Dog bites are common and often to the hands, forearms or lower legs. Dog saliva carries lots of bacteria, and there’s a risk of infection if the bite has broken skin. So if a dog has bitten you or your child, give it a thorough look, and seek medical attention if there is a puncture wound, as it is likely to need antibiotics. Dog bites are the most common animal bites – from your own pet or that of a neighbour’s - but the same advice here applies to cat bites or other domestic animals.

Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency and potentially fatal reaction which occurs after you’ve come into contact with something that you’re severely allergic to (an allergen). Symptoms can occur seconds to minutes after coming into contact with this allergen, and progress rapidly to breathing difficulties, circulation problems, or collapse so it’s essential to recognise the early signs and get help quickly. With prompt and effective treatment, the prognosis of anaphylaxis is good, and food allergy-related deaths have much reduced with increased awareness in the last 20 years. However, 20 to 30 people a year die in the UK from anaphylaxis, and this is thought to be an underestimate. What urgent symptoms need addressing: Airway / Breathing - Sudden swelling of the throat, tongue or lips - Difficulty breathing, wheezing, noisy breathing - Struggling to breathe or too breathless to talk, eat or drink - Stridor (harsh, high-pitched noise when breathing in) - Persistent cough with breathing difficulty Circulation / Consciousness - Feeling very dizzy, faint, confused, drowsy or unresponsive - Collapse or loss of consciousness - Skin that looks blue, grey or very pale, cold or clammy - Severe dizziness or light-headedness - A child who becomes floppy or very unresponsive Other - Feeling of tightness in the chest or throat - Rapid or very slow heart rate, weak pulse (seen with collapse) Give an adrenaline auto-injector if available, call 999 immediately, and lie the person flat (raise legs if dizzy; sit up slightly if breathing is very difficult). Concerning symptoms (Amber) - seek urgent advice from GP / NHS 111 today These symptoms can occur with allergic reactions and may develop into something more serious even if they’re not immediately life-threatening: General / Skin - Itchy skin or a rash (hives) that comes and goes - Tingling or itchy mouth - Swelling limited to the lips/face without breathing problems Other Possible Signs - Feeling generally unwell, unusual fussiness (in children) - Dry skin, lips or tongue, or tingling sensations - Frequent allergic reactions without a clear trigger - Signs of dehydration (e.g., not urinating) Contact your GP or call NHS 111 for advice today. If symptoms worsen, treat as a red flag. Mild symptoms (Green) - monitor at home These are milder features that do not normally indicate anaphylaxis on their own: - Mild localised rash without breathing or circulation changes - Minor itching - No swelling of the mouth/throat or breathing issues - No dizziness or loss of consciousness

What Is Brain Fog? Brain fog means your mind feels cloudy or slow. You might notice: Forget names, dates, or small details. Have trouble focusing on tasks. Feel mentally sluggish or find your thoughts are mixed up. Brain fog isn’t a disease on its own. It’s a sign that your body or mind might be stressed, tired, or going through changes like menopause. Both kids and adults can feel foggy at times, but if it sticks around, it can make school, work, or daily life harder. Signs of Brain Fog Brain fog can feel different for each person, but common signs are: Trouble concentrating or staying focused. Forgetting names, dates, or things you just learned. Feeling mentally tired even after you’ve rested. Having trouble organising your thoughts or saying what you mean clearly. If these signs last for weeks or start to affect your daily life, try keeping track of them and talk to a doctor.

What Is Brain Fog? Brain fog happens when your mind feels cloudy, making it tough to think clearly, remember things, or stay focused. It isn’t a serious memory issue, but it can make daily tasks more difficult. During menopause, women may notice they: Forget names, dates, or small details more often. Struggle to focus on tasks that used to be easy. Feel like their thoughts are “slower” or harder to organise. Brain fog is not a disease. It is a symptom that can show up when hormone levels in your body change, such as during menopause or pregnancy.

With the COVID-19 vaccine having been put into place across the world now, the doctors here at Healthwords have listened to many of the public’s pressing questions in their frontline work so let’s address your concerns and give you the information you need to decide on taking up the offer of the vaccine if you still haven’t had it, either for yourself or a loved one.

PCR tests (polymerase chain reaction tests) have been used since the start of the pandemic to test for the presence of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) and alert scientists to any new variants. A PCR test needs to be sent off to a laboratory, and results can take one to three days to return. Rapid lateral flow tests came in a bit later in the pandemic, and can be done at home, with the result quickly available within minutes and they resemble a pregnancy test. Generally speaking, the lateral flow test is useful for those without symptoms and the PCR test is for those with symptoms. Anecdotally, the PCR test may show positive a few days prior to the lateral flow test.

The initial outbreak of COVID-19 was in Wuhan, China, and many people referred to the disease and any subsequent variants by the city or country of origin. The World Health Organisation (WHO) felt this caused undue discrimination and stigma against certain countries and places, and may deter them from declaring new variants they had found. They needed to find a naming framework that avoided causing offence to any cultural, ethnic or social groups, and decided to name each variant after a letter of the Greek alphabet. The initial virus was called novel coronavirus, or SARS-CoV-2 – not too catchy, so you may not have heard of it. Subsequent variants were named Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta and are to continue in this manner.

Your turn has come, you’ve booked your slot, it might be at a centre you don’t know, but you're feeling ready. Let’s walk you through what to expect once you’re there, and top tips so your vaccine appointment runs smoothly.

You finally got your invite and booked your appointment, and you’ve heard various stories about what to expect after your vaccine. Millions have received this now, and the vast majority have experienced only mild symptoms or none at all, with serious reactions very rare. Forewarned is forearmed, so let’s go through the most likely symptoms for the hours and days after your vaccine, and what might help.

If you’re choosing to live your life according to a particular set of beliefs, you’ll naturally want everything to be compatible with this. It's natural to feel nervous if you belong to a particular religion, faith or culture, or if you exclude certain food groups on ethical or health grounds, such as vegan, vegetarian or gluten-free diets. It’s also true of those who have serious allergies, like egg. You’ll be particular about everything you put in your body – food, drinks, medicines and, of course, vaccines. So let’s look at the COVID-19 vaccine, arms ourselves with the facts and address any concerns you may have.

Collagen is a protein that is very important for your body. It helps keep your skin, hair, nails, muscles, and joints strong and flexible. As you get older, your body makes less collagen, which can lead to wrinkles, thinner hair, and joint pain. Many people use collagen supplements and beauty products, hoping to look younger and feel better. This article explains what collagen is, how it works, the different types, and whether supplements really help. It also shares natural ways to boost your body’s collagen and clears up common myths.

A clinical trial is when treatments or interventions are tested on a sample of people. This assesses safety and effectiveness, and notes any treatment side effects, from the mildest to the most serious. Effectiveness is compared against other interventions or existing products. It is a crucial part of research that, if proven safe and effective, allows new treatments to be safely rolled out on a large scale. It’s a legal requirement, too.