will need an antibiotic. So if you or your child are unwell and/or unsure, always check with your GP.

But doing the math can help you understand the never-ending cough: If your young child gets 6 - 8 viral infections a year and shares most of them with the family, and the cough can linger for weeks after each one... .. THE HOUSE WITH THE NEVER ENDING COUGH.

07/11/2025

...seriously- its more like everything is what doctors really DO want you to know as we head into ....

04/11/2025

Honestly, the mythbusting just gets weirder. But since its a thing this week and I was asked about brains eating themselves during menopause, let's do this. Health misinformation disproportionately targets women, and misrepresenting research is misinformation.

04/11/2025

We have a new Chair!

We are delighted to announce that at our AGM yesterday evening, Dr Kate McCann () was elected as the incoming Chairperson of the Women in Medicine in Ireland Network.

Kate has been a core member of our Board since the first official Committee meeting in 2021, and has recently been the Chair of the Education and Research subcommittee.

She will be a fantastic Chair and will guide the Network forward with passion and commitment.

Congratulations Kate!!

02/11/2025

TL;DR: Hyperbaric Oxgen is not a treatment for Long Covid. There was a very expensive and really, really great clinical trial. It just doesn't work. (Also, it was my favourite name for a study EVER - HOT LoCo!)

Opinion: Patients should not be misled into paying for expensive treatments - especially ones with significant risk of side effects or costs - that have not been proven to work. There should be better protections for patients. Empowered patients are given correct information - not misleading claims.

I am particularly triggered by the ad above because it is just so ethically wrong: Many long covid patients are desperate after years of being unwell. Despite the global intensive research efforts, we still don't know what causes it (there are many good theories) and we do not know how to treat it, but there are some things we can try for certain symptoms.

Did you know? HSE has a network of long covid (also called PASC) hubs. They are no cost to you. Your GP can refer you. These hubs do not have always have cures or answers that patients want (or deserve) -- simply because the answers still just aren't there yet for anyone! But these hubs can provide patients with evidence-based recovery support. They have a real role in answering patient questions about the health information they see online or in patient groups, and can help with unbiased guidance (look, they get paid the same if you are there or not and the HSE is not looking for more business - so really, if anything might work, they would love to see you get better. ) in helping patients make informed decisions before paying for experimental treatments.

IMPORTANT: Ethical, approved clinical trials DO NOT CHARGE PATIENTS. Regardless of your disease, if you are interested in an experimental treatment or trial at home or abroad, always talk to your consultant or GP BEFORE paying any money to have them help you check out whether it is real or safe.

01/11/2025

"I have 177!" My sons have been counting up their haul from last night's Trick-or-Treating. They love trick-or-treating: costumes, decorations, the wonderful atmosphere of our neighbouring lit up and all out on on the street.

Their enthusiastic efforts mean that the floor is covered with piles sorting - and counting out - lollies, chocolates, gummies, crisps, and taffies.

Here's what we do:

This weekend, we will let them indulge -- within reason (let's be sensible: no need to ruin the weekend with tummy aches).

However, they know that they can trade in their sweets --- and they have already started sorting into piles with this in mind -- for a non-food option. We offer to swap them so many sweets for another option, such as a trip to the arcade or small toy.

We won't keep much in the house - most of the piles will be swapped and it will be donated or repurposed (much of it for Christmas-related activities). One stash of it will find its way to work with me this week for one group of my colleagues, none of whom have children.

The trick is here is not to make it bad or good. Don't punish yourself if you find yourself eating a few. Don't label them as "bad" food. Like anything - moderation is key.

If you have a favouriet way to manage the excessive piles of sweets, pop it in the comments.

31/10/2025

Covid and Autism. Two topics that suffer from health disinformation campaigns, often with ableist language or targeting women. Let's unpack this great paper published yesterday that found that severe Covid infections during pregnancy early in Pandemic were associated with neurodevelopmental diagnosis by age 3. Its important that women have access to correct information to help inform decision making. .fides

31/10/2025

Happy Halloween.

It's not just Oiche Samhain - but also the last day of October and midterm break is coming to an end.

Swipe through above for a quick checklist end-of-October checklist for family health.

(All next week, we'll be talking evidence -- what works, what doesn't - when it comes to looking after the coughs and colds this winter. We will bring the science -- and very likely save you some €€€.)

30/10/2025

"The gardaí came to our school last week. They said that you can lose fingers. Is that true?"

If it were not my own year old child asking me - I could really back up that "Yes" with some gruesome anecdotes from my years as a doctor that include not only lots of fingers, but burns, eyeballs, and even an ear lobe. But he's fairly young. So "yes" is enough. I know EXACTLY where he will be tomorrow night and who he will be with - because he's young enough. As he gets older, I'll tell him more - just enough to help inform his own good decisions. No, these injuries aren't just urban myths. They happen. EVERY YEAR. Bonfires and Fireworks. And to bystanders. And yes -- to children, but mostly teens.

If you are wondering, I carry all those awful moments over the years with parents of teens in hospital quiet rooms. What happened to their children - and teens are children - was often tragic or painful AND PREVENTABLE. Their stories aren't mine to tell- but as I've said here since 2018 - I am passionate that we take those conversations out of those quiet rooms if we don't want to meet there. And yes, someday, when age appropriate, my son will hear some of those stories - without the personal details.

Talk to your own child or teen this evening, tomorrow evening.

If your child is a little older, make sure they understand the risks. Know where your teens plan will be. Do they have a plan to do something to enjoy the evening safely? Head to festival, a parade, community fireworks? Seriously, when a teen comes trick-or-treating to my door in a costume, I love it.

Fireworks are hazards. Bonfires in communities are high risk: what is in them (toxic fumes and aerosal projectiles)? How is it stacked? How much alcohol is being consumed? What are the safety measures? How much anti-social behaviour has been attracted by the bonfire?

(if you are wondering, the graphic attached is from the US and I happen to love it.

29/10/2025

Look, running in the dark and cold isn't for everyone! But this is a good time to talk about winterproofing your workout. Physical activity can helpsl look after our blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and reduce risk of stroke. # Fides

27/10/2025

How was your weekend? Mine was disrupted when the one of my children had a truly bizarre injury and we ended up in the Emergency Department. Look, the ED is hard for everyone. Ochpas, however, is a veteran of this now and he is here to share his expert tips for your next ED visit. (bookmark this if needed)

Injuries aside, this winter may be another busy one in paediatric EDs and wards. You can do your part 1) consider appropriate options such as GP, pharmacy, urgent cares 2) take steps to stay healthy such as being up-to-date on vaccines, starting your vitamin D this week, and wash hands.

Top Tips:
1. If your child has pain or fever, it’s okay to give Calpol/nurofen before attending ED. They will be more comfortable. That urban myth about it “masking” pain or fever needs to go.
2. Just 1 parent/guardian per child.
3. Grab a bag big enough for hats, shoes, teddies. Add medical card, GP details, payment for parking, GP letter. Take a list or photo of child's medications clearly showing name of drug and dose.
4. Comfort objects such as soothers, favourite teddy [ahem, or octopus], small blanket. All the usual nappy bag items.
5. phone/tablet/headphone/chargers
6. Everyone should wear comfortable clothing and shoes to protect their feet.
7. Consider emergency snacks or water but 1) do not let your child know they are there until needed 2)do NOT feed your child in ED without checking with nurse first
8. Hardest job: stay calm and positive. Yes, it’s stressful from the waiting, seeing your child sick, and crowded uncomfortable waiting rooms for 3 hours…it’s all misery.
9. Be Kind. Those next to you may be vulnerable. Clean hands. Help your child to cover coughts/sneezes.
BONUS round: You knew all that? Great, ready for master class level for small children: Little bit of playing doctor with teddy while you wait can both calm and entertain.
10. Lastly, Discharge time: Make sure you are clear on: medications, doses, instructions. What to look out for? Most paed ED have pre-printed handouts to help. Ask if you aren't clear.

25/10/2025

TL;DR: That headline is misleading. Don't share health misinformation.

AND DEMAND BETTER STANDARDS FROM YOUR MEDIA.

If you clicked on that article, you would have found a rather boring summary about how Irish doctors have written about 2 cases that illustrate need for changing steroid doses in patients with a condition called "Addison's" at time of vaccination.

Patients with this condition need daily steroids, and since 2022, multiple experts have written about how when someone with Addison's gets a Covid vaccine, they need a steroid dose adjustment temporarily. If you have Addison's, you know this is part of your life: there are times, such as when you are ill, that steroid doses need to be adjusted temporarily. If the steroid doses or adjustments aren't right, patients with Addison's can get sick. Also ,Covid can make them very sick making vaccination very important for them.

Boring? A bit if you aren't medical or don't know someone who has Addisons.

But it doesn't matter if it's boring -- because that misleading and sensationalised headline is what was shared.

Spreading information that may make them hesitant to attend their appointments or discuss with their doctor does real harm.

Empowered patients are CORRECTLY informed patients.

As we go into winter virus season, many of hte our very old, very young, and most vulnerable will be relying on vaccination to stay out hospital, including RSV, flu, covid, and pneumonia vacccination. Do your part to protect them by protecting their right to health information. Vaccine hesitant? No problem. Chat with a qualified healthcare professional.

Seriously, how are we still not learning after 2020 that the comment section may not be your best source of health advice?

Next level: Angry about health clickbait being used to fearmonger and harm? €€ is the only thing anyone understands. Complain to the editors and advertising sponsors of media companies who intentionally use misleading health headlines.

.fides

Emdoc Health

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