In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, rapid sharing of information about planned clinical trials investigating treatments and vaccines was necessary. In this blog for Clinical Trials Day 2021, we look at the novel reporting of study protocols of COVID-19 randomised trials through the BMC Trials structured summary project over the past year. Due to the urgency of the COVID-19 pandemic, clinical trials were being registered, and participants recruited, at unprecedented speeds which would not allow time for publication of study protocols. We predicted that a lack of time to write a full study protocol article and delays in securing funding could be limiting factors to publication, especially in resource-limited settings and where authors are frontline healthcare workers. Accurately reported protocols are vital for research transparency, reducing the risk of bias in trial results, informing the scientific community about ongoing studies, avoiding duplication, and better coordinating research efforts. Therefore, Trials proposed implementing a new, simplified process for handling COVID-19 trial protocols.
Since I started taking these? I’ve had 2. In 9 months. One time of which I was actually sick with a viral infection. I really don’t think that’s a coincidence. Considering how many you get in a bottle…
An Editorial written by the Editors in Chief and Senior Editors of Trials was published in April 2020 to describe the project and invite submissions. This process involved the creation of a simple template for a one-page structured summary based on the CONSORT extension for abstracts which would be simple for authors to complete and editors to review, whilst still allowing for thorough reporting. This summary would be published alongside the full study protocol document that has not undergone peer-review as an additional file. At the time of writing 158 structured summaries have been published as part of the project and the journal has met our aim to publish summaries within an average of 30 days of submission.
Structured summaries published as part of the project have covered topics such as testing for the virus, treatment of people with COVID-19, and prevention and vaccination against the disease. A highly accessed article from the project includes a summary of the PROFISCOV trial protocol. This trial aims to assess the efficacy and safety of an adsorbed COVID-19 (Inactivated) vaccine candidate manufactured by Sinovac in healthcare professionals, as well as comparing the safety of the vaccine in adult and elderly participants. Another highly accessed publication was the MelCOVID study summary, which describes the protocol of a trial exploring the effect of intravenous melatonin on the mortality of patients with COVID-19 admitted to the intensive care unit.
Moving past the one-year anniversary of this project, Trials will continue to support the transparent reporting of COVID-19-related studies and are also inviting submissions of manuscripts discussing changes to clinical trials as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, including updates to previously published protocols.
To find out more about how BMC are celebrating Clinical Trials Day 2021, please visit our dedicated page.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, rapid sharing of information about planned clinical trials investigating treatments and vaccines was necessary. In this blog for Clinical Trials Day 2021, we look at the novel reporting of study protocols of COVID-19 randomised trials through the BMC Trials structured summary project over the past year. Due to the urgency of the COVID-19 pandemic, clinical trials were being registered, and participants recruited, at unprecedented speeds which would not allow time for publication of study protocols. We predicted that a lack of time to write a full study protocol article and delays in securing funding could be limiting factors to publication, especially in resource-limited settings and where authors are frontline healthcare workers. Accurately reported protocols are vital for research transparency, reducing the risk of bias in trial results, informing the scientific community about ongoing studies, avoiding duplication, and better coordinating research efforts. Therefore, Trials proposed implementing a new, simplified process for handling COVID-19 trial protocols.
Since I started taking these? I’ve had 2. In 9 months. One time of which I was actually sick with a viral infection. I really don’t think that’s a coincidence. Considering how many you get in a bottle…
An Editorial written by the Editors in Chief and Senior Editors of Trials was published in April 2020 to describe the project and invite submissions. This process involved the creation of a simple template for a one-page structured summary based on the CONSORT extension for abstracts which would be simple for authors to complete and editors to review, whilst still allowing for thorough reporting. This summary would be published alongside the full study protocol document that has not undergone peer-review as an additional file. At the time of writing 158 structured summaries have been published as part of the project and the journal has met our aim to publish summaries within an average of 30 days of submission.
Structured summaries published as part of the project have covered topics such as testing for the virus, treatment of people with COVID-19, and prevention and vaccination against the disease. A highly accessed article from the project includes a summary of the PROFISCOV trial protocol. This trial aims to assess the efficacy and safety of an adsorbed COVID-19 (Inactivated) vaccine candidate manufactured by Sinovac in healthcare professionals, as well as comparing the safety of the vaccine in adult and elderly participants. Another highly accessed publication was the MelCOVID study summary, which describes the protocol of a trial exploring the effect of intravenous melatonin on the mortality of patients with COVID-19 admitted to the intensive care unit.
Moving past the one-year anniversary of this project, Trials will continue to support the transparent reporting of COVID-19-related studies and are also inviting submissions of manuscripts discussing changes to clinical trials as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, including updates to previously published protocols.
To find out more about how BMC are celebrating Clinical Trials Day 2021, please visit our dedicated page.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, rapid sharing of information about planned clinical trials investigating treatments and vaccines was necessary. In this blog for Clinical Trials Day 2021, we look at the novel reporting of study protocols of COVID-19 randomised trials through the BMC Trials structured summary project over the past year. Due to the urgency of the COVID-19 pandemic, clinical trials were being registered, and participants recruited, at unprecedented speeds which would not allow time for publication of study protocols. We predicted that a lack of time to write a full study protocol article and delays in securing funding could be limiting factors to publication, especially in resource-limited settings and where authors are frontline healthcare workers. Accurately reported protocols are vital for research transparency, reducing the risk of bias in trial results, informing the scientific community about ongoing studies, avoiding duplication, and better coordinating research efforts. Therefore, Trials proposed implementing a new, simplified process for handling COVID-19 trial protocols.
Since I started taking these? I’ve had 2. In 9 months. One time of which I was actually sick with a viral infection. I really don’t think that’s a coincidence. Considering how many you get in a bottle…
An Editorial written by the Editors in Chief and Senior Editors of Trials was published in April 2020 to describe the project and invite submissions. This process involved the creation of a simple template for a one-page structured summary based on the CONSORT extension for abstracts which would be simple for authors to complete and editors to review, whilst still allowing for thorough reporting. This summary would be published alongside the full study protocol document that has not undergone peer-review as an additional file. At the time of writing 158 structured summaries have been published as part of the project and the journal has met our aim to publish summaries within an average of 30 days of submission.
Structured summaries published as part of the project have covered topics such as testing for the virus, treatment of people with COVID-19, and prevention and vaccination against the disease. A highly accessed article from the project includes a summary of the PROFISCOV trial protocol. This trial aims to assess the efficacy and safety of an adsorbed COVID-19 (Inactivated) vaccine candidate manufactured by Sinovac in healthcare professionals, as well as comparing the safety of the vaccine in adult and elderly participants. Another highly accessed publication was the MelCOVID study summary, which describes the protocol of a trial exploring the effect of intravenous melatonin on the mortality of patients with COVID-19 admitted to the intensive care unit.
Moving past the one-year anniversary of this project, Trials will continue to support the transparent reporting of COVID-19-related studies and are also inviting submissions of manuscripts discussing changes to clinical trials as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, including updates to previously published protocols.
To find out more about how BMC are celebrating Clinical Trials Day 2021, please visit our dedicated page.
There are many reasons to get an influenza (flu) vaccine each year.
Below is a summary of the benefits of flu vaccination and selected scientific studies that support these benefits.
Flu vaccination can keep you from getting sick with flu.
Flu vaccine prevents millions of illnesses and flu-related doctor’s visits each year. For example, during 2018-2019, flu vaccination prevented an estimated 4.4 million influenza illnesses, 2.3 million influenza-associated medical visits, 58,000 influenza-associated hospitalizations, and 3,500 influenza-associated deaths.
During seasons when the flu vaccine viruses are similar to circulating flu viruses, flu vaccine has been shown to reduce the risk of having to go to the doctor with flu by 40 percent to 60 percent.
Flu vaccination can reduce the risk of flu-associated hospitalization for children, working age adults, and older adults.
Flu vaccine prevents tens of thousands of hospitalizations each year. For example, during 2018-2019 flu vaccination prevented an estimated 58,000 flu-related hospitalizations.
A 2014 studyexternal icon showed that flu vaccine reduced children’s risk of flu-related pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission by 74% during flu seasons from 2010-2012.
In recent years, flu vaccines have reduced the risk of flu-associated hospitalizations among older adultsexternal icon on average by about 40%.
A 2018 study showed that from 2012 to 2015, flu vaccination among adults reduced the risk of being admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) with flu by 82 percent.
Flu vaccination is an important preventive tool for people with chronic health conditions.
Flu vaccination has been associated with lower rates of some cardiac eventsexternal icon among people with heart disease, especially among those who had had a cardiac event in the past year.
Flu vaccination can reduce worsening and hospitalization for flu-related chronic lung disease, such as in persons with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPDexternal icon).
Flu vaccination also has been shown in separate studies to be associated with reduced hospitalizations among people with diabetesexternal icon and chronic lung diseaseexternal icon.
Flu vaccination helps protect women during and after pregnancy.
Vaccination reduces the risk of flu-associated acute respiratory infection in pregnant women by about one-half.
A 2018 studyexternal icon that included influenza seasons from 2010-2016 showed that getting a flu shot reduced a pregnant woman’s risk of being hospitalized with flu by an average of 40 percent.
A number of studies have shown that in addition to helping to protect pregnant women, a flu vaccine given during pregnancy helps protect the baby from flu for several months after birth, when he or she is not old enough to be vaccinated.
Flu vaccine can be lifesaving in children.
A 2017 study was the first of its kind to show that flu vaccination can significantly reduce a child’s risk of dying from flu.
Flu vaccination has been shown in several studies to reduce severity of illness in people who get vaccinated but still get sick.
A 2017 study showed that flu vaccination reduced deaths, intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, ICU length of stay, and overall duration of hospitalization among hospitalized flu patients.
A 2018 studyexternal icon showed that among adults hospitalized with flu, vaccinated patients were 59 percent less likely to be admitted to the ICU than those who had not been vaccinated. Among adults in the ICU with flu, vaccinated patients on average spent 4 fewer days in the hospital than those who were not vaccinated.
Getting vaccinated yourself may also protect people around you, including those who are more vulnerable to serious flu illness, like babies and young children, older people, and people with certain chronic health conditions.Despite the many benefits offered by flu vaccination, only about half of Americans get an annual flu vaccine and flu continues to cause millions of illnesses, hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations and tens of thousands of deaths. Many more people could be protected from flu if more people got vaccinated.
Over recent decades, thanks to technology, we are able to predict the outcomes of people who are addicted to smoking tobacco. There is a likely chance that you may not have heard some of these facts as they are a bit more in-depth, so let’s share them with you.
As we proceed into the article, we will give you a few light facts that not too many know about smoking, and continue onto the ones that are more hidden. From there, we will tell you the likelihood of you dying from smoking, and how you can stop if you are struggling.
Facts you may not have known
To start off with an important fact, the leading cause of death is an illness caused by smoking and secondhand smoke (according to the WHO). Also defined as the ‘biggest public health threat’, 8 million people a year from around the world die to tobacco smoking-related diseases/instances (or will kill at least half of its users statistically). 1 million of that number is non-smokers being exposed to secondhand smoke.
It is worth noting that 80% of the 1 billion smokers worldwide (15.7% of the whole population!) live in working-class conditions. Tobacco drives people to spend their income on Tobacco rather than basic household or personal needs.
Secondhand Smoke
Definition: Secondhand smoke is when a user smokes tobacco, and when exhaled will become ‘secondhand smoke’ affecting those around the primary user.
When exhaled or burnt, it can fill rooms, vents and even water pipes that end up being harmful to others. It is known that 7,000 chemicals are produced when tobacco is burnt or smoked, whilst almost 70 of them are known to cause some type of cancer.
This, in turn, has many negative side effects. The majority is as if you were the primary smoker. It can suppress the ovary system, reduce sperm count and also affect the pregnancy’s development which can lead to ‘Sudden Infant Death Syndrome’. It is also known that ‘Cardiovascular’ and ‘Respiratory Diseases’ can happen, alongside heart disease and various types of cancer (e.g lung disease or cancer).
Secondhand smoke causes up to 1.2 million people to die each year, 65,000 of them are illness-related in children.
Diseases Caused By Smoking
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD)
Lung Disease & Cancer
Heart Disease
Type 2 Diabetes
Liver Cancer
Erectile Dysfunction
Ectopic Pregnancy (11% of this are related to smoking)
Vision Loss (Cataracts & Glaucoma)
Tuberculosis
Rheumatoid
Colorectal Cancer
There are many more, these are just a few to name.
How likely are you to die from smoking?
Statistically speaking, 30% of all cancer deaths are related to smoking, alongside 87% of lung cancer are all related to the smoking of tobacco. For the average male, it is 23x more likely to develop lung cancer for smokers compared to non-smokers (according to livescience.com).
A study by – shows that smokers die fairly young. 23% of all heavy smokers never reach the age of 65. That means on the average life expectancy, people die 13 years younger. This is 11% of light smokers, and 7% of non-smokers (all according to cbs.nl).
It’s never too late to stop smoking. Research shows that your heart rate and blood pressure begins to stabilise after 30 minutes of quitting. After a couple of years, the risk of ‘Cardiovascular Disease’ decreases to the normal level of risk from a non-smoker.
How can I stop smoking?
Here at pillbox, we can give you advice when it comes to stopping smoking, we have an article that you can read about here. It is four times more likely to help than you attempting to stop on your own!
To give advice on how to stop smoking, here are some tips that will self-help:
Have a positive mindset
With a negative one, you will most likely quit off the bat or not make it very far. Convince yourself that you can do it and place yourself in the peace of mind. Self-reflect on mistakes throughout your journey and pick up on those errors, you won’t get it right the first time.
Change your drink
According to PMC, alcohol, tea, coffee and fizzy drinks all affect the taste perception of tobacco. It makes tobacco ‘taste’ better after having one of these beverages, so try drinking more water when attempting to quit.
Take your mind off of the cravings
Take notes on the cycle of your cravings. For example, note down how long the cravings usually last for, and how often they come around. From here, develop some strategies to take your mind off of the cravings.
Distract yourself with something you peaks your interest and you can get invested in, this way you can take your mind off of the cravings. By no means is it easy, and will take some getting used to, but remember the benefits, stay positive!
Distract your mouth and hands
Keep them occupied, especially during the cravings. For example, place a drink or something to do with your hobby in your typical smoking hand, and try chewing gum to distract your mouth.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) can increase your chances of success by a lot.
Everyone knows the dangers and risks of smoking but this doesn’t make it any easier to quit. Whether you smoke occasionally or you go through multiple packs a day, quitting can be a challenge that not everyone is ready to face.
Understanding what ‘Smoking’ does
Having an addiction to smoking is both physical and psychological. The nicotine contained in tobacco provides a temporary and addictive ‘high’ which can lead to a better chance within withdrawal symptoms, only if you are suddenly to cut it out of your regular routine. Because nicotine causes you to feel good temporarily, your brain will start to associate smoking cigarettes with the elimination of stress and a way to make you feel better if you are feeling stressed or in need of something to make you feel better.
People start smoking as a way to cope with stress, depression, anxiety and sometimes purely because of boredom or as a way to socialise. To effectively quit, you may find that you need to look to different, healthier ways to cope with these feelings. If you smoke regularly, the habit can be ingrained into you as a daily ritual and may start to become an automatic response during certain periods or times of the day.
To effectively quit smoking, you must first address that you have an addiction as well as the habits and routines that come with it. It is possible for anyone to quit, no matter how much or how often they smoke, and with the right support, you can create a plan to kick the addiction. Even if things seem hopeless and you’ve tried to quit before with no luck there is still time and it is never too late to try again.
Tips to Quit Smoking
Create a List of Reasons to Quit
You could start the list with things like ‘it shortens my lifespan’, ‘my family wants to see me healthy’ or ‘it will save me money’ etc. and keep adding to it whenever you come up with another reason until you are completely satisfied. Once you have created this list, keep reverting to it and reminding yourself why you made the decision to give up the habit. When times get tough, and they will, take out the list and read it whenever you need support.
Make Friends With People Who Don’t Smoke
This can be one of the hardest tasks to follow as there are a lot of people who smoke out there. It can also be really tough not to hang around with your friends who do smoke or follow them out when they go for one. You shouldn’t cut these friends off however, you should try and choose times to see them in settings where it is difficult to smoke or you could ask them to smoke away from you.
When you look over at people who are smoking, you should try and dissociate yourselves from them and think of yourself as a non-smoking individual. Try and ingrain into your mind how dirty the habit is and think yourself lucky that you are no longer damaging yourself like they are. Be around people who constantly remind you how good you are doing and who will discourage you from smoking if you are feeling as though you are going to relapse.
Make a Plan to Quit
Make a promise to yourself, set a date for when you want to quit by and stick to it religiously. Start by cutting down little by little until you start to notice that you don’t need as many cigarettes as you once did. Keep cutting down until you completely stop, once you do you should make sure that you don’t sneak in a cigarette every now and then as this can lead to a full relapse and then you are back at square one.
Identify When You Get Cravings
Certain things and certain places can cause you to crave cigarettes. This can be anything from waking up in the morning to going outside, make sure that when you do get a craving you identify it and jot it down somewhere so you don’t forget. Cravings can last up to five minutes, so, make a list of things you could be doing in those five minutes instead so that you have something in place to replace cigarettes as a temporary pleasure.
Seek Support
You should seek support from friends, family or if you feel like you need professional support you shouldn’t be scared to ask. If you know of others in your family or friend group that want to quit you should suggest that you try quitting together so that you have someone who is going through the same experience to rely on.
There is support available from your local stop smoking service at all times. You are up to four times more likely to quit if you seek expert help and advice so don’t be afraid to call the NHS Smokefree helpline which is 0300 123 1044. They are open Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 8 PM and Saturday to Sunday, 11 AM to 4 PM.
Consider Changing Your Diet
Some studies have found that some foods, which include meat, can make cigarettes feel more satisfying. This is especially true if you regularly smoke after having a meal or eating your favourite foods.
Other foods, like cheese, fruit and vegetables can actually make cigarettes taste worse and make them less satisfying. Try and swap your meals where you can for vegetarian options and try and stick to foods that help you hate having a cigarette afterwards. This simple fix can do wonders and soon enough you might end up finding that you don’t even want a cigarette at all.
You might also want to consider changing your routine at or after mealtimes. By keeping yourself occupied doing the dishes or settling down and watching TV you may find that you o longer need to go out for a smoke as often or at all.
Medical cannabis is the term given to any kind of cannabis-based medicine that is used to relieve symptoms of physical/mental illnesses. You can purchase many cannabis-based products online but the quality and content are usually unknown and they may be illegal and possibly dangerous.
There are some products on the market that claim to be medical cannabis, CBD oil and hemp oil are prime examples of this, can be bought legally as food supplements from health stores. There is no guarantee that these products will work or provide any benefits to health. Certain cannabis-based products are available only on prescription as medicinal cannabis which benefits a small number of patients.
How to obtain medical cannabis?
In England, it is much harder than say countries like the US to get a prescription for medical cannabis. At this point in time, there are only three likely conditions that medical cannabis could be prescribed to which are:
People who suffer from a condition called multiple sclerosis that causes muscle stiffness and spasms
Adults and children with rare and severe forms of epilepsy
Adults with vomiting/nausea caused by chemotherapy
On top of this, medical cannabis in England is only considered when past treatments for a patient were not suitable and hadn’t worked.
Nabiximols (Sativex) for MS
Nabiximols (Sativex) is a mouth spray that is a cannabis-based medicine. Nabiximols is licensed in the UK to be prescribed to people with MS-related muscle spasticity that doesn’t seem to be getting better.
Epidyolex for Adults and Children With Epilepsy
This cannabis-based medication is a highly purified liquid which contains CBD (cannabidiol). CBD is a chemical substance that can be found in cannabis which has medical benefits. CBD doesn’t get people high as it does not contain THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) which is the active chemical in cannabis that gets people high. Epidyolex is usually prescribed to patients with Lennox-Gastaut and Dravet syndrome which are both rare forms of epilepsy.
Nabilone for Chemotherapy Patients
Almost everybody who has to undergo chemotherapy will have periods of time where they feel ill or the need to vomit. Nabilone can be prescribed by a specialist to help relieve the symptoms of chemotherapy but this is usually only done when other treatments haven’t worked or are not suitable for the patient. Nabilone is a medicine which is usually taken as a capsule. It has been developed to act in a similar way to THC which means that patients may experience similar effects.
Side Effects of Medical Cannabis
Medical cannabis can come with a range of side effects which vary depending on the type of cannabis consumed. Here is a list of the possible side effects you may develop if you use medical cannabis:
Nausea
Dizziness
Fatigue
Hallucinations
Feelings of euphoria
Loss of appetite
Weakness
Suicidal thoughts
Behavioural changes
Mood swings
Diarrhoea
If you take medical cannabis and experience any of these effects you should report them to the medical team in charge of your treatment. You can also use the Yellow Card Scheme to report any side effects.
THC and CBD can interfere with other medicines which can cause even more side effects or stop the medicine from being effective so always refer to a specialist before you take medical cannabis with other medications. CBD is also known to affect how the liver works so if you are taking it your doctor will need to keep a close monitor on you.
Is it Safe to Take Medical Cannabis?
More clinical trials are needed to discover the risks of using cannabis products which contain THC as the at this point in time they are not fully known. Products which are considered pure (cannabis that only contains CBD) do not come with the unknown risks linked to THC. Most medical cannabis does contain THC though even if it is a small amount.
There are two main risks of taking cannabis products that contain THC which are psychosis and of course dependency on the drug. In some cases, regular cannabis use can increase the risk of developing psychotic illnesses such as schizophrenia and epilepsy which can induce psychosis as well as increase the likelihood of you becoming dependent on the drug. The risk of dependency is relatively low if it is controlled and monitored closely by a specialist doctor according to scientists.
The more THC that a product contains, the more risks that come with it. The most dangerous cannabis is bought illegally on the street which means that the quality and strength is unknown.
How to Get a Prescription for Medical Cannabis
GPs cannot prescribe cannabis-based medicine as it can only be prescribed by a specialist doctor. It is unlikely that many patients will be prescribed it either as it is only given to a small number and it is usually under special circumstances. A specialist doctor may consider prescribing medical cannabis to:
People who suffer from a condition called multiple sclerosis that causes muscle stiffness and spasms
Adults and children with rare and severe forms of epilepsy
Adults with vomiting/nausea caused by chemotherapy
The specialist will then discuss all other options of treatment with you first before considering cannabis-based products. Medical cannabis will only be prescribed when it is considered to be in the best of your interests and when all other treatment options have been exhausted and have not worked.
The Law
Cannabis is considered by the government of the UK to be a class B drug which means that it is illegal to purchase, consume or sell. The government at this time doesn’t seem to have any intention of legalising the use of cannabis for recreation uses. This includes medical cannabis too so if you are caught with it for any reason and do not have a prescription you could be charged, fined and possibly even face prison time depending on the amount.
Taking a blood pressure test is a simple method to check whether a patient’s blood pressure is too high or low. The term blood pressure is used to describe the strength at which your blood pushes on the sides of your arteries while it is being pumped around the body.
Having high blood pressure, which is also known as hypertension, can strain the arteries and organs in a person’s body. This can increase the risk of an individual having a heart attack or stroke. Low blood pressure, also known as hypotension, on the other hand, isn’t as dangerous but it can cause dizziness and fainting depending on the person.
Taking a blood pressure test is the only way to see exactly whether or not your blood pressure is too high or low as most people won’t show any clear signs or symptoms. Blood pressure tests last less than a minute and taking one could help to save your life.
When Should You Get Your Blood Pressure Tested?
If you are worried that you have low or high blood pressure you can get it tested at your local GP. Some pharmacies also offer blood pressure tests and at NHS Health Check appointments which are typically offered to adults aged between 40 and 74. You can even get your blood pressure checked at home, more on this below, if you own a digital blood pressure monitor or at your workplace if there is one provided.
A home blood pressure monitoring system can be purchased and are often similar to the ones that you are familiar with at the GP.
What this means is that you can measure your blood pressure at home and keep records of it to see what your daily activities contribute to your blood pressure and give an indication of what you may need to change if it is too high or too low.
The NHS recommends that every adult over the age of 40 should have their blood pressure tested every 5 years at least so that any problems can be detected before they develop further. People who have been already diagnosed with high or low blood pressure and people who are at high risk of developing either may need to have frequent tests to monitor any changes or developments.
Testing Your Blood Pressure at Home
Testing your blood pressure at home can actually give a more accurate reading of your blood pressure. This is because you are in an environment you are comfortable in and not at a clinic or GP surgery which can make some people nervous/anxious and can affect the results. Doing the testing at home also allows you to monitor your condition more closely and easily in the long term.
There are many varieties of blood pressure monitors you can buy on the market for a relatively low cost. It is important that you purchase monitors that have been tested properly so that you can be sure that you are getting accurate readings. Refer to the British Hypertension Society if you feel you need to have your blood pressure tested at home as they provide detailed information about validated blood pressure monitors that you can purchase.
How Blood Pressure Tests Work
Traditional blood pressure testing is usually performed using a device called a sphygmomanometer. This device is typically made up of a stethoscope, blood pressure cuff and also a pump and dial. While these are widely used by most GPs and clinics, some blood pressure tests are performed automatically by devices that use sensors to detect vibrations and digital displays.
The optimal position for testing a patient’s blood pressure is to have them sit down on a chair which supports their back and have their legs straight. The patient should then roll up their sleeves (or remove any long-sleeved clothing) if they are wearing clothes with long sleeves. This allows the blood pressure cuff to be placed around their upper arm which is the standard area for blood pressure to be tested.
Patients should be advised to relax and avoid chatter while the test is being carried out so that the results are as accurate as possible.
The first step to test a patient’s blood pressure with a sphygmomanometer is to have them hold out one of their arms so that it is at the same level as their heart. The cuff is then placed around their chosen arm which should be supported by something to prevent muscle fatigue and to ensure that the results from the test are as accurate as possible.
The second step is to pump the cuff that has been placed around their arm up to restrict the blood flow. This usually causes some discomfort in the patient but it is necessary and only lasts for a few seconds.
The third step is to slowly release the pressure in the cuff while using a stethoscope to listen to the pulse of the patient.
The final step is to record the pressure in the cuff at two points as the blood flow starts returning to the patient’s arm. The measurements that are recorded are used to give the patient’s blood pressure reading. The patient can then find out their results, usually as soon as the test is over, from the healthcare professional who performed the test.
24-hour/Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring
Some patients may be recommended by their doctors to have 24-hour/ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). This is where a patient’s blood pressure is tested automatically every 30 or so minutes over a 24-hour period. This is usually done by attaching a blood pressure cuff to a portable device which is usually worn on the waist.
ABPM can help to show how a patient’s blood pressure changes over the course of a day. Patients are advised to carry out their days as normal during the test as long as their daily activities don’t involve getting wet as the equipment may fail.
Medicines prescribed by doctors are the most common treatment offered to patients by the NHS. Pharmacists are described as “experts in medicines and their use” and their job requires them to have knowledge of medicines and the effects they have on human beings and their bodies. With this knowledge, they are able to successfully manage many types of medical conditions.
Job Description
Pharmacists are required to perform a wide range of roles which vary from giving advice to providing information on medications and treatments. Within the Pharmacist’s job, they perform all of these tasks listed:
Give advice on the dosage of any prescribed medication
Suggest the most relevant course of medication for the given condition of a patient and whether or not tablets, injections, inhalers etc. are needed
Ensure that patients are taking their medication properly and are not abusing/misusing it
Give help to patients and manage long term conditions
Give advice to other healthcare professionals such as doctors, nurses and physicians on how to choose the right medicines and their correct uses
Make sure that new medicines are safe to use with other types of medication
Provide detailed information to patients on how to get the most benefit from the medication they have been prescribed.
Give advice on prescriptions and any recommended changes if there are any
Provide detailed information on the potential side effects of any medication
Give advice on the most effective treatments for particular conditions even if that means medication for sale without prescription
Keep a close monitor on the effects of a patient’s treatment and ensure that it is working properly and is safe to carry on
Qualified Pharmacists are sometimes involved in the manufacturing of medicines when medicines that are usually readily made are unavailable for whatever reason. This is normally the case when it comes to certain treatments that require medicines to be specifically made under sterile conditions for individual patients.
Pharmacists often work as part of healthcare teams that work in hospitals but they also work at local community pharmacies too. Some pharmacists work in supermarkets where retail pharmacies are usually found or other parties that provide NHS services like clinics and such. Pharmacists can sometimes also supervise pharmacy assistants and technicians when purchasing, quality testing and dispensing medicines to ensure that the process is being done correctly and the correct medications are being prescribed.
Community pharmacists are usually based in pharmacies and health centres but they can also spend a lot of time visiting patients at home. This is to ensure that patients who are unable, such as disabled people and pensioners, to leave their homes/residential homes still get the proper treatment and care.
Entry Requirements, Characteristics and Skills Needed
To begin practising as a pharmacist there are a few things you will need to sort out first. First of all, you must be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) which requires you to study for an accredited Masters degree in pharmacy. There are many Universities and institutions across the UK that offer this full-time course which lasts four years if you are studying full time.
To pass the requirements to study a Master’s degree in pharmacy you need to have achieved three A-B grade A-levels in chemistry, biology, physics and maths as well as five GCSEs grade C or above. These can be any GCSEs as long as English language, maths and at least one of the sciences are among them. If you don’t have all of these there are a few alternative qualifications that they will accept which are:
BTEC, HND or HNC including at least one of the sciences
NVQ that is relevant to the course
Equivalent qualifications if you received them from a Scottish or Irish institution
Foundation degree in pharmacy
Science-based access course
Every institution sets its own entry requirements so it is imperative that you carefully check what your choice requires exactly. Wherever you decide to study, you will need to show that you have a clear understanding of pharmacy and the benefits it can bring to patients. It is good practice to volunteer and get some work experience with a registered pharmacist so that you know what the work is like and you have a given understanding and know exactly what is expected of you.
Once you have graduated from your chosen University/institution you are required to work for a 1-year pre-registration period while under supervision in a hospital or local community pharmacy and also pass a registration exam.
The skills and personal characteristics you’ll need to develop before you begin working as a pharmacist are as follows:
You must be able to understand and apply the law
You must be responsible
You must be able to work with all types of people and personalities
You must be accurate and methodical
You must have an interest in people’s health
You must be willing to supervise others
You must have good communication skills and be able to listen attentively
You must have good customer skills
You must be able to explain things clearly to people
You must have good science skills
Further Training and Development
Once you are qualified, you have the option to join the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) which many pharmacists do. Registered pharmacists need to keep their skills and knowledge sharp and up to date with annual Continuing Professional Development (CPD). The RPS organises and runs courses, seminars and conferences which pharmacists can use as a platform to exchange ideas and develop their skills further. Pharmacists with a lot of experience can choose to receive additional training and qualifications which can allow them to prescribe medicines.
Taking medication that a doctor has prescribed to you should be taken seriously and you should follow all advice and instructions given to you. If you do this you will get the most benefit out of the medication you are taking and have a better chance of a health outcome. Taking the medication improperly or not taking it at all means that whatever the medication was prescribed for might not get better or may even develop further and cause even more problems.
Paid Medication
First of all, if you are paying for medicine as prescribed, you have been advised to follow the instructions given to you, not only for the benefit of your own health but also because what is the point in spending money on something and not using it properly? If you don’t stick to what your doctor prescribed you to do, then it won’t work properly and you’ll just have wasted more money trying to treat yourself.
Schedule Your Doses
You should be making sure that you remember to take your medication at the same time every day, at proper intervals and not at the wrong times!
To make sure you stick to this you should divide up the time you take your medication doses evenly throughout the day. This means taking two doses every 12 hours for medication that needs to be taken twice a day or every four hours if medication needs to be taken six times a day and so on. To do this, you should set up a schedule that doesn’t interfere with your daily routine and aim to take your medication within an hour of the time that you have scheduled.
Furthermore, you should be taking all doses of the medication as prescribed to you each day so that you stick to the plan and the drugs can take effect as they are supposed to. If you forget a dose, which is easy to do, you should try and take it as soon as you remember, unless it is close to the time of the next dose in which case you should skip it and carry on with the schedule as normal.
As long as this happens only occasionally it shouldn’t interfere much with the treatment and the medication should still work.
It is important not to take a dose you have forgotten if it is close to the next dose as this could cause side effects or worse depending on the type of medication you are taking.
Properly scheduling your doses helps you to absorb the right amount of the medication you have been prescribed so that side effects are less likely to happen, and the drugs can work how they are meant to.
Some medication requires people to be on an empty stomach while others work better if food is consumed a certain amount of time before or after the medication is taken. It is important to read the instructions on any medications you are taking so that you don’t miss important information like this. If these conditions aren’t met, then the drugs may not work properly or could cause nasty problems in your stomach, leading to possibilities of nausea and stomach pains.
Side Effects
Side effects are common in many different types of medications, some more than others, and they can come in many different shapes and forms. Most side effects, such as nausea or vomiting, are temporary and relatively easy to get past while some can last hours or the whole time you are taking the medication.
The majority of people who experience side effects state that they are much worse during the first couple of weeks after starting the course of medication they have been prescribed. Even if this is the case you should not change the dosage you are taking or stop your medication without talking to your doctor first.
After a few weeks, most people find that they have gotten used to the medications they are taking and the side effects are no longer present or are very mild. If the side effects continue or worsen, you should talk to your doctor as soon as possible to discuss what the best course to continue is.
In some cases, side effects can be more manageable if the dose of the medication in question is lowered. This, however, depends on the medication itself and what particular drug is used. Lowering the dose of some drugs too much can actually make whatever it is supposed to be treating more resistant which means that it loses all effectiveness meaning the medication becomes useless to the individual taking it. You should always talk to your doctor first before lowering the dose of your medication to alleviate side effects.
It is best to completely stop taking the medication altogether if the side effects are severe or seemingly endless. If this happens, consult your doctor or physician to see if you can lower the dosage or be prescribed a completely different medication. Never lower the dosage of your medication unless you have been advised to.
If you experience any of the following you should stop your medication and seek immediate medical attention:
Unexplained bruising/bleeding
Sudden shortness of breath
Heart pounding and chest pains/tightening
Fever or chills
Sudden and severe stomach pains followed by nausea or vomiting
Severe rash with or without symptoms like fever, swelling of the facial area, muscle and joint aches
Do I have to Buy More Medicine to Finish my Medication?
It may be the case that you’ve finished the course of treatment but you are still feeling unwell. If this happens, the best thing to do is to consult your doctor to get their advice before purchasing anything. Your doctor may prescribe you a completely different medication or they may be able to up the dosage.
This can save you both money and stress as if you were to just buy more of the same medicine whatever you are taking it for may become resistant and you would just be wasting money. It is always best to consult your doctor or physician before making any decisions when it comes to medication.
