I’M going on holiday to Egypt to escape the winter. Can I use last year’s sunscreen?

S un cream has a shelf life of two to three years, as long as it’s not stored at high temperatures or in direct sunlight.

So, make sure you pop it in your beach bag or cool box on the beach, and don’t leave it lying around in your car.

Remember you should never use sun cream after the use-by date because you won’t be protected from the sun’s harmful rays.

If you’re holidaying abroad, make sure you check the SPF (sun protection factor) on your sun cream is equivalent to what you use at home.

If in doubt, choose a sun cream with a higher SPF so that you don’t burn. Cancer Research UK suggests sticking to sun cream that’s SPF 15 or more.

WHY is my waist size important?

You r risk of some health problems is affected by where your body fat is stored, as well as by your weight.

Carrying too much fat around your middle can increase your risk of developing conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer.

Research has shown that more than nine in 10 people in the UK don’t realise that carrying too much fat around their middle can increase their risk of health problems.

If you think you may be overweight, measure your waist regularly and check your BMI (body mass index) to see if your weight is healthy for your height.

WHAT is agoraphobia?

Ma ny people understand agoraphobia as a fear of open spaces, however it can also include situations where escape to a place of safety may be difficult such as a fear of being in shops, fear of crowds and public places, or of travelling on trains, buses or planes.

Panic attacks are a common feature of agoraphobia.

In extreme cases, people with agoraphobia may be unable to leave their home.

People with agoraphobia may experience some or all of the following symptoms, similar to having a panic attack; shaking, rapid heartbeat, intense sweating, chest pain, difficulty breathing, feelings of choking, nausea, dizziness, a feeling of loss of control and fear of fainting.

Some people with milder agoraphobia will feel marked anxiety or distress on leaving home but the symptoms do not develop into a panic attack.

A healthcare professional based on a description of the symptoms usually makes a diagnosis.

For those unable to leave home an initial phone consultation with a GP can be arranged.

It is important to describe symptoms fully to your GP even if this is difficult to do.

They will then be able to arrange the best treatment

Agoraphobia can be treated using drugs or by using ‘talking treatments’ like cognitive-behavioural therapy.