What are the symptoms of vaginal thrush?

Thrush is characterized by a discharge, which usually is creamy white, but is sometimes watery. It can cause itch, redness, discomfort, or pain around the outside of the vagina. Symptoms could be minor and resolve on their own, but they may need treatment. Thrush does not damage the vagina, and it does not spread to damage the uterus (womb). If you are pregnant it will not harm your baby.

Do I need any tests?

Usually not. The diagnosis is usually based on the typical symptoms and signs.

What are the treatment options for vaginal thrush?

Topical treatments

These are pessaries and creams, which you insert into the vagina with an applicator. They contain anti-yeast medicines e.g. clotrimazole, or miconazole. Commonly, a single large dose inserted into the vagina is sufficient to clear a bout of thrush. However, you may also want to rub some anti-yeast cream onto the skin around the vagina (the vulva) for a few days, especially if it is itchy. You can use topical treatments if you are pregnant.

Tablets

Two options are available: Fluconazole, which is taken as a single dose, or itraconazole, which is taken as two doses over the course of one day. Do not take these if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. You may also want to rub some anti-yeast cream onto the skin around the vagina for a few days, especially if it is itchy.

Tablets and topical treatments are equally effective. Tablets are more convenient, but are more expensive than most topical treatments.

What if the treatment does not work?

If you still have symptoms after a week from starting treatment, then see your doctor or nurse. Treatment does not clear symptoms in up to 1 in 5 cases. Reasons why treatment may fail include:

Some other points about vaginal thrush:

• Thrush is not a sexually transmitted infection.
• Male sexual partners do not need treatment unless they have symptoms of thrush on their penis.

Do I need to see a doctor if I get vaginal thrush again?

It is best to see a doctor or a nurse if you think that you might have thrush. If you:

• Are under 16 or over 60 years of age.
• Are pregnant.
• Have abnormal vaginal bleeding or lower abdominal pain.
• Are unwell in yourself in addition to the vaginal and vulval symptoms.
• Have symptoms that are not entirely the same as a previous bout of thrush. For example, if the discharge has a bad smell, or it you develop ulcers or blisters next to your vagina.
• Have had two episodes of thrush in six months, and have not consulted a doctor or nurse about this for more than a year.
• Have had a previous sexually transmitted infection (or your partner has).
• Have had a previous bad reaction to anti-thrush medication or treatments.

WHERE IS CHOLESTEROL FOUND?

 Cholesterol is found in all animal products such as eggs, milk, cheese, beef, poultry, fish and baked goods containing egg yolks. Fats from plant sources such as corn oil, cottonseed and safflower oil contain no cholesterol.

‘Good’ and ‘bad’ cholesterol

The notion of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ cholesterol comes from the way it’s carried around in the body. The carriers are called ‘lipoproteins’ and there are two types – low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL).

LDL transports cholesterol from the liver to the rest of the body. When there’s more LDL cholesterol in the blood than the body needs, cholesterol accumulates in body tissues, such as the walls of coronary arteries. Here it can build up and can have an adverse effect on your heart. That’s why LDL cholesterol is called ‘bad’ cholesterol.

HDL picks up and transports surplus cholesterol from the body tissues back to the liver, where it is broken down and passed out of the body. That’s why HDL cholesterol is called ‘good’ cholesterol.

An easy way to remember the difference is:
– your HDL should be High, and
– your LDL should be Low.

Risk Factors associated with Hypercholesterolaemia Uncontrollable risk factors include:

• Gender: After menopause, a woman’s LDL-cholesterol level (‘bad’ cholesterol) goes up, as does her risk for heart disease.
• Age: Your risk increases as you get older. Men 45 years old or above and women 55 years old or above are at increased risk of high cholesterol.
• Family history: Your risk increases if a father or brother was affected by early heart disease (before age 55) or a mother or sister was affected by early heart disease (before age 65).

 Controllable risk factors include:

• Diet: The saturated fat and cholesterol in the food youeat raise total and LDL- cholesterol levels.
• Weight: Being overweight can make your LDL-cholesterol level go up and your HDL level go down.
• Physical activity/ exercise: Increased physical activity helps to lower LDL- cholesterol and raise HDL-cholesterol (the ‘good’ cholesterol) levels. It also helps you lose weight.

Cholesterol levels:

LDL cholesterol

LDL cholesterol can build up on the walls of your arteries and increase your chances of getting heart disease.The lower your LDL cholesterol number, the better it is for your health. The table below explains what the numbers mean.

 If you have heart disease or blood vessel disease, some experts recommend that you should try to get your LDL cholesterol below 2.0. For people with diabetes or other multiple risk factors for heart disease, the treatment goal is to reach an LDL of less than 2.0.

HDL cholesterol

When it comes to HDL cholesterol – “good” cholesterol – the higher the number, the better it is for your health. This is because HDL cholesterol protects against heart disease by taking the “bad” cholesterol out of your blood and keeping it from building up in your arteries. The table below explains what the numbers mean.

Triglycerides

Triglycerides are the chemical form in which most fat exists in food and the body. A high triglyceride level has been linked to the occurrence of coronary artery disease in some people. Here’s the breakdown.

Total cholesterol

Your total blood cholesterol is a measure of LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and other lipid components. Doctors recommend total cholesterol levels below 5.2 mmol/L.

Treatment – Dietary and Lifestyle advice:

Diet:

Eat less saturated fat. Choose lean meat, reduced fat dairy products and limit the biscuits, cakes and other foods that are high in saturated fats.
Eat less of the cholesterol rich foods. Such as eggs and fatty cuts of meat.
Eat plenty of foods rich in carbohydrates for example: potatoes, bread, rice and pasta. Where possible, choose fibre rich foods like wholegrain cereals and lentils.
Eat oily fish such as herring, mackerel, trout or sardines regularly (twice weekly is ideal).
Snack on nuts.
Eat more fruit and vegetables – at least 5 servings a day.
Use less salt and sugar.
Drink 2L of water each day.

Lifestyle:

Only drink alcohol in moderation and make sure you stay within safe drinking limits.
Exercise regularly. Take up a sport or add active habits to your day, like walking to the shop.
Learn to relax and control the amount of stress in your life.
Take enough time to eat.
Avoid smoking.

Treatment – Drugs:

Statins are good at lowering blood cholesterol levels often by 40% or more, but have less activity against triglycerides. They work by reducing the amount of cholesterol made inside body cells, especially in the liver .Statins are normally taken as tablets or capsules once a day at night as this is when cholesterol levels are highest in the body. Statins are generally well tolerated producing few side effects. A small number of patients develop muscle aches and pains as a result of inflammation.

Ezetimibe is a new class of cholesterol lowering drugs. Ezetimibe lowers LDL cholesterol levels by 10-20% as a single therapy and when combined with statins can result in reduction of LDL by 60%.

What is high Blood Pressure?

When doctors and pharmacists take your blood pressure, they’re measuring how hard your blood pushes against your arteries and veins as it moves around your body. Your blood pressure may rise and fall slightly throughout the day and the night. But when it stays up, it’s called high blood pressure.

If you have high blood pressure you probably won’t feel ill or have any symptoms. But high blood pressure increases your chances of having a heart attack or a stroke. It can also lead to kidney disease and heart failure.

The good news is that there are many things you can do to lower your blood pressure. You can make changes to your lifestyle, for example such as eating less salt, exercising and losing weight, can help to keep your blood pressure down, or taking medication.

How is Blood Pressure diagnosed?

If all this sounds alarming, there is good news too. Hypertension can be easily diagnosed; your blood pressure can be measured quickly and painlessly at your local Stockwell Pharmacy Branch. When the reading is above normal, the check can be repeated three or four times if necessary to establish that the first figure wasn’t a chance finding.

How is Blood Pressure measured?

Our Stockwell specialist pharmacist will carry out the blood pressure test. Usually you will be asked to sit down and the pharmacist will wrap a rubber lined cuff, which is part of the pressure-measuring device known as a sphygmomanometer (blood pressure monitor), around your upper arm. The machine will be activated and begin to inflate the cuff around the arm. The blood pressure monitor will then deflate and provide the user with 3 readings, 1) Systolic BP, 2) Diastolic BP, 3) Pulse.

The Ealing Pharmacy at 75 New Broadway (opposite the Ealing Town Hall) is open till 7PM, or the online shop for those further away.

If you can’t find what you are looking for or simply don’t know what you are looking for, call our advice line on 0208 567 0678 or email us.

At the new Stockwells Store,
75 New Broadway,
Ealing, W5 5AL
(opp Ealing Town Hall)

Your local health expert.

Your local health expert.