How can I steer clear of germs this Christmas?

AS ALWAYS at this time of year, I can feel myself becoming unwell: I often end up with a cold or another throat infection over Christmas. What is the best way to deal with this? AT ABOUT this time, coughs, colds, flu and the winter vomiting bug circulate more than at any other time – and with all the socialising that goes on around Christmas, it is easy to pick up and pass on infection.

These problems are caused by viruses and do not respond to antibiotics. What they require is love and care to help your body to fight the virus.

Rest is vital to give your body and immune system a chance. When people do not get enough rest, they are more susceptible to illness – particularly winter viruses.

For symptomatic relief, paracetamol and ibuprofen work well, giving a few hours of relief from aches and pains. These can be taken every few hours on the worst days rather than waiting for the symptoms to escalate.

Cold and flu remedies can also be valuable but are not essential – they can contain decongestants which some people find overly drying or uncomfortable. Saltwater nose sprays, available from pharmacists, work as a natural decongestant and are recommended by ear, nose and throat specialists.

Steam inhalations are also helpful for congested sinuses and noses.

Drinking plenty of fluids is essential when you’re unwell. Avoid alcohol, as it will worsen symptoms. It is fine to eat only a little.

It is possible to seek medical advice over the festive season, even on bank holidays. Pharmacists are healthcare professionals and are an excellent first port of call for winter ailments and symptomatic relief. Staff at the NHS 111 service are well versed in assessing patients over the phone and can also arrange an out-of-hours GP appointment. Evening and weekend GP appointments are available through your GP or a local service, sometimes called a Hub – many of which are open 365 days a year. I HAVE recently developed a troublesome spot in my eye that obstructs my vision. My optometrist says it is a ‘floater’. What is this and is there anything I can do to treat it? SO-CALLED ‘floaters’ are a common speck or flash that obstructs the vision and are usually not serious. Most people see them as one dark spot, a line, a ring or a wavy line. They are caused by age-related changes in the eye. The eye structure is held firm with a jellylike substance known as the vitreous. With age, the vitreous jelly becomes thinner and small fibres within it clump together and can cast shadows on the retina, which are projected on to your vision at the back of the eye.

Specialists do not consider them to be serious.

However, if floaters appear very suddenly, multiply or present alongside pain or blurred vision, this is considered an emergency and is would warrant a visit to A&E.