Health Tips


Everything You Need to Know About the Common Cold

Ever wonder why the symptoms of a cold tend to vary greatly? That’s because the common cold is caused by any one of more than two hundred viruses! Adults tend to get two to four colds a year but children (especially preschoolers) may have up to eight to ten colds annually. Both adults and children […]

How to care for someone with Flu at home

Seasonal flu (also known as influenza) is a highly infectious illness caused by the flu virus. The virus infects your lungs and upper airways, causing a sudden high temperature and general aches and pains, headache, weakness and exhaustion. Symptoms can last for up to one week. You may need to stay in bed until your […]

Exam Stress & Meditation

It’s that time of year again – exams are looming, students dread the thoughts of studying and wonder how they are going to cope with it all. No matter how well prepared you are, exams can be extremely stressful making it difficult to concentrate, deplete energy levels and affect your sleeping. Mindful meditation, even for […]

Managing Stress

Exams can be a really stressful time on student. Watch our Support Pharmacist in Haven Pharmacy Scannell’s & Riverview – Bandon, Suzanne Goggin give real, relatable advice for anyone who may be suffering with exam stress. Suzanne answers all your crucial questions: Do we all get stressed? What are her top tips to combat exam […]

Back To School Hair Care

Back to school can unfortunately bring with it dreaded Head Lice. Children are most likely to have head lice infestations because of their relative close proximity to one another in schools and the playground. They are not a cause for embarrassment nor are they a result of unhygienic environments, but because of their highly contagious […]

Are you getting enough Vitamin D?

Did you know that Vitamin D is vital for the development of healthy bones, teeth and muscles? The best natural resource of Vitamin D is the sun, however in Ireland during the winter months, we are exposed to very little sunlight, especially people working typical 9-5pm office hours. We can also get our Vitamin D […]

Summer Health Tips

A healthy lifestyle has huge long term health benefits. By choosing a balanced diet, taking regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight for your age can add years to your life and reduce the risk of certain diseases including cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis and obesity. The key to reducing the risk of these diseases […]

Daily SPF Protection

Did you know you should wear SPF everyday? Sun protection factor (SPF) plays an important preventative role against the long term effects of overexposure to Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun including: sunburn, skin damage, premature ageing of the skin and skin cancer. There are two types of UV radiation that we need to be […]

Quit Smoking with Haven Pharmacy

1 in every 2 smokers will die of a tobacco-related disease. It doesn’t have to be that way – you can quit! Have you tried to give up smoking in the past? Have you managed to give up for long periods of time and then one little slip spiralled you back to your former full-time […]

Managing Menopause

  Menopause affects people differently. Some may experience very disruptive symptoms. As well as managing symptoms, we also need to protect our overall health as menopause may bring increased risk of heart disease & osteoporosis. Here are some tips that may help you whether you are at the early stages of PeriMenopause or the later […]

Tips & Advice for Hay Fever Sufferers

Met Éireann warns hay fever sufferers that grass pollen will be “High” for the next few days. Not good news for Hay Fever or Asthma suffers, but rest assured you can trust your local Haven Pharmacist to advise you on the right Anti-histamines for your allergy symptoms. Here are some helpful tips and advice to […]

How to keep your children’s teeth healthy

People may wonder is there a need to look after a child’s first set of teeth as they can often be deemed as ‘just baby teeth’. But you should start the conversation early with your dentists about your child’s oral care needs as soon as their first tooth makes an appearance. The most common questions […]

Sensitive Teeth?

Tooth sensitivity is a common dental problem that involves discomfort or pain in teeth when encountering certain substances and temperatures. Read on to learn more about managing your sensitive teeth so you can enjoy the foods you love! What Causes Sensitive Teeth? Dentine hypersensitivity, or tooth sensitivity is a condition that can develop over time, as […]

Best way to brush your teeth

The team at Corsodyl have created a guide to the best way to brush your teeth so here are six simple steps you can take in your daily oral care routine to reduce your risk of seeing blood when you spit TWICE FOR TWO Brushing helps remove plaque bacteria and food particles that, if allowed to build […]

Self Care Tips

Self care is more important now than ever, we need to make sure that we are okay before we can take care of others. Self care promotes a healthy lifestyle as it reduces stress, increases confidence and gives us a more positive outlook on life. Here are some self care tips to help you bring […]

Stay Fit – Stay Healthy!

Did you start off 2021 with new goals and objectives for the year ahead? Perhaps one of them is to get fit & healthy or lose weight. One of the best ways we can do any of these is to go Walking! It’s one form of exercise that is both free and easy to do. […]

Stroke – Would You Know What to Do?

The sooner a person receives treatment for a stroke, the less damage is likely to happen. Always err on the side of caution and seek emergency medical advice if you suspect that you or someone you know might be having a stroke.   What Causes a Stroke? A stroke occurs when a blood vessel, which […]

Are you suffering from Maskne?

Are you suffering from breakouts from wearing a mask daily? You may be experiencing Mask Acne, or “Maskne” Wearing a mask is mandatory in all shops and public areas to help against the fight of Covid-19, but how can we fight what’s happening under the mask – skin irritation and “maskne” What is “Maskne”? The […]

Now is the time to book your Flu Vaccine

As we prepare for the winter season amid the Covid-19 pandemic, now is the time to think about pre-booking your flu vaccine with your GP or Pharmacist. The HSE have confirmed that the flu vaccine for at-risk groups will be available from the end of September 2020. The Nasal Flu Vaccine for Children will be […]

Children’s Fever Advice

Your child can get a slightly raised temperature from the simplest things. But how do you know if they really have a fever? Here is some advice on how to look after your little one when they’re running a temperature It’s not unusual for children to get a mild fever. So it’s good to feel […]

Tips for Fussy Eaters

Our nutritional demands are never greater than during the phases of life in which we are growing. Newborn babies, toddlers, children and teenagers going through a ‘growth spurt’ have incredibly high rates of growth which need to be matched with diets that are rich in nutrients to support this growth and supplements can be a […]

Why is Folic Acid important?

Research shows that half of pregnancies are unplanned, so if there is any possibility you could become pregnant it’s important you take a folic acid supplement every day What is Folic Acid? Folic acid is a water soluble vitamin that we can get from our food (called folates) or from supplements or foods that have […]

Covid-19: Face Coverings

A cloth face covering is a material you wear that covers the nose and mouth. Wearing a cloth face covering is recommended in situations where it is difficult to practice social distancing, for example, in shops or on busy public transport. Wearing of cloth face coverings may help prevent people who do not know they […]

Covid-19: First Aid in the Home

With everyone staying at home these days including Grandparents ‘cocooning’, Mum or Dad working from home, Children being home schooled & Toddlers out of crèche,  it is advisable to keep a First Aid Kit in a convenient location at home, easy to access when dealing with minor injuries. Here’s a list of the recommended first […]

Covid-19: Pollen or Pandemic?

Perhaps you’ve developed a cough or you’ve noticed some shortness of breath. While it could be any number of things, it’s not unusual to link your symptoms to the current coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. With so much discussion about the virus and its symptoms, it’s understandable you might start worrying you’ve picked it up. The main […]

Covid-19: What is Cocooning?

For people most at risk of serious illness if they catch coronavirus, the HSE are giving special advice called cocooning. Cocooning is for people who are extremely medically vulnerable. It is for your personal protection. Cocooning means you should stay at home at all times and avoid face-to-face contact. Even within your home, you should […]

Covid-19: Support Your Immune System

During the ongoing Covid-19, it is vital to support your immune system as we become accustomed to self isolation. Here are some self help tips to help you stay as healthy as  you can in your new routine: Eat a Balanced Healthy Diet:  – Eat more vegetables, salad and fruit – up to seven servings […]

Covid-19: Minding Your Mental Health

Now more than ever, it is so important to look after our physical and mental health in any way we can. The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be stressful for people. Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. This can really affect your […]

Covid-19: Benefits of Walking

We understand that the recent advice from the Government can be confusing. On one hand, we’ve been told to stay home as much as possible. On the other hand, we’ve also been told that it’s important to keep exercising – and that a walk, run or cycle within 2km of our homes is okay. Many […]

Covid-19: Coronavirus Information

COVID-19 is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It’s caused by a virus called coronavirus. Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). A novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a new […]

10 Tips to Quit Smoking

  We understand that quitting smoking is one of the biggest challenges you’ll face. These tips will help keep you motivated and on track…   Tip 1: Plan your quit. Quitting smoking isn’t an easy task. Call in to your local Haven Pharmacist to create a new plan that works for you to help you […]

Benefits of Flossing your Teeth

You might be interested in the variety of at-home tooth-bleaching products that are available if you think your pearly whites have become off-white. But remember that no teeth whitening product replaces twice-daily tooth brushing and daily flossing as a consistent dental care routine. Stains can adhere to both plaque and tartar build-up. Regular use of […]

10 Steps to a Great Skincare Routine

Your skin is one of the largest organs your body has, it works hard every day to protect your body from harmful elements, pollution and environmental damage. Taking good care of your skin and developing a daily skin care routine is so important because it can help your skin do its job at its best […]

Everything You Need to Know About Cold Sores

Cold Sores are extremely annoying and usually occur at the worst of times! Our Haven Pharmacists have put together all of the information you need about cold sores; where they come from, how they spread and how to treat them… Cold sores are mostly a benign viral infection that cause sores to form around the […]

Cervical Cancer Prevention Week

Cervical Cancer Prevention Week 20th – 26th January 2020 The Facts Every year in Ireland about 300 women get cervical cancer and 90 women die from it. Cervical cancer is the second most common cause of death due to cancer in women aged 25 to 39 years. Worldwide cervical cancer is the fourth most common […]

12 Injuries of Christmas

Now that Christmas is in full swing we thought we would share our new Medicare Festive First Aid Guide – although this is a happy time of year there are many accidents that may occur, this handy guide is designed to provide key information in a light and informative manner. The Guide includes the 12 Injuries of […]

Have you had your Flu Vaccine yet?

The seasonal flu vaccine is available from October 2019 until the end of April 2020 What is the Flu? Seasonal flu (also known as influenza) is a highly infectious illness caused by the flu virus. The virus infects your lungs and upper airways, causing a sudden high temperature and general aches and pains, headache, weakness […]

Probiotics – a closer look at gut health

What is a Probiotic? The word probiotic is a compound of two Greek words: “pro” to signify promotion of, and “biotic” – life. Probiotics are bacteria that line digestive tract and they are also known as friendly bacteria. The difference between pathogenic bacteria or candida, and probiotics, is that the probiotic organisms have a symbiotic […]

Childhood illnesses – knowing the symptoms

It’s easy to forget that children are not little adults. Children have not yet developed their body’s natural defences and therefore are far more prone to infections from bacteria and viruses than adults. As a result, children often get sick. Most of the time there is no need to worry, however a child that is […]

Baby Care – Looking After Your Little Ones

  Ever feel like there are just so many things to look out for with a new baby that you don’t know where to start? It can be really overwhelming. You’re doing a great job, so don’t worry and be kind to yourself. Here, our expert pharmacists list out just some of the most common […]

Don’t suffer with Mouth Ulcers

What is a mouth ulcer? Mouth ulcers (or apthous ulcers) are common, with as many as one in two of the population suffering from them, but the cause in many cases is unknown. They may occur on your tongue, on your soft palate, inside your cheeks or lips, and at the base of your gums. […]

Scabies, a common and treatable condition

Scabies is a contagious skin condition caused by a parasitic mite called Sarcoptes scabiei that burrows into your skin. It is highly contagious and can easily be passed from one person to another through direct skin contact or infested clothing or bedding. Outbreaks often occur in confined environments such as schools, sports locker rooms, prisons […]

Worried about Age-related Macular Degeneration?

Are you worried about Age-related Macular Degeneration? 👀 Over 7,000 new cases of Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) are diagnosed every year in Ireland, often at a stage when damage has already been caused to vision. AMD is a disease that causes the gradual loss of sight due to blurring or loss of central vision. This […]

Cervical Cancer Prevention Week

Cervical Cancer Prevention Week 21st – 27th January 2019 The Facts Every year in Ireland about 300 women get cervical cancer and 90 women die from it. Cervical cancer is the second most common cause of death due to cancer in women aged 25 to 39 years. Worldwide cervical cancer is the fourth most common […]

Are you worried about Meningitis?

The HSE have advised the public to be vigilant regarding meningococcal meningitis/septicaemia as there has been a noted increase in meningococcal disease in the country in the last two weeks. Meningitis is a serious illness involving inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. There are two types of meningitis; bacterial and viral. […]

Transform Your New Year with Haven Pharmacy!

Happy New Year Everyone! January can be tough… Not only are we suffering the come down after the festive season and feeling the pinch, we are all generally trying to improve our health and well-being – which can sometimes feel like deprivation or punishment after all the indulgence. The good news is, it doesn’t have […]

Understanding Asthma

What is Asthma? Asthma is a condition that causes coughing, wheezing, breathlessness, a tightness in the chest and a build up of sticky mucous in the airways. The severity of asthma symptoms varies. Another symptom of asthma is night time coughing with some sufferers also experiencing hoarseness. Who is more likely to suffer from asthma? […]

Self Care – Taking charge of your health

An exciting societal shift is taking place in relation to how we look after our health and well-being. Increasingly, we have people coming into our pharmacies to seek advice about minor ailments and treatment options from our healthcare experts. This year saw the launch of the #SelfCare initiative organised by the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) […]

5 Signs of Acne and How to Treat it

Acne Vulgaris is a common skin disease that develop in the pores around hair follicles and oil producing glands. If mainly occurs in adolescence, affecting approximately 80% of teenagers but can also affect people in their 20’s and 30’s. What Causes Acne? Acne results from blockages in the hair follicles caused by too much sebum […]

2 Most Common Reasons People Avoid The Flu Vaccine

Getting your flu vaccine, is now more convenient than ever before. Ever chat with your friends about the flu vaccine? Do you all get it? If not, why? Last year, the Health Service Executive issued a statement indicating that uptake on the vaccine was “nowhere near” where it ought to be. Why do you think […]

Stroke – Would You Know What to Do?

The sooner a person receives treatment for a stroke, the less damage is likely to happen. Always err on the side of caution and seek emergency medical advice if you suspect that you or someone you know might be having a stroke.   What Causes a Stroke? A stroke occurs when a blood vessel, which […]

Blood Pressure – What you need to know!

Blood pressure refers to the amount of work that our heart has to do to pump blood around the body. It measures how strongly blood presses against the walls of your arteries (large blood vessels) during this process. If this pressure is too high it puts a strain on your arteries and your heart, which […]

What is Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis occurs when more bone is naturally lost than replaced. This results in bones becoming more fragile and therefore breaks more easily. Osteoporosis is when bones are more porous and it affects 1 in 5 men and 1 in 2 women. Signs & Symptoms Often there are no signs or symptoms prior to a person […]

Cervical Cancer Prevention – Get the Facts

As it’s Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, we try to explain in simple terms a little more about cervical cancer, the symptoms and causes. From the outset, it’s important to emphasise that there is no 100% effective method to prevent cervical cancer and therefore it is crucial that women continue to have regular cervical smear tests. […]

Cystitis and UTI’s

Cystitis is a common lower urinary tract infection (UTI). It is inflammation of the bladder or urethra and is more common in women than men. It is usually mild and resolves within 5 to 7 days without treatment with antibiotics. Cystitis can be extremely painful and uncomfortable, therefore our pharmacists would highly recommend that actions are […]

Constipation

Constipation is a common complaint. It occurs when bowel motions become harder or drier than normal and are difficult to pass or when you are having fewer bowel movements than your regular pattern. Bowel habit is very much an individual pattern and there is a large amount of variance. For some people, a daily bowel […]