Whelehans Health Blog

How to maximise the benefits of your medicines – Medication Adherence (Part 2) Questions to ask your doctor or pharmacist Here are some key questions that you as the patient can discuss with your pharmacist or doctor to help initiate, frame and guide a conversation about your medicine taking: Opener: E.g. I have a lot of medications to manage. E.g. I am taking my medications by doing the following ...? Elicit more information/guidance from your pharmacist /doctor-: Are there any medications that you, the patient would be less likely to take? Why is that? Are you worried? Do you think they are doing...

How to maximise the benefits of your medicines – Medication Adherence (Part 1) “Drugs don't work in patients who don't take them” C. Everett Koop, M.D. If you do not take your medication, it is not going to work – it is that simple! The reasons behind people failing to take their medication are complex, and can sometimes go beyond a lack of information, forgetfulness, or even access to medication itself. “Non-adherence” simply means not taking your medicines as your doctor intended you to take them. Non-adherence categorized as two types: intentional and unintentional. Unintentional non-adherence relates to barriers beyond...

Bulimia Nervosa (Part 4) Tips for family members Recovery takes years rather than weeks or months. Psychological treatment is core to treatment as patients must be convinced that they need to attain a normal weight. Progress should be monitored by weighing; monitoring needs to be managed skilfully so it does not become a battleground. Substance misuse (including alcohol, deliberate overdoses, use of laxatives or misuse of prescribed insulin) greatly increases risk. Weight fluctuations and binge-purge methods rather than pure starvation alone increases risk. Depression, anxiety, and family arguments are usually caused by the disorder (rather than these factors causing the...

Bulimia Nervosa (Part 3)   Causes Bulimia tends to develop slowly with the person gradually becoming more obsessive about their weight which can eventually lead it to get out of control. As with other eating disorders, bulimia can be associated with depression, low self-esteem, stress, misuse of alcohol and self-harm. Bulimia is often associated with other psychological problems. Research shows that bulimia is more common in people who have anxiety disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and personality disorders. There may be genetic link, for example, research suggests that people who have a close relative who has or has had bulimia...

Bulimia Nervosa (Part 2) Complications of bulimia In addition to the psychological effects causes and effects of anorexia and bulimia, physical complications can include:   Dental problems: Persistent vomiting (for those suffering from bulimia) causes stomach acid to damage the teeth enamel which can lead to tooth decay. Excessive vomiting can also cause bad breath and a sore throat.   Poor skin and hair: A lack of nutrients through malnutrition, persistent vomiting or laxative use can affect the health of skin and hair. It can cause skin and hair to become dry and fingernails to become brittle.   Irregular periods: The...