Bedford Park Pharmacy

Sepsis 6 of 6

Quiz and Answers

Qu 1. What is Sepsis?
It is the body’s reaction to an infection and means your body starts attacking its own organs and tissues.
Qu 2. How many cases are there in the UK each year?
250,000.
Qu 3. Who is most at risk of getting Sepsis?
The very young or old, diabetics, people who are malnourished, have serious liver disease, an illness that affects their immune system, an infection after an operation, are on long term steroids, are pregnant or have just given birth.
Qu 4. What are the symptoms in older children and adults?
High temperature, chills and shivering, fast heartbeat and fast breathing.
Qu 5. When should you call 999 for possible Sepsis symptoms in under 5 year olds?
If the child is looking mottled/bluish, lethargic, cold to touch, breathing very fast, has a rash that does not fade, has a fit.
Qu 6. What happens if my condition becomes worse?
Your blood pressure may become very low.
Qu 7. What does this mean?
Your organs will not get enough blood and oxygen, you won’t have needed to urinate, you might find it difficult to breathe, you may become confused, and swell up with fluid.
Qu 8. Where is serious Sepsis treated?
In critical care wards of hospitals.
Qu 9. How is Sepsis treated?
Giving you strong drugs, supporting your body’s organs, helping you breathe, making sure you have enough food and liquid, painkillers.
Qu10.How long would I have to stay in hospital?
This will depend on how ill you are and how long you take to get better.

If you would like more information on this or any health-related topic, please talk to a member of our trained team.

MUR and NMS 1 of 6
What is an MUR?
MUR stands for medicines use review and it was introduced and funded by the NHS several years ago because research showed that between 30% and 50% of patients do not take their medicines as prescribed. This means that besides a lot of medicines being wasted, some patients will end up in hospital.
To ensure more patients understood why they were taking their medicines and how they could get the best results from them, the government suggested community pharmacists could help by asking their patients how they felt about the medicines they took.
NHS England states there is good evidence that these medicine use reviews can reduce the risk of drug related problems and improve the appropriateness of prescribing. It has been found to provide patient satisfaction as well.
So, if you feel you would like to know more about the medication you are on and/or to check you are taking it correctly call in to arrange an appointment to chat with our pharmacist. This will take place in our consulting room to ensure your confidentiality is maintained.
If you are taking regular medication and you have concerns about it or just want to know more, call in today to book a private conversation with your pharmacist.

Anxiety 6 of 6 Quiz with Answers
Qu 1) What is GAD?
Ans 1) A long term condition that causes you to feel anxious about a wide range of issues.
Qu 2) What causes GAD?
Ans 2) Over activity in your brain, an imbalance of brain chemicals, your genes, traumatic experiences, painful conditions, drug/alcohol misuse.
Qu 3) What are the symptoms?
Ans 3) A sense of dread, difficulty concentrating, tiredness, trembling, difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.
Qu 4) When should you see your GP?
Ans 4) When your worrying significantly affects your daily life.
Qu 5) What treatments are there?
Ans 5) Self-help, CBT, mindfulness, applied relaxation, medication.
Qu 6) What does self help involve?
Ans 6) This usually involves you working from a book or computer programme on your own with occasional contact with your doctor.
Qu 7) What is CBT?
Ans 7) Cognitive behavioural therapy helps you to understand your problems and is one of the most effective treatments.
Qu 8) What is mindfulness?
Ans 8) Mindfulness works by focusing on your awareness of the present moment.
Qu 9) What is applied relaxation?
Ans 9) This focuses on relaxing your muscles in situations that usually cause you to be anxious.
Qu 10) What medications are available?
Ans 10) SSRI, SNRI, pregabalin, benzodiazepines.
For more information about anxiety and where to get help please speak one of our trained team.

Anxiety 5 of 6
Quiz
Qu 1) What is GAD?
Qu 2) What causes GAD?
Qu 3) What are the symptoms?
Qu 4) When should you see your GP?
Qu 5) What treatments are there?
Qu 6) What does self help involve?
Qu 7) What is CBT?
Qu 8) What is mindfulness?
Qu 9) What is applied relaxation?
Qu 10) What medications are available?

For more information about anxiety and where to get help please speak one of our trained team.

Anxiety 4 of 6
Drug treatments
If none of these have helped you, your GP can prescribe a variety of different types of medication. The main ones are:
 Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI)- these increase the level of serotonin in your brain and can be taken on a long- term basis though they may take several weeks to work.
 Serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRI) which increase the amount of serotonin and noradrenaline in your brain.
 Pregabalin which is an anticonvulsant but can help in treating anxiety.
 Benzodiazepeines which can easy your symptoms within 30 to 90 minutes but they cannot be used for long periods as they lose their effectiveness and are addictive.
If you are still feeling anxious after trying all these treatments, you may want to discuss with your GP whether you should be referred to a mental health specialist.

For more information about anxiety and where to get help please speak one of our trained team.

Anxiety 2 of 6
What causes GAD?
The exact cause of GAD isn’t fully understood but is likely to be a combination of several factors. Research has suggested this may include:
• Overactivity in areas of brain involved in emotions and behaviour
• An imbalance of the brain chemicals serotonin and noradrenaline which are involved in the control of mood
• The genes that are inherited
• A history of stressful or traumatic experiences
• A history of painful long- term health condition like arthritis
• A history of drug or alcohol abuse
But many people develop GAD for no apparent reason.

For more information about anxiety and where to get help please speak one of our trained team.

Anxiety 1 of 6: What is GAD (generalised anxiety disorder)?
GAD is a long-term condition that causes you to feel anxious about a wide range of situations and issues, rather than one specific event. It is thought to affect 5 % of the UK population and is more common in people aged between 35 and 59.
If you have GAD you will feel anxious most days and often struggle to remember the last time you felt relaxed. You will have a variety of symptoms which may include feeling worried, a sense of dread, having trouble concentrating and/or sleeping, dizziness or heart palpitations. If these symptoms are affecting your daily life or causing you distress you should arrange a visit to your GP.

For more information about anxiety and where to get help please speak one of our trained team

Vitamin D 6 of 6: Quiz answers
Q1) Why do I need vitamin D?
A1) Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium and phosphate from your diet.
Q2) What does a lack of vitamin D cause?
A2) Your bones to become soft and weak.
Q3) Where do I get vitamin D from?
A3) Direct sunlight, oily fish, red meat and eggs.
Q4) Who should take vitamin D?
A4) All children from birth to 5 years old and anybody who doesn't get out much.
Q5) How much vitamin D should I take?
A5) For most people 10 micrograms (mcg) a day.
Q6) How long should I spend in the sun?
A6) In the UK the majority of people only need to be outside for short periods with bare arms and legs from April to September.
Q7) What about winter time?
A7) During the winter you have to rely on food sources.
Q8) Can I use sun beds for vitamin D?
A8) This is not recommended because of the risk of skin cancer.
Q9) What is the upper limit for vitamin D?
A9) Adults shouldn't take more than 100 mcg a day and children no more than 50 mcg.
Q10) What happens if I take too much vitamin D?
A10) Over a long period of time it can cause a build-up of calcium.

If you would like to know more about vitamin supplements in general or buy ones most suited to you and your family, talk to our trained team which specialises in keeping you and your family healthy.

Vitamin D 5 of 6: Quiz
Q1) Why do I need vitamin D?
Q2) What does a lack of vitamin D cause?
Q3) Where do I get vitamin D from?
Q4) Who should take vitamin D?
Q5) How much vitamin D should I take?
Q6) How long should I spend in the sun?
Q7) What about winter time?
Q8) Can I use sun beds for vitamin D?
Q9) What is the upper limit for vitamin D?
Q10) What happens if I take too much vitamin D?

If you would like to know more about vitamin supplements in general or buy ones most suited to you and your family, talk to our trained team which specialises in keeping you and your family healthy.

Vitamin D 4 of 6: Supplements - who should take them?
Your body can’t make vitamin D if you are sitting indoors by a sunny window because ultraviolet B (UVB) rays (the one that your body needs to make vitamin D) can’t pass through the glass. So, the list of people who require vitamin D supplementation is as follows:
• People who are housebound or in residential care will need vitamin D supplements
• People who cover up when they are outside
• As babies under 12 months should be kept out of direct strong sunlight, they will need supplementation even if they are breastfed or have less than 500ml a day of infant formula.
• All children aged 1 to 4 even if they spend time outside.
• Anyone aged over 5 during the months of September to April should take 10 mcg a day.
Too much vitamin D can cause an abnormally high blood calcium level leading to nausea, constipation, confusion, abnormal heart rhythm and even kidney stones so adults, including pregnant and breastfeeding women, the elderly and children 11-17 are advised not to take more than 100 mcg of vitamin D daily. Children under 10 should not take more than 50 mcg a day and babies under 12 months should not be given more than 25 mcg per day.

If you would like to know more about vitamin supplements in general or buy ones most suited to you and your family, talk to our trained team which specialises in keeping you and your family healthy.

Vitamin D 3 of 6: How long should I stay in the Sun?
As explained above most people can make enough vitamin D from being out in the sun daily for short periods with their forearms, hands or lower legs uncovered and without sunscreen from late March to the end of September especially from 11 am to 3pm.
It is not known exactly how much time is needed in the sun to make enough Vitamin D to meet your body’s requirements because there are a number of factors that can affect how vitamin D is made such as your skin colour or how much skin you expose.
If you are of African, African-Caribbean or of south Asian origin you will need to spend longer in the sun to produce the same amount of vitamin D as someone with lighter skin, but you must be careful not to stay out too long in case you burn.
How long it takes your skin to go red or brown varies from person to person. Cancer research UK has a useful tool where you can find out your skin type and see when you might be at risk. The longer you stay in the sun the greater your risk of skin cancer

If you would like to know more about vitamin supplements in general or buy ones most suited to you and your family, talk to our trained team which specialises in keeping you and your family healthy.

Vitamin D 2 of 6: Vitamin D - How do I get it?
Your body creates vitamin D from direct sunlight on your skin when you are outdoors. In the UK from around late March to the end of September you can get most of your Vitamin D from sunlight, but you can also get it from a small number of foods including oily fish like salmon, mackerel, herring and sardines, red meat and eggs.
Manufacturers must add vitamin D to infant formula milk by law, but vitamin D is also added to some breakfast cereals, fat spreads and non- diary milk alternatives. The amounts added to these products can vary and may only be added in small amounts.

If you would like to know more about vitamin supplements in general or buy ones most suited to you and your family, talk to our trained team which specialises in keeping you and your family healthy.

Vitamin D 1 of 6: Why it is so important
Vitamin D is essential for healthy bones. You need vitamin D to help your body absorb calcium and phosphate from your diet. These minerals are important for healthy bones, teeth and muscles. A lack of vitamin D can cause your bones to become soft and weak which can lead to bone deformities. In children for example a lack of vitamin D can lead to rickets. In adults it can produce osteomalacia causing bone pain and tenderness.

If you would like to know more about vitamin supplements in general or buy ones most suited to you and your family, talk to our trained team which specialises in keeping you and your family healthy.

Diabetic foot care 6 of 6: Quiz answers
Q1. How can diabetes damage my feet?
A1. High blood glucose can damage your nerves and the longest ones are affected the most.
Q2. What is neuropathy?
A2. It is nerve damage.
Q3. What does damage to the sensory nerves lead to?
A3. Loss of feeling in your feet so you don’t notice pain, temperature or vibrations.
Q4. What other damage can high blood glucose cause?
A4. It can damage your blood vessels.
Q5. Name two symptoms of changes to your nerves you should look out for
A5. Pins and needles, numbness, pain, sweating less, red or hot feet, changes in the shape of your feet, hard skin, losing sense of the position of your feet and legs.
Q6. Name two symptoms that changes to your blood supply can produce
A6. Cramp in your calves, shiny smooth skin, losing hair on your feet and legs, thickened toe nails, cold pale feet, change in the colour of your feet, wounds or sores, pain in your feet.
Q7. What changes to my feet should I check for?
A7. Any damage to your skin and hard skin.
Q8. What can I do to prevent foot problems?
A8. Manage your diabetes well, prevent the build-up of hard skin, moisturise your feet and check them daily..
Q9. Why is preventing foot problems important?
A9. Because any injury or hard skin could lead to an ulcer forming on your foot.
Q10. What should you do when you are on holiday?
A10. Exercise your legs and feet on the journey, wear shoes all the time, keep up your daily foot care routine, if you damage your skin get help straight away.

If you would like any further help or advice, please call in to speak to one of our trained team

Diabetic foot care 5 of 6: Quiz
1. How can diabetes damage my feet?
2. What is neuropathy?
3. What does damage to the sensory nerves lead to?
4. What other damage can high blood glucose cause?
5. Name two symptoms of changes to your nerves you should look out for
6. Name two symptoms that changes to your blood supply can produce
7. What changes to my feet should I check for?
8. What can I do to prevent foot problems?
9. Why is preventing foot problems important?
10. What should you do when you are on holiday?

*Come back next week for the answers*

If you would like any further help or advice, please call in to speak to one of our trained team

Diabetic foot care 4 of 6: Special precautions for holiday times.
It is important to care of your feet when you are on holiday:
• If you are travelling for a long time keep your legs and feet moving to stop your feet swelling.
• Pack your usual moisturiser.
• Take shoes you have worn before.
• If you are going on a beach holiday pack shoes you can wear on the beach or in the sea.
• Pack a small first aid kit to treat any small injuries.
• Keep up your daily foot routine.
• Wear shoes all the time to stop damage to your feet.

If you injure your feet get help straight away
If you would like any further help or advice, please call in to speak to one of our trained team.