Suffering from stress?
If you’re stressed, the first step towards feeling better is to identify the cause if you can, so that you can start to feel in control again. It may simply be a matter of time management, choosing your goals and prioritising what is important to you. Making decisions about those things can make you feel you’re back in control as well as more focused and relaxed.
Here are some more tips that can help to reduce stress and increase your sense of wellbeing and happiness. If it’s hard to work out why you feel stressed these ideas could still help you.
Its free, easy to take and has an immediate effect. It lowers a whole range of health risks, raises the level of feel-good hormones in the brain and can help you to clear your thoughts. And if you don’t feel like doing it, that’s a good reason to go for a walk and get your energy flowing!
Connect with people. Having a laugh with friends is a great stress-reliever, and talking things through with someone you trust can help you find solutions to your problems.
Have some quality time doing things you enjoy and find relaxing.
Challenge yourself and build confidence by learning or doing something new. It can be anything you choose – some new recipes, a sport you haven’t tried before, a new language or skill, visiting a new place… whatever appeals to you.
Avoid unhealthy habits such as smoking and excessive drinking. Those things won’t solve your problem and may create new ones.
Help other people. It can be a small thing – a smile or a kind word – or a bigger commitment such as volunteering, depending on how much time you can spare.
Manage your thoughts by deliberately looking for the positives in life and things you appreciate. You could even make a habit of writing down three things you’re grateful for at the end of each day.
Sent by Drs Virmani and Bedi’s patient participation group
Managing your blood sugar
High blood sugar can lead to serious health problems if left untreated, as it can lead to diabetes or be a sign that you already have it. Symptoms include:
– increased thirst
– peeing more frequently
– blurred vision
– weight loss
– recurrent infections, such as thrush, skin infections or cystitis
– cuts or wounds that heal slowly
– breath that smells fruity.
– As the symptoms could be caused by undiagnosed diabetes it’s wise to see your GP and have a test. You may be advised to use a testing device to monitor your blood sugar levels regularly at home, and you may be given an appointment every few months with a nurse or a doctor for monitoring purposes.
A number of things can increase your blood sugar level:
– stress
– an illness such as a cold
– eating too much, snacking between meals
– lack of exercise
– missing a dose of your diabetes medicine or taking an incorrect dose
– overtreating an episode of low blood sugar.
You can also help to lower it yourself by eating healthily, especially keeping sugar, fat and salt to a minimum, and by losing weight and staying active. Your GP or practice nurse will advise and support you.
Sent by Drs Virmani and Bedi’s patient participation group
Cervical cancer screenings
Cervical screening is a test which checks a sample of cells from your cervix (the neck of your womb). It looks for certain types of human papilloma virus (HPV) which can cause abnormal cells to develop. If these types of HPV are found, the cells are then checked for abnormal changes which could turn into cancer if not treated.
The test is carried out by a female nurse and should take less than 5 minutes, and the whole appointment only takes about 10 minutes. When you go for your test, you’ll need to undress from the waist down and will be given a sheet to put over you. As you lie on the bed a small smooth tube will be put into your vagina so that a small sample of cells can be taken from your cervix using a soft brush. It is then removed and you can get dressed.
Don’t be put off by this. It may feel a bit uncomfortable but isn’t painful, and there’s no need to be embarrassed as the medical staff who perform the test do lots of them and are used to it.
You will get a letter inviting you to attend your GP practice for cervical screening at regular intervals depending on your age.
It starts just before you turn 25, and then from:
- 25 to 49, it’s every 3 years
- 50 to 64, it’s every 5 years
- 65 or older, you will only be invited if 1 of your last 3 tests was abnormal.
There is no need to go for cervical screening if you have had a total hysterectomy to remove all of your womb and cervix.
You can find more information on cervical screening and cancer on the NHS website.
Sent by Drs Virmani and Bedi’s patient participation group