There is no magic secret to health.  'Health' or 'wellbeing' is a status arising from the combination of what we are born with, our eating and lifestyle habits and the environment in which we live.

I recommend looking at the links on the right hand side of our homepage or reading some of the books below (aside from mine which is meant for entertainment only)!   They will give you the keys to staying healthy in terms of diet, exercise and lifestyle.  Some of the theories in one or two books may be a little bit reductionist, but on the whole I think the messages are important for good health and a long illness-free life. 

How to combat common illnesses and conditions

Many conditions get better on their own and can be treated successfully at home. The pharmacist may be able to help you with these and advise about medicines you can buy over the counter.

Also, some conditions such as sore throats and colds do not need any treatment aside from basic remedies such as honey and lemon and paracetamol.  Your body has the natural tendency to heal itself and sometimes a prescription is not the answer.

Colds and 'Flu

These usually start with a runny nose, cough, temperature and aches. As they are caused by viruses antibiotics have no use in treating them. Treatment consists of taking recommended doses of Paracetamol for the temperature and aches and drinking plenty of fluids.  Zinc, vitamin C and echinacea may all help.

Diarrhoea and vomiting

In adults and older children, diarrhoea and vomiting will usually get better on its own. Treatment consists of replacing the fluids you have lost and resting the digestive system by having nothing solid to eat for 24 hours. Avoid milk for 24 hours.  Sachets of powder such as Dioralyte and Rehidrat that can be made into a drink are available from the chemist. If the diarrhoea contains blood or there is severe pain or high fever, you should discuss it with your doctor. Diarrhoea and vomiting in small babies and young children should be treated with caution and the doctor or nurse will be happy to advise you about this over the telephone and arrange to see you if necessary.

Backache, strains and sprains

Many acute strains, sprains and backaches will respond to a few days of gently keeping it moving with Paracetamol or Ibuprofen taken for the pain. If symptoms persist, contact the doctor. Make sure you suck your abdominal muscles in - push your belly button towards your spine, as this will help posture and mean your back will be better supported.

Head Lice

These creatures prefer clean hair, and are not a sign of poor hygiene. Medicated shampoos can be obtained from the chemist without prescription.

Insect bite and Stings

Most of these needs no treatment. Antihistamine tablets can be obtained from the chemist without prescription and will relieve most symptoms.

Nose Bleeds

Sit in a chair leaning forwards with your mouth open and pinch your nose just below the bone for about ten minutes by which time the bleeding usually stops. If the bleeding continues, consult your doctor.

Burns and Scalds

Take the heat away from the skin as soon as possible. Apply large quantities of cold water immediately for up to 15 minutes if necessary. If the skin is unbroken but blistered, apply a loose dressing after cooling. If the skin is broken or the if the area of the burn is larger than 45 centimeters across, further advice should be sought.

Sunburn

Remember prevention is better than cure, use high factor sun creams before exposure, especially on children.

Fever

A fever occurs commonly, even with mild infections. In small children it is important to stop the temperature rising too quickly and children should be given Paracetamol syrup. If they still appear hot, they should be gently sponged with tepid water to cool them. If a temperature is very high and does not come down with the above treatment, or the child appears very unwell with a temperature you should consult your doctor. A child or an adult with a temperature will not come to any harm being wrapped up and brought by car or pram to the surgery.

FOR MEDICAL INFORMATION ONLINE PLEASE USE THE LINKS IN THE RIGHT HAND MARGIN

YOUR HEALTH - KNOW THE FACTS

Below is a reading list recommended for you by Dr Panja to help you stay healthy. 

Note:  Some experts have a habit of name-dropping other experts who agree with their point of view in order to add weight to their argument.  The important thing to do as a consumer of this information is to make sure that what you decide to believe is based on some solid evidence.  This does not mean an anecdotal case or hearsay (i.e. it worked for a friend of a friend), but evidence based on proper robust studies, which actually means something stastically and scientifically.  Having said that, as a GP we are often faced with a constellation of symptoms that can be hard to 'fix'.  I don't know if mercury fillings, electromagnetic radiation or modern agricultural techniques are to blame for the rise in odd unexplained symptoms but I do know that we somtimes get desperate for an answer.  My philosophy is if it doesn't cause harm and it works for you, then go for it.  An excellent place to start is www.colganinstitute.com

Paul Chek's book (see below), for example, is an excellent resource when it comes to physical conditioning (most physical therapists will agree despite his lack of conventional training), but he is not a physician.  Yet he claims in his book that butter is not bad for you, based on a theory, which one eminent heart specialist in the US happens to agree with.  This is exactly what I mean.... His reductionist reasoning makes for compelling reading, but the evidence is not so solid.  What I'm basically saying is that I can find you 100,000 heart specialists who do not agree with him and that can back up their view on butter being bad for you with evidence.  Who's right? Who knows? Don't get me wrong...  you don't always have to have conventional training to get results.  In fact, you're better off seeing Paul Chek than most doctors if you have poor posture, but please read any kind of health advice discerningly.  Question it.  That's all I ask.

Patrick Holford is another health author who mentions other experts in his texts.  He gets a lot of mixed press as he is not qualified as a nutritionist, but again, I feel his books are worth reading as most of the dietary advice is almost certainly correct as it is similar to tried and tested diets from years gone by.  As for his ideas around supplements,  I am not convinced.  Remember, be discerning!  All I will say is that I take a standard multivitamin with minerals and omega-3 supplement myself, but not at high doses.

If you prefer web-based reading and useful preventative heatlh information then please visit www.colganinstitute.com.  Dr Colgan is a world leader in illness prevention and I myself am convinced that most of his advice will help you lead a longer and healthier life. Sign up for the free e-newsletters.  www.drweil.com is also worth a look.

The dietary advice in these books is generally sound. Click on them to read the reviews for guidance... 

Paul Chek offers a reductionist but excellent guide to physical therapy for everyone, every day, but please ignore the part about butter (which IS bad for you).  Choose Flora Pro-Activ light which has almost no trans-fats, flax oil or pure sunflower oil spread:

A good read for anyone suffering from long term illness:

Bad back?  The best book in the world on the subject is this:

A new and effective approach to depression using mindfulness.  (For nutritional guidance on depression around omega 3 and 6 fatty acids etc. take expert advice from a doctor.  Also see www.drweil.com and www.colganinstitute.com)

An in depth scientific look at the power of mind body medicine - hard heavy going but interesting:

Stop smoking NOW with Allen Carr's phenomenal method - it's so easy:

Understand more about the structure of instinct and your decisions:

Learn more about the science of your body and how to protect it from two of the world's leading doctors:

An interesting and well thought out book which may help to subjectively improve your physical and mental wellbeing.  For those who don't mind the whole concept of 'self'help':

If you are interested in medical trivia try Dr Ayan's own book: