Thomson-Walsh

20/02/2024

https://www.sja.org.uk/press-centre/campaigns/restart-a-heart-day/

Find out how to save a life. St John Ambulance will be taking part in a digital campaign to help keep our communities safe.

19/09/2023

Asthma Society of Ireland:

The use of only THREE or more canisters of short-acting bronchodilators (SABA) e.g. Ventolin, per year, is associated with an increase of attacks/ exacerbations.
(Human Market Research Ireland, Astra Zeneca, Asthma Society Ireland)

The use of TWELVE or more canisters of these SABAs is associated with an increased risk of asthma-related death.

The important messages, here:

1. the correct use of SABA during an attack, is SAFE and EFFECTIVE

2. but the only thing that SABA does is temporarily
relieve the tightening of airways
- i.e. it does NOT treat and control the underlying problem(s) that must also be addressed to reduce the risks of asthma

So, relying a lot on SABA, and barely taking any other treatments for asthma, is not safe

3. if SABA is needed, in asthma, more than three times per year - then an asthma medication review is needed to look at the underlying problem(s), and to offer treatments for these such as inhaled steroid, long-acting bronchodilators (LABA), oral treatments, biological therapies, etc., along with reducing exposure to things that set off the asthma and/or being prepared to step-up the treatments ahead of being exposed to those things.

Speak to your GP, and/or speak to the Nurse Messaging Service provided by Asthma Society Ireland, available on WhatsApp: 086 059 0132.

Asthma Society Ireland provides information in various formats to help patients understand and manage their asthma, in the best way to reduce the overall risks to their health.

Notes taken from 'Practice Matters', Medical Protection Society (Ireland), Issue 1, 2023.

Click Here for More Info! Click Here to Register Click Here For Pollen Tracker Asthma Education Inclusion Project Our Asthma Education Inclusion Project consists of culturally appropriate, literacy-friendly asthma resources and materials for the Roma, Refugees, People Seeking International Protectio...

09/08/2023

RTE news : 4,000 steps a day could 'reduce risk of death' - study

Just 4,000 steps a day could be enough to reduce a person's risk of early death, according to a new study, but academics found people reap more health benefits from every additional step.

14/12/2022

This is an example of the professional conundrum that faces every GP, every day, in the majority of their consultations.

This news bulletin, is awful news.

However, we are not guaranteed anything in this life.

In this life, we are not even guaranteed to be alive.

We are to be grateful for what we have.

And equally, we must not allow for poor service due to under-resource and/or inadequate services and/or inadequate attitude to serving the public.

The family of Jax Albert Jefferys says he was diagnosed with flu in the lead-up to his death.

05/10/2022

BBC News - Eating within set times good for shift workers

Time-restricted eating reduced blood pressure and cholesterol in a study of US firefighters.

19/07/2022

Yes, just "doing it on the weekend" is as good as doing it all the way through the week...!

This large prospective cohort study of US adults examines whether performing the recommended level of physical activity throughout the week or in fewer days, such as the weekend, influences all-cause, cardiovascular disease, or cancer mortality.

29/04/2022

Osteoarthritis/ wear and tear in joints.

New one-size-fits-all guideline.

Good:
Anti-inflammatory cream/gel.
Exercise (yes, painful initially).
Keep weight down.
Overweight shouldn't be a bar to surgery, when needed.

Bad:
Opioids, e.g. Codeine, tramadol, fentanyl, etc. (addiction).
Paracetamol, doesn't seem to help.
Scans aren't needed to diagnose it.
Flushing the joint, no evidence.

It may hurt, but exercise is beneficial for joints, experts say in guidance for doctors and patients.

20/03/2022

https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca41tIBo5cC/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

01/03/2022

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-60557186

Some practical ways to help yourself and others affected by the conflict.

26/02/2022

The vicious circle of too little rest and too much of the wrong food.

31/10/2021

covid vaccination does not increase the risk of miscarriage, according to casenotes review of 105,000 pregnancies in USA

(explainer: "spontaneous abortion" is the tecnhically acurate
but emotionally insensitive medical jargon for what is usually called miscarriage)

doi:10.1001/jama.2021.15494

This Research Letter presents findings from case-control surveillance of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy and spontaneous abortion.

23/10/2021

Locum GP available in South-East Ireland - Competitive Rates - Experienced Single-Handed Rural Surgeries

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