Cold Calling

WINTER is the time when the health of the nation takes a general turn for the worse. Coughs, colds, sniffles, sore throats, headaches and chest infections are as much a part of winter as Christmas pudding, mulled wine and festive cheer. For most of us, they will be minor irritations - unpleasant consequences of the cold, damp weather and lack of sunlight, which we just have to put up with.

But for some - the elderly, the frail, the very young - winter illnesses can be more serious, as the regular winter beds crisis in our hospitals demonstrates.

Your GP is always there if you feel under the weather. But this year - perhaps in an attempt to staunch the flow of winter patients flooding the hospitals - there's a new frontline health service on hand.

Simply by picking up the telephone, you can be connected instantly to a fully-qualified health service nurse, who will be able to dispense advice, suggestions for the medicine cabinet, soothing noises - and, if necessary, instructions that you see your GP immediately.

The 24-hour NHS Direct helpline was launched in North Yorkshire back in August.

There are 12 fully-trained nurses based in York - and no fewer than 45 for the whole of North and East Yorkshire, Tees and Hull.

Already, those 45 people are fielding up to 300 calls a day - and as the winter deepens, that load will inevitably increase.

NHS Direct nurse team leader in York Adele Hartley-Spencer says she and her colleagues are geared up ready to take calls from anyone who is feeling under the weather this winter.

But with a little care and a bit of forethought, she says, many people need never become ill in the first place.

"You really should be looking after your own health," she says. "Prevention is always better than cure."

Simple measures such as keeping warm - and perhaps wearing layers of warm clothes rather than overheating your homes - eating a balanced diet and taking a bit of exercise can work wonders, Adele says. So can avoiding overindulgence over the festive season - though for many a sore head and a groaning stomach will inevitably feature in the pantheon of winter ill-health.

More importantly, with viruses usually on the increase at this time of year, anybody who is vulnerable should find out as soon as possible from their GP about having a flu jab, Adele says.

'At risk' groups include elderly people over 65, residents of long-stay residential and nursing homes, people with chronic heart disease, renal disease, respiratory disease (such as asthma) or diabetes, and those with weak immune systems caused by for example chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

In order to prevent the spread of infectious winter illnesses, Adele also advises people who are suffering from an infectious condition to try to keep away from other people as much as possible - and especially not to visit sick or elderly people in hospital.

Keeping warm is important, especially for the elderly - so try not to shirk on those fuel bills. But paradoxically, Adele says, if somebody has got a temperature or fever, it is best not to overheat the home. To help bring the fever down, a slightly cooler room temperature is preferable. Adele suggests about 15 degrees centigrade.

"It's a fine line between keeping warm enough to be comfortable, but also trying to decrease body temperature," Adele said.

If the room temperature drops too low, though, she says, you will start shivering: which increases metabolic rate and so pushes body temperature up again.

"So it's a question of keeping warm but not too warm," she said.

Plenty of warm fluids are also advised if you have a fever - and pain killers or analgesic to control the symptoms.

You shouldn't dose yourself with too many vitamin supplements, though, without consulting your doctor first, Adele advises.

"A lot of people do want to take vitamins," she acknowledges. "But elderly people in particular take a lot of drugs and they can react with each-other."

Having a well-stocked medicine cabinet, though, is a good precaution for winter, advises the National Pharmaceutical Association - and can mean you can self-treat many minor ailments at home.

Stocking a few simple remedies such as paracetamol or aspirin (not for children under 12), sore throat lozenges and cold remedies is a good idea - your local pharmacist will be able to help advise.

But it's important to 'spring clean' your medicine cabinet for winter to get rid of any out-of-date medicines.

It's also important to remember that many cold remedies contain several ingredients - combining them with other medicines, such as paracetamol, can mean accidentally taking an overdose.

Advice is always to ask your pharmacist before taking medicines in combination.

Simple ways to feel tickety boo

4 Keep warm - room temperatures of up to 20 degrees C are advisable and layers of warm clothing

4 Find out from your GP about a flu vaccine if you're vulnerable

4 Eat a balanced diet

4 Take some exercise - a breath of fresh air can be just that

4 Try not to overindulge

4 If you have an infectious illness, try to keep away from anyone who might be vulnerable

4 Keep a well-stocked medicine cabinet - see your pharmacist for advice - but make sure you get rid of out-of-date medicines

4 Don't combine cold remedies without

asking advice from your pharmacist first

The NHS Direct 24-hour helpline can be reached on 0845 4647.