Tag Archives: Northern Ireland Executive

It’s important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of mouth cancer. The earlier the disease is spotted the better the chances of a complete cure.

Risks and what to look out for

This form of the disease can happen in or on any part of the mouth, including lining of the mouth, gums, tongue, lips, and throat.

Smoking, regularly drinking large amounts of alcohol, too much sun or use of sunbeds, and the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), can all increase the risk of developing mouth cancer.

In its very early stages, mouth cancer can be easy to ignore. The key signs to watch out for are:

• an ulcer on the lip, tongue, or in the mouth that doesn’t heal within three weeks
• pain in the mouth or earache that doesn’t go away
• a  white or red patch in the mouth that doesn’t go away
• a lump or thickening in the mouth, throat, or on the lip
• difficulty or pain when chewing, swallowing, or speaking
• bleeding or numbness in the mouth
• a lump in the neck
• loose teeth for no obvious reason
• unexplained weight loss over a short space of time

Mouth cancer and the treatment required can be traumatic, as this may affect functions such as speech, chewing and swallowing.

These symptoms are often caused by something less serious and don’t usually mean it’s cancer. However, if in doubt get checked out by your dentist or GP.

Reduce mouth cancer risk

The most important things to try and reduce the risk of mouth cancer are:

• check for changes in your mouth
• visit your dentist regularly
• get help to stop smoking
• limit the amount of alcohol you drink
• reduce the chances of getting  HPV by practising safer sex
• use sunscreen (at least sun protection factor 15 and four stars) on your lips in hot weather
• don’t use sunbeds
• exercise for at least 30 minutes a day
• eat a healthy diet, including five portions of fruit and vegetables daily

Visit your dentist

It’s important to visit your dentist at least once a year, even if you no longer have your own teeth.

Dentists are trained to spot early signs of mouth and salivary gland cancer and can easily see parts of your mouth that you cannot see.

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The seasonal flu vaccination programme is under way. People are urged to get the jab if offered it. The free flu vaccine offers protection against a number of viruses which are expected to circulate this winter.

Important to get vaccinated

Everyone who gets an invitation to be vaccinated against flu should see it as a positive step in protecting their health and the health of others around them.

The vaccine changes each year to cover the strains which are likely to be around over the course of the flu season, so it’s important to get immunised every year.

People aged over 65, ‘at risk’ children and adults, pregnant women, and pre-school children aged two years and over can get their free flu jab at their GP surgery.

Children in primaries one to seven will be offered the flu vaccine in school.

The vaccine is offered as the best protection to people over 65 and ‘at risk’ groups because if they get flu, they are more likely to have severe illness and/ or develop complications such as pneumonia, which can be life-threatening.

The vaccine does not give people the flu.

You can find out more at the page below:

If eligible, you should receive a letter or phone call from your GP surgery. If you think you are (or someone you know is) eligible and there hasn’t been an invitation to get the jab, or if you have any queries, you should contact your GP directly.

As it takes approximately two weeks following vaccination to develop maximum protection against flu, it is important to get vaccinated early.

If you wait until flu starts circulating, it may be too late for the vaccine to protect you.

Everyone should aim to have the vaccine by early December.

Pregnant women

Pregnant women are more likely to have serious illness if they catch flu.

They will be invited at all stages of pregnancy to get the vaccine by their GP, to help protect them and their unborn baby.

Children

Pre-school and primary school children will be offered the vaccine.

Parents are asked to sign and send back the consent form to school for their primary school children, and to take up the GP’s invitation for pre-school vaccination, or they may miss out.

Most children get the vaccine through a quick and painless nasal spray. The nasal vaccine has been shown to provide even greater protection for children than the flu injection.

There are a few children who cannot get the nasal spray and they will be offered the injection instead.

You can find out more on the Flu vaccine for children page.

Flu symptoms

The flu virus spreads easily and quickly through the air when people cough and sneeze without covering their nose and mouth.

The same unpleasant flu symptoms are experienced by both adults and children:

• fever
• chills
• aching muscles and joints
• headache
• extreme tiredness 

These symptoms can last between two and eight days and, for some, can lead to serious illness and result in a stay in hospital.

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Date published: 26 October 2018 Make sure you remember to put your clocks back this weekend, as British Summer Time ends on Sunday 28 October. You don’t want to miss out on that extra hour in bed. Reset clocks on Saturday night You should reset… read more

Date published: 27 October 2017

All road users are urged to be extra alert on the roads over the coming months. We should all pay attention in the worsening weather conditions and the darker evenings during late autumn and winter.

Road safety advice

While visibility decreases in winter months, stopping distances increase. If you’re a driver you should:

• adjust your speed
• think about how the conditions affect more vulnerable road users
• slow down and pay attention, especially around schools buses when children are getting on and off
• be extra careful to watch out  for people walking, cycling or riding a motorbike – they are much more difficult to see, particularly in the dark

Cyclists, motorcyclists, and pedestrians (including children) should take extra precautions by making sure they increase their own visibility to drivers by wearing:

• bright or contrasting clothing by day
• reflective clothing at night

You can get more information about road safety at the page below:

Collectively, we have the ability to reduce road casualties. We all have a personal responsibility, to ourselves and to other road users.

Remember – respect everyone’s journey.

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It’s important that parents, relatives and carers are aware of the hazards which can lead to burns and scalds, and take steps to make sure children are kept safe.

Reduce the risk of accidents

Accidents can happen quickly in or around the home, sometimes it takes just seconds, and occasionally these can lead to  burns and scalds.

But these accidents can easily be prevented by being aware of the dangers and hazards that are in the home, and taking steps to reduce the risks and make the home as safe as possible.

Hot appliances, liquids, and bath water are responsible for more than half of all burns and scalds, with young children being particularly vulnerable.

Be aware that:

• hot drinks can still scald 15 minutes after they’ve been made and can result in years of skin graft treatment –  make sure hot drinks are out of reach of babies and children
• hot water scalds in seconds – run the cold water first and always check the temperature of bath water
• hair straighteners can get very hot very quickly and cause serious burns that scar for life – keep out of the reach of children and put them away safely after use

You can get more advice, including a video showing the dangers in the home, at this link:

Prevention is always better than a cure. 

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