Five ways to help ‘fight or flight' stress hormone and bring down blood pressure
The internet is awash with tips, tricks and hacks to fix minor medical problems. But how much of it is accurate and can be trusted? In an age of misinformation and social media 'experts', it is always better to ask someone who is in the know about your health woes.
Each week, Superintendent Pharmacist Claire Nevinson will answer our readers' questions on everything from insomnia and indigestion to trapped wind and toilet troubles. This week, Claire tackles the stress hormone, cortisol…
Q. Everyone is talking about high cortisol on social media – is it actually a problem that a lot of people have, or has it been blown out or proportion? What are the actual symptoms and what should we be doing about it?
Cortisol is the body's natural steroid, also known as the body's stress hormone. It plays a key role in managing many bodily functions including regulating blood sugar levels, helping the body cope with and respond to stress, controlling blood pressure, regulating metabolism and immune function and reducing inflammation.
What leads to high cortisol levels?
During times of stress, the adrenal glands of the body will release both adrenaline and cortisol. This can lead to increased energy levels, which is the body's way of preparing for what it perceives as a potentially harmful or dangerous situation.
Spikes in these hormones should naturally return to normal levels when the situation that triggered them is over, but during extended periods of everyday stress this doesn't always happen and cortisol levels may remain high. This can increase the risk of many health conditions including weight gain, anxiety, heart problems and high blood sugar.
In rare cases, higher than normal cortisol levels may also be a result of Cushing's syndrome. This is an uncommon condition with the main symptoms being weight gain, typically on the chest, stomach, shoulders and back of the neck, as well as a red, puffy and rounded face. If you are concerned about any symptoms, you may be experiencing, you should speak to your GP.
What leads to low cortisol levels?
While the issue of high cortisol levels has seen a lot of attention, particularly on social media, the body can also experience low cortisol levels.
This occurs when the adrenal glands don't produce enough cortisol. This is known as Addison's disease – a rare condition, which usually occurs because of a problem with the immune system. It can cause lack of energy, fatigue, muscle weakness, low mood, loss of appetite, dizziness, losing weight without trying and increased thirst.
How can we manage cortisol levels?
Reduce everyday stress
If the changes in cortisol levels are caused by prolonged everyday stress, it's important to try and identify the triggers if you can. This is a good first step towards finding coping mechanisms and ways to avoid stress.
Eat a balanced diet
A healthy and balanced diet can help support your physical health and emotional wellness. Try to eat a nutrient-rich diet full of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats as well as drinking plenty of water. Try to limit your caffeine intake and the number of foods you consume that are high in added sugar and saturated fats.
Undertake regular exercise
The NHS recommends 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity activity a week, which can help reduce feelings of stress and therefore can help manage cortisol levels. Make sure to speak to your GP before starting any new forms of exercise if you have an existing medical condition or have not exercised in a while.
Get plenty of sleep
Aim for seven to nine hours of uninterrupted sleep a night to reduce everyday stress and manage cortisol levels. It can help to establish a sleep routine and going to bed and getting up at consistent times.
You should also try to reduce screen time or eliminate it altogether before bedtime and replacing for anything that helps your body and mind to relax instead. This could include a warm bath, face mask or reading a book.
If you're experiencing symptoms that make you think your cortisol levels may be imbalanced, make an appointment to speak to your GP.
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Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
How old is YOUR skin? AI tool reveals real age of your face and dishes sobering truths
A tool that analyses the true age of your skin has been put to the test by a group of MailOnline reporters and editors who were brave enough to find out how old they really look to the rest of the world. Novos, a New-York based company which specializes in anti-ageing and claims to be 'pioneers in consumer longevity', has put out a test which uses AI to analyze skin health. The software, which the company claims is expertly trained on over three million images and 'validated by dermatology specialists', gives a score based on facial age, eye age, eye bags, wrinkles, uniformity, pores and redness. The higher the score out of 100 for redness, pores, wrinkles and eye bags, the better, whereas skincare fanatics should aim for a lower score out of 100 for their facial uniformity. FACE AGE: 56 EYE AGE: 31 ACTUAL AGE: 58 EYE BAGS: 73/100. FACE WRINKLES: 95/100. UNIFORMITY: 39/100. PORES: 36/100. REDNESS: 70/100 Reacting to the results, Claire said:'I was looking haggard today (early mornings) and I was expecting my age to be higher, so I can't complain. 'Very happy with my eye age and it seemed to have scored in my favor in everything but pores but I'll take that hit for the 31 years eye age. 'I probably need a facial to rectify pore score but I will take a look at them tonight as I've never really thought about them, so maybe that is the problem.' Claire says she uses products from The Code skincare range by her friend, Rhianna Van Der Lugt. She added: 'She has perfected all of the products so they work well on every age as my daughter is 21 and obsessed with the moisturizer. 'I use the skin cleansing cream (with water) and rub in firmly and then wipe off with a damp flannel. I usually do this two or three times before I add some serum and then the nourish and lift moisturiser which is absolutely brilliant. 'I do this morning and evening. I also try not to wear any make up at the weekend so that my skin can rest. There is also a SPF 50+ for the face which I use whenever I am in the sun and it doesn't react with my eyes and my face is really well protected.' SIOFRA FACE AGE: 36 EYE AGE: 29 ACTUAL AGE: 43 Reacting to the results, Siofra said: 'I must admit, I was dreading the results and was very much bracing myself to be told my skin looks a lot older than it should! I do go through phases where it gets some TLC, but this is very much not one of them. 'My current routine is washing my face at night and using some Lidl moisturiser twice a day. That coupled with a string of nights of broken sleep, I was preparing for the worst. So, to get a result of 36, seven years younger than my 43 years, was a great surprise. 'Even better was my eye age of 29. I fully expected that to be the worst bit due to the aforementioned restless nights, and I'd personally say that's usually my worst area when it comes to showing my age. 'However, my score was 78 out of 100 and Novos tells me that higher is better on this front. Readying the advice, it advises a lot of water, fruit and veg and I am good at ticking all these boxes - so maybe it's paid off. 'My overall facial wrinkle score wasn't so positive with a low 27, but it doesn't bother me too much. I've had deep lines on my forehead for as long as I can remember and if they start to bother me, I'll get a fringe. 'My scores for pores, redness and uniformity weren't great on paper but they don't look so bad to me. Perhaps I've gone face blind but overall I'm really happy and even tempted to try it again after I've caught up on some sleep.' KATE FACE AGE: 31 EYE AGE: 24 ACTUAL AGE: 31 EYE BAGS: 84/100. FACIAL WRINKLES: 84/100. UNIFORMITY: 51/100. PORES: 20/100. REDNESS: 48/100 Reacting to the results, Kate said: 'I had hoped my facial age results would be a little younger, out of pure vanity, but I'm also glad that I look around my age as I think age is something to be celebrated. 'My eye age being 24 was a pleasant surprise though, I have to say! My scores for Eye Bags and Facial Wrinkles is relatively high, which I'm told is a good thing and I won't be looking to have Botox any time soon. 'I wasn't too surprised by my poor Pore and Redness scores, as I struggle with oily combination skin and these have been lifelong issues for me anyway. 'Overall I'm quite pleased and plan to continue my usual skincare routine - although I might do a bit more research on reducing pore appearance and redness.' JACK FACE AGE: 36 EYE AGE: 25 ACTUAL AGE: 33 Reacting to the results, Jack said: 'As someone who takes pretty good care of their skin with daily SPF and retinol at night I'm pretty to shocked to have been aged up by three years. 'People usually remark that I'm babyfaced so this is a sobering reminder that time waits for no man. Maybe it's time to hit the Botox…' ED FACE AGE: 23 EYE AGE: 30 ACTUAL AGE: 25 EYE BAGS: 64/100. FACE WRINKLES: 72/100. UNIFORMITY: 33/100. PORES: 52/100. REDNESS: 45/100 Reacting to the results, Ed said: 'Well the younger facial age might explain why I keep getting ID'd while trying to buy alcohol at the supermarket. 'I'm pleasantly surprised with these results. I thought the bags under my eyes were more prominent than the AI appears to think. 'I think, my eye age, which is five years older than my actual age, could be my fault due to one too many late nights followed early rises to get to work. 'All the other results I was expecting.' OLIVER FACE AGE: 35 EYE AGE: 30 ACTUAL AGE: 30 EYE BAGS: 74/100. FACIAL WRINKLES: 60/100. UNIFORMITY: 59/100. PORES: 8/100. REDNESS: 48/100 Reacting to the results, Oliver said: 'It's a bit worrying that my pores score is so poor (as higher is better), perhaps I should see a dermatologist about that, but it's good that my eye age, eye bags and wrinkles are pretty good, so maybe my skincare routine is paying off. I've even just started using glycolic acid! 'Overall I'm not surprised I look a bit older than I am, as I always have. The first time I bought alcohol on my 18th birthday, I wasn't even ID'd and on top of that working in a newsroom can age you (or so I'm told).' JAMES FACE AGE: 23 EYE AGE: 27 ACTUAL AGE: 23 EYE BAGS: 62/100. FACE WRINKLES: 74/100. UNIFORMITY: 37/100. PORES: 65/100. REDNESS: 49/100 Reacting to the results, James said: 'I'm very happy! It's good to know that my 'face age' is also my actual age - so that's healthy. 'As for the rest of my scores, well I have to say being the youngest on the team has it perks. 'As for advice to anyone out there who isn't happy with their skin scores, a weekly dose of exfoliating gel and some CeraVe moisturiser clearly works a treat.' ALEXIS Terrible day: Alexis, 27, said the score 'ruined his day' when AI believed his face age was 11 years older than he actually is FACE AGE: 38 EYE AGE: 40 ACTUAL AGE: 27 Reacting to the results, Alexis said: 'It ruined my day!' ROB FACE AGE: 36 EYE AGE: 35 ACTUAL AGE: 26 EYE BAGS: 64/100. FACE WRINKLES: 15/100. UNIFORMITY: 32/100. PORES: 46/100. REDNESS: 37/100 Reacting to the results, Rob said: 'It's not ideal that I've been aged ten years, but I will blame it on the AI identifying the beard. It would be interesting to see the results if I had a shave. 'It looks like the only metric I've scored positively on is uniformity and eye bags, and then really poorly on the wrinkles, so clearly I need to up my game with the skin care routine. 'I'm also slightly dubious that the test is set up by a skin care company.' JON FACE AGE: 38 EYE AGE: 40 ACTUAL AGE: 34 EYE BAGS: 72/100. FACE WRINKLES: 50/100. UNIFORMITY: 42/100/ PORES: 13/100. REDNESS: 49/100 Reacting to the results, Jon said: 'Oh, this is brutal. I've always been told I looked alright for my age - occasionally passing for under 30 - so for an AI to tell me I look 38 is harsh. 'I'll agree with the eye bags though - not enough sleep and too much coffee to blame for those. And I'm pinning the wrinkle score on all my laughter lines from being such a jolly guy. That's what I'm telling myself, anyway. 'Delighted my regular and expensive moisturising regime is getting results for my pores. Bit miffed to be told I have a red face - and what does it even mean to have a 'uniform' face anyway? It's not like my nose is above my eyes. 'But the cynic in me does wonder whether it's being a bit harsh on purpose. After all, this company is selling products they say make you look younger. 'Would it really say I look younger if I slapped a bit of 'longevity formulation' on my face for a month? I'm not sure it would.' STEPHEN FACE AGE: 36 EYE AGE: 25 ACTUAL AGE: 30 EYE BAGS: 53/100. FACE WRINKLES: 61/100. UNIFORMITY: 39/100. PORES: 39/100. REDNESS: 48/100 Reacting to the results, Stephen said: 'As much as I'd love to say I'm shocked, being told I look years older than I actually am isn't overly surprising. Maybe I should look at getting Botox. Stephen added that his skincare routine involves moisturising every day but 'that's it'. AMIE-BETH FACE AGE: 35 EYE AGE: 30 ACTUAL AGE: 29 EYE BAGS: 74/100. FACE WRINKLES: 60/100. UNIFORMITY: 59/100. PORES: 8/100. REDNESS: 48/100 Reacting to the results, Amie-Beth said: 'I wasn't too shocked at my facial age as I am due my next round of Botox. 'I was surprised with they eye bag score as I have just come off of night shifts so I thought that would be worse. 'I feel as I am approaching 30, I am noticing my wrinkles a lot more so the wrinkle score does make sense to me. 'The pore score has horrified me. I always pride myself in having good skin. Maybe I need to invest in a toner.' STELLA FACE AGE: 36 EYE AGE: 29 ACTUAL AGE: 28 EYE BAGS: 63/100. FACE WRINKLES: 9/100. UNIFORMITY: 60/100. PORES: 15/100. REDNESS: 44/100 Reacting to the results, Stella said: 'I am shocked! There's no way I look 36 - definitely not! 'The only spot-on result? My eye age. Because let's be real, eyes never lie. 'My eye bags results are giving me hope, but those facial wrinkle scores? I'm scratching my head wondering what I'm doing wrong. I spent so much money on skin care every month.' AYAAT FACE AGE: 22 EYE AGE: 22 ACTUAL AGE: 23 EYE BAGS: 52/100. FACIAL WRINKLES: 63/100. UNIFORMITY: 27/100 PORES: 65/100 REDNESS: 57/100 Reacting to the results, Ayaat said: 'I recently turned 23, so the eye and facial age is clearly accurate. But I was mildly surprised by the scores on wrinkles, eye bags and redness - not ever having registered those as potential "problem areas" in skin. 'My skincare routine consists of cleansing in the evening with a face wash, toning morning and night, and using a thick moisturiser and SPF whenever there are high UV warnings. 'This summer, though, I have laid out in the sun more than I should have, which I know isn't great for wrinkles...'
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
How old is YOUR skin? Tool that tells you the real age of your face had some sobering truths for these brave volunteers
A tool that analyses the true age of your skin has been put to the test by a group of volunteers who were brave enough to find out how old they really look to the rest of the world. Novos, a New-York based company which specialises in anti-ageing and claims to be 'pioneers in consumer longevity', has put out a test which uses AI to analyse your skin's health. The software, which the company claims is expertly trained on over three million images and 'validated by dermatology specialists', gives a score based on facial age, eye age, eye bags, wrinkles, uniformity, pores and redness. The higher the score out of 100 for redness, pores, wrinkles and eye bags, the better, whereas skincare fanatics should aim for a lower score out of 100 for their facial uniformity. For some, the test was precise and got their age spot on. Video journalist James said he was 'very happy' and even recommended exfoliating once a week, followed by using a moisturiser. AI guessed that trainee reporter Ayaat was a year younger than her real age and she said it was 'clearly accurate'. However, others were told they looked 11 years older than their real age, which ended up 'ruining' their day, with one saying that the humbling test provides a 'sobering reminder that time waits for no man'. But do you think the results are correct? MailOnline reporters and editors put it to the test and were both pleasantly and unpleasantly surprised by the result... CLAIRE EYE BAGS: 73/100 FACE WRINKLES: 95/100 UNIFORMITY: 39/100 PORES: 36/100 REDNESS: 70/100 Reacting to the results, Claire said: 'I was looking haggard today (early mornings) and I was expecting my age to be higher, so I can't complain. 'Very happy with my eye age and it seemed to have scored in my favour in everything but pores but I'll take that hit for the 31 years eye age. 'I probably need a facial to rectify pore score but I will take a look at them tonight as I've never really thought about them, so maybe that is the problem.' Claire says she uses products from The Code skincare range by her friend, Rhianna Van Der Lugt. 'She has perfected all of the products so they work well on every age as my daughter is 21 and obsessed with the moisturiser,' she said. 'I use the skin cleansing cream (with water) and rub in firmly and then wipe off with a damp flannel. I usually do this two or three times before I add some serum and then the nourish and lift moisturiser which is absolutely brilliant. 'I do this morning and evening. I also try not to wear any make up at the weekend so that my skin can rest. There is also a SPF 50+ for the face which I use whenever I am in the sun and it doesn't react with my eyes and my face is really well protected.' SIOFRA FACE AGE: 36 EYE AGE: 29 ACTUAL AGE: 43 Reacting to the results, Siofra said: 'I must admit, I was dreading the results and was very much bracing myself to be told my skin looks a lot older than it should! I do go through phases where it gets some TLC, but this is very much not one of them. 'My current routine is washing my face at night and using some Lidl moisturiser twice a day. That coupled with a string of nights of broken sleep, I was preparing for the worst. So, to get a result of 36, seven years younger than my 43 years, was a great surprise. 'Even better was my eye age of 29. I fully expected that to be the worst bit due to the aforementioned restless nights, and I'd personally say that's usually my worst area when it comes to showing my age. 'However, my score was 78 out of 100 and Novos tells me that higher is better on this front. Readying the advice, it advises a lot of water, fruit and veg and I am good at ticking all these boxes - so maybe it's paid off. 'My overall facial wrinkle score wasn't so positive with a low 27, but it doesn't bother me too much. I've had deep lines on my forehead for as long as I can remember and if they start to bother me, I'll get a fringe. 'My scores for pores, redness and uniformity weren't great on paper but they don't look so bad to me. Perhaps I've gone face blind but overall I'm really happy and even tempted to try it again after I've caught up on some sleep.' KATE FACE AGE: 31 EYE AGE: 24 ACTUAL AGE: 33 EYE BAGS: 84/100. FACIAL WRINKLES: 84/100. UNIFORMITY: 51/100. PORES: 20/100. REDNESS: 48/100 Reacting to the results, Kate said: 'I had hoped my facial age results would be a little younger, out of pure vanity, but I'm also glad that I look around my age as I think age is something to be celebrated. 'My eye age being 24 was a pleasant surprise though, I have to say! My scores for Eye Bags and Facial Wrinkles is relatively high, which I'm told is a good thing and I won't be looking to have Botox any time soon. 'I wasn't too surprised by my poor Pore and Redness scores, as I struggle with oily combination skin and these have been lifelong issues for me anyway. 'Overall I'm quite pleased and plan to continue my usual skincare routine - although I might do a bit more research on reducing pore appearance and redness.' JACK FACE AGE: 36 EYE AGE: 25 ACTUAL AGE: 33 EYE BAGS: 53/100 FACE WRINKLES: 61/100 UNIFORMITY: 39/100 PORES: 39/100 REDNESS: 48/100 Reacting to the results, Jack said: 'As someone who takes pretty good care of their skin with daily SPF and retinol at night I'm pretty to shocked to have been aged up by three years. 'People usually remark that I'm babyfaced so this is a sobering reminder that time waits for no man. Maybe it's time to hit the Botox…' ED FACE AGE: 23 EYE AGE: 30 ACTUAL AGE: 25 EYE BAGS: 64/100 FACE WRINKLES: 72/100 UNIFORMITY: 33/100 PORES: 52/100 REDNESS: 45/100 Reacting to the results, Ed said: 'Well the younger facial age might explain why I keep getting ID'd while trying to buy alcohol at the supermarket. 'I'm pleasantly surprised with these results. I thought the bags under my eyes were more prominent than the AI appears to think. 'I think, my eye age, which five years older than my actual age, could be my fault due to one too many late nights followed early rises to get to work. 'All the other results I was expecting I think, my eye age, which five years older than my actual age, could be my fault due to one too many late nights followed by early rises to get to work.' OLIVER FACE AGE: 35 EYE AGE: 30 ACTUAL AGE: 30 EYE BAGS: 74/100 FACIAL WRINKLES: 60/100 UNIFORMITY: 59/100 PORES: 8/100 REDNESS: 48/100 Reacting to the results, Oliver said: 'It's a bit worrying that my pores score is so poor (as higher is better), perhaps I should see a dermatologist about that, but it's good that my eye age, eye bags and wrinkles are pretty good, so maybe my skincare routine is paying off. I've even just started using glycolic acid! 'Overall I'm not surprised I look a bit older than I am, as I always have. The first time I bought alcohol on my 18th birthday, I wasn't even ID'd and on top of that working in a newsroom can age you (or so I'm told).' JAMES FACE AGE: 23 EYE AGE: 27 ACTUAL AGE: 23 EYE BAGS: 62/100 FACE WRINKLES: 74/100 UNIFORMITY: 37/100 PORES: 65/100 REDNESS: 49/100 Reacting to the results, James said: 'I'm very happy! It's good to know that my 'face age' is also my actual age - so that's healthy. 'As for the rest of my scores, well I have to say being the youngest on the team has it perks. 'As for advice to anyone out there who isn't happy with their skin scores, a weekly dose of exfoliating gel and some CeraVe moisturiser clearly works a treat.' ALEXIS FACE AGE: 38 EYE AGE: 40 ACTUAL AGE: 27 EYE BAGS: 72/100 FACE WRINKLES: 50/100 UNIFORMITY: 42/100 PORES: 13/100 REDNESS: 49/100 Reacting to the results, Alexis said: 'It ruined my day!' ROB FACE AGE: 36 EYE AGE: 35 ACTUAL AGE: 26 EYE BAGS: 64/100 FACE WRINKLES: 15/100 UNIFORMITY: 32/100 PORES: 46/100 REDNESS: 37/100 Reacting to the results, Rob said: 'It's not ideal that I've been aged 10 years, but I will blame it on the AI identifying the beard. It would be interesting to see the results if I had a shave. 'It looks like the only metric I've scored positively on is uniformity and eye bags, and then really poorly on the wrinkles, so clearly I need to up my game with the skin care routine. 'I'm also slightly dubious that the test is set up by a skin care company.' JON FACE AGE: 38 EYE AGE: 40 ACTUAL AGE: 34 EYE BAGS: 72/100 FACE WRINKLES: 50/100 UNIFORMITY: 42/100 PORES: 13/100 REDNESS: 49/100 Reacting to the results, Jon said: 'Oh, this is brutal. I've always been told I looked alright for my age - occasionally passing for under 30 - so for an AI to tell me I look 38 is harsh. 'I'll agree with the eye bags though - not enough sleep and too much coffee to blame for those. And I'm pinning the wrinkle score on all my laughter lines from being such a jolly guy. That's what I'm telling myself, anyway. 'Delighted my regular and expensive moisturising regime is getting results for my pores. Bit miffed to be told I have a red face - and what does it even mean to have a 'uniform' face anyway? It's not like my nose is above my eyes. 'But the cynic in me does wonder whether it's being a bit harsh on purpose. After all, this company is selling products they say make you look younger. 'Would it really say I look younger if I slapped a bit of 'longevity formulation' on my face for a month? I'm not sure it would.' STEPHEN FACE AGE: 36 EYE AGE: 25 ACTUAL AGE: 30 EYE BAGS: 53/100 FACE WRINKLES: 61/100 UNIFORMITY: 39/100 PORES: 39/100 REDNESS: 48/100 Reacting to the results, Stephen said: 'As much as I'd love to say I'm shocked, being told I look years older than I actually am isn't overly surprising. Maybe I should look at getting Botox. Stephen added that his skincare routine involves moisturising every day but 'that's it'. AMIE-BETH FACE AGE: 35 EYE AGE: 30 ACTUAL AGE: 29 EYE BAGS: 74/100 FACE WRINKLES: 60/100 UNIFORMITY: 59/100 PORES: 8/100 REDNESS: 48/100 Reacting to the results, Amie-Beth said: 'I wasn't too shocked at my facial age as I am due my next round of Botox. 'I was surprised with they eye bag score as I have just come off of night shifts so I thought that would be worse. 'I feel as I am approaching 30, I am noticing my wrinkles a lot more so the wrinkle score does make sense to me. 'The pore score has horrified me. I always pride myself in having good skin. Maybe I need to invest in a toner.' STELLA FACE AGE: 36 EYE AGE: 29 ACTUAL AGE: 28 EYE BAGS: 63/100 FACE WRINKLES: 9/100 UNIFORMITY: 60/100 PORES: 15/100 REDNESS: 44/100 Reacting to the results, Stella said: 'I am shocked! There's no way I look 36 - definitely not! 'The only spot-on result? My eye age. Because let's be real, eyes never lie. 'My eye bags results are giving me hope, but those facial wrinkle scores? I'm scratching my head wondering what I'm doing wrong. I spent so much money on skin care every month.' AYAAT FACE AGE: 22 EYE AGE: 22 ACTUAL AGE: 23 EYE BAGS: 52/100. FACIAL WRINKLES: 63/100. UNIFORMITY: 27/100 PORES: 65/100 REDNESS: 57/100 Reacting to the results, Ayaat said: 'I recently turned 23, so the eye and facial age is clearly accurate. But I was mildly surprised by the scores on wrinkles, eye bags and redness - not ever having registered those as potential 'problem areas' in skin. My skincare routine consists of cleansing in the evening with a face wash, toning morning and night, and using a thick moisturiser and SPF whenever there are high UV warnings. 'This summer, though, I have laid out in the sun more than I should have, which I know isn't great for wrinkles...'
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
Pharmacist issues vaccine warning to Brits heading on holiday this year
Tourists heading abroad this summer have been urged to consider what vaccinations are recommended for their destination. Holidaymakers jetting off to tropical climates could be exposed to diseases their immune systems aren't used to. Though there aren't mandatory vaccines for some countries, Brits are advised to check any requirements before travelling. Boots pharmacist Claire Nevinson explained the urgency of travellers protecting their health when going abroad. 'It's important to take steps to protect our health when we travel abroad so we can focus on enjoying our holiday,' she said. 'Travel vaccinations may be recommended depending on where you are travelling, the activities you will be doing, and your age and general health.' The healthcare company revealed the most common diseases customers were seeking advice on included Japanese encephalitis, rabies and hepatitis A. More than a third of travellers are planning to jet off to long-haul locations this year, according to Boots, including with Thailand, India and China. Claire added: 'If you're travelling abroad this summer, you may be exposed to diseases we don't usually have in the UK. 'Travel vaccinations may be recommended for your trip as a measure to help prevent you picking these illnesses up. 'The childhood vaccination programme in the UK provides protection from several diseases, but it may also be necessary to consider boosters or other vaccinations if you're planning to visit certain parts of the world.' The pharmacist advised that holidaymakers should consider taking medications with them on their travels too. Claire recommended several items including antihistamines and pain relief, regardless of the destination. 'Whether you're jetting off or keeping it local this summer, it's always wise to pack a few healthcare products depending on the destination you're travelling to,' she said. 'A small first aid kit may be a good start. You could consider including pain relief medicine, antihistamine medicine to help relieve symptoms of hayfever and other allergies, plasters, antiseptic cream, insect repellent and of course broad-spectrum sunscreen with a minimum of SPF30. 'It's also important to make sure you have an adequate supply of any prescription medicines that you take. 'Additionally, I'd always check whether you might need medication to help prevent malaria. 'It is important that antimalarials are started before you travel to a place where you might be at risk.'
