In this, the first of our new Doctor’s Notes articles, Dr Mike Thomas, GP at The Maxwell Practice in Henley, gives us some advice for a healthy summer.

Let’s start with sunscreen. The Wear Sunscreen song was originally an essay written by Mary Schmich and published in the Chicago Tribune in 1997. Shortly afterwards it was turned into a spoken word song by Baz Luhrmann.  The lyrics are the perfect reminder of this important advice.

There is no doubt that the sun damages our skin, aging us and increasing our risk of skin cancer (one of the most common cancers in the UK, but also one of the most preventable). The sun is most damaging when it is high in the sky, therefore, I would never go into the sun without a good sunscreen on between the hours of 10am and 4pm.

REMEMBER THE STARS.  When it comes to sunscreen, most of us know to choose a high UVB SPF rating, but it’s important to get one that also has 4 to 5 star UVA protection.  Both UVA and UVB rays are harmful. UVA is mostly associated with aging (think ‘a’ for aging) and UVB with burning (think ‘b’ for burning), and both are associated with skin cancers.

But what about vitamin D?  Vitamin D is important and helps to keep bones, teeth and muscles healthy.  Most people will get enough vitamin D in the summer from normal day to day life outside, there is no need to sunbathe or take risks in the sun to get vitamin D. If you’re in doubt about whether you’re getting enough vitamin D, it’s perfectly fine to take a daily vitamin D supplement (as is the recommendation in the autumn and winter months).

Coping with pollen.  For hay fever sufferers, the spring and summer can be an uncomfortable time.  Minimising exposure can help, for example by staying indoors and keeping windows shut, wearing sunglasses, and using Vaseline around your nostrils and eyes.

Antihistamine, eye drops and nasal spray treatments are a saviour for some.  There are different types of antihistamine and different strengths available from pharmacies, so it is definitely worth trying a different type or a stronger option if the first one you try doesn’t work for you.  In exceptional cases, if antihistamines are not working for you, then a GP may be able to prescribe a steroid treatment to reduce the body’s inflammatory & allergic response.   

Travel Vaccines – If you’re going abroad this summer, remember to check whether you need any vaccinations.  Some vaccinations need to be given many weeks before travel, so do think ahead!  A great website to help you work out what you need is TravelHealthPro.org.uk which has been set up by the Department of Health to provide up-to-date and reliable information for travellers – simply select the country you will be visiting, then select the grey tab “Vaccine Recommendations”.

Staying hydrated and cool – Finally, if we get another heat wave this year, ensure you stay hydrated and cool. Drink plenty of fluids and sip regularly throughout the day. Use a fan and only open the windows if it’s cooler outside than it is inside – on the hottest days, this can mean opening the windows at night time to let in a blast of cool air, but keeping them closed in the daytime with the blinds down to keep the hot air out.   

The Maxwell Practice

We are a private GP clinic in the centre of Henley-on-Thames. Our services include: GP consultations, men’s health, women’s health, menopause, health screening, blood tests, vaccines, weight loss. We can usually offer same or next day appointments that are easy to book online or by phone. Consultations are 30 minutes long. All our doctors are highly experienced and very caring.

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