Common Minor Ailments You can Treat at Home

It is not all the time that you will be able to see your GP for every condition that you may be suffering from. Your schedule may prevent you from doing so. Also, securing an appointment for a specific date and time that is most convenient for you may not always be feasible. Besides, there is also a very good chance that the problem is most likely a minor one. You will be surprised how many common ailments can actually be remedied at home. Below are some of them.

Back pain

Most of the time, back pain can be treated through medicines that you can get over-the-counter. There are self care techniques and aids that can help ease the discomfort too. Paracetamol and ibuprofen are often most effective for pain relief. Cold or hot compression packs are quite helpful too.

Making sure that you will avoid straining yourself too much but at the same time, maintaining mobility are keys to recovery. If it has been more than two weeks though that you have been doing home treatment and you are still not getting any improvements, then you will need to have to see your doctor.

Dermatitis

Inflamed skin is a very common condition that one may suffer from at some point. It is usually caused by an allergy or an irritant. When caring for it at home, scratching should be avoided so as not to damage the skin.

To ease the flare-up emollients are most helpful. They can be purchased from the chemists and from supermarkets. Try to go for the unperfumed ones too. Only when the rash still hasn’t cleared up after trying these home remedies should you get a doctor’s appointment.

Indigestion and heartburn

Complaints about indigestion, bloating, and heartburn are quite common. Simple changes to your lifestyle can often help address the problem. There are over-the-counter remedies that can be availed of too.

If you are looking for a short-term relief, then over the counter medications that are meant to neutralise the acids in your stomach can be such huge help. If you are gunning for a long-term solution, then you might want to consider losing weight, stopping your alcohol consumption and smoking, and making sure that you will not eat anything three hours before you will go to bed. 

Blocked nose

Most of the time, a blocked nose can clear up after a few days even without treatment. The body just needs to fight off whatever infection has caused it. If it is a virus such as the flu or a cold, then going to the GP will not really do anything to resolve it. The most that you can do is find ways to ease the symptoms a bit. Decongestants can be bought over the counter which can help with the blocked nose. Also, inhaling steam from a bowl of hot water is most useful at clearing up the mucus build-up in your nose. Of course, if the symptoms ever persist, then it is best to see your GP.

Watch the video below to learn more.

Not every medical condition requires a visit to the GP. Learn more about effective ways to treat common medical conditions at home before seeing your GP by reading about Dr Kaine Jerome Ikwueke online. You can connect with Dr Kaine Jerome Ikwueke on LinkedIn here.