Hay fever or allergic rhinitis is one of the most common allergic conditions in the world. Hay fever symptoms include a runny nose, sneezing, and tiredness. More than 10 million people suffer from hay fever in the UK.

It has two types:

1. Seasonal Hay Fever – occurs on months when individual plants pollinate. For example, if you suffer from hay fever during autumn, you are probably allergic to some weeds and fungus spores. During spring, tree pollens.
2. Perennial Hay Fever – occurs all year round. Perennial hay fever is most likely due to indoor allergens like dust mites, animal dander (tiny flakes of skin), fur, or feathers. You may find these triggers in beddings, carpets, pillows, and draperies. Moulds can also cause hay fever symptoms. They usually thrive in damp areas like your basement or bathroom.

Common hay fever allergens:

• Pollen
• Fungi
• Mould
• Pet fur or dander
• Dust mites
• Perfume
• Cigarette smoke

What Causes Hay Fever?

An overreacting immune system causes hay fever. When an allergen (e.g. pollens) enter your body, your immune system treats this as a harmful substance - setting in motion a series of defensive mechanisms to protect you. Levels of histamine and leukotrienes in your blood rise, causing the lining of your sinuses, eyelids, and nasal passages to become inflamed. You also sneeze more than usual.

These hay fever symptoms protect your body by either trapping (like in the case of swelling nasal passages so the allergens can't enter) or expelling (like in the case of sneezing) the allergens.

Hay fever is often inherited. If one or more of your family members suffer from hay fever, there’s a big chance that you’ll get one too.

What are the Symptoms of Hay Fever?

Below are the most common hay fever symptoms that you’ll encounter:

• Prolonged and violent sneezing
• Runny nose or blocked nose
• Itchiness particularly in your nose, throat, and roof of your mouth
• Itchy and watery eyes
• Tiredness and fatigue
• Ear fullness
• Postnasal drip that may lead to coughing
• Anosmia or the loss of your sense of smell
• Facial pain

Hay fever symptoms vary in severity and duration. It may also depend on weather conditions. In the UK, hay fever is often worse during late March to September. The warm, windy, and humid weather is ideal for pollen propagation.

The presence of irritants in the air often aggravates severe hay fever symptoms. The inflammation in the lining of your nose makes your nose more sensitive to irritants. Below are some of the common irritants that may make your hay fever symptoms worse:

• Air pollution
• Humidity changes
• Wind
• Strong odours
• Wood smoke
• Aerosol sprays
• Irritating fumes
• Temperature changes
• Cigarette smoke

If left unchecked, severe hay fever symptoms can lead to various complications like:

• Asthma
• Ear infections (this is more common in children)
• Sinusitis (persistent inflammation of your sinuses)
• Allergic conjunctivitis (a complication that results when an allergen irritates the membranes on your eye)

What is the Difference Between a Cold and Hay Fever?

Many people confuse colds and hay fever. Why? Because cold and hay fever symptoms can feel similar. Hay fever treatment is very different from colds; that's why it's essential to know the differences between the two.

Remember, the most significant difference between a cold and hay fever is that a cold will always come with body aches and a fever.

Hay Fever Treatments

You can reduce your hay fever symptoms by decreasing your exposure to allergens. For example, you can clean and air out your room regularly to prevent dust and mould from collecting. Other lifestyle changes that you can do include:

• Washing your hands after interacting with your pets.
• Use a dehumidifier in your room to control mould growth.
• Keeping windows closed, especially when the weather is dry, windy, and humid to keep pollens out.
• Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes when you go outside.

Hay Fever Medications

Nasal Sprays

Nasal sprays like Mometasone and Nasonex from Express Pharmacy can help relieve nasal congestion and reduce postnasal drip. These medications contain corticosteroids which help reduce the inflammation and swelling of the lining of your nose.

Antihistamines

Antihistamines help control your itches and sneezing. Express Pharmacy sells Fexofenadine (generic) and Telfast (branded) which you can get without a prescription. These antihistamines don't make you feel drowsy, so they're safe to use even while at work.

You can buy your hayfever treatments through Express Pharmacy.

When to See a Doctor

Most hay fever cases can be treated at home using over the counter treatments. See your GP if:

• You have severe hay fever symptoms that don’t go away with regular hay fever treatments.
• You are suffering side effects from your medication
• You experience repeated sinusitis or worsening asthma
• You experience the symptoms in an unusual time (for example during winter) or place. You might need to undergo some tests to confirm other allergens that might be causing your hay fever.

How to Prevent Hay Fever

The best way to prevent hay fever is to steer clear from the allergens that trigger it. Lifestyle changes like cleaning your home, keeping your yard clean, and daily exercise can help reduce your chances of catching hay fever again. Eating healthy can also give your immune system a boost.

When you go outside, wear a hat with a brim to protect your face. Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes. And always wash your face and hands when you get home or after interacting with your pets. During hay fever season, it’s better to keep your pets outside the house. Bathe them regularly if they come inside often.

The Pill. Condoms. IUDs. Nowadays, there are countless forms of contraception available, making it as easy as possible to practice safe sex. But what happens if you forget to use contraception, or if your first method failed?

This is where the morning after pill can help.

How many times can you rely on the morning after pill? How effective is it? Discover all you need to know about the morning after pill and much more right here.

What Does The Morning After Pill Do?

Emergency contraception is most commonly known as the morning after pill. This pill is an over the counter medication which prevents unplanned pregnancy. Despite its name, the pill can typically be taken up to 72-hours after sex, but the sooner it is taken, the more effective it will be at stopping or delaying the release of an egg.

What Types of Morning After Pill Are There?

Levonelle is a type of morning-after pill intended to be taken within 72-hours of sex. The Levonelle pill is said to work by preventing an egg being released or eliminating the ability of it to become fertilized by the sperm if already descended.

EllaOne is another form of emergency contraception but has a longer window of effectiveness. It can be taken up to 5 days after intercourse takes place. The EllaOne pill mainly aims to delay or prevent ovulation to help prevent an unwanted pregnancy. Unlike other morning-after pills, this cannot be taken in conjunction with certain other medicines, such as HIV treatment drugs.

What Are The Side Effects of The Morning After Pill?

Much like other forms of contraception, the morning after pill method is very safe but is not without side effects. These include:

• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Abdominal Pain
• Irregular menstrual cycle

If you experience any of the above symptoms on a regular basis, it’s important to speak to your GP.

Emergency contraception is to be used as a one time fix and does not protect you from any further unprotected sex during your cycle; it also has no prevention qualities from sexually transmitted diseases (STIs).

When Do You Have To Take The Morning After Pill?

The effectiveness of the pill will entirely depend on the time after sex it is taken. After unprotected sex, Levonelle can be taken within 72-hours to effectively prevent pregnancy, but the longer you wait to take it, the less effective it becomes. The medication is most effective when taken as soon as possible…

• Within 24-hours = 95% success rate
• Within 24 to 48-hours = 85% success rate
• Within 48 to 72-hours = 58% success rate

However, this period can vary depending on the specific pill you take, EllaOne is effective once taken up to 5-days (120 hours) after unprotected sex and has an effectiveness rate of 98% if used properly.

How Many Times Can You Rely On The Morning After Pill?

The morning after pill has no effect on a woman's long term health and despite some minor side effects, the pill is a safe and simple method of contraception. But this doesn't mean that it should be a long-term solution.

Although the pill does not cause serious harm, it can throw your hormones off course. Menstrual cycles are personal to every woman, with some being regimented and others irregular, but the morning after pill can shake things up. Due to the prevention of ovulation, you could experience irregular bleeding and unravelled emotions because of the disturbance to your hormones.

If you use emergency contraception as what it is - for emergencies - your body has time to rejig your regular cycle and hormones can reset, but frequent use does not allow the body to get back into a routine. It is advised to limit the usage of the morning after pill to once a cycle, to prevent the risk and severity of side effects.

Where Can I Get The Morning After Pill?

Emergency contraception is available to all women, even those under the age of 16. It is most commonly found at:

• Sexual health clinics
• GP surgeries
• Young people clinics
• NHS walk-in centres
• An online pharmacy
• A&E

Many women prefer to opt for more discreet online services, as the pill can be delivered in unbranded packaging. This will be exactly the case at Express Pharmacy, where you can buy effective emergency contraception at the click of a button.

Although not encouraged as a prefered method of contraception, the pill is widely available to everyone in case of emergencies. For girls under the age of 16, getting the morning after pill is kept confidential as long as a doctor or pharmacist believes you are aware and conscious of the decision you are making.

For more information regarding the morning after pill, get in touch with our experts on 0208 123 0703.

Acid reflux, more commonly known as heartburn, is the leading gut complaint seen by medical professionals. Around 25% of UK adults suffer from acid reflux symptoms regularly.

How do you know when you are suffering from acid reflux? What are the most common acid reflux symptoms to look out for? All will be revealed in this helpful guide.

What is Acid Reflux?

Your lower oesophagus sphincter is the muscle that joins your oesophagus (food pipe) and your stomach. The role of this muscle is to tighten the pipe once food passes into the stomach, but if yours is weak, acid may result in travelling back up the oesophagus. When stomach acid travels up your oesophagus, it can cause an unpleasant sensation in your upper chest/neck/throat.

This is known as acid reflux.

Don’t be alarmed when we say that you have acid inside you - the acid in your stomach helps to break down the food you eat, as well as preventing infections. It’s meant to stay in the stomach, which is why problems occur when it gets unintentionally released.

Common Acid Reflux Symptoms

Heartburn

The most common symptom of acid reflux is a painful sensation in your upper chest, known as heartburn. This pain can often be described as a sharp, burning or tightening feeling in the neck, throat or chest (behind the breastbone).

Regurgitation

Acid travelling up into your oesophagus can also lead to an unpleasant taste in the back of your throat or mouth. This bitter/sour or metallic taste in your mouth is caused by your stomach acid escaping into your throat and isn't easy to shake, often lasting just as long as other symptoms and can persist even after eating, drinking or brushing your teeth.

Dysphagia

Acid reflux can cause you to feel as though you have food stuck in your throat. Dysphagia refers to having difficulty swallowing and can cause coughing and sometimes choking. The leaking of your stomach acid into your oesophagus can cause this sensation and lead you to feel nauseous, as well as give you a hoarse voice.

Hiccups

Your diaphragm muscle can spasm, causing your vocal cords to snap shut and produce a little reoccurring sound; this is known as the hiccup. Acid reflux can lead to recurrent hiccups that just won't go away.

Hiccups are little cause for concern as they can be brought on by eating too quickly, drinking too much or taking in too much air, and often subside on their own. But, in the case of acid reflux, hiccups could be an indication of a more serious diagnosis, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Severe Acid Reflux Symptoms

GERD, gastroesophageal reflux disease, is a severe form of acid reflux. The pain from this disease cannot be remedied as easily as regular heartburn and long-term damages can cause serious health issues, such as cancer.

GERD has the same symptoms as acid reflux, but due to its severity, it also has some of its own that can be a cause for concern...

Enamel Damage

Due to the excessive exposure of acid which occurs during GERD, your tooth enamel may get damaged.

The enamel on your teeth is there to protect them from decay. Continuous acid reflux can cause the outer layer of your enamel to degrade, meaning it’s important to take precautions such as brushing your teeth after experiencing an episode.

Asthma

One possible symptom of GERD is that the escaping stomach acid will damage your throat lining and lung airways. In a worst-case scenario, GERD sufferers may end up with airways narrower than the average person, resulting in asthma.

Asthma refers to a difficulty breathing which can cause coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath.

How To Treat Acid Reflux

It's all well and good knowing what to expect if you were to experience acid reflux, but how do you treat it? Acid reflux treatment can vary from home remedies to specialised medication.

Home Remedies

If you aren't a frequent sufferer of acid reflux, home remedies may be effective.

Ginger

Ginger is a natural anti-inflammatory and can be added to tea or recipes to help ease pain caused by heartburn.

Fibre

Having oatmeal for breakfast, or adding a good source of fibre to your diet, can reduce your exposure to suffering from acid reflux. Other strong fibre sources include whole-grain products, such as rice or bread.

Medical Treatments

Those that regularly suffer from acid reflux symptoms may require a more concrete solution. There are different acid reflux medications available to those who need more serious help.

Omeprazole

Omeprazole is a reliable medication which treats more serious symptoms associated with GERD by decreasing the amount of acid your stomach produces. Express Pharmacy offers Omeprazole 20mg to help you manage your suffering; the medication is simply administered by swallowing the tablet before eating.

Lansoprazole

Lansoprazole is another effective medical treatment to treat GERD and other stomach acid-related conditions. Our Lansoprazole 15mg tablets are to be swallowed with a glass of water at the same time each day. For best results, it is recommended to take Lansoprazole first thing in the morning.

For more information regarding the symptoms of acid reflux, get in touch with our pharmaceutical experts on 0208 123 0703. We will be able to help you make an informed decision on what treatment is most suitable.

Women around the world have used contraceptive pills for decades to lead fulfilling sexual lives without the risk of an unwanted pregnancy. Contraceptive pills are also used to control menstruation, particularly when the natural flow is too heavy or painful.

Within this guide, we aim to help you choose the right contraceptive pill out of two of the most popular; Yasmin and Microgynon.

What is the Contraceptive Pill?

Also known as the ‘birth control pill’, the contraceptive pill is a type of medication developed to change the way your body works in order to prevent pregnancy. To do this, contraceptive pills contain either one or two hormones that can control and alter the function of your uterus and ovaries.

One-Hormone Pills

One-hormone pills, also known as mini-pills, are low-dose progesterone pills that work by changing the uterus lining and cervical mucus, transforming them in a hostile environment for an impregnated egg.

Due to the fact that they don’t stop ovulation, these pills are less effective in preventing pregnancy than the two-hormone pills. They must be taken at the same hour every day, without interruptions, or they might not work.

Combined Pills

Two-hormone or combined contraceptive pills contain a mix of oestrogen and progesterone developed to prevent ovulation altogether. The pill also thickens the mucus around the cervix and affects the lining of the uterus.

Thus, getting pregnant while on combination pill is near impossible, as long as you take it as indicated on the package.

The Advantages of Taking a Contraceptive Pill

The advantages of taking a contraceptive pill go way beyond pregnancy control. Combination pills can also:

• Regularise your periods, making them lighter and less painful
• Reduce the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
• Reduce acne and protect against inflammatory pelvic disease
• Reduce the risk of fibrosis, benign breast disease, and ovarian cysts
• Reduce the risk of ovaries, womb, and colon cancer

Yasmin vs. Microgynon: What Contraceptive Pill is Right for Me?

While there are many pharmaceutical industries that manufacture contraceptive pills, the primate on the market is held by German company Bayer AG with its two flagship products Yasmin and Microgynon.

Both are combination pills, but slight differences in their composition can make one more suitable for you than another. Let’s have a deeper look at each so that you can decide which is the best contraceptive pill for you.

Yasmin Contraceptive Pill

The Yasmin Pill is a combination of ethinylestradiol (oestrogen) and drospirenone (progesterone) developed to prevent ovulation during your menstrual cycle. At the same time, the pill also thickens your cervical mucus to prevent sperm from reaching the egg and changes the lining of the uterus to prevent attachment of a fertilised egg.

Besides preventing pregnancy, the Yasmin Pill can also regularise your periods, decrease blood flow, reduce abdominal cramps associated with menstruation, and decrease the risk of ovarian cysts. Furthermore, due to the use of drospirenone, which is considered to be closer to the natural hormone progesterone, it is also a skin-friendly pill that can help treat hormonal acne.

However, Yasmin is not suitable for women with a medical history of high blood pressure or other cardiovascular diseases, as it carries a slightly higher risk of developing blood clots.

The medication comes in strips with 21 active pills. Take one pill a day, preferably around the same hour. Have a 7-day break once you finish a strip to allow time for a period, then start again with a new strip.

On occasions, you can use this pill to postpone your period by taking one pill a day for 9 weeks, then no pills for 7 days.

Yasmin is one of the most popular combination pills - it’s up to 99% effective in preventing pregnancy, and many women experience no side effects while taking it.

Microgynon Contraceptive Pill

Like Yasmin, the Microgynon 30 pill is an effective and reliable combination pill if taken correctly. The main difference between the two is the type of synthetic progesterone in their composition, with Micorgynon containing levonorgestrel rather than drospirenone.

Levonorgestrel might not help you fight hormonal acne but it does make the pill more suitable for women with high blood pressure or a history of cardiovascular diseases.

Apart from this difference, Microgynon is as effective as Yasmin in preventing pregnancy; it can reduce blood flow and abdominal pain during your periods, and decrease the risk of ovarian cysts.

Microgynon comes in blisters with 21 pills that must be taken just like Yasmin, followed by a 7-day break period. Alternatively, you can alter your period by taking one pill for 9 weeks, then no pills for 7 days before starting a new strip.

Due to its lower risk of blood clots compared to Yasmin, Microgynon is a more suitable option for women with a family or personal medical history of high blood pressure, heart disease, or stroke.

Where to Get the Contraceptive Pill

Once you have confirmed which contraceptive pill is best for you, the easiest way to get it is online.

At Express Pharmacy, the process of buying contraceptive pills online is quick and fuss-free. Once you decided which pill to get, choose from a 3-month or 6-month supply, fill in our medical questionnaire to get a private prescription, and then place an order.

After the first order, you can re-order it as needed without having to fill in the questionnaire again, and you can rest assured that all orders from us will be delivered in plain, non-branded packaging.

You can even decide whether you want to collect the pills yourself or have them delivered at your home. Options include same-day collection, next-day delivery, or standard delivery via UPS or Royal Mail.

Express Pharmacy is a fully regulated UK pharmacy licensed by MHRA to provide medication. Get in touch with us on 0208 123 0703 if you require more information regarding female contraception.

Fungal infections are incredibly common; it is estimated that around a billion people will suffer from some form of nail, hair, or skin fungal infection in their lives. That equates to around one in every six people!

Fungi usually seek to attack moist areas of the body, or areas that do not get enough air, meaning it’s no surprise to see just how common fungal infections are. If you suspect that you are suffering from a fungal infection, or you are curious to find out more, this article dives deeper to further help with understanding what exactly a fungal infection is; including the causes, symptoms, types of fungal infections, and treatment.

What Is a Fungal Infection?

When fungi invade the human body, the immune system is on hand to battle it, and when this is the case, there’s nothing to worry about. But a fungal infection comes about when fungi ‘burrow’ their way into a human and overwhelm the immune system.

What Causes a Fungal Infection?

There are many causes of a fungal infection, and these will differ depending on the individual. Most commonly, fungal infections start through inhaling the fungal spores in the air or having them land on an area of your body.

In terms of nail fungal infections, these are commonly caused by a fungus called dermatophyte, but can also be caused by moulds and yeast.

Symptoms Of a Fungal Infection

There are many different types of fungal infections, all with varying symptoms. There are some common symptoms, though, and below we’ll look at a couple of the trademark fungal infection symptoms that you may be dealing with:

• Unreasonable itching
• Red spots on the skin which may begin to crack or peel

If you have one of the above symptoms, you might be dealing with a fungal infection.

Types Of Fungal Infections

Let’s get into the specifics of fungal infections and the ones that most people deal with.

Athlete’s Foot

Athlete’s foot is sometimes called Tinea Pedis, and it generally occurs when people confine themselves to sweaty shoes with little to no ventilation. No one is immune from athlete’s foot, and it can get awful when the summer months roll around, and the air is humid. Some of the symptoms include:

• Irritation of the affected area
• Peeling skin around the affected area
• Itching
• Blisters

So, what do you do when you have athlete’s foot or better still, how do you prevent yourself from it? If you already have it or are worried that you are infected, you can see a doctor who will scrape off the infected area and observe it under a microscope. Sometimes, it might not even be a fungal infection at all.

If it is confirmed that you have athlete’s foot, there are various ointments, sprays, and powders that you can use. You might also require some drugs, and apart from that, it is advised that you should take care of your foot and keep it dry at all times.

Ringworm

Ringworm is an infection that can affect human skin. It should be noted that it is not caused by a worm, but rather a fungus. It creates a lesion that, when seen on the skin, looks like a ring; this is the inspiration for the name. It’s not a surprise that of all fungal infections, Ringworm is the easiest to identify due to its signature appearance on the skin.

Other symptoms to look out for when dealing with Ringworm include patchy and scaly skin. The condition is contagious, and those who have it need to be very careful around other people until treated.

So, how do you battle Ringworm? Again, a trip to the doctor is necessary, and they will inspect a skin sample to determine the severity of the situation. You can treat Ringworm with ointments and creams, but if you are dealing with a severe case or you’re dealing with Ringworm on the scalp, prescription medication might be necessary. As for prevention, general hygiene is usually sufficient to treat it.

Yeast Infection

Yeast infections are more common amongst women and usually occur in and around the vagina.

A vaginal yeast infection is caused by Candida fungi, which sets off on a mission to disturb the delicate yeast/bacteria balance in the vagina. It can be caused by stress, unhealthy eating habits, antibiotics, and much more. Symptoms include:

• Painful intercourse
• Swelling around the area of the vagina
• Watery or uncommon discharge

Yeast infections are easy to diagnose, and in mild cases, easy to treat. Over the counter prescription drugs are usually good enough and in more severe cases, your doctor might need to opt for more complex measures. However, prevention is better than cure and preventing this type of yeast infection starts with a balanced and healthy diet. Personal hygiene also doesn’t hurt, and even wearing more loose-fitting clothes helps tremendously.

Fungal Nail Infection

As the name implies, fungal nail infections generally occur in, or under, the nails. They are often caused by an overgrowth of fungi already present on the skin. They can be passed from person to person and can even be contracted from something as simple as having a manicure or pedicure.

People with diabetes, nail injuries, or weakened immune systems are more prone to fungal nail infections than others. Treatment usually constitutes oral medication prescribed by pharmacies. You can also employ the use of antifungal nail cream to battle the infection.

How Can I Treat a Fungal Infection?

Fast and effective antifungal treatment is available to purchase online at Express Pharmacy. One of such means is Curanail; our best-seller for battling nail infections. Curanail is a nail lacquer that contains amorolfine, which is an active agent necessary to cure infections. Additionally, the easy application makes it appealing to many people as it can be used like a simple nail varnish.

Conclusion

Fungal infections are a pain to deal with, however, are incredibly easy to treat. With numerous antifungal treatments and remedies available, you can easily deal with an infection if contracted.

For more information regarding effective fungal infection treatment, get in touch with us today on 0208 123 0703 or browse or our antifungal treatments.