Prevention- The flu vaccine

Much of the illness and death caused by the influenza virus can be prevented by the annual influenza vaccination. Many individuals still do not have the knowledge or understand the importance or how to get the vaccine and also because at times, stocks can run out of the vaccine. There have been many miss-understandings of the vaccine in the public eye. The vaccine is given each year by an injection. People who are at high risk of getting the influenza virus are strongly recommended to get annual vaccination. These groups of people include:

· Aged over 65

· Chronic respiratory disease

· Chronic heart disease

· Chronic kidney disease

· Chronic liver disease

· Diabetes

· Chronic neurological disease

· Immunosuppression illness

High risk groups also include those working in public sector areas or those in contact with a number of different groups of people, for example : health care workers, those living in close proximity to others, gym environments, air conditioned areas or working.

The vaccine needs to be given each year, this is due to the clever fact that the virus changes continually by mutating. Therefore, each year, the vaccine changes according to the most up to date virus that is present. Also, once a person receives the vaccine, the effectiveness of the vaccine, reduces over time in an individual.

The vaccine should be taken around September of each year and it takes approximately 2 weeks for the beneficially effects of the vaccine to develop.

Care Quality Commision Approved and Registered

Galen Health Partners

Prostate Screening

Below is information on your prostate and prostate disease

Early diagnosis of Prostate cancer can dramatically reduce the spread and risk of effects of the cancer. The older a man gets, the higher the risk of prostate cancer and this risk is greater if any other risk factors are present. Screening should take place with a doctor to go through all your risk factors and then investigations including a blood test for Prostate Specific Antigen, or commonly known as PSA. The greater this value is, the more likelihood that the prostate has grown to a worrying size. The next step would be imaging of the prostate with either ultrasound scanning or MRI.

It is important to have screening for prostate cancer in men who have any signs or symptoms or risk factors present.

The worrying thing about prostate cancer is that it does not normally cause any symptoms until the cancer has grown large enough to put pressure effects.

Symptoms can include:

having a sudden need to urinate,
having pain during urination,
frequent urination, especially during the night,
the flow of your urine is weak and irregular,
having problems beginning urination,
feeling that your bladder is not empty after urination, and
less commonly, blood in your urine.

The prostate is a small gland in men located between the penis and the bladder. The main function of the prostate is to help in the production of semen.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men.

· 25% of newly diagnosed cases of cancer in England and Wales.

· The chances of developing prostate cancer increase as you get older.

· Most cases develop in men aged 65 or older.

Risk Factors

· Age - 70% of all prostate cancer cases occur in men over the age of 65.

· more common amongst men of Afro-Caribbean and African descent.

· Family history - having a close male relative - such as a brother, father or uncle - who had prostate cancer seems to increase the risk of you developing prostate cancer.

· Research also shows that having a close female relative who developed breast cancer may also increase the risk of you developing the condition.

· Diet - a diet high in dairy products and red meat has been linked to an increased risk of developing prostate cancer. Conversely, prostate cancer rates are lower in people who eat a mainly, or entirely, vegetarian diet, especially a diet containing lots of tomatoes which contain the antioxidant lycopene.