Herbal Health

Optician

This is another important service because it is vital to keep one’s eyesight as good as possible, especially if suffering from a tendency to confusion. It is also important to pick up early such conditions as cataract and glaucoma (opacities in the eye and increased pressure respectively). If glasses are needed the person may be eligible for vouchers towards the cost, and the DSS should be approached. Some opticians will visit the person at home but may charge. In cases of difficulty contact the local FHSA.

Occupational therapist

Occupational therapists specialize in assessing the handicapped of all ages and advising and teaching them and their carers on the practical ways of coping with the disability. Many specialize in the needs of elderly people. Some work in hospitals, others are employed by the local authority and work in the community. All like to visit the person at home, where they can advise on adaptations, aids and equipment, especially in the areas of dressing, washing, toileting and kitchen work. Some have had special training in dealing with the elderly mentally confused. If the person concerned is not in hospital then occupational therapists can be contacted via the social services department or general practitioner.

Phуsiоtherapist

Physiotherapists are therapists concerned with helping mobility. They also specialize in pain relief (muscle and joint related) as well as special exercises for certain conditions (lung diseases, etc.) They work in hospitals and in the community; some specialize in the needs of elderly people where they have expertise in dealing with strokes, arthritis, unsteady walking and Parkinson’s disease.

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Hay fever is like asthma; but in the nose. Reacting to allergens the nose becomes obstructed, discharges copious quantities of liquid secretions into the environment and in severe cases becomes completely obstructed.

There is no cure for hay fever and the 20 per cent of the population who suffer from this condition ensure a ready market for a constant stream of antihistamines, churned out by the big pharmaceutical companies. A recent development in the management of hay fever is the appearance of a new generation of antihistamines, which effectively counteract the dramatic affects of histamine without producing sedation. Teldane, Hismanal and Claratyne are brands of the new non-sedating antihistamines.

A safer method for the control of chronic hay fever is the use of inhaled nasal steroids. Products such as Beconase and Aldecin have been used continuously for over ten years. No significant, long term side effects have been reported.

Those yearning for complete relief of hay fever without ongoing medication may find a course of desensitizing injections provides long lasting remission. Desensitization is very effective if people with hay fever have a reaction to only one substance and the substance can be identified and carefully injected.

Medical authorities in certain northern European countries view desensitization with concern, as injecting people with substances they are allergic to can produce dramatic allergic reactions and sudden death. People with severe hay fever will probably think a trial of desensitization is well worth the risk.

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