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This week is National Blood Week, including World Blood Donor Day, so today’s blog is a timely reminder of why giving blood is such an important thing to do. According to NHS Blood and Transplant, we need 5000 daily donations to produce enough supplies to treat patients requiring blood transfusions. That means we need around 135,000 new donors every year in England alone. Sadly, the covid pandemic of the last two years has seen a dramatic decline in existing and new donors booking in to donate. In fact that rate is down by a whopping 40%. So here are some great reasons why you should sign up to give blood today: You’ll be a Life Saver! The bottom line is that when you donate blood you play your part in helping to save lives. Blood donations help thousands of seriously ill patients across the country every single day, through emergency operations, C-Sections, cancer treatment and more. In fact, every donation you give can actually save or improve the lives of up to three adults or six children. All that for less than an hour of your time! You Could Have a Rare Blood Type That’s Needed We all have different blood types which means that when a patient needs a transplant they will need to receive the same blood type or one that is compatible with theirs. O negative blood is known as the universal blood type because it is safe for everyone to receive - and, as a result, if you have 0- blood your donation will be able to help more desperately ill people. Some blood groups are rare enough to have very few donors, and this is especially true in the BAME community amongst which there is a very low turnout for donations. Sadly when the need occurs, these supplies will be hard to come by if more donors don’t come forward to help out. In fact, in the UK there is currently only ONE donor from blood type -D-. If you sign up to donate blood you might find that your blood is one of the rarer types, meaning that your donation will be incredibly welcome. Blood Supplies Have a Short Shelf Life Not only does the NHS need lots of donors, it needs them to continue to donate because blood supplies cannot be kept indefinitely. In fact, red blood cells can only be stored for 35 days while blood platelets have to be used within 7 days of donation. So frequent blood donations will keep the blood banks of the UK topped up - and you can help to make that happen. Young Blood Rules Most donors in the UK are over 45, but did you know that you can donate blood from your 17th birthday? In fact, more young donors are needed to boost the national supplies at the moment. The more we can encourage young donors to get involved, the more secure the future of blood banks will be. Not so young anymore? Don’t worry. You can donate blood for the first time right up until your 66th birthday. The sooner you start, the better. Men can donate blood every 12 weeks, while women can donate every 16 weeks (to allow for iron levels to return to normal) so the younger you are when you begin donating blood, the more lives you can save throughout your own life. Now that’s as good a reason as any to register today! It’s Quicker than you think It really doesn’t take long to donate blood. Once you’ve booked an appointment online, it takes less than an hour to give your donation. In fact, the majority of that time is taken up with chatting to the nurse, having a few blood pressure/blood type checks done, filling in a form and waiting your turn. The actual blood donation part can take as little as 5 or 6 minutes! It really is over and done with before you know it. Most people find that giving blood is a much more pleasant experience than they had imagined, and to say thank you, you’ll be rewarded with a nice cuppa and even a biscuit at the end. If you’ve never given blood before you might want to check out or Guide to Giving Blood Blog to find out more about the process.  Need more help? We're always here to help so get in touch today. For all your Medical and Homecare supplies give us a call at Mediworld. We have over 40 years experience in medical, surgical, mobility and home health supplies and we're always on hand to chat if you need support or advice and don't forget to read our other great health blogs! June 2022

We all feel tired from time to time, in fact feeling exhausted is so common that GPs have an acronym for the condition - TATT, Tired all the time! Often we’ll feel tired if we’ve had too many late nights, lots of stress at work, over exercising or perhaps a baby keeping you up at night. But when tiredness or exhaustion go on for significant periods of time they can begin to affect your life and your ability to get on with working and doing the things you enjoy doing. If this is the case, it might be time to seek help and book an appointment with your GP. You might be suffering from one of these health conditions known to cause tiredness or fatigue. Anaemia One of the most common medical reasons for feeling constantly run down is iron deficiency anaemia. Symptoms of anaemia will make you feel lethargic with tired, heavy muscles. You might feel like you just can’t be bothered to do or plan anything and that easy tasks have begun to feel like bigger challenges to face. Often women with heavy periods or who are pregnant can experience bouts of anaemia and it’s usually very easy to treat with iron tablets or supplements being prescribed to redress the imbalance in blood levels. Anaemia can also affect men and postmenopausal women - in this case the cause is likely to be related to stomach and intestine problems, such as an ulcer or over use of non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs. Seeking advice from your GP is important in this case to identify the issue. Sleep apnoea Your tiredness could simply be down to a lack of good quality sleep which is often caused by a condition called sleep apnoea. If you suffer from sleep apnoea your throat will narrow or close during sleep and will repeatedly interrupt your breathing. When this happens, not only will you snore quite loudly but your blood’s oxygen levels will dramatically drop. Added to this sleep apnoea sufferers will regularly wake in the night because of the difficulty with breathing, which means waking up feeling exhausted the next day. It's most common in overweight middle-aged men. Drinking alcohol and smoking makes it worse. Your GP might suggest that you wear a gum shield or mask to aid breathing in the night, or if conditions are more severe surgery to help your breathing (like removing tonsils) can prove successful. Underactive thyroid Another reason for chronic tiredness could be related to your thyroid, in particular if you’re suffering from an underactive thyroid, or hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland stops producing the hormones the body needs to regulate your metabolism (in other words, the process that turns food into good energy). When the thyroid stops working properly many of the body’s functions slow down, making you feel slow, tired and sluggish. You might also put on weight and have aching muscles and dry skin if your thyroid stops working and it's most common in women and happens more often as you get older. Your GP can diagnose an underactive thyroid by taking a simple blood test, and it can be treated easily with replacement hormone tablets. Diabetes Diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes a person’s blood sugar level to become too high. One of the main symptoms of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes is feeling very tired. In type 1 diabetes the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin. In type 2 diabetes, either the body does not produce enough insulin or the body’s cells don’t react efficiently to insulin. Type 2 diabetes is more common than type 1, in fact in the UK around 90% of all adults with diabetes have type 2. If you’re feeling tired and exhausted, feeling thirsty, peeing a lot (especially through the night) and you’re losing weight, it’s a good idea to ask you GP to run blood tests to check for diabetes. Depression Depression affects people in many different ways and can cause a wide variety of symptoms including making you feel drained of energy and the ability to get up and go. Often it can stop you falling asleep, interrupt your sleep or cause you to wake up early in the morning, which makes you feel more tired during the day - and can make dealing with the condition even more difficult. Many people wait a long time before seeking help for depression but it’s best not to put it off. There is a huge amount of help available and the sooner you see a doctor the sooner you can be on your way to recovery. For all your Medical and Homecare supplies give us a call at Mediworld.  We're always here to help so get in touch today. We have over 40 years experience in medical, surgical, mobility and home health supplies and we're always on hand to chat if you need support or advice. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook and don't forget to read our other great health blogs!

Have you ever given blood? No? There are lots of reasons why you might never have gotten round to donating to your local blood bank but, here in the UK, the NHS is heavily reliant on our voluntary blood donations to continue saving lives and offering on-going treatment to those who need it. Read on for our first timers’ guide to giving blood and follow the link at the end to book your first appointment in today. Giving blood is incredibly quick and easy to do and you’ll be rewarded with the knowledge that you’ve helped someone in need, and got yourself a tasty cuppa and a biscuit into the bargain! Why Should I Give Blood? The bottom line is that giving blood saves lives. Donating blood is the equivalent of giving a life-saving gift to a stranger - and it’s difficult to imagine a more worthwhile thing to do. Blood (or the components of blood) is used to treat patients with medical conditions such as anaemia, blood cancer disorders, and those having surgery. Blood transfusions are routinely needed for patients with: Sickle Cell Anaemia Thalassaemia Cancer treatment End of Life treatment for conditions with no cure Emergency C-Sections during childbirth Amputations and other emergency operations How much Blood is needed in the UK? The NHS in England alone uses over 1.6 million pints of blood every year to patients with a variety of health and emergency conditions. In short that means they need: Nearly 400 new donors a day to meet demand Around 135,000 new donors a year to replace those who can no longer donate 40,000 more black donors to meet growing demand for better-matched blood 30,000 new donors with priority blood types such as O negative every year More young people to start giving blood to ensure sufficient stocks in the future Who Can Give Blood? Almost everyone is eligible to give blood, although there may be times when illness or circumstances will rule you out of donating for a short period of time. You cannot give blood if you are: Suffering from a cold or similar infection Pregnant If you have had a blood transfusion during childbirth or elsewhere If you are receiving certain medical treatment or taking certain prescription medicines Have recently had a tattoo or piercing A man who has had oral or anal sex in the previous 3 months Suffering from Covid or are experiencing symptoms Taking antibiotics for an infection You must wait until you are completely healed or for 14 days after taking your last tablet. Recovering from some dental treatments e.g, root canal, extraction etc You CAN give blood 7 days after receiving your vaccination for the Coronavirus. It is always best to check your current eligibility with the Blood Donation website before making an appointment. What Happens When I Donate Blood? Giving blood is incredibly quick and easy - and can take as little as 5-10 minutes to make your donation. On the day of your appointment you will be registered and asked to fill in some basic health forms. You’ll be encouraged to drink some water to help with your wellbeing during and after the donation. You will be given a quick health screening which involves a tiny finger prick blood test to check that you have enough haemoglobin (iron) in your blood and you will be asked to answer a few questions regarding your current health etc. If you’re good to go, you’ll be taken to a very comfortable donation chair where a blood pressure cuff will be fitted on your arm - this is not to measure your blood pressure, however, but to apply a slight pressure to the arm to allow for a quick flow of blood. The chair might be reclined slightly to raise your feet and the nurse will identify a suitable vein and wipe the area with antibacterial liquid. Following the quick and painless needle insertion, you will be left to relax while your body gets on with the blood donation process. You will likely be given a small stress ball to hold and squeeze during the donation to increase the flow of blood. The donation should only take 5-10 minutes and will stop automatically when the level has reached 470ml, at which point the nurse will remove the needle and apply a small, sterile dressing to the arm. Time for a Biscuit! You will be encouraged to stay in the waiting area for around 15 minutes (or more) after your donation to make sure you’re feeling fine and ready to get on with your day. On your first donation you might only be allowed to drink cold water (hot drinks are on offer for your future donations) but there is always a great selection of chocolate biscuits, crisps, fruit and snacks for you to enjoy. You will be able to leave after this short rest and should be more than fine to carry on with whatever your day entails - although it’s best not to have a hot bath or a sauna for 24 hours after your donation. Fancy registering to Give Blood today? Follow this link and become one of the UK’s most important lifesavers.  Need more help to improve the disabled access to your business? We're always here to help so get in touch today. For all your Medical and Homecare supplies give us a call at Mediworld. We have over 40 years experience in medical, surgical, mobility and home health supplies and we're always on hand to chat if you need support or advice. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook and don't forget to read our other great health blogs!

It’s a condition that many of us know very little about. It’s fast acting and can be fatal. In fact 5 people die with sepsis every hour and over 1000 children die of sepsis every year in the UK alone. Yet Sepsis is the most preventable cause of death worldwide. It’s currently Sepsis Awareness month in the UK and it’s an important time to raise awareness of this largely misunderstood and often undiagnosed condition. So here’s our guide to the signs and symptoms of Sepsis and what to do if you suspect you or a loved one might be affected by the condition. What is Sepsis? Sepsis (sometimes known as blood poisoning) happens when the immune system overreacts to an infection or injury - e.g. flu, covid, lung infection, gastric flu, external skin wound etc. Usually our immune system fights infection, that’s what it’s there for. But sometimes, for reasons we don’t yet understand, it actually attacks our body’s own organs and tissues causing them to shut down and fail. Who can get Sepsis? Simply put, anyone can get sepsis. No matter how fit and healthy you are or what your socio-economic status may be. If you contract a virus, flu or even simply cut yourself you are at risk of developing sepsis. We don’t yet know why the immune system can sometimes go into attack mode when fighting infection, but we DO know that it can happen to ANY of us. However, some people are at a higher risk of Sepsis if they have developed another infection: Those with a weaker or compromised immune system Anyone over the age of 60 People with lung, liver or heart conditions Young children under the age of 1 HIV, aids or diabetes sufferers What are the Symptoms of Sepsis? Sepsis can initially look and feel like flu, gastroenteritis or a chest infection so it’s, understandably, hard to detect. Unfortunately there is no one sign of sepsis, and symptoms present differently between adults and children. However, if you develop any of these symptoms you should seek urgent medical help and make sure you ask ‘could it be sepsis’? Slurred speech or confusion Extreme shivering or muscle pain Passing no urine (in a day) Severe breathlessness It feels like you’re going to die Skin mottled and discoloured How to spot sepsis in children Is breathing fast Has a fit or convulsion Skin looks mottled, bluish or pale Has a rash that doesn’t fade when pressed on Is lethargic and difficult to wake Feels unusually cold to touch A child under 5 might have sepsis if he/she Is not feeding Is vomiting repeatedly Hasn’t passed urine in 12 hours Always seek urgent medical attention and ask ‘Could it be Sepsis’? Can Sepsis be treated? Yes, it can. If it’s not treated immediately, sepsis can result in organ failure and death. Yet with early diagnosis, it can be treated with antibiotics. Most people who are treated early will make a full recovery however later detection can lead to longer term health conditions so acting quickly is key. The more people know about Sepsis the more lives can be saved. Always ask, could it be Sepsis. For more information take a look at the fantastic resources on the UK Sepsis Trust website.  Need more support? We're always here to help so get in touch today. For all your Medical and Homecare supplies give us a call at Mediworld. We have over 40 years experience in medical, surgical, mobility and home health supplies and we're always on hand to chat if you need support or advice. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook and don't forget to read our other great health blogs!