Treating common conditions and minor ailments yourself
How to stay healthy and well this winter
With colder temperatures and shorter days, plus all the coughs, colds and bugs doing the rounds, winter can be tough for us all. Our NHS also comes extra under pressure too so it’s more important than ever to know what to do and where to go if you’re feeling under the weather. To find the right service for your needs, visit the get to know where to go page on the NHS Greater Manchester website.
Your local pharmacy can give expert advice on minor illnesses, including over the counter medicines and prescription medicine for some conditions (age restrictions apply) without a GP appointment. For more information, visit the Pharmacy First page on the NHS Greater Manchester website.
If you take regular medicines on repeat prescription, remember to order in good time before the Christmas and New Year bank holidays.
Your ‘just in case’ winter contact list:
- teeth: Greater Manchester Urgent Dental Service: call 0333 332 3800, 8am to 10pm every day, including weekends and bank holidays
- eyes: Greater Manchester Urgent Eye Care Service: find a practice; available all week, including weekends and bank holidays
- mental health: visit NHS 111 online (over 5 years of age only), or call 111 and select the mental health option 2
Get to know where to go
When you use the right NHS service, you get the right treatment sooner.
The first thing you should know is which service you should use for your symptoms.
Visit the NHS GM website for further information and to download a handy booklet. It shows the range of NHS services available to you and your family.
If you’re not sure what to do or where to go, NHS 111 can direct you to the best place to get help for your symptoms and it’s available 24/7, 365 days a year.
- visit NHS 111 online (over 5 years of age only)
- call 111
General information about common conditions and minor ailments
Common conditions and minor ailments are generally not a serious health problem for most people. These include:
- coughs and colds
- upset stomachs
- indigestion
- aches and pains
You can usually treat the symptoms of these yourself at home or with advice from a local pharmacist. Antibiotics will not generally be prescribed for these types of conditions. You can save yourself a trip to your GP by speaking to your pharmacist first.
You can find a guide to conditions, symptoms, and treatments, what you can do yourself and when to get help on the NHS website.
The Self Care Forum has produced factsheets on a range of common conditions. These provide facts about your condition and what you can expect to happen, how you can help yourself and when you should see your GP. They have also produced 10 Urdu factsheets covering a range of their most popular self-care topics.
Treat yourself better is a day-to-day guide to cold and flu symptoms and shows you how to treat yourself with the help of your pharmacist.
NHS Greater Manchester has produced a new leaflet that aims to help parents/carers of children under 5 manage common illnesses at home. It has information on common illnesses, including earache, measles, croup, fever and more – plus a summary of the different health services available. It includes symptom checklists, tips for care at home, guidance on when to seek help from a pharmacist or GP, and red flag symptoms that require urgent medical attention. You can view and download a copy on the NHS GM website.
Medicine cabinet essentials
Having a well-stocked medicine cabinet will make it easier for you to treat most common conditions and minor ailments. You’ll be able to treat the symptoms as soon as they appear which can help you to get better sooner.
Your medicine cabinet should include:
- painkillers such as paracetamol, ibuprofen or aspirin and equivalent syrups for children
- antihistamines for allergies and insect bites
- antiseptic cream for bites and stings
- indigestion remedies
- oral rehydration salts for diarrhoea or vomiting
- mild laxatives to help constipation
- plasters and bandages to manage cuts and sprains
- a thermometer to check for fever
- tweezers and scissors
You can buy these products from local pharmacies and many supermarkets.
You should always follow the product instructions and check that all medicines are still in date. Store medicines appropriately, keep them out of the reach of children and dispose of any that are out of date.
Keep antibiotics working
Antibiotics are used to treat or prevent some types of bacterial infection. They work by killing bacteria or preventing them from spreading.
They do not work on viral infections such as colds and flu and most coughs.
Antibiotics are no longer routinely used to treat:
- chest infections
- ear infections in children
- sore throats
Taking antibiotics when you don’t need them can mean they will not work for you in the future. You should take your doctor’s advice on whether you need them or not.
Find out more about how to keep antibiotics working.