What Should You Be Aware Of When It Comes To STIs?

Sexually transmitted infections, or STIs, are passed between people during sexual contact, and they’re increasing in prevalence. They can be passed during vaginal, anal and oral sex, as well as mere genital contact with an infected person. The only way to ensure that you’re limiting yourself from infections is to use a condom every time you have sex. There are many categories for STIs. Bacterial infections include syphilis, gonorrhoea and chlamydia. Viral infections include HIV, hepatitis B, herpes and genital warts. Fungal infections include thrush, and parasitic infections include public lice and trichomonas vaginalis. These all have a variety of symptoms to look out for, and vary in terms of severity to your health. In women, the symptoms include abnormal vaginal discharge, genital lesions, bleeding between periods or after sex, and lower abdominal pain. In men, these symptoms involve discharge from the penis, pain or discomfort when passing urine, genital lesions and testicular pain. However, not all STIs carry symptoms, so you could be infected and not realise. This is why getting regular check-ups is so vital to your sexual health – they help you spot infections you may not be aware of.

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is the most common bacterial STI in the UK, and regularly infects people under 25 yrs. Both men and women contract this infection, and there are rarely symptoms which is why it spreads so easily. This is a particularly dangerous infection to have left untreated, as it could lead to serious long-term problems in the reproductive tract and abdomen, potentially leaving people infertile.

HIV

HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It infects and gradually destroys the immune system, lowering the victims protection against cancers and infections. If it is left untreated, HIV will damage the immune system and develop into AIDS. This stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, and is a collection of illnesses which is caused by an ‘acquired’ virus. You can’t develop AIDS unless you are already HIV Positive. There may be no symptoms in someone who is living with HIV in the early stages, but eventually the individual will need medication to control it.

Genital warts

Most people who get the virus which develops into genital warts don’t show any specific symptoms, and this is why the virus remains un-diagnosed for a long time. But if there are symptoms present, they show as small white spots or lumps inside and around the vagina or anus. These are easily treated, but usually require a number of treatments.

Gonorrhoea

Gonorrhoea is found in both men and women, and can affect the anus, genitals, rectum and throat. Around half of the women infected with this disease and around 90 per cent of men show symptoms, which is often a thin, watery discharge from the vagina or penis, and pain when urinating. A simple test or swab can diagnose this infection, and it can be treated with antibiotics. However, if complications occur, further treatment may be needed.

Syphilis

Syphilis usually begins with a small sore on the penis or vagina, and up to six months after the initial symptoms develop, you may experience aching and shivering, or other flu-like symptoms. It’s usually detected with a blood test and can be treated easily in the early stages. However, in later stages, it can cause damage to the nervous system or heart that can be irreversible. Regular check-ups are vital in order to spot this early, as you may be spreading infection without realising.

Categories: Check Ups, Early Stages, genital lesions, genital warts, Infections, infections include, left untreated, regular check, Sex, STIs, Symptoms

Healthcare Tips to Keep You Healthy as You Get Older

Everyone wants to be healthy, but as you get into adulthood it becomes harder to know how to achieve this – you don’t have routine check-ups in the same was as when you were a child, as there’s no-one checking you’ve ticked off the basic health checks anymore. There are plenty of things you do every day that really contribute towards good health, such as hand washing and vaccines, which we all know are good for us in order to stave off illnesses. However, what about the basics of good health care? Paying attention to the signs and symptoms of health problems is the best way to ensure you stay healthy, whether that’s unexplained weight loss to changes in your bowel habits. The more information you can provide your GP with in such situations, the more easily they will be able to diagnose you. Naturally, topping this watchful eye up with regular check-ups and health screenings will make sure that any concerns are spotted early on to make treatment more successful.

Regular dental check-ups are important to keep your oral health in check. Basic dental care is often overlooked, so next time you think you’re too tired to brush your teeth or floss, remember that your smile depends on those extra five minutes of effort. Keep an eye on any decay or if your teeth begin to ache, and get an appointment booked with your dentist as soon as possible to have any cavities or plaque problems dealt with quickly before they damage your teeth and gums. You should also make a note of common dental care tips, such as whether an electric toothbrush is better for your teeth over a normal toothbrush, or whether whitening toothpaste really works. Getting a regular check-up with your dentist every six months will help you stay on top of your dental care. Likewise, your skin requires a watchful eye and regular care. This means more than simply taking your make-up off before you go to bed though. The sun can cause a lot of damage, so you need to avoid sitting out in the sun for hours on end, and wear sun cream regularly. A healthy diet goes a long way towards ensuring your skin stays healthy, but you need to understand the risks of tattoos and piercings too. Find out the best ways to treat infections, skin rashes and acne – whatever your skin needs, ensure that you source it.

Are your nails healthy? And would you spot the difference if they weren’t? Many people don’t think to look at their nails, but they can be a great indicator of your health. If they’re ridged or weak, it could be a sign that you’re lacking nutrients in your diet. Proper nail care is vital, whether they’re healthy or not, so make sure that you trim and moisturise your nails regularly to keep them strong. And this is especially the case if you rely on manicures to keep your nails looking good – if they’re brittle and splitting, you should avoid the harsh chemicals and treatments they use until you regain stronger nails. Being aware of your body and what’s right for you is the first step towards being healthy – it helps you spot the signs of potential problems early so that you can find out what is wrong and get treatment. If you are invited to health screenings for your age, you should take part as they often spot the signs that you’ve missed.

Categories: care, Check Ups, dental care, general health, health, health checks, health screenings, Healthy, nails, regular check, Symptoms, watchful eye

Poor Control: 80% of Diabetics are at Risk of Complications

Diabetes UK have warned that the wellbeing of four in five people with diabetes is at risk, as they are failing in meeting targets to keep their condition under control. The charity’s figures, which were obtained by analysing data from the National Diabetes Audit, suggest that only 20% of people in England and Wales whose wellness is affected by diabetes hit the recommended levels for blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar.

In the UK, there are currently around three million people diagnosed with the disease, and 24,000 people with diabetes die early every year in England and Wales. Diabetes UK said that their figures, which also revealed that just 11% of type 1 diabetics meet the targets which help prevent the risk of complications, could explain why so many deaths occur. High blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar often indicates poor controls of a patient’s diabetes, and can lead to life-threatening complications such as kidney failure and stroke.

Diabetes UK has urged that, if you have diabetes, you need to get the recommended nine annual checks to prevent future problems, which only 54% of people with diabetes in England currently get. The charity noted that action also needs to be taken against parts of the NHS with the worst record, and the government should make poor performing areas accountable as, in some places, less than 20% of people with the condition were getting the checks.

According to Barbara Young, chief executive of Diabetes UK, ‘Given that diabetes is serious and can lead to early death if not supported to manage their condition, it is extremely worrying that so few people have it under control. The high rate of preventable complications is the inevitable consequence of a healthcare system that has all too often not been good enough and this highlights the need for local services to put in place self-management support programmes to help people manage their diabetes well.’

She added, ‘At the moment there is virtually no access to the ongoing education and support to help people manage their diabetes and help avoid complications to reduce their chance of early death.’ However, a spokesperson from the Department of Health responded by saying, ‘We are determined to improve NHS services across the country for people with diabetes and end the unacceptable variation in care that still exists. We have set clear objectives for the NHS to improve the care and management of people with diabetes and we will be monitoring NHS England to make sure this is delivered.’

Poor Control: 80% of Diabetics are at Risk of Complications

Categories: Check Ups, control, Diabetes UK