Skincare Awareness Week 2016 Hammers Home the Importance of Looking after Skin

Let’s be honest, there isn’t a man or woman alive who, given the chance to have healthy-looking skin and free of wrinkles, would turn that chance down.

People enter the world with healthy, radiant, skin, but environmental and lifestyle factors through the course of day-to-day lives, means some people’s skin can age at a much quicker speed than others.

Everybody is susceptible to harmful ultraviolet (UV) damage, which isn’t always visible to the naked eye. There are those that may have already caused some degree of damage or premature ageing to skin and be totally unaware. The most serious and potentially deadly type of such damage is skin cancer. This is the most common form of cancer in the UK, with rates continuing to rise. There are around 100,000 new cases diagnosed each year, and the disease kills more than 2,500 people in the UK every year – equivalent to seven people each day.

Therefore, with Skincare Awareness Week about to start on the 16th May, perhaps it is time the nation began to think about how well they look after their own skin, particularly with summer beginning in June. This is the ideal time for everyone to consider skin health, and in particularly, protecting the skin from damage – mainly emanating from the UV rays emitted by sun and tanning beds, prematurely ageing or increasing the risk of skin cancer from excessive exposure.

With all this in mind, DestinationSkin launched the first ever #skincareaware Skincare Awareness Week on 11 May last year, which aimed to boost awareness of how important it is – for both sexes – to properly take care of the skin.

According to DestinationSkin, their new study of the UK public found that 74% of people claimed to be #Skincareaware, however only 39% claim they wear a sun protection factor (SPF) product and less than 20% wear an SPF daily. Those worried about potential damage already caused can choose to have free skin scanning throughout the campaign from DestinationSkin. A skin scan is a quick and easy way to take a deeper look at the health of your skin under a UV lamp to identify areas of sun damage (pigmentation), dehydration and oiliness.

As a fully-registered online pharmacy with a massive range of skincare products such as acne treatments, anti-ageing treatments, and T/Gel shampoo for scalp psoriasis, Medical Specialists® Pharmacy fully support Skincare Awareness Week. The pharmacy have thousands of patients and this includes many women seeking the contraceptive pill Dianette for acne and other androgen related skin disorders.

Psoriasis doesn’t always make the headlines compared to other health problems, but around 3% of the population suffer with it (up to 1.8 million people). The condition occurs when the immune system generates skin cells too rapidly, causing ‘plaques’ on the skin – a build-up of scaly pink-coloured patches that can appear anywhere on the body, but are more frequently seen on the elbows, knees and hands.

Eczema is another chronic skin disease that is often confused for psoriasis and their lesions may be similar if they are chronic, but these can also seem to be moist and oozing liquid – if the affected skin is infected.

Psoriasis treatment is one of many areas which Medical Specialists® are exploring, with a view to expanding the product base to cover this. This comes after huge demand in requests for medication to ease the symptoms associated with the condition.

Psoriasis and eczema are often thought to run in families, though the causes of them have not been completely determined. Though with the awareness campaign starting in just days, it will help increase awareness of possible ways to avoid the non-familial skin problems.

Worryingly, many people are still under the impression that skin is only afflicted with damage on sunny days. In reality however, although ultraviolet B (UVB) rays – most intense during the summer months particularly – are the primary cause of sunburn, ultraviolet A (UVA) rays are present all year long.

UVA rays make up around 95% of the UV radiation that connects with the Earth’s surface. Moreover, UVA rays can travel through glass, so both it is important to protect the skin whilst indoors and outside.

A broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 should be used in conjunction with one or more of the following UVA-protective ingredients: avobenzone, ecamsule, oxybenzone, titanium dioxide, and zinc oxide. Moreover, people can reduce the chance of getting skin damage by applying window film to the windows at home, work and even in the car, blocking nearly 100% of UVA and UVB radiation.

Medical Specialists® realise not everybody will actually use sun cream and putting window film on every surrounding window during the day is not always feasible. Thus, a fair number of the population will get sunburnt in the next few months, especially if the temperatures are going past 20°C. Many that do get sunburnt could benefit from the over-the-counter product Oilatum Gel, which will help to soothe the painful symptoms.

Oilatum Gel is used to treat Eczema in addition to other dry skin conditions. The gel stops excessive loss of moisture and boosts skin hydration, reducing roughness, scaling and relieves itching and discomfort. In addition, it is also claimed that inexpensive over-the-counter antihistamine tablets can be taken to help alleviate itching associated with sunburn.

Being in the sun for too long and abusing sunbeds will inevitably badly damage the skin and cause premature aging, skin wrinkles and increased pigmentation – although other factors can be linked to wrinkles such as genetics, facial muscle contractions, environmental exposure to heat, wind and dust, and smoking.

Medical Specialists® are fully committed to providing the most effective and clinically proven treatments for skincare, such as acne, anti-ageing and wrinkles. Patients can obtain prescription-only medication to treat these conditions after completing an online consultation, reviewed by one of Medical Specialists®’ GMC registered doctors, or by posting a private prescription to Medical Specialists®, written by the patient’s own GP.

Potentially deadly haul of fake impotence drugs seized in Scunthorpe

Yesterday the The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) confirmed that over 320,000 doses of unlicensed erectile dysfunction medicines have been seized by their enforcement officers.

The huge quantity of potentially fatal unlicensed impotence drugs came about following raids at addresses across Scunthorpe yesterday, carried out by MHRA officers.

The illegal and possibly highly dangerous haul of unlicensed drugs have a reported estimated street value of over £990,000.

Alastair Jeffrey, MHRA Head of Enforcement, commented: “Selling unlicensed medicines is illegal and poses a serious health hazard.

“Unlicensed medicines can be dangerous as they may contain impurities, incorrect ingredients, and there is no way of knowing if they are manufactured to acceptable standards of quality and safety.
“Criminals involved in the illegal supply of medical products aren’t interested in your health – they are only interested in your money.

“Be careful buying medicines online – only buy from a site that is registered with MHRA and displays the new EU common logo.

“MHRA will continue to track down and prosecute those who put the public’s health at risk.”
Here at Medical Specialists® Pharmacy, we only supply genuine branded medication such as Pfizer Viagra. Moreover, our pharmacy will only dispense medication after a patient has undergone a consultation with one of our fully registered doctors, who will make sure the medication is both right and safe for the patient – or if a private prescription is posted in, issued by another GP. In addition to that, we are fully registered with the National Pharmacy Association and the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).

With thousands of illegal fake online pharmacy websites still plaguing the internet, offering ‘discounted’ medicines with ridiculous (and illegal) deals on prescription drugs – i.e. ‘buy one get one free’ – it can be difficult to know who to trust or where to buy from.

On a daily basis Medical Specialists® speak to concerned patients. With this in mind, here are some warnings signs and red flags when trying to determine if an online pharmacy is legitimate and who they say they are:

. No requirement of a doctors’ consultation for prescription medication.

. Long delivery times, sometimes up to several weeks. This is due to the drug being imported from a foreign country before it gets to you.

. The price of the medication is a lot cheaper than what would be expected, sometimes by as much as 70%.

. The website does not list any contact details, e.g. a telephone and fax number, email address, company address or details of its pharmacists, doctors, etc.

. The company registration and VAT number should both be clearly stated on the website. Both of these are a legal requirement.

. A registered Pharmacy such as Medical Specialists® Pharmacy will display a clearly visible and clickable GPhC green cross logo on their website, together with its pharmacy number. This number can be checked on the GPhC pharmacy register to see if the pharmacy exists, as follows:

. As an extra level of security, reassurance and peace of mind for the consumer, from 2015, legimate pharmacies had to display the EU common logo on every page of the website where selling to a patient occurs. This helps members of the public to identify websites that can legally sell medicines. Like the GPhC logo, the EU common logo is clickable, but the hyperlink will direct people to the that pharmacy’s listing on the MHRA’s list of registered online pharmacies and should state that the pharmacy has been approved by the MHRA, as follows:

Beware! The Hidden Dangers of Euro 2016 you are Oblivious to…

The European Championship in France is now less than three months away and there has been widespread concern regarding security risks, following recent terror attacks in the capital. With this in mind, UEFA commented last month ensuring appropriate mechanisms would be in place to ensure a “safe and secure” tournament for all those involved.

However, could there other risks for fans travelling to France for Euro 2016? Perhaps looking after one’s own health will not be the number one priority for most supporters whilst in another country and cheering on their national team, but Medical Specialists® Pharmacy would like to stress the importance of looking after your health during this time – and indeed any other time – as well as managing any health condition you may have.

One major health issue facing France is the problem of air pollution – a problem which last year the French Senate committee estimated the annual cost to be at €101.3 billion within a report they published.

The two key air pollutants that can affect asthmatics are ozone (found in smog) and particle pollution (found in haze, smoke, and dust). When ozone and particle pollution are present in the air, children or adults with asthma are at a higher risk of symptoms. The World Health Organisation (WHO) state that particle pollution is responsible for 42,000 premature deaths each year in France alone.

It is often acknowledged by health experts that air pollutants often act as a trigger to make people’s asthma symptoms worse. Asthma UK have previously said: “Two-thirds of people with asthma tell us that traffic fumes make their asthma worse and 42% find that traffic fumes discourage them from walking or shopping in congested areas. And 85% of people with asthma tell us they are concerned about the effect that increasing vehicle fumes will have on their and their family’s health in the future.”

Therefore, anyone wanting to get in a lung-busting jog to burn off those match day drinks and pies would be advised to do so in the morning, a time when both ozone levels and pollen counts tend to be lower. In addition, if possible, try to keep at least 50 feet from auto exhaust and heavily trafficked roads during either walking or jogging; walking paths or forest trails would be ideal for asthma sufferers. Perhaps most importantly, Medical Specialists® cannot stress enough how critical it is that anyone with asthma travelling to France in June must remember to take their blue reliever and brown preventer inhalers!

Inhalers should be accompanied by antihistamines if you also suffer with hayfever. Not everybody with asthma has hayfever, but many do, and your asthma symptoms may worsen if you also have hayfever. March to September is typically the peak time for pollen counts and when people need to be taking their antihistamines daily, such as Loratadine, Cetirizine, etc.

The west coast of France is usually the best place to be during hayfever season as pollen counts are generally low. Unfortunately, the only games being held there will be in Bordeaux. More inland, France has lush vegetation, where pollen counts can be very high. The south of France and the French Riviera are particularly known for their high pollen counts, meaning supporters with hayfever that are travelling to games held in Marseille, Nice and Toulouse, should prepare accordingly. Also, grass pollen poses the greatest risk within areas around Paris – another city playing host to fixtures – and tree pollen counts can also be high.

Back in late June 2013, hayfever sufferers across France were put on a ‘red alert’, warned of a massive peak in the levels of grass and cereal pollen in the air for the first two weeks of July at least, which is when Euro 2016 will be taking place this year. Therefore, don’t ruin your experience of Euro 2016 by forgetting your hayfever treatment…the only tears we expect to see will be from an England inevitable early exit from the tournament, although hopefully that won’t be the case!

Of course we don’t want to stereotype the average football fan, but with thousands of passionate football fans flocking overseas to see their team in action, this can lead to some ‘boisterous’ behaviour. With England and Wales both having two group B games kicking off at 8pm, this leaves plenty of spare time in the day, which can mean fans spilling into cafes, pubs, and bars hours before the game has even kicked off.

During a single drinking session try to limit how much you drink, drink more slowly, drink with food and alternate with water or non-alcoholic drinks. In another city, country, or in a risky or unfamiliar situations in general, it is imperative to keep a close track of alcohol consumption. Being too drunk could leave you vulnerable and at risk from others, or unable to look after your friends and loved ones.
Alcohol affects the ability to make sensible, rational decisions, resulting in more careless and risky behaviours. One such behaviour – linked intrinsically to excessive alcohol consumption – is having unprotected sex. Maybe England and/or Wales will advance far beyond the group stages of Euro 2016, but this is no excuse to throw caution to the wind and forget usual safe sex practices in the process.

Any sexually active adult should always carry and use condoms when required, so don’t forget to pack them before making the journey to France. The last thing you would want to bring home besides a depleted bank account and hangover will be a sexually transmitted infection or unwanted pregnancy.
Medical Specialists® Pharmacy don’t wish to be total party poopers though! As the 2016 European Championship in France is nearing, the excitement is building as the nation’s hopes of a first tournament success in 60 years (the 1966 World Cup remains the last taste of glory for England) will rest on the young shoulders of the England football team.

Optimism has reached fever pitch following March’s incredibly impressive 3-2 win over reigning World champions, Germany, with a particularly standout performance from 19-year-old Dele Alli, a player many are tipping to be a star of Euro 2016.

There will be thousands of Brits flocking over the English Channel in June, in time for both England’s opening game against Russia on Saturday 11 June and Wales v Slovakia on the same day. We hope that everyone making the trip to France enjoys the tournament and fantastic atmosphere that accompanies such events, just remember to look after your health and wellbeing too!

Is weightlifting making you bald?

A warning to all the buff gym-goers out there: Could the gym be making you bald? According to a London based hair transplant surgeon, this indeed could be the case.

Dr Thomy Kouremada-Zioga, a Hair Transplant Surgeon at The Private Clinic of Harley Street, claims she has experienced a soaring number of enquiries coming from men suffering with accelerated hair loss, men that have been consuming powdered protein and regularly going to the gym.

Dr Kouremada-Zioga says that around 70% of the male patients coming into her clinic are avid users of protein shakes.

She says that it is specifically weightlifting in the gym that could play a part in the men’s hair loss – particularly done in conjunction with consuming protein powders.

This theory is based on the belief that, joined together, the two factors can raise levels of testosterone and Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the body. These are often thought of as two primary components that cause hair loss.

DHT is naturally created and a converted version of testosterone. It rapidly joins to a man’s hair strand’s receptor cells, stopping the absorption of essential nutrients. Then over the course of time, this results in follicles starting to shrink, with hair withering and eventually dying.

Therefore, gym-goers are having more exposure to DHT, thus risking an earlier start of them losing their hair. “Interestingly, the activity that men do in the gym can also potentially impact hair loss. While cardio will reduce the levels of DHT in the blood stream, excess weight lifting can increase testosterone levels and therefore accelerate hair loss”, Dr Kouremada-Zioga told the Daily Express.

“Protein shakes will very often contain growth hormones such as Creatine and DHEA, which not only increase muscle mass, but also increase testosterone levels in the bloodstream.

“Testosterone produces a chemical known as DHT, which actually contributes to baldness when the hair follicles become exposed to too much. Sadly, this is something that most men are unaware of, until they notice that their hair loss has already become more apparent.”

However, this could be avoided if people substitute the weights for cardio-based exercises – and banish the protein shakes.

She added: “I would therefore also advise those men who focus on lifting weights in the gym, to be mindful of just how much lifting they do and, where possible, to do more aerobic exercises.”

Dr Kouremada-Zioga also advises men who are pre-disposed to balding to stop using protein shakes that contain growth factors and hormones, instead trying to gain natural sources of protein into their diet from sources such as chicken, fish and eggs.

“Men should also ensure they are eating a healthy and balanced diet, which contains essential vitamins and minerals.”

Before all male fitness-fanatics around the country begin to cancel their gym membership though, and pour their expensive protein powders down the toilet, the issue will apparently only present itself if the person is already predisposed to male pattern baldness.

She said: “It is important to distinguish between cause and effect here. Protein shakes do not cause hair loss.

“They do, however, accelerate hair loss for those men who suffer with androgenetic hair loss or alternatively, those who are predisposed to balding, as many men are.”

There is no reason to suffer alone though, millions of people in Britain alone are battling hair loss and Medical Specialists® Pharmacy are here to help. With our extensive range of hair loss treatments for men and women, you can act now to halt the progression of hair loss, and even possibly see regrowth of hair.

Medical Specialists® can provide the prescription-only medication Propecia (finasteride), which is used to treat male pattern baldness and works by blocking the conversion of testosterone to DHT, which thought to cause hair loss.  It is obtainable following a quick and easy 4-step process, which includes an online consultation with one of the Medical Specialists’® in-house doctors.

Other options that can be used in conjunction to Propecia include Regaine Foam or Regaine Lotion, as featured in numerous television adverts. Obtainable from Medical Specialists Pharmacy, Regaine products contain the active ingredient Minoxidil; clinically proven to help prevent further hereditary hair loss. Minoxidil works by increasing the blood supply to the hair follicles, helping to strengthen existing hair and stimulate secondary hair growth.

Women can also take minoxidil, contained within Regaine for Women, and have the option of the over-the-counter treatment Florisene® – strongly recommended as an addition to any female hair loss treatment. Florisene® is especially recommended for women who have reduced hair volume (compared with several years ago) or who have recently noticed hair shedding as seen by more hairs in the brush, comb or when shampooing.

Older generations are ‘pre-drinking’ at home to dangerous levels, study finds

The terms ‘pre-loading’ or ‘pre-drinking’ might conjure up images of a group of students cramped into  a tiny flat and hitting the booze before a night out on the town to try and save money, but a new study into the nation’s drinking habits has revealed that in fact, their parents could also be excessively drinking before even heading out the door.

Researchers involved the study, published yesterday in the journal Addiction, warned that middle-aged Britons are putting their health at risk by ‘pre-loading’ with alcohol at home before a night out, with some also finishing off the night with a few drinks when they get back home.

The researchers, based at Sheffield University, analysed the weekly diaries of drinking habits completed by 60,200 over-18s between 2009 and 2011. It was discovered that 1 in 5 had drinks at home before or after going out in the previous week.

Worryingly, it seems that adults are routinely consuming 14 units of alcohol – equivalent to a bottle and a half of wine – in an evening by drinking in several locations. According to NHS guidelines, this means they have reached their maximum limit for the entire week.

The study will shatter the long-term myth that pre-drinking is merely something done by hard-up students looking to save a few quid on their night out, and will add to increasing concerns that older generations are actually drinking harmful levels of alcohol. This will therefore increase their risk of developing serious health problems such as cancer and heart disease.

Dr John Holmes, who led the study, said: “When we looked at this in more detail, it seemed that people were pre-loading and post-loading – drinking when they got back home.

“It might be that you’re going out to dinner with friends and you open a bottle of wine before you go, or you go to Sunday lunch and then have a beer in the garden afterwards.

“For those in middle-age, it’s probably not drinking before going out and tearing up the town, but it leads to them consuming the same amount as younger age groups, which obviously affects their health long-term if they’re doing it regularly.”

The drinking sessions that comprised of several drinking locations made up of 11% of all occasions on which the people in the study had drank alcohol, with 14% where the participants had only been drinking at home – where they would normally drink around 11.6 units through the course of an evening. This is equivalent to 4 large glasses of wine.

The study showed that another 11% of drinking occasions occurred whilst being out with friends and 9% were going out for a meal as a couple or with family. The authors of the study highlighted dinner parties as occasions when adults drink ‘very heavily’.

Dr James Nicholls, director of research and policy development at charity Alcohol Research UK, which funded the study, commented: “I was surprised it wasn’t just young people doing the pre-loading.

“If you start before you go out you are more likely to be drunk by the end of the night. The amount we drink at home is usually considerably higher than we remember it being. You’re pouring your own drinks and glasses are large.”

Jackie Ballard, of charity Alcohol Concern, said: “Harmful drinking is a real issue for middle-aged and older people. Many of this group are regularly drinking above recommended limits, often in their own homes where it can be harder to keep track of how much you’re consuming.”

Katherine Brown, of the Institute of Alcohol Studies, argued that it is the easy availability to get cheap booze which is why drinking at home is becoming more common, where it is ‘very easy’ to drink unhealthy levels.

For those concerned that they are drinking too much and want to reduce their alcohol intake, Medical Specialists® Pharmacy can provide alcohol dependency treatment Selincro (nalmefene) to suitable patients.

Selincro’s active ingredient, nalmefene, works by latching onto certain opioid receptors in the brain that are responsible for addictive behaviour, altering their activity, thereby decreasing the urge to continue drinking.

This medication is available for people who do not have physical withdrawal symptoms and who do not require immediate detoxification.

You must record at least 2 weeks of your alcohol consumption before taking your online consultation with Medical Specialists®.

Obesity linked to soaring cases of potentially fatal womb cancer

Rising levels of obesity are being linked to a soaring number of women being diagnosed with womb (uterine) cancer.

Alarmingly, past studies have led researchers to previously predict that if trends continues, up to 48% of men and 43% of women in the UK could be obese by 2030.

In statistics published on Wednesday, Cancer Research have now warned that ever-increasing levels of obesity amongst UK women are helping to fuel the 54% rise in womb cancer rates within the last 20 years.


In the early 1990s, it was calculated that an estimated 19 women in every 100,000 developed the potentially deadly disease, but by 2011-13 the figure had jumped to around 29 women in every 100,000 – and obesity has been the probable primary factor.

About 20 years ago, there were approximately 4,800 new cases of womb cancer diagnosed each year in the UK, resulting in 1,500 deaths. However, this has now shot up to 9,000 women being diagnosed with the disease, and around 2,000 deaths.

Professor Jonathan Ledermann, director of the Cancer Research UK and UCL Cancer Trials Centre, said: ‘It’s worrying that womb cancer cases are going up so sharply.

“We don’t know all the reasons why. But we do know that about a third of cases are linked to being overweight so it’s no surprise to see the increases in womb cancer cases echo rising obesity levels.
“The good news is that thanks to research and improved treatments, survival has improved.

“In the 1970s, almost 6 in 10 women diagnosed with the disease survived for at least 10 years. Now almost 8 in 10 women survive.

“But we need more research to understand the biology of the disease better and to know more about how it is caused so that we can improve the treatment of these women as well as preventing more cases.”

It was only back in January that Cancer Research UK warned that being overweight or obese could be responsible for nearly 700,000 extra people developing cancer in the next 20 years.

Obesity is consistently linked to a whole range of serious health problems, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and many more. Moreover, at least 10 types of cancer can be caused by extra weight.

The 10 cancers caused by obesity are cancers of the bowel, breast, gallbladder, kidney, liver, oesophagus, ovarian, pancreas and prostate.

Cancer Research UK state that it is now fully clear exactly how being overweight or obese causes cancer to develop, but it is believed to be related to the excess fat resulting in the hormones and growth factor molecules encouraging cells to divide. This then causes tumours to form.

Less major factors linked to the risk of developing cancer of the womb include age, genetics, lack of exercise and if the person is on hormone replacement therarpy (HRT).

If womb cancer is spotted at an early stage it can be treated with a hysterectomy. Symptoms of the disease can include abnormal vaginal bleeding (particularly in post-menopausal women), blood in the urine and abdominal pain.

IBS Awareness Month is here: Do You Have the Stomach for the Fight?

IBS Awareness Month occurs each April and this provides an ideal opportunity for attention to be focused on important health messages about irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) diagnosis, treatment options, and quality of life issues when managing the condition.

For those suffering with IBS, rest assure that there are millions of others in the same boat. IBS is a very common disorder, with worldwide a prevalence estimated at around 9% to 23%. Despite this, there are undoubtedly millions of people around the world who are suffering in silence, without a proper diagnosis, and maybe even unaware that their symptoms indicate a medically recognised disorder.

IBS is a long-term gut disorder in which abdominal pain or discomfort is experienced, usually sporadically, together with erratic bowel habits. This comes in the form of diarrhoea, constipation, or alternating bouts of both. The condition may also be referred to by one of many more outdated terms, such as irritable colon, mucous colitis, nervous stomach, spastic colitis or spastic colon.

Other symptoms may also be present, including: backache, belching, bladder problems, headache, heartburn, loss of appetite, nausea, tiredness, and quickly feeling full after eating.

Over 10% of the population suffer with IBS and this percentage could increase in the future if the nation’s stress levels rise – stress is a primary cause of IBS.

Other factors that can lead to IBS can include a combination of a number of issues such as: inflammation of your bowel (i.e. after an infection like gastroenteritis), dietary factors (foods high in carbohydrates, foods high in fat, spicy foods, alcohol, fizzy drinks and caffeinated drinks are culprits), genetics (family members may have also had IBS), or mental issues such as depression.

Unfortunately, there is no definitive treatment or cure for IBS and no ‘one size fits all’ remedy to rectify the problem, but there are certain IBS treatments that can ease symptoms for some sufferers, hopefully helping them to lead a more normal day-to-day life. These include prescription medications such as Constella, Mebeverine, Xifaxanta, and over-the-counter products such as Buscopan IBS Relief and Colpermin. The prescription medications may only be obtained by completing an online consultation with one of the Medical Specialists® Pharmacy GMC-registered doctors, or by sending a private prescription to Medical Specialists®.

There are also numerous other dietary and lifestyle choices that those with IBS may find beneficial in helping symptoms subside. These include:

. Drink around eight cups of fluid each day – preferably water. Limit caffeinated and alcoholic drinks.

. For those finding it impossible to give up tea and coffee, restrict the intake to three cups per day at the most.

. Have regular meals, evenly spaced out, and pacing yourself whilst eating. Also, do not go long periods without eating anything.

. Those with IBS that often flares-up during times of stress, depression, or anxiety, are advised to try relaxation techniques, such as breathing exercises or meditation, in addition to more physically-involved activities such as pilates or yoga.

. Consume no more than three portions of fruit per day.

. Those suffering with diarrhoea should avoid artificial sweeteners such as sorbitol. This is contained in some sugar-free sweets, chewing gum, and certain diabetic and slimming products.

. Vigorous exercise, for a minimum of 30 minutes per day. This should be done at least three times each week. It is important for patients with IBS to discuss with their GP which exercise is most suited for them.

Gut problems are one of the most common types of disorders seen by doctors and are certainly nothing to be ashamed about. If anyone is experiencing any kind of stomach complaint, they should consult a GP immediately. The GP will ask detailed questions about lifestyle, diet, etc. before making a formal diagnosis and discussing how to go forward with the condition, or make a referral for further detailed scans if necessary, to see if there is an underlying problem.