It’s the most *cough* wonderful time of the year *cough*…

It’s the most *cough* wonderful time of the year *cough*…

We are very much in the whirlwind of the Christmas spirit. Hopefully all last minute gifts have been purchased and we are all gearing up for Christmas Day television and plenty of food. Even if Christmas is not celebrated in your household, it is hard to deny that this time of the year is most definitely best spent with family and friends. Unfortunately, not everyone is able to enjoy the festive period. Simple things such as food, shelter and companionship are of concern, only made worse by the sharp cold they are unable to escape. There are several things we can also strive to do in the coming weeks (and all year if we are able) to help as many people as possible enjoy the end of 2017 and look forward to a brand new year.

1.       Many households will be guilty of buying too much food. No worries! Any left-over tins, drinks non-perishable items can be donated to food banks for those who will need them. Most supermarkets have baskets by the doors at this time of year where you are able to drop off food. A quick search can locate nearby areas that require food.

2.       Warm clothing of all ages are much needed by individuals and families. Morrison’s and Marks and Spencer supermarkets have clothes bank drop offs as well as local churches.

3.       If there is a spare seat at the dinner table, it could be filled with a friend you know is going to be alone at Christmas, a relative or an elderly person from the local area. Many adverts have been broadcasted this year explaining how loneliness is a prevalent theme especially at Christmas, and anything to help ameliorate this is very much welcomed. The elderly community can often feel forgotten and isolated, so an invite to dinner can mean the world.

4.       Check on elderly neighbours if you are able. Some will not have visitors or may feel unable to ask if they need extra food or warm clothing. Perhaps sit with them and chat for a while, it could definitely make a world of difference. It’s important that sometimes it’s less about the material gifts, and more about the time we set aside for each other.

Now, let’s talk about self-care:

Hopefully you have managed to escape the wrath of a serious cold this month (unfortunately I have not). If not, then of course there is still time! Let us run through a couple of precautions that can help to avoid illness for a sneeze-free Christmas, as well as a safe one:

1.       If you cough or sneeze, wash your hands immediately to avoid spreading germs.

2.       When going out and touching door handles and surfaces, it can be handy to carry around a hand sanitiser to help stay clean.

3.       Sleep well.

4.       Wrap up warm when going outside.

5.       Keep blankets and snacks in the car in case of a break down or bad weather, as well as a well charged phone (perhaps carry a battery pack) so you can call emergency services.


6.       Have a designated driver if going to parties or out to celebrate, or have money so that a taxi can be called to get home.

Thank you very much for reading! 

By Vicale Czan Alfanti 
Universal Medicine 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

PTSD - A Psychodynamic Explanation

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a type of anxiety disorder which you may develop after being involved in, or witnessing, traumatic events. The condition was first recognised in war veterans and has been known by a variety of names, such as 'shell shock'. PTSD can develop immediately after someone experiences a disturbing event, or it can occur weeks, months or even years later. Its estimated to affect about 1 in every 3 people who have a traumatic experience, but it's not clear exactly why some people develop the condition and others do not. There are many theories that could be used to explain this condition. Psychodynamic approaches to PTSD focus on a number of different factors that may influence or cause PTSD symptoms, such as early childhood experiences, current relationships and the things people do to protect themselves from upsetting thoughts and feelings that are the result of experiencing a traumatic event. The psychodynamic approach focuses mainly...
Read more

Disparities in Global Eye Care

Vision is one of our most precious possessions. Multiple polls globally show that most people are more fearful of becoming blind than losing any other sense. (1,2) With sight being such a valuable asset, one would assume that eyecare is at the forefront of medical services across the world. Living in the developed world, we perhaps take for granted the simple and yet crucial services available to us such as regular eye tests, glasses, contact lenses and high-quality ophthalmic care - most of which can be accessed for free or at a subsidised price. However, in many parts of the world this is not the case. 285 million people worldwide are visually impaired, with 90% being from developing countries. (3) In China, for example, levels of blindness are increasing each year, however critically, rates of blindness have been reported at up to 4 times higher in the developing world as compared to more economically developed countries (4, 5). This is particularly worrying given that around 80% of...
Read more

Do Contact Lenses Really “Support Your Vision”?

Image
Contact lenses have been frequently used as an alternative to glasses. Compared to the heavy-framed glasses in front of one’s eyes (optic glasses), thin plastic discs on the eye (contact lenses) help correct refractive errors in both myopic and hypermetropic users. The lens’ shape and power can be tailored to the user’s sight. A concave lens can be used to decrease myopia by reducing light refraction and increasing focal length so that the image is formed on the retina (1)  (Figure 1). Alternatively, a convex lens can be used to limit hypermetropia in an opposing mechanism to concave lenses (1) (Figure 1). Figure 1, An illustration of myopia and hyperopia and how adding lens of different shapes in front of the eye can be used to alter the refraction of light and correct each impairment in vision (10) Besides supporting sight, which both types of lenses can do, contact lenses confer some advantages that make them preferable to glasses. Unlike glasses, contact lenses are less li...
Read more