Help yourself to keep healthy over the festive period

THERE is plenty you can do to help yourself in case you fall ill over the holiday period.

It is a good idea to keep a well-stocked medicine cabinet at home to help cope with common illnesses, such as colds and flu, coughs, sore throats, indigestion, and headaches.

Paracetamol, aspirin or ibuprofen are the most common remedies for pain, fever and headaches. These remedies will also reduce a high temperature. Children under 16 should not take aspirin.

If you have children, remember to include appropriate medicines for them in your medicine cabinet.

If you are asthmatic, have ulcers or suffer from indigestion speak to a GP or pharmacist before taking aspirin or ibuprofen.

It is also worth asking your pharmacist for a rehydration mixture if you have sickness and diarrhoea. You should also stock up on an indigestion remedy, cough medicines, and decongestants for blocked noses.

Always read the label and patient information before taking medicines and only take the recommended dose. You should always keep all medicines in their original container.

You should make sure all medicines are in a secure place, out of the reach of small children, and do not use them if they are out of date.

Do not take over-the-counter medicines for headache relief for more than the recommended few days without talking to a health professional.

You can ease a blocked nose, stuffiness and a sore throat by breathing in steam from a hot shower, in the bath or from a basin.

Make sure you get plenty of rest and avoid strenuous exercise. If you do not feel like eating, try soup instead.

Make sure you drink plenty of fluids. Drinking water helps prevent bladder and bowel problems, and kidney stones.

You should try to drink six to eight glasses (about two litres) of water a day. Drink more if you feel unwell, are hungover or going on long journeys.

Tap water is good for you - and cheaper than bottled water. Swap fizzy drinks for unsweetened fruit juice.