Touchwood Pharmacy

The production of ear wax is your body's natural defense. It cleans your ears, reduces bacteria growth, and keeps dirt from getting into your ear canal.   Once formed, ear wax moves through the ear canal on its own, with your help as you speak and digest your food. As ear wax gets in contact with the ear's surface, they fall off. Sometimes, ear wax could accumulate or get stuck. When the ear generates ear wax more quickly than the body can clear, a backlog develops. This may arise from any of the following: ●      Tiny ear canal ●      Swimmer's ear ●      Eczema ●      Autoimmune illnesses Putting objects in your ear can induce ear wax development, therefore advise children not to place anything inside their ears. Can Ear Wax Removal Cause Bleeding? Ear wax removal is a reasonably simple and quick operation that a pharmacist can do. It is unusual for a treatment to generate an adverse...

Getting travel vaccination is necessary especially when you enter another country. Vaccines reduce the risk of getting harmful infections while traveling. You run the risk of getting into contact with rare diseases depending on your destination. You might also be required to have specific treatments to go to certain places.   Travelers often get hepatitis, usually due to excessive drinking or a viral illness. Hepatitis causes liver inflammation. Hepatitis has many varieties. Some forms pass without major side effects, while others can induce liver scars (cirrhosis), liver function loss, and liver cancer. How Many Kinds of Hepatitis are There? There are different types of hepatitis. Here are the seven most common: ·          Hepatitis A ·          Hepatitis B ·          Hepatitis C ·          Hepatitis D ...

Your liver is an incredible organ that performs several functions to keep your body running smoothly. It performs over 500 different functions. One of its most important jobs is to break down food and convert it into energy. It also regulates the chemical levels in the blood and creates bile, a substance that carries away waste products from the liver. The liver also: Helps fight off infections Cleans the blood of bacteria and particles Neutralises toxins Regulates several hormones Produces enzymes and proteins needed for blood clotting Metabolises drugs Getting regular liver function tests can help keep you informed on how your liver is doing. Liver function tests are diagnostic tests that measure the levels of proteins and enzymes in your blood. By analysing these substances, any liver damage and disease can be detected and treated. Types of Liver Function Tests There are several types of liver function tests, including: Alanine tr...

Hepatitis is the general medical term for inflammation of the liver. There are several different types of hepatitis, including hepatitis B and hepatitis C. While both are viral liver infections that share similar symptoms, they are two separate conditions. Hepatitis B and hepatitis C also have different approaches to prevention and treatment. Hepatitis B Caused by the Hepatitis B virus, Hepatitis B is spread through bodily fluids like semen and blood. This can be through sex, childbirth, or unsafe practice with needles. Not everyone who is exposed will become ill or have symptoms. Most people will clear the infection on their own, even if they experience severe symptoms. For others, the infection can become chronic. Chronic hep B increases the risk of liver damage, liver cancer, and liver disease.  Children and babies are the most susceptible to developing chronic hepatitis B. Studies have shown that up to 90% of babies infected with hepatitis B will go on to develop a chro...

Caused by the same virus as chickenpox , shingles is a common condition that affects mainly older adults. It’s a viral infection that causes a painful rash that can appear anywhere on your body. Shingles is usually not a serious condition for adults who are generally healthy, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t risks. Left untreated, shingles can cause life-threatening complications and even death. How Dangerous are Shingles? Most people who contract the shingles virus will recover without any complications. With treatment, the uncomfortable symptoms of shingles should clear up within 2-4 weeks. Left untreated, severe cases of shingles can become very serious. Antiviral medication is usually the first course of treatment given when you’re diagnosed with shingles. Some groups are more likely to experience complications from shingles, including:   People over the age of 65 People with autoimmune diseases Pregnant women Those undergoing cancer treatment Sh...

When you have allergies, it can be difficult to go about your day to day life. From sniffles, itchy eyes, to trouble breathing, allergies can cause several uncomfortable symptoms. For some people allergies can even be dangerous if an allergic reaction isn’t treated right away. That’s why it’s so important to know how to not only treat your allergies , but how to avoid exposure to your triggers. The less often you’re exposed to your triggers, the less likely you’ll be to experience a reaction. Tips for Avoiding Allergens Depending on the type and severity of your allergy, it may be difficult to consistently avoid your allergens. Having an allergy management plan in place can help you to prevent allergic reactions and keep your symptoms in check. These are just general guidelines since each allergy is different. You can consult with your GP or one of our pharmacists to develop a personalised plan that will work for you. Some tips to controlling your allergies include: Avoid...

Everyone has wax in their ears and it’s perfectly normal. Earwax helps keep your ears clean and healthy, working as a lubricant for the ear. It also acts as a barrier to keep our debris that can damage the inner ear or cause an ear infection. The only time ear wax should be a concern is if too much of it builds up. While you may be able to safely remove ear wax at home, your child’s ear is a very sensitive body part that needs to be treated with extra care. If you suspect your child is experiencing issues due to ear wax, Touchwood Pharmacy’s Ear Wax Removal services in Northampton and Bromley can help. Ear Wax Buildup Symptoms A moderate amount of earwax in your child’s ear is healthy so you won’t usually need to worry about cleaning them. However, if your child is complaining about hearing loss, ear pain, or feeling like there’s something stuck in their ear, cleaning may be required. At home, you can try using over-the-counter earwax removal drops that you can purchase from a...

  Chickenpox is a common skin virus among children that spreads quickly through direct contact. The virus has become less prevalent today since most children get the chickenpox vaccination early. However, if a child has somehow caught the virus it is necessary to get them vaccinated as soon as possible.You can also do that by finding the nearest Chickenpox Vaccination Sydenham . More importantly, to prevent this and know more about it, we’ll be discussing how chickenpox is spread in this article. Let’s start! What is Chickenpox? Chickenpox is a contagious disease that can cause severe itching and blistering outbreaks. Chickenpox is caused by a germ called Varicella Zoster. Most people get chickenpox when they’re kids if they’ve not had a chickenpox vaccine against it. Once you've had chickenpox, you'll never get it from another person. Most adults who get chickenpox recover quickly, but they should see a doctor if they develop fever, rash, or blisters. Children who ge...

Having a steady build-up of earwax is normal. It is the body ’ s way of lubricating and protecting the inner ear from foreign particles and germs. This build-up of dust, hair, dead cells and natural wax forms a coat that moisturises the inner skin of the ear canal. Moreover, jaw movement while talking and chewing food naturally moves the wax along the ear canal. Thus build-up of earwax isn ’ t a severe problem. However, the amount and type of earwax accumulated in the ear differ from one person to the next. For instance, allergies can cause the Eustachian tubes to swell and get clogged with excessive wax and fluid, thus resulting in dull hearing. Ear Syringing at Home Doctors often recommend syringing as a last resort. Before trying this method, the recommendation is to use olive oil drops. Ear drops can soften earwax, so the wax build-up will gradually run smoothly and safely out of the canal. Below are some safety tips:            Warm some olive...