Adult Health

Other Common Conditions (Adults)

Some links on this page have been colour coded to make it easier to find the information you need:

Quick Read
In-depth
Clinical level

The purpose of this section is to pick out common conditions and symptoms which have not have been covered in the other sections on adult health. These include symptoms for which there can be multiple causes such as dizziness and swelling of legs as well as common but important symptoms such as acute constipation which often your local pharmacist can help you with.

LOCAL SUPPORT - SELF REFERRAL

Self referral for a hearing assessment (age 55 or over)

From the Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Age Related Hearing Loss Service (multiple organisations)
Complete a simple 2 page form and contact your provider of choice using the contact details included in the form. Clinic locations are included in the form so you can chose a place close to you.
Download form: Age-Related-Hearing-Loss-Audiology-Self-Referral-Form-Ox-FINAL

From Oxon & Bucks NHS Audiology Service
“For patients over 55 to arrange an appointment for a free hearing test and free hearing aids “ NHS Hearing Aids | Oxon / Bucks NHS Audiology Service | England

National Support - Self Referral

How to contact NHS 111 if you’re deaf or have hearing loss

From Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID)
How to contact NHS 111 How to contact NHS 111 if you’re deaf or have hearing loss – RNID

Support for people who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus

From Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID)

How can you decide what to do with any condition?

THE FOUR OPTIONS FOR DEALING WITH common conditions

There are effectively 4 options to consider with any condition

  • Self-Care (without any support)
  • Self-Care (with the support of your pharmacist)
  • Assessment at your GP practice or contact 111
  • Attending an Accident and Emergency department (A&E)

The different options are based on what actions are required with different conditions. Many common conditions are covered on this page. The articles from the NHS website very helpfully suggest for each condition how you can provide self-care for yourself with or without the support of your pharmacist, when you should attend your GP practice or contact 111, and when you should attend A&E (directly without going through your GP practice).

Always remember you can contact 111 if you are not sure what to do and they will be able to guide you. 

NHS 111

If you are not sure which service to attend then 111 can advise you

As the NHS suggests
NHS 111 can help if you think you need  medical help right now

WHEN SHOULD YOU SEE A PHARMACIST

The articles from the NHS website, including those on this page for some common conditions, very helpfully point out for each condition how you can provide self-care for yourself with or without the support of your pharmacist. Your pharmacist can provide you with both advice and relevant over the counter medication. The range of what a pharmacist can offer is expanded on here

OTHER MEDICAL CONDITIONS

The NHS website provides clear guidance on what your options are

Some of these conditions can be supported with self-care or the support of your local pharmacist. Some may need a clinical assessment in a GP practice and occasionally you may need to attend the accident and emergency department (A&E). All of these options are particularly well explained in the the NHS articles. Patient info and NICE provide more detailed information.

HEAD AND FACE

OVERVIEW

From Patient info
Brain and Nerves Brain and Nerves | Patient

Common dental causes of headaches/ facial pain/ facial swelling is included under

HEADACHE

Headache due to migraine and epilepsy are included in the long term conditions section under

From the NHS

From Patient info

From NICE

FACIAL PAIN

From the NHS, Patient info and NICE
Trigeminal neuralgia

EYES

Common eye conditions, including emergencies and how they can be managed are covered under

This includes what conditions can normally be managed by your local pharmacist and optician, what are the common eye emergencies which should be assessed in an eye casualty and what conditions need assessment by your local GP practice.

EARS

OVERVIEW

From patient info
Ears, Nose, Throat and Mouth Ears, Nose, Throat and Mouth | Patient

From the NHS

Ear wax

From the NHS, Patient info and NICE

Ear wax build up

Drops to remove wax from your ears can be effective and these can be bought from your local pharmacist.

Many GP practices do not now remove ear wax, as it is outside NHS commissioned services. There are a number of private providers including opticians who now provide this service.

TINNITUS

From the NHS, Patient info and NICE
Tinnitus

Support for hearing loss

From Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID)
This excellent website covers many aspects of support for hearing loss

NOSE

hay fever

For detailed information on hay fever and allergic conjunctivitis see under

nasal polyps

From the NHS and Patient info
Nasal polyps

NOSE BLEEDS

From the NHS, Patient info and NICE
This includes information from patient info how to deal with a nose bleed
Nosebleed

Throat, mouth and lips

Common conditions relating to the mouth are included under

This includes some conditions which can be treated by your pharmacist.

mouth ulcers

If mouth ulcers are present less than 3 weeks they can be treated by your local pharmacist.

From the NHS, Patient info and NICE
Mouth ulcers

Hands and elbow

pins and needles of hands

From the NHS and Patient info
Pins and needles

TREMOR OR SHAKING OF HANDS

From the NHS and patient info
Tremor or shaking of the hands

Raynaud’s phenomenon of hands

From the NHS, Patient info and NICE
Raynaud’s phenomenon

Student’s Elbow (olecranon Bursitis)

From Patient info and NICE
Student’s Elbow (olecranon Bursitis)

Abdomen (tummy) and bottom

INDIGESTION, GASTRITIS AND SWALLOWING PROBLEMS

From the NHS, Patient info and NICE
Indigestion

Gastritis

Swallowing problems (Dysphagia)

From NICE
Symptoms suggestive of gastrointestinal tract (upper) cancers  Symptoms suggestive of gastrointestinal tract (upper) cancers | Diagnosis | Gastrointestinal tract (upper) cancers – recognition and referral | CKS | NICE

CONSTIPATION

From the NHS, Patient info and NICE
Constipation

Laxatives

Diarrhoea

From the NHS, Patient info and NICE
Diarrhoea

PILES (HAEMORRHOIDS)

From the NHS
Anal pain Anal pain – NHS 

From the NHS, Patient info and NICE
Piles (haemorrhoids)

ANAL FISSURE

From the NHS
Anal pain Anal pain – NHS 

From the NHS, Patient info and NICE
Anal fissure

Itchy Bottom (Pruritus Ani)

From the NHS, Patient info and NICE
Itchy Bottom (Pruritus Ani)

Hip, leg, knee and feet

SWELLING OF LEGS and feet (OEDEMA)

From the NHS and Patient info
Swollen ankles, feet and legs (oedema)

Leg cramps

From the NHS, Patient info and NICE
Leg cramps

RESTLESS LEGS

From the NHS, Patient info and NICE
Restless legs

PINS AND NEEDLES

From the NHS and Patient Info
Pins and needles

PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY

From the NHS and Patient info
Peripheral neuropathy

From NICE
Neuropathic pain – drug treatment Neuropathic pain – drug treatment | Health topics A to Z | CKS | NICE

Conditions with multiple possible causes or no specific location

DIZZINESS AND VERTIGO

From the NHS, Patient info and NICE
Dizziness

Vertigo (spinning symptom)

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

FAINTING AND BLACKOUTS

From the NHS, Patient info and NICE
Faint and Blackouts

Hiccups

From the NHS, Patient info and NICE
Hiccups

Food allergy and intolerance

For detailed information on food allergy and intolerance see under

As Allergy UK suggest
“We estimate that allergies affect the lives of up to 41 million people in the UK. Between 5 and 8 per cent of children in the UK live with a food allergy. There are many kinds of allergies, from food, which is probably the most widely recognised, to skin, respiratory, eyes, drugs and venom allergy. While in most people, allergy reactions will be mild to moderate they can be fatal in a condition called anaphylaxis, the most severe allergic reaction which requires an immediate emergency response.” About Allergy | Allergy UK | National Charity

Detailed information can be found on allergy and anaphylaxis under

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