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The Nightingale Practice
Monthly News
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______________________________October November 2013___
Protect yourself from the risk of flu this year
Influenza (flu) is a viral infection that strikes mainly during the winter months. It can
affect people of all ages. The first signs are headache, sore throat and runny nose,
aching muscles, fever and shivering. Flu makes you feel completely exhausted and
the extreme fatigue may last for two or three weeks. You can catch flu by breathing
in droplets in the air that contain the virus or by handling items touched by the
infected person. The symptoms start to develop between one and four days later.
Whilst most people recover from flu after a couple of weeks, some develop lifethreatening complications such as pneumonia, nerve and brain damage.
You are more likely to be at risk from these complications if you are aged
65yrs or over, or if you are taking any of the following treatments or if you
suffer from any of the following illnesses:
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Asthma (not hay fever related)
Emphysema
Chronic Bronchitis
Heart Disease
Kidney Disease
Diabetes
HIV/AIDS
Taking chemotherapy or high dose steroids.
Please remember that you cannot catch flu from flu vaccine. If you are 65yrs old or
over or you suffer from one of the above illnesses or you are taking any of the above
medication, we have purchased a flu vaccine for you which you will be given free of
charge.
So avoid getting the flu this winter and come in and have a flu jab.
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October is Breast Awareness Month.
This is a great opportunity for us to raise awareness about breast cancer. Breast
cancer is still the single most common cause of cancer related deaths among women
aged 35-60 yrs old. Each year over 40,500 women and 250 men are diagnosed with
breast cancer.
 Get familiar with how your breasts look and feel. Learning how your breast
feel at different times will help you know what is normal for you, do this by
looking and felling regularly in any way that is best for you e.g. in the bath,
shower or when dressing.
 Look out for any change in the outline or shape of your breast, discomfort or
pain in one breast that is different from normal, any lumps, thickening or
bumpy areas in one breast or armpit which seems to be different from the
same part of the other breast and armpit, any nipple discharge that is new
for, any moist reddish areas which won’t heal easily, any change in nipple
position or rashes on or around the nipple.
 There are many reasons for changes in the breast most of them harmless but
all of them need to be checked.
 If you are aware of any change in your breast from what is normal for you,
tell your Doctor as soon as possible.