Nausea, vomiting and tiredness are common symptoms of early pregnancy. According to NHS Choices, three in ten pregnant women experience nausea without vomiting, while around half of expectant mothers experience nausea and vomiting. For the majority of women morning sickness occurs before they are nine weeks pregnant. however, the symptoms of morning sickness generally improve as pregnancy [progresses, with nine in ten women finding that their morning sickness disappears by the third month of pregnancy.

There are several things that a midwife or GP are likely to suggest that women try if they are suffering from morning sickness. These include:

• It is helpful for expectant mothers to try and avoid foods and smells that make them feel sick.
• It is important to get plenty of rest, as being tired can make nausea worse.
• It is best to drink plenty of fluids, little and often, as this could help prevent vomiting.
• If sickness occurs as soon as a pregnant woman wakes up, they should give themselves time to wake up slowly and try to eat something plain if possible.
• Small, low fat meals should be eaten frequently, which are high in carbohydrates (e.g., rice, pasta, bread), instead of occasional large meals.
• Sweet, cold or sharp drinks should be avoided.
• Women experiencing morning sickness should try and keep their mind busy, as thinking about nausea may make it seem worse.
• Comfortable clothes, without tight waist bands, should be worn whenever possible.
• It is important to ask for help from family and friends. For example, having someone else cook meals can be extremely helpful.

If serious morning sickness occurs, then a doctor may recommend medication Alternatively, there are other treatments available that may ease nausea and sickness:

• Some women have found that ginger can help to relieve the sickness and nausea that can be experienced during early pregnancy. Ginger biscuits, gigner tea and ginger ale may all help. Other ginger product, such as ginger supplements, are also available. However, ginger products are unlicensed in the UK, so it is important to buy them from a trusted source e.g. a supermarket or pharmacy.
• NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) has advised that acupressure on the wrist could help to reduce nausea for expectant mothers. This involves wearing a special bracelet or band, which puts pressure on the forearm.
• If the morning sickness is more severe then a doctor may provide a short course of antiemetics (anti-sickness medication) that is suitable to take during pregnancy.

Although morning sickness can be extremely unpleasant for many expectant mothers, there are some steps that can be taken to help ease the nausea and vomiting. If these steps are not effective, then pregnant women may find that using one of the treatments listed above could help.

Smoking shisha is becoming increasingly popular throughout the UK and lots of shisha bars are beginning to open around the country. However, shisha smoking may not be as harmless as many people think, According to the World Health Organisation, the flavoured tobacco, which is smoked through a long pipe connected to a vessel filled with water, can actually be as armful as smoking 100 cigarettes. However, there is a solution in the form of electronic shisha cigarettes, now available from Chemist.net.

The electronic shisha cigarettes, or eShish, work in a similar way to normal electronic cigarettes, by using a small element to heat e-liquid, which then turns to vapour. eShish contain no tobacco, nicotine, tar or smoke and therefore do not contain a lot of the toxins that regular shisha does. Electronic cigarettes provide a similar sensation and experience as regular cigarettes, but taste nicer and do not smell as badly.

eShish have a whole host of benefits over regular cigarettes, including cost, smell, convenience and fire safety. Electronic shisha cigarettes are a lot cheaper to purchase than regular cigarettes or shisha, making them a more cost effective option at a time when money is tight for a lot of people. Furthermore, eShish do not smell in the same way that traditional tobacco, as it leaves no odour on the breath or on clothes. Another advantage is the ability to smoke them in some areas where smoking is banned e.g., pubs, as well as providing a reduced second hand smoking risk. In addition to this, as eShish are not lit they provide a significantly reduced fire risk.

Overall, the eShish, which are available in a range of flavours and as both singles and a mixed pack, are an excellent and cost effective option for those who wish to enjoy shisha on the go. The shisha pens also provide a less harmful option to smoking regular shisha, which could cause serious health issues in the long term.

1. Plan ahead
Set a quit date and stick to it, regardless of what social events occur in between. Promise yourself that no matter what you will have quit by this date.

2. Alter your diet
Do you find it especially difficult not to smoke after meals? An American study found that some food, e.g., meat, may make cigarettes more satisfying. However, it also discovered some food that make cigarettes taste worse (e.g., cheese, vegetables and fruit), so adding some of these to your meal might help you to kick the after dinner habit.

3. Switch your drinks
The same American study also looked at drinks. Drinks that apparently make cigarettes taste better include tea, coffee, alcohol and fizzy drinks; so it may be better to switch to water or juice. For instance, drinking a vodka and orange, instead of a vodka and cola, while out with friends may make you less likely to crave a cigarette.

4. Keep your hands and mouth busy
Try putting your drink in the hand that you smoke with or using a straw in your drink. Furthermore, NRT (nicotine replacement therapy) products, such as inhalators, could help satisfy your need to hold something.

5. Identify when you need one
Cravings can last for around five minutes. Before you quit smoking think of some five minute activities that you can do whenever you crave a cigarette to take your mind off it.

6. Get support
If you have friends and family who also smoke, but wish to give up, it could be helpful to try and give up at the same time, as you can help to support and motivate each other. If you need support from outside of your family and friends, you can use your local NHS Stop Smoking Service, or phone the NHS Smoking Helpline on 0800 0224332 (open 7am-11pm).

7. Exercise
A review of scientific studies has proved that exercise can help to cut cravings and may even help your brain to produce anti-craving chemicals.

8. Stick with your non-smoking friends
When trying to quit smoking it is best to stick with your non-smoking friends. Just think about how much nicer it is to be inside in the warm, instead of being stuck outside in the freezing cold.

9. Reasons to quit
Remind yourself frequently about the reasons why you are quitting. Make a list of all your reasons and positive aspects about giving up smoking. This will be useful to read whenever you are struggling, in order to keep yourself motivated.

10. Think positive
You may have given up before, but that doesn’t mean you will fail this time. Tell yourself that this will be the time that you will finally quit.

1. Keep a regular sleeping pattern
   Try and make sure that you go to bed and get up at the same time each day. This will help to program your body to sleep better. It is also best if you try and choose a time to go to bed when you are likely to actually feel sleepy.
2. Make sure that your bed is comfortable
   It is useful to make sure that you have a comfortable mattress, which is not too hard, soft or small for you. It is also helpful to make sure that your nit wear is comfortable and not too restrictive. Furthermore, if you have a pet in your room, you may wish to consider moving them to another room during the night so that they don’t disturb your sleep.
3. Create a restful sleeping environment
   Your bedroom should ideally be kept purely for rest and sleep, so you need to keep it as dark and quiet as possible. Make sure that your curtains are thick enough that they will not let too much light in while you are trying to sleep. You should also make sure that any televisions, laptops etc are turned off, so that they do not create any unwanted noise or light. Ensuring that the room is at a reasonable temperature, so that it is neither too cold or too hot, is also important.
4. Consume less caffeine
   Cutting down on your intake of stimulants (such as the caffeine in tea, coffee and energy drinks) can help you to have a better night’s sleep. This is because stimulants like caffeine interfere with the process of falling asleep, as well as preventing deep sleep. The effects of caffeine can also last for up to 24 hours, so it is highly likely that it may affect your sleep. Try having a warm milky drink or herbal tea later on in the evening instead of a caffeinated drink.
5. Don’t over indulge
   Overindulging in too much food or alcohol, especially late at night, can interrupt your sleep patterns. Although alcohol might help you to fall asleep initially, it is likely to affect your sleep pattern. Although alcohol may help you to fall asleep initially, it can interrupt your sleep later on.
6. Quit smoking
   Smokers take longer to fall asleep, wake up more frequently and tend to have a more disrupted sleep pattern.
7. Exercise regularly
   Moderate exercise (swimming, walking etc) can help to relieve any tension that has built up over the day. Try not to do exercise just before you go to bed though, as it may keep you awake.
8. Write away your worries
   Make a list of all the things that are bothering you or need to be done the next day, so that you have a plan of attack. Hopefully this will stop you from lying in bed worrying.
9. Don’t just lie in bed worrying
   If you start to worry about things once you have gone to bed, get up and go and do something that will relax you until you start to feel sleepy again.
10. Relax before bedtime
    Have a warm bath, listen to quiet music or do some gentle exercise to relax the body and mind. This will help to calm your body down, ready for sleep.

1. Eat a wholesome breakfast
   Winter is the perfect excuse to eat porridge. Eating a warm bowl of porridge will not only help you banish the cold, but boosting your intake of fibre and starchy foods will give you more energy and help you feel fuller for longer. Oats also contain vital vitamins and minerals.
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2. Eat more fruit and vegetables
   The old, dark days might make you want to comfort eat junk food, but it is important to make sure that you are still getting your five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. This will ensure that your body is getting a variety of vitamins and nutrients to help keep it healthy.
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3. Drink more milk
   With the risk of getting a cold during the winter months 80% more likely, making sure that your immune system is in good condition is extremely important. Dairy products such as milk, cheese and yoghurt are great sources of protein and calcium, as well as vitamin A and B12.
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4. Exercise
   Exercise will help you to keep control of your weight and will also help to boost your immune system. Why not go ice skating or wrap up warm and take a walk around your local area to have a look at all the Christmas lights and decorations that have been put up?
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5. Make sure that you get plenty of sleep
   According to The Sleep Council we get an average of six and a half hours sleep per night, which is short of the recommended seven to nine hours. However, during the winter we should naturally sleep more due to the longer nights. The Sleep Council suggests that therefore this is the perfect time of year to reduce our sleep debt and catch up on all of those hours that we have missed throughout the rest of the year.

One of the most important things to do during the cold weather is to make sure that you keep warm. You should make sure that you drink hot drinks regularly throughout the day and eat a hot meal at least once a day, where possible. Eating regularly to will help you to keep your energy levels up. You should also try and wear several layers of light, warm clothing (rather than one think layer) as this will maximise the amount of heat that your body retains.

It is also important to try and make sure that your home is suitably warm. You should keep the main living room of your house at 18-21°C (65-75°F) and the rest of the house should be at least 16°C (61°F). If you can’t heat all of the rooms in your home that you use, then try to heat the main room that you use during the day (e.g living room) and your bedroom at night. Making sure that you stay as active as possible around your home during colder days will also help to make sure that you stay warm.

If you do need to venture outside make sure that you wrap up warm (coat, hat, gloves, scarf etc) and wear shoes that have a good grip on them, to reduce the risk of slips and falls. The Met Office also advises using grit or cat litter to reduce the risk of slipping on ice on paths and driveways. It is also important to be aware that black ice may be present on paths, driveways and roads, even if they do not look icy. They also advise that when making car journeys you make sure you have warm clothes, food, water, boots, a torch and spade, and let someone know which route you plan to take and when you expect to arrive at your destination.

During the colder weather you should also try to check up on neighbors, friends and relatives that may be more vulnerable to the cold than yourself. The cold weather is much more dangerous for the elderly, as well as those with serious illnesses.

If you stick to these simple tips and try and help others who may struggle more during the cold snap, then hopefully the occurrence of accidents and health risks associated with the cold weather will be reduced.

The symptoms to look out for in order to determine whether it is a throat infection, or not, are: swollen tonsils; the glands in the neck becoming enlarged or tender; a painful or tender feeling at the back of the throat; and finding it hard or painful to swallow. In addition to this, those with a throat infection may also experience: a loss of voice; cough, fever; headaches; tiredness; sickness and swollen glands.

The most common causes of sore throats are: the common cold viruses (rhinovirus, coronavirus and parainfluenza) which causes around a quarter* of all sore throats; streptococcal infections, which cause 10%* of sore throats in adults and a third* of the cases in children; types A and B of the flu virus (4%*), adenovirus, which can also cause conjunctivitis (4%*); the herpes simplex virus (which usually causes cold sores (around 2%*); and the Epstein-Barr Virus, which causes glandular fever (less than 1%* of cases). However, a dry or sore throat can also be caused as a result of smoking or excessive breathing through the mouth.

There are a number of ways in which the pain and discomfort caused by throat pain can be eased, however. Firstly, it can be useful to take either paracetamol or ibuprofen, as these will help to get rid of the associated pain, headache and fever that may be being experienced. This should be taken in regular doses, in accordance with the guidelines on the packaging. It is also important to drink plenty of water, as this will help with a fever and dehydration will only make associated headaches and tiredness worse. Those affected by a sore throat should also eat cool, soft foods, avoiding anything that is too hot or rough, as this will only cause further discomfort. It is also advisable to refrain from smoking and avoid smoky areas, as this is only likely to exacerbate the situation. There is also a wide range of sore throat remedies (such as sweets, lozenges, throat sprays and rinses) available on the market to help soothe the pain associated with sore throats.

Sore throats are a common complaint amongst the British public and can cause distracting pain and discomfort for the sufferer. However, the symptoms of a sore throat can be eased by following simple common sense steps and through the use of shop bought sore throat remedies.

*According to the NHS Choices website.

A cough can be extremely irritating and can quickly get in the way when people are trying to go about their normal business. It can also be difficult for people to know what sort of cough they have and how best to treat it. Once the type of cough the patient is suffering from has been identified, then there are a range of over the counter cough remedies available that can help to sooth and clear it up.

A dry cough usually starts as an irritating tickle at the back of the throat. This is caused because the throat and airways have become inflamed and are often caused by a common cold or the flu. The actual cough itself is produced, because the brain believes that the inflammation affecting the throat and airways is a foreign object and the cough is the body’s way of trying to remove it. Dry coughs are also referred to as non-productive coughs, as there is no mucus present for the cough to dislodge.

A chesty cough is a cough where phlegm is being produced within the body and the cough is helping to remove the phlegm. Chesty coughs are also known as productive coughs, as they are helping the body to actually drive the irritant out.

Coughs can last for different periods of time, but the majority of coughs clear up within two weeks. An acute cough is classed as a cough that lasts for less than three weeks. A subacute cough is a cough that lasts for between three and eight weeks. While a chronic or persistent cough is a cough that lasts for over eight weeks. If a cough has lasted for over three weeks then the advice of a pharmacist or doctor should be sought.

If it is just an acute cough that the patient has, then there is a range of over the counter cough remedies that can help to ease the associated symptoms. If it is a dry cough that is causing the irritation, then it can be treated with a cough remedy that contains a cough suppressant, for example pholcodine or dextromethorphan. If it is a chesty cough, then a cough medicine containing an expectorant – such as guiphenesin, ammonium chloride, sodium citrate or ipecacuanha – can be used. These remedies can be purchased from supermarkets, chemists or online pharmacies.

If a cough is correctly diagnosed, then there are a range of different cough remedies available on the market to help ease the associated symptoms, from a variety of different brand names.

Cold and flu viruses seem to be everywhere during the winter months, causing countless people to miss school or work. However, with all the myths and rumours about what causes you to catch a cold or the flu and the best ways to get rid of it, how can people find out what is fact and what is fiction? Chemist.net has done some research to find out what is true and what should remain in the realm of myths when it comes to colds and flu.

1. You should avoid dairy products when you have a cold
   Fiction. There is no proof that removing dairy products from your diet helps to relieve the symptoms of a cold. Contrary to some people’s beliefs dairy products do not increase the amount of mucus produced.
2. You will get sick if you go out in the cold with wet hair
   Fiction. Even though your mother may have told you this countless times when you we younger, it is still nevertheless untrue. Cold and wet conditions do not cause the flu; viruses do, so feel free not to get the hairdryer out if you’re in a rush!
3. Seasonal flu is irritating, but it is actually pretty harmless
   Fiction. Although most people can fight the flu off by themselves, it can become more serious and in some cases it can even lead to death. If you are in an at risk group then you should make sure that you get yourself vaccinated.
4. Feed a cold, starve a fever
   Fiction. This is not true; you should make sure that you try to maintain a healthy, balanced diet during both illnesses. In fact, fever actually increases the metabolism, so more energy is required by the body.
5. The flu vaccination can give you the flu
   Fiction. The flu jab cannot give you the flu, as it is made using an inactive (dead) strain of the virus. However, some people may experience side effects that appear to have similar symptoms.
6. Eating chicken soup when you are ill will make you feel better
   Fact. Research has shown that chicken soup can actually help to reduce the inflammation that causes congestion and runny noses during a cold, so your grandmother did have a point after all!
7. Antibiotics can fight the flu virus
   Fiction. Antibiotics fight bacteria and as colds and flu are caused by viruses they will not help fight off the illnesses.
8. You should cover your mouth with your hand when you cough
   Fiction. This will only help to spread cold and flu germs, as the virus will be passed on to anything you touch. A tissue should be used, thrown away immediately and then hands should be washed thoroughly.

A large amount of the information that people believe to be true about colds and flu is, in actual fact, false. In some cases it could lead to the illness becoming worse or being spread further. If you get a cold or the flu then you should make sure that you eat as healthily as possible, keep surfaces clean, use a tissue and wash hands thoroughly and frequently. There are also a wide range of cold and flu remedies available that can help to ease the symptoms associated with colds and flu, making the illness more bearable.

Chemist.net takes a look at what head lice are, how children catch them and what head lice treatments are available…

Head lice are tiny wingless insects that are grey-brown in colour. They are the size of a pinhead when they hatch and 3mm long (the size of a sesame seed) when fully grown. Head lice cannot fly, jump or swim. Head lice are spread by head-to-head contact and climb from the hair of an infected person to the hair of someone else.

A female head louse lays eggs by cementing them to hairs (often close to the root) where they will be kept warm by the scalp. The eggs are pinhead size and difficult to see. When the baby lice hatch seven to ten days later, the empty eggshells (nits) remain glued in place. Nits glisten white and become more noticeable as the growth of the hair carries them away from the scalp. Head lice feed by biting the scalp and sucking blood through it. They take six to ten days to become fully grown. Once mature, a head louse can transfer from head to head.

After mating, a female may start to lay eggs as early as the seventh day after she has hatched. So to break the life cycle and stop head lice spreading, they need to be removed from the head before the sixth day after hatching.

Children are the most commonly affected by head lice, although anyone with hair can catch them. Children are often affected by head lice because they tend to have more head-to-head contact while at school or during play.

Head lice can be effectively treated using medicated lotions or by wet combing, using a specially designed head lice comb. The Linicin range gives you everything you need to get rid of head lice and keep them away. The Linicin range includes a simple 15 minute head lice lotion that kills the lice and their larvae, and prevents the development of their head lice eggs too. Alternatively, there’s a head lice shampoo that is effective in a quick 10 minute treatment. Plus, there’s a preventer spray which can stop you or your child from getting head lice in the first place.