Clear answers to common health questions.

Call emergency services straight away for chest pain, sudden weakness, severe breathlessness, heavy bleeding, fainting or signs of stroke.

Heart-attack pain is usually central, heavy or crushing, lasts more than a few minutes, and may spread to the arm, jaw or back. Call 999 if in doubt.

Remember FAST — Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call 999. Even brief symptoms need urgent assessment.

Swelling of lips/tongue, difficulty breathing, wheeze, or sudden collapse after an allergen are signs of anaphylaxis. Use an adrenaline auto-injector if available and call 999.

Most fevers in adults settle in a few days. Seek urgent care for fever with stiff neck, breathing trouble, rash that does not fade under pressure, or fever in a baby under 3 months.

Headache that is sudden and severe, with fever and neck stiffness, after a head injury, or with weakness or vision change needs urgent assessment.

A cough lasting more than 3 weeks, or any cough with blood, weight loss, breathlessness or night sweats, should be reviewed by a clinician.

Get same-day help for back pain with leg weakness, loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness around the groin, fever, or after a fall.

Dizziness is feeling lightheaded or unsteady; vertigo is the sensation that you or the room are spinning. They often have different causes.

Take it as soon as you remember unless it's almost time for your next dose — then skip the missed one. Never double-up unless your prescriber says so.

Many long-term medications need to be continued — or tapered slowly — even when you feel well. Always talk to your prescriber before stopping.

Some medicines and alcohol don't mix — especially sedatives, opioids, metronidazole, warfarin and many diabetes drugs. Check with your pharmacist.

Yes — generics contain the same active ingredient and must meet the same safety, strength and quality standards.

Paracetamol is the safest first choice for most adults. Ibuprofen helps inflammation but should be avoided in stomach, kidney, heart and pregnancy issues.

Paracetamol is generally considered safe. ACE inhibitors, NSAIDs in late pregnancy, warfarin and many acne treatments are not. Always check before stopping or starting anything.

A clinic reading of 140/90 mmHg or higher, confirmed by home or ambulatory monitoring, is considered hypertension in most adults.

Sit upright, take one puff of your reliever inhaler every 30–60 seconds (up to 10 puffs), and call 999 if symptoms don't improve or you can't speak in full sentences.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an irregular fast heart rhythm. It raises the risk of stroke by about five-fold, but treatment is very effective at lowering that risk.

It depends on your overall cardiovascular risk — not just the number. Your prescriber considers age, blood pressure, smoking, diabetes and family history together.

Only some tests need fasting — typically lipid profiles, glucose, and certain liver tests. Most others can be taken any time.

An ECG records the heart's electrical activity. It can detect rhythm problems, signs of a heart attack and some structural changes, but a normal ECG doesn't rule out heart disease.

Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate activity (or 75 minutes vigorous) per week, plus strength work on 2 days. Any movement is better than none.

Mediterranean-style eating — vegetables, fruit, legumes, whole grains, nuts, olive oil, fish — has the strongest evidence for protecting your heart.

No. We provide reviewed health information and structured guidance, but we do not diagnose, prescribe, or replace clinical care.