Is it safe to take painkillers every day... and how can I tell if I have a fever without a thermometer?

HEADACHES AND OTHER PAINFUL PROBLEMS

1

IS IT safe to take painkillers every day for a headache – and what’s the best type?

HEADACHES have many causes – and often they’re surprising. Headaches in the morning can be a result of jaw-clenching and toothgrinding while we sleep. Both of these are a result of stress.

Dehydration is another culprit, and if the headache is worse when bending forwards, it may indicate a sinus infection.

It is safe to take painkillers for a few days, but if you need them every day for a week or longer, you should speak to your doctor and try to work out what’s behind the problem.

Painkillers every day can actually worsen the problem – a condition called medicationoveruse headache.

Alternate between paracetamol, ibuprofen and aspirin, and try resting without any painkillers, to avoid making things worse.

Ibuprofen and aspirin can irritate the stomach, so if you are taking them regularly, ensure it is with meals.

It’s worth knowing that dehydration and stress are both very common headache triggers.

2

CAN I take ibuprofen and paracetamol together for my arthritis pain?

PARACETAMOL and ibuprofen can be safely taken together.

The usual daily dose for paracetamol is 1g (two tablets) four times a day. For ibuprofen, it is 400mg (usually two tablets) three times a day with food for an otherwise healthy adult.

Combining medications is a sensible way to control pain, and taking them regularly when you have a flare-up is a good way to keep moving, which is also vital.

Alongside painkillers, applying ice to joints is a great way to ease the pain, particularly if they are swollen as well, as is using rub-in treatments from the chemist.

3

I HAVE awful toothache, but the dentist is closed. What should I do?

TOOTHACHE will usually go within a few days with no treatment. Take regular painkillers for a few days and ensure strict dental hygiene with chlorhexidine mouthwash and regular brushing. Ibuprofen or aspirin are good for dental pain.

At the moment, dental services are available via 111: the dentist can consult on the phone or via video. They may be able to prescribe and treat you remotely.

4

I KEEP getting random nosebleeds. What’s the best way to stop them?

MOST nosebleeds are not a sign of anything serious and can be treated at home. Sit down, and pinch your nose, just above the nostrils and hold for ten minutes. Try to lean forward while doing this, to stop the blood draining back into your throat.

Once the bleeding has stopped, stay upright – don’t lie down, as this will increase the blood pressure inside your nose – and put a bag of frozen peas on the bridge of your nose. This causes the blood vessels in the nose to contract, preventing another bleed.

The lining of the centre of the nose is fragile and can break and bleed, particularly with noseblowing, dry rooms or if you take blood-thinners. Often new nosebleeds are caused by an infection in the lining of the nose. An antibiotic cream on prescription is needed to treat that. If they are happening regularly, talk to your

5 WHAT cream should I put on a painful burn?

NONE. If your burn is mild enough to be treated at home, you shouldn’t need to use a cream, as they can cause your skin to become irritated – not what you want in addition to the burn.

Just run the burn under cool water for 20 minutes, then cover with clingfilm to keep it clean. Don’t wrap it, as this can constrict the burn and that’ll hurt more.

You can keep the clingfilm in place with a bandage.

To deal with any pain, you can take paracetamol or ibuprofen.

Most minor burns heal with minimal scarring within one to two weeks. Do not burst any blisters. doctor. It is rare, but they can be a result of high blood pressure, so it is worth taking your blood pressure at home.

COUGHS, COLDS AND HOW TO TACKLE A FEVER 6HOW long does it take to recover from a cough or cold, and when do you need antibiotics?

AT THE moment, any new cough, high temperature or loss of sense of smell should be treated as a warning sign for coronavirus, and the advice is to self-isolate for seven days, or longer if symptoms persist.

Patients should also go to the NHS 111 website, as a Covid-19 test might be indicated. But in general, one of the most (if not the