• Robert Darbishire Practice
• Your health
  • Staying healthy
  • Self help for minor illness
  • Expert patients
  • Practice leaflets
  • Health links
  • Support groups
  • Other links

Staying healthy

This advice is based on tips given by Professor Sir Liam Donaldson, the Chief Medical Officer for England.

1. Don't smoke and don't breathe others' tobacco smoke.
   The practice can help you quit smoking.
   For further information, visit the Giving up smoking website
2. Eat at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables each day and cut down on fat, salt and added sugar.
   For further information, visit the NHS 5 a day website
3. Be physically active for at least 30 minutes, 5 days a week.
   For further information, visit the Physical activity: BUPA webpage
4. Maintain, or aim for, a healthy weight (BMI: 20 -25).
   The practice can help you with weight management.
   For further information, visit the Your health: BBC webpage
5. If you drink alcohol, have no more than 2-3 units a day (for women) or 3-4 units a day (for men).
   For further information, visit the Alcohol and health: DoH webpage
6. Protect yourself from the sun. Cover up, keep in the shade, never burn and use sunscreen with factor 15 or higher. Take extra care to protect children. For further information, visit the Travel health website
7. Practise safer sex - use a condom. For further information, visit the Playing safely website
8. Make the decision to go for cervical screening (smears) and breast cancer screening when invited. The practice screening service can help you.
9. On the roads, THINK safety. For further information, visit the THINK road safety website.
10. Manage stress levels - talking things through, relaxation and physical activity can help.
    For further information, visit the Stress: BBC webpage, Relaxation: BBC webpage and the Physical activity: BUPA webpage.
    You may also find a counselling service is helpful.

Child health

And if you have children, remember you can prevent many very serious childhood diseases by making sure your child gets all the recommended immunisations. For further information, visit the Immunisation: NHS website. Apart from one injection that is given at school, all childhood immunisations are available at the practice. And it's never too late. The Practice's Vaccinations service can help you.

 

The Robert Darbishire Practice and The University of Manchester are not responsible for the content of external internet sites.