Advice & Support
Self care for common conditions
Did you know that one in five GP visits are for common conditions, such as backache, headache or cough?
For most people, they are not a serious health problem – you just want to know how to relieve it and you want a treatment that acts fast. You also want to know how long you’re going to suffer or what you should do if your symptoms change.
The good news is that self care can help you manage most of these problems. It may mean you don’t have to spend time waiting to see your GP but can get on and start tackling your symptoms. Self care for common conditions can also help free up some of your GP’s time, making it easier to get an appointment when you have a more serious condition.
Find out more about self care for common conditions
The Self Care Forum has produced Factsheets to help you take care of the most common ailments. These provide useful facts about your condition, what you can expect to happen, how to help yourself, when you should see your GP and where to find out more information. Research shows people using these Factsheets felt more able to manage their common condition.
Click on the link for the Factsheet you need:
1. Sciatica and low back pain. Sciatica treatment info - Patient | Patient
2. Atopic Eczema: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment | Patient
3. Indigestion Medication | Antacids, H2 blockers, Proton Pump Inhibitors | Patient
Indigestion (Dyspepsia) | Patient
4. Fever in Children (High Temperature) | Causes and Treatment | Patient
5. Constipation | Causes, Symptoms and Treatment | Patient
Constipation in Children | Causes and Treatment | Patient
6. Headaches | Types, Warning Signs, Causes & Treatment | Patient
7. Cough | Causes and Treatment of Chronic and Persistent Cough | Patient
9. Sprains and Strains | Treatment and Medication | Patient
10. Sore Throat: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment | Patient
11. Ear Infection (Otitis Media) | Symptoms and Treatment | Patient
12. Common Cold (Upper Respiratory Tract Infections) | Patient
13. Acute Sinusitis | Symptoms and Treatment | Patient
14. Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS) | Causes in Men | Patient
For information on other common conditions, visit the NHS Choices or Patient UK websites. If you are not sure about your symptoms, click here for the NHS Choices Health A-Z - Conditions and Treatments
If you need more advice or you are unsure what the right thing for you to do is, ask your pharmacist for advice or contact the surgery to speak to one of our Health Care professionals to discuss your problem further.