How can I delay my period? This question has been asked countless times by millions of women around the world. While your monthly period is normal, it can be limiting, painful, and a nuisance. So, if you are looking for tips on how to safely delay your period, you’ve come to the right place.

Reasons For Delaying Your Period

Women delay their periods for a variety of reasons. Some women do it because they need to travel, some for romance (i.e. if it’s their honeymoon night), and others for convenience. Whatever your reasons are, know that delaying your period is perfectly normal.

The safest and most effective way to delay your period is by taking period delay tablets like Norethisterone.

How to Delay Your Period Using Norethisterone

What is Norethisterone?

Norethisterone is a period delay pill. It’s primarily made of synthetic hormones like progesterone and works by mimicking the effects of natural progesterone in the body. Remember that throughout your monthly cycle, the levels of progesterone in your body fluctuates. If the levels are high, the linings of your uterus flourish. If it falls, the linings of your uterus break down and shed out of the body as a period.

Like most period delay tablets, Norethisterone works by maintaining high levels of progesterone in your body, delaying the breakdown of the linings of your uterus. Thus, delaying your period. It tricks your body to think that you are pregnant.

How effective is Norethisterone?

Norethisterone can delay your period for up to 20 days, depending on the course you opt for. If you follow instructions correctly (eg: take the tablet 3 days before your period is due), then you should successfully have a delayed period. Of course, it’s important to remember that no tablet is 100% effective, and you should speak to your GP if you have any problems.

"Norethisterone is commonly used because it's familiar, it's something we've used for many years and it works." – Dr Prabha Sivaraman, gynaecologist

How to take Norethisterone to delay your period

Start taking Norethisterone period delay tablets three days BEFORE you expect your period to start. Take one pill three times a day. You can take Norethisterone for a maximum of 17 days. Consult with your GP if you miss a dose.

Don’t use Norethisterone to delay your period more than once every six months.

Don’t take Norethisterone when:

• You are or you think you could be pregnant
• You are breastfeeding
• You have liver or kidney problems
• You have a blood clot in your legs or lungs

If you are suffering from high blood pressure, diabetes, gallstones, heart failure, migraines, asthma, or epilepsy, let your doctor know before taking Norethisterone.

When will my period start when I stop taking Norethisterone?

The levels of progesterone in your body will go back to normal once you stop taking period delay tablets. Your period will start two to three days after taking your last dose of Norethisterone.

The result varies from one person to another. So, give your body some time to adjust. However, if your period is not back after a week, consult with your GP.

What are the side effects of Norethisterone?

Side effects of Norethisterone are rare but you may experience:

• Changes in weight
• Breast tenderness
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Difficulty sleeping
• Skin reaction
• Low sex drive
• Feeling depressed
• Nausea
• Bloating

Other more serious side effects of Norethisterone include:

• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin)
• Pain or tightness in your chest
• Blurred vision
• Hearing difficulty
• Severe headaches

If you experience any of these serious side effects, stop taking Norethisterone immediately and contact your doctor.

Will Norethisterone prevent me from getting pregnant?

No. Norethisterone is not a contraceptive. What it does is artificially keep the levels of progesterone in your body high to delay your period. Contraceptive pills, on the other hand, contain hormones that stop you from ovulating. Be sure to do your research on the best contraceptive pills before going down this route.

To protect yourself from unwanted pregnancy while taking period delay tablets, use contraceptive methods like condoms, spermicides, or contraceptive pills.

The Benefits of Period Delay Tablets

Apart from delaying your period, period delay pills can also help with anaemia, menstrual disorders, abnormal vaginal bleeding, and endometriosis.

Buy Norethisterone to Delay Your Period

Did you know that you can order Norethisterone online and get it delivered on your doorsteps? No more waiting for a doctor’s appointment! You can buy Norethisterone from Express Pharmacy today.

The flu is a common illness which thousands of us suffer from every year. But what is the difference between a common cold and the flu? When is the flu shot needed? Within this guide, we will be taking you through everything you need to know about the flu shot and its importance.

What Is The Flu?

Influenza, or more commonly known as the flu, is a contagious illness affecting the respiratory system. It is caused by a virus infecting your nose, lungs and/or throat. Symptoms of flu can include:

• Fever/chills
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny nose
• Aching body (head and muscles)

The flu is easily caught as it spreads incredibly easily. When those who are infected sneeze or cough, droplets (saliva, mucus) can end up landing on you.

Once you’ve caught the flu, you’ll find yourself feeling under the weather for around one to two weeks, but the healthy few can recover within five days after experiencing symptoms. Children with this illness can face a longer recovery time, due to their less established or immune systems.

What Is The Flu Shot?

The flu shot works to prevent you from falling seriously ill when infected with the flu. It works by injecting you with an existing form of the virus, encouraging your immune system to produce antibodies. It takes around two weeks for these antibodies to fully establish in your body and start to fight off infection.

Why Do I Need The Flu Shot? Why Is It So Important?

Health professionals encourage that everyone over the age of 6-months should be receiving the shot. Despite not being 100% effective at fighting off the virus, it is the best available protection for influenza and the complications that it could cause.

But, if it only causes a sniffle, why is the flu shot so important?

Although the common symptoms are minor and clear up pretty quickly, the illness can cause complications and lead to more serious conditions depending on your medical history. This includes:

Congestive heart failure - this affects the pumping abilities of the heart due to a buildup of fluid around the heart causing it to inefficiently pump blood around the body. If people suffering from this condition were to contract the flu, it can worsen their health and ultimately be fatal.

Asthma - those suffering from asthma face more severe medical complications if they were to fall ill with the flu. Due to their pre-existing difficulting breathing, the respiratory virus (influenza) only worsens their medical condition.

Bacterial pneumonia - some individuals that contract the flu may also be at risk of this medical condition. Bacterial pneumonia is an infection in your lungs causing them to become inflamed and fill up with liquid.

The shot can also also be invaluable to other groups:

Women looking to conceive - women should ensure they are up to date with their flu shot, especially if they are planning on conceiving. Pregnant women are at a higher risk of contracting the flu, which could lead to complications such as premature birth.

Young children - between the ages of 6-months to 5-years, children's immune systems are not yet fully formed or capable of fighting infections as an adult can. This can cause the illness to be more severe. It is advised that parents get their children vaccinated as young as possible (6-months old) to keep them protected.

Older people - when you reach an age of 65 or above, your immune system will begin to become less reliable when it comes to fighting off infections. It is advised for those in this age group to get an up to date flu shot to help strengthen immune systems..

Side-Effects Of The Flu Shot

The shot has been known to give temporary side-effects, often flu-like, for up to 24-hours after being administered due to the antibodies being built up in preparation to fight infection. This typically includes:

• Mild fever
• Chills
• Headache
• Red/sore/swollen around the injection area

The vaccine is very safe for the majority of people, but certain people are not medically advised to receive it, such as those who have previously reacted poorly to the shot. People with severe egg allergies are also advised to stay clear of the vaccine.

Mercury allergies also affect your ability to receive the shot as the vaccine can carry traces of the element to avoid contamination.

Treatments Options For The Flu

If you do find yourself feeling under the weather, there are many places to turn to for advice. It’s wise to head to an online pharmacy to avoid spreading your illness to other people.

In terms of the flu, however, the flu vaccination is the most effective preventative method. Types of flu shots can include:

High-dose shot - this shot is advised to those 65-years of age and older. Due to their weakened immune systems, this shot is designed to work harder at fighting infection and contains four times the number of antigens to stimulate antibodies.

Intradermal shot - ideal for 18-64-year-olds, this shot is administered into the arm muscle using a smaller needle (more desirable for those afraid of needles). This shot works just as well as the regular shot, but does increase the likelihood of side-effects occurring, varying from itchiness, head/muscle aching and fatigue.

Nasal Spray - this form of vaccination is ideal for those not wanting to receive an injection, such as young children or those with a fear of needles. To receive this type of shot, you must be aged between 2 - 49 years old, you cannot be pregnant and you must not have any serious pre-existing medical conditions. This nasal spray is said to be just as effective as the injections, but not everyone can receive it so it is wise to do your research and consult your doctor.

From late November to early April, the ski slopes are crammed with those looking to ski, snowboard or just take in the scenery. Although the views are breathtaking in themselves, there’s another thing which might be taking your breath away: the altitude.

Within this guide, you can learn how to prevent altitude sickness while on your winter holiday in the mountains..

What is Altitude Sickness?

When at high altitude, like on top of a mountain, oxygen levels are lower and this can cause a problem known as altitude sickness or acute mountain sickness. The severity of the disorder is variant depending on the individual and the circumstance, with affecting factors including…

• Age
• Weight
• Blood pressure
• Fitness
• Speed of ascension
• Time spent at a high altitude

The most common symptom of altitude sickness is a headache. If you are at a height of over 8,000 feet and have been experiencing a headache it is best to watch out for other symptoms, as if you do have altitude sickness, you should also have one or more of these…

• Nausea or vomiting
• Weakness or exhaustion (hard to determine source when skiing/snowboarding)
• Dizziness
• Shortness of breath
• Malaise (discomfort or unwell feeling)
• Swelling (in the hands, feet or face)

Altitude sickness can be chronic or acute. Acute altitude sickness is generally due to descending to a height too quickly and so not giving your body enough time to adjust.

At What Elevation Do You Get Altitude Sickness?

Altitude sickness can occur when at an altitude of 8,000 feet or above - this is due to the decreased number of oxygen molecules per breath.

Can Skiing Give You Altitude Sickness?

As stated above, the two main causes of altitude sickness are descending too fast or staying at high altitudes for too long - both in which are probable during.

Most ski resorts will have mountains of 8,000 feet or higher, making altitude sickness more than possible.

How Do You Prevent Altitude Sickness When Skiing?

Your body needs up to three days to acclimatize to high altitudes to limit the risk of developing altitude sickness. But, if you do find yourself with symptoms, you should ensure you do not ignore them. Resting, not smoking and keeping hydrated can all be very beneficial. Other prevention methods can include...

Take Altitude Sickness Tablets (Acetazolamide)

It can be wise to plan for the worst and pack some altitude sickness tablets with you on your trip to effectively prevent altitude sickness symptoms or at least ease them.

Acetazolamide increases the amount of urine your body produces, helping to reduce the amount of fluid in your head and lungs. This will improve your ability to breath at a steady pace and relieve symptoms that can follow.

This particular tablet is available at Express Pharmacy and should be taken twice a day. You should begin to do so two-days before travelling and two days after you reach your final altitude.

Stay Hydrated

Skiing can take it out of you, so staying hydrated is key advice even if you are not experiencing altitude sickness symptoms.

In the case of experiencing altitude sickness, it’s important to drink plenty of water - ideally 4-6 litres a day. This should help to relieve symptoms.

Bringing water bottles with you in a backpack is the best way to ensure you are always keeping yourself properly hydrated. You should also pack some snacks with you as well, to keep your calorie intake steady.

You may not want to hear this, but if you do find yourself experiencing altitude sickness symptoms, avoiding alcohol altogether is the best course of action (to prevent further dehydration). Apres skiing is off the table until you recover - better to be safe than sorry!

Research Into Different Skiing Resorts

Doing your research could be the difference between altitude sickness or avoiding it altogether. Choosing your accommodation wisely is a key method of keeping you on top of your game. Satellite hotels are the best option as they will allow you to acclimatise and provide a lower base altitude so that as you gradually ascend higher, your body will be less affected. It’s important to give your body adequate time to adjust.

Know When It’s Time To Descend

You may be tempted to take a break or sit out on a slope or two in hope that you will begin to feel better, but it's important to know when it's necessary to descend the mountain. Moving to a lower altitude is the best course of action, in most cases, even if you simply do so by 1,000 feet for 24-hours. But those with more severe symptoms should do so by 2,000 feet for a few days to be sure symptoms are relieved. The further down you go, the more symptoms will ease, so it is best to do so until you feel as though you are okay to stop.

Main Takeaways…

If you’ve suffered from altitude sickness in the past, it’s wise to equip yourself with altitude sickness tablets to prevent it ruining your skiing holiday. Acetazolamide is available to be delivered to your door from Express pharmacy, making it an effortless precaution to take to get the most out of your trip and avoid any unwanted sickness.

Malaria is a potentially life-threatening disease that infects your red blood cells. Most commonly, the disease is contracted from an infected mosquito bite, which leads to a parasite entering your bloodstream. Once the bloodstream has been infected, the parasite travels to the liver and begins to mature across several days; infecting the red blood cells and causing them to burst.

As well as an infected mosquito bite, there are other explanations as to what causes malaria to be spread and contracted. An organ transplant can lead to the development of malaria - this is due to the procedure often requiring a blood transfusion at the same time.

The disease is primarily involved with blood and so contaminated needles or syringes can also lead to the spread of the parasites.

5 Types of Malaria Parasites (Plasmodium)

P.Falciparum is the most common type of parasite and has led to the most fatalities around the world. It causes large blood loss and clogging of vessels and spreads rapidly. This parasite can also lead to the development of liver and kidney failure, along with the other symptoms mentioned above.

P.Vivax parasites can be dormant for years after the bite has occurred, delaying the expression of symptoms and increasing the risk of those infected passing it to others. This is most commonly found in Latin America and Asia and, along with falciparum, is considered the most dangerous of the five species, more so due to the high risk of passing it on.

P.Ovale and P.Malariae cause a mild form of malaria and very rarely results in fatalities. They are responsible for a fairly small percentage of human infections and it is rare for individuals to contract these particular parasites compared to the others.

The final parasite is called P.Knowlesi and although it has led to human malaria, it more commonly infects primates (monkeys, apes, lemurs etc).

Symptoms of Malaria

Malaria can cause a multitude of different symptoms that will appear within the first 7-18 days of becoming infected, but it has been known for them to stay dormant for up to a year or more. The symptoms of malaria can include:

• High temperature/fever: in your body’s attempt to fight the infection, if you contract malaria you will run a fever (temperature over 38°C)
• Convulsions: also known as seizures. This is due to a change in your brain's electrical activity, causing severe shaking and loss of control; this is due to malaria disturbing your body’s general functioning.
• Chills: those infected could experience feeling cold for no apparent reason
• Headaches
• Nausea/Vomiting: overall stomach discomfort and sensation of feeling sick for some time, or physically being sick
• Diarrhoea
• Muscle pains
• Anaemia: this is when your level of healthy red blood cells become too low and therefore the amount of oxygen carried around your blood is limited. Malaria causes this as the parasite causes healthy red blood cells to burst

Due to these symptoms being fairly generic, it is hard to determine them as malaria. However, a clear identifier is if these symptoms appear over 48-hour cycles, with shivering, fever, sweating or fatigue lasting from 6-12 hours.

Malaria Classifications

Asymptomatic malaria can be caused by any of the five parasite species in the blood but does not result in the expression of any symptoms. This certain type of malaria can be dangerous, primarily to others as it generally goes undiagnosed for long periods and can lead to the disease becoming widespread by those originally infected.

Uncomplicated malaria will see people experiencing symptoms after 7-10 days of becoming bitten by a mosquito. This classification will lead to generic symptoms, such as fever, sweating, nausea and headaches. These nonspecific symptoms can lead to the disease going undiagnosed for some time and can lead to spreading.

Severe malaria is primarily associated with the P.Falciparum parasite, but not exclusively. This can lead to more serious symptoms, varying from anaemia to end-organ damage, as well as pulmonary complications and a coma.

Who is Most at Risk of Malaria?

Around half the world's population is at some risk of becoming infected with malaria, but some geographical locations are at a higher risk of contracting malaria.

There are also some groups of people who could face more severe consequences if they were to become infected:

Pregnant women face a higher risk if they are to become diagnosed with malaria. Complications can vary from stillbirth, anaemia (both mother and baby), neonatal death and low birth weight.

Infants and children (under the age of five or six) are the most vulnerable group to contract and encounter rapid progression of the disease. Under 5’s account for 67% of all malaria deaths around the world.

Malaria has been most commonly found in Africa, Asia and America, but due to its ability to lie dormant, the spread of infection can lead to malaria being contracted anywhere in the world. However, Central Africa was responsible for 93% of all cases in 2018.

How To Prevent Yourself From Malaria

When travelling to countries in which malaria is a high risk, it is important to take precautions to protect your health. There are different methods available to both treat and prevent the contraction of malaria, from tablets to sprays and injections.

Express Pharmacy has a reliable selection of anti-malaria tablets, however, these anti-malaria medications are not 100% effective at protecting you against the disease and so should be used hand in hand with anti bite prevention.

Doxycycline is an anti-malaria tablet that should be taken once a day, 2-days before visiting a high-risk area, and should be taken at this rate for up to 4 weeks after leaving.

Malarone should be taken the same as Doxycycline, once a day and for 2-days before. However, it is only required to be administered 1 week after returning from the location.

Lariam should be taken once, weekly, with the first tablet being taken preferably 2-3 weeks before travelling and 4 weeks after.

In light of the ongoing situation regarding Covid-19, we want to keep you updated with operational developments at Express Pharmacy.

Operations
Due to Covid-19, there has been increased demand for pharmaceutical supplies and medication. This has meant that our operational pharmacy staff are under immense pressure daily. With that in mind, we are continuing to operate as normal.

The Patient Support Team is currently experiencing an unprecedented level of emails, calls and online helpdesk queries. This has meant that you might experience a slight delay in and would appreciate your support and understanding.

Medication Supply
There has been a massive surge in demand for medications, both online and in our community pharmacy. This has meant that many pharmacies have run out of certain medications, with others limiting supply to make sure that there is enough for everyone. We will be operating as normal until further notice.

Delivery
As much of the nation is currently following NHS and GOV.UK guidelines on staying at home, there is a huge reliance on national delivery and courier services. As a result, we are monitoring the situation to ensure that your medications and treatments arrive to you safely and on time. Some delivery services may be experiencing delays and, in particular, next-day services.

If your treatment has not arrived, please contact our helpdesk and we will do our best to help you. Please bear in mind that this is a totally unprecedented situation that has affected the entire country, not least the world.

Please show the Patient Support Team some understanding and compassion. They are here to help and continue to show great frontline bravery. Your understanding is greatly appreciated.

We have made Royal Mail First Class delivery FREE until further notice. Please make use of this service unless you need your medication guaranteed by the next day.

We will be introducing some new delivery options soon. Please keep an eye out for an email update.

Stay home. Stay Safe. Be Kind.
Harman Bhamra (Head of Ecommerce)