As winter approaches, with swine flu and seasonal flu both spreading in the community, people in East Sussex should do all they can to stay as healthy as possible.
NHS East Sussex Downs and Weald and NHS Hastings and Rother is urging the public to take care of themselves during the winter months as part of the national Self Care campaign.
The campaign aims to raise awareness of the support on offer to help people, especially those with long-term conditions, to take control of their health and wellbeing.
Self care covers every aspect of living a healthy life, from brushing our teeth to looking after ourselves when recovering from an illness.
People with long-term conditions are already doing this well but some are still unaware of the choice of support available in East Sussex to help manage their condition.
Health experts are also reminding people to have their seasonal flu and swine flu vaccinations to protect themselves from illness.
Cynthia Lyons, Deputy Director of Public Health, said: “Self care is part of our daily living.
It is the care and responsibility taken by us and our families that contributes towards our own health and wellbeing.
It includes the actions we take for ourselves, our children, our families, and those we are caring for, to stay fit and maintain good physical and mental health; prevent illness or accidents; make better use of medicines; care for minor ailments and long-term conditions; and maintain health and wellbeing after an acute illness or discharge from hospital.
For people living with a long-term condition such as diabetes, arthritis or heart disease, self care is a very important part of their everyday lives, to ensure they keep their independence and self worth.
Providing the support for self care is about ensuring our public and patients know what to do to care more for their illnesses and improve their health, and supporting them in taking control over their.
Please take advantage of the seasonal flu vaccination and the swine flu vaccination this autumn.
Your doctor will advise you if you are in the at-risk groups.”
Here are our Top 10 tips for self care:
1. Accept you have a persistent health condition. Learn what to do to take care of yourself.
2. Get help and support. Ask your healthcare team, friends, family and colleagues to support you. This may be as simple as asking them to help remind you to take your medication or to avoid some foods. Join local support groups which could improve your self care skills.
3. Pace yourself. Don’t tire yourself out with everyday activities but don’t rest too much as you’ll become less fit and mobile. Keep moving but ensure you take breaks throughout the day.
4. Plan your day. Make a list of things to do that are important to you, such as vacuuming the living room or going swimming. Put the most important task first and rest in between activities.
5. Set goals you can reach. Set yourself a simple hourly, daily or weekly action plan. Ask your health professional if you’re not sure what to aim for.
6. Be patient. It may take weeks/months to see improvements in your condition.
7. Learn how to relax. Do an activity that helps you unwind, such as reading a book or listening to music.
8. Exercise. You may be worried about exercising in case it causes more problems. In fact, regular physical activity and stretching will help your condition and alleviate pain and discomfort. Talk with a health professional before starting a new health programme.
9. Keep a diary. Note your progress every day to see how far you’ve come and mark the successes you have achieved. Write down what didn’t work for you so you can learn from those experiences.
10. Have a plan for setbacks. It is unrealistic to think you will never have one.
If you are living with a health condition, or just want to learn how to look after yourself better, ask your healthcare professional for information on the advice and support available.
Find out more at www.nhs.co.uk/yourhealth
Self care and Swine flu
With Swine flu present in the community, looking after our own health is very important for all of us at the moment.
Everyone can help to reduce the risk of catching or spreading swine flu by maintaining good basic hygiene, such as always covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, disposing of dirty tissues promptly, and carefully and regularly washing your hands.
Stocking up on cold and flu remedies can also help, as will making sure you have food supplies, tissues and extra supplies of any regular medication you normally take, in case you do become unwell.
Know the symptoms of swine flu - a fever or high temperature (over 38°C/100.4°F) and two or more of the following symptoms, you may have swine flu:
unusual tiredness,
headache,
runny nose,
sore throat,
shortness of breath or cough,
loss of appetite,
aching muscles,
diarrhoea or vomiting.
It is also important we all know what to do if we become unwell with flu-like symptoms.
If you have flu-like symptoms you should stay at home and check your symptoms by calling the Swine Flu Information Line on 0800 1 513 513, NHS Direct on 0845 4647 or visit www.nhs.uk
If you are still concerned please contact the National Pandemic Flu Service, either by visiting http://www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu%20or by calling 0800 1 513 100.
Please do not go to A&E or visit your GP surgery unless you are advised to.
However, you should call your doctor direct rather than using the National Pandemic Flu Service if:
you have a serious underlying illness;
you are pregnant;
you have a sick child under one year old;
your condition suddenly gets much worse; or if your condition is still getting worse after 7 days following treatment (5 for a child).
