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Most severe allergic shocks go unreported figures suggest
Lloydspharmacy launches online adrenaline service for anaphylaxis sufferers
The number of people at risk of potentially fatal allergic reactions could be much greater than previously reported. Up to 1.2 million Brits could experience anaphylactic shocks during their lifetime(1) but the most recent UK estimates are only able to identify fewer than 40,000 incidents(2). Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction which some people experience if they come into contact with certain foods and substances. It is estimated that 20 people die each year in the UK as a result of anaphylaxis. In the US the reported figure is 1,500(3). Common triggers include peanuts, latex, drugs and insect stings but the list of possible triggers includes shellfish and even fruit. A very severe attack can result in a sudden collapse but more commonly the sufferer will experience itching, sneezing, difficulty with breathing, dizziness, palpitations and anxiety. A review of studies into the prevalence of anaphylaxis has revealed huge variations in how incidents are recorded(1). Researchers concluded anything up to two per cent of the population – more than 1.2 million Brits – could experience an anaphylactic shock during their lifetime. But a UK study(2) indentified only 37,800 people who’d experienced anaphylaxis in their lifetime. The study’s authors conclude the true figures are under-reported because the majority of cases are sent home from A&E departments and are therefore not captured. It is believed that incidents among those at highest risk, children and adolescents, are most likely to go unreported. It is not known why there is an increase in the number of people suffering in general with allergies. One theory is that enhanced hygiene is encouraging our immune systems to react to hitherto harmless compounds. People diagnosed with anaphylaxis are prescribed an adrenaline pen. Adrenaline is used in the emergency treatment of anaphylaxis as it treats the symptoms of anaphylaxis by raising blood pressure, relieving breathing difficulties and reducing swelling. Lloydspharmacy Online Doctor (www.lloydspharmacy.com/doctor) this week launches a service for people with anaphylaxis allowing them to order replacement or additional adrenaline pens online. Patients complete an online questionnaire which is reviewed by a doctor. If clinically appropriate a prescription is written and a new pen received next day by post. “People with severe anaphylaxis should never be without an adrenaline pen and should always have one to hand” said Nitin Makadia at Lloydspharmacy Online Doctor. “The shelf life of a pen can be as little as 8 to 10 months so if your pen is out of date or has become damaged you need to replace it immediately. You may also want the peace of mind from having additional pens available for all circumstances to suit your lifestyle. “By offering people a service which allows them to replace or purchase additional pens, without the need to wait for a GP appointment we can help anaphylaxis sufferers stay safe.”
For media enquiries, please contact:
Press Officer
Lloydspharmacy
Tel: 02476 432192
Email: pr@lloydspharmacy.co.uk Aug 2010
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YOUNG BRITS BLOOD PRESSURE BOILING The results of a new study published by Lloydspharmacy today, shows that as many as five and a half million young people in the UK are showing signs of high blood pressure. Download the report (right click, save as)
http://www.lloydspharmacy.com/files/pr/Blood_Pressure_Report_July_2010.pdf While high blood pressure is often prevalent in older people, a troubling 35 per cent of 16-34 year olds had high blood pressure readings. The study, which involved 8568 people over the age of 16, showed that only one in four had an ideal or normal blood pressure reading. Alarmingly, four per cent of those under the age of 34 had readings which showed severe or very severe hypertension. The average blood pressure for the UK gives cause for concern, with a reading of 140/86, pushing the country into the hypertensive category. Across the UK various pressure points were identified, with the average blood pressure in the East of England hitting 143/86 and 143/85 in the South West. Research conducted by Lloydspharmacy shows that more than seven in ten adults in the UK have never had their blood pressure checked. With one in five doing no forms of exercise, it is perhaps no surprise that the nation’s blood pressure is soaring, and begs the question as to whether the hectic ‘have-it-all’ lifestyle of modern Britain is causing our blood pressure to spiral out of control. As the population ages, the situation only seems to worsen, as one in ten adults over the age of 55 showed signs of severe or very severe hypertension, putting themselves at serious risk of a heart attack or stroke. Men seem to be at a higher risk of high blood pressure than women with three in four classed as having high normal blood pressure or some level of hypertension, but a high percentage of women are still at risk as more than 67 per cent of nearly 3,000 women tested over the age of 55 showed signs of hypertension. Shafeeque Mohammed, clinical pharmacist and heart health expert at Lloydspharmacy, said: “Although we must bear in mind that a one-off blood pressure test is not conclusive, cumulatively the average readings were higher than anticipated. It was particularly worrying to see the number of younger people with readings that put them in the hypertensive category. We would certainly want to explore this further. “High blood pressure is something that most people don’t think they need to worry about until later in life, but it can affect you at any age. It often has no symptoms until it has become extremely severe, so it’s vital to have your blood pressure tested regularly. “That's why we are inviting all adults in the UK to have their blood pressure tested in-pharmacy for free. Through our heart campaign we want to encourage a change in attitude and help people manage their own health and to take steps to prevent illness. “There are also a number of factors that can contribute to higher blood pressure including smoking, lack of physical activity, obesity, an unhealthy diet and excess alcohol, so it’s important for young adults to recognise the risk and take action by managing their lifestyles carefully.” Professor O’Brien, Professor of Cardiovascular Pharmacology at The Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin, adds: “Lack of blood pressure control increases the chances of cardiovascular problems such as strokes, heart attacks or kidney problems. “Recent evidence shows that although prescribing of blood pressure-lowering drugs has increased, BP control has not improved. It is apparent that prescribing alone is not the answer – people of all ages need to take their blood pressure seriously and re-evaluate their lifestyle to reduce the risk of hypertension. I applaud the efforts that Lloydspharmacy is making to promote awareness of blood pressure and in encouraging people to get their blood pressure checked on a regular basis.” Lloydspharmacy has been offering free blood pressure checks in its pharmacies since 2003 and has conducted over 1.5 million checks to date. In addition to the testing service, the pharmacy chain has recently launched a new range of affordable blood pressure monitors which are approved by the British Hypertension Society and offer a convenient way to monitor your blood pressure at home in between GP appointments. For more information, visit www.lloydspharmacy.com/heart. Download the report (right click, save as)
http://www.lloydspharmacy.com/files/pr/Blood_Pressure_Report_July_2010.pdf For media enquiries, please contact:
Press Officer
Lloydspharmacy
Tel: 02476 432192
Email: pr@lloydspharmacy.co.uk July 2010
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Report PDF
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NEW LOOK FOR LLOYDSPHARMACY HEALTHCARE SERVICES DIVISION
Lloydspharmacy has launched a new brand identity for its Healthcare Services division. In the last three years, this area of the business has grown significantly and, with more than 140 live contracts, Lloydspharmacy Healthcare Services has a wealth of experience at primary, intermediary and secondary care level in both the public and private sector.
With a 50-strong team to support NHS and private sector organisations, Lloydspharmacy Healthcare Services is committed to building on the market-leading position it has already established within the mental health trust and prison sectors.
As part of the brand launch, the company has invested in an online portal at lloydspharmacyservices.com. From innovative dispensing services in Gloucestershire prisons and cardiovascular screening to the pioneering outpatient dispensing unit that was unveiled at Royal Liverpool University Hospital earlier this year, the website brings to life all the work that the company is doing in partnership with the NHS and private sector health organisations.
As well as comprehensive dispensing support, stock supply, formulary management and clinical pharmaceutical advice, the range of services also extends to clinical services such as cardiovascular screening, diabetes testing and sexual health support.
Commenting on the growth of this area of the business, Pete Shergill, Director of Lloydspharmacy Healthcare Services, said:
“We have a proven track record in delivering healthcare services to the NHS and private sector and were keen to showcase the depth and breadth of support that we can provide. That’s why Lloydspharmacy Healthcare Services now has a dedicated online presence with a focus on services to engage directly with healthcare professionals.
“In this era of delivering ‘more for less’, we have demonstrated how we can work in partnership to save money and improve patient care. Many of our projects have also helped organisations to free up time so that clinicians can focus more on patient focussed activities. This is underpinned by our expertise in meeting clinical governance requirements, ensuring a safe and high quality service.
“Lloydspharmacy Healthcare Services are able to do this by understanding the needs of organisations. We work very closely with them to ensure the end results meet and exceed expectations.
“The role of the pharmacy has changed considerably – and with a foothold right in the heart of the community, we are well placed to develop and deliver innovative services at every level that deliver increased efficiency and improvements to patient care.”
For media enquiries, please contact:
Press Officer
Lloydspharmacy
Tel: 02476 432192
Email: pr@lloydspharmacy.co.uk June 2010
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HAYFEVER SUFFERERS SPEND 9.7 DAYS SNEEZING IN THEIR LIFETIME
- Symptoms at their worst in June -
The average hayfever sufferer will spend 9.7 days of their lifetime sneezing according new research1 released today by the UK’s leading community pharmacy group, Lloydspharmacy. On average, hayfever sufferers spend 50 days of the year dealing with their condition and the typical sufferer will sneeze around five times an hour during the months they are affected. A typical sneeze lasts around 3 seconds2 so in a 16-hour waking day, a hayfever sufferer will spend 225 seconds sneezing. This equates to around 188 minutes a year, or in a lifetime 9.7 days. One in four hayfever sufferers – or 3.75 million people3 - battle with their symptoms for more than three months of the year. An additional six in ten sufferers (nine million people) spend up to two months of the year suffering with symptoms such as itchy eyes, a runny nose and a scratchy throat. One in three (five million) hayfever sufferers blows their nose every 15 minutes. Five per cent (750,000) of those surveyed admit to blowing their nose once every four minutes – or around 15 times an hour when their symptoms are at their worst. One in five (three million) sufferers uses five or more packs of antihistamine tablets through the season in addition to drug-free solutions such as light therapy. Fifty per cent of those who suffer from hayfever symptoms (7.5 million people) sneeze around three times an hour, or 48 times during the average 16 hour waking day. That’s a staggering 120 minutes a year spent enduring the ailment. Key facts - On average, a hayfever sufferer blows their nose 5.0531 times an hour
- On average a hayfever sufferer suffers for 50 days a year
- When experiencing the symptoms, hayfever sufferers rub their eyes an average of 5.6153 times an hour
- June is the month people find their symptoms are at their worst
"Most hayfever sufferers just accept their condition as a fact of life," said Shafeeque Mohammed, head of allergy relief at Lloydspharmacy. "Whilst it's true that there is no cure for hayfever, there are solutions which don't depend on medication. Antihistamines are likely to be part of the armoury for all hayfever sufferers but there are ways of reducing your need for medicines, such as using the Lloydspharmacy Allergy Reliever, which uses phototherapy to reduce the main symptoms of hayfever." Visit Lloydspharmacy for everything you need to help deal with the symptoms of hayfever. The new Lloydspharmacy Allergy Reliever is available until the 30th June at the reduced price of £9.99 (full price £39.99). For more information visit www.lloydspharmacy.com.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Press Officer
Lloydspharmacy
Tel: 02476 432192
Email: pr@lloydspharmacy.co.uk June 2010
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WHY YOUR NAME COULD SPELL A HEART ATTACK
Is there a heart attack lurking in your name? According to a new study by Lloydspharmacy, your forename could indicate your chances of developing heart disease. The study found that men called Colin, Brian and Alan have a 47 per cent chance of having high blood pressure, whilst men called Simon, Mark and Kevin have a 16 per cent chance1. If your name is Daniel, Liam and Thomas then your chance of having high blood pressure drops to just 6 per cent. Lloydspharmacy analysed naming trends over the past 80 years and compared the results with age and risk data.* The study is part of Lloydspharmacy’s campaign to encourage men over 45 to have their blood pressure tested. “Whether you’re Dick, Tom or Harry it’s a good idea to get your blood pressure checked and keep an eye on your risk factors,” said Chris Frost, pharmacist and heart health expert at Lloydspharmacy. The analysis also found that Brians and Colins are five times2 more likely than Simons, Marks and Kevins to have diabetes (11% compared to 2.4%) and 20 times3 more likely to suffer a stroke (1% compared to 0.05%). In addition, the study showed that those with names Brian and Ronald are 72 times more likely to suffer a stroke than Ethan, Joseph or Samuel. The Lloydspharmacy analysis also unearthed the female names that are most likely to put women at increased risk of cardiovascular health problems. If your name is amongst these classic names of the thirties, forties and fifties such as Margaret, Ann or Linda you have a 50 per cent chance of suffering high blood pressure but if your name is Emily, Chloe or Sophie the risk falls to 1 per cent. For Claire, Helen or Jane the risk of high blood pressure is 10 per cent. Women with the name Claire, Helen and Jane are five times less likely to suffer from diabetes and high blood pressure and 20 times less likely to suffer a stroke than Anns or Margarets. Chris Frost continued: “It’s a very crude measure of health and we’re not suggesting that risk is limited to those with particular names. All adults should know what their blood pressure is, but the risk increases as we get older. “We also know Asian men, for example, have a comparatively high risk of conditions such as diabetes so similarly men with traditional Asian names such as Vijay or Daljit should be particularly aware of their blood pressure numbers.” “Across our 1650 pharmacies we have experts on hand who can monitor blood pressure and provide advice for managing hypertension. For people who would benefit from ongoing monitoring at home, we’ve brought down the cost of blood pressure monitors so we now offer the most affordable and comprehensive range on the market.” Popular names from the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s Brian,,Colin, Ronald, Barry, Kenneth, Alan, Roger, Roy, Keith, Terence
Margaret, Doreen, Patricia, Linda, Jean, Sheila, Joan, Ann, Christine, Maureen Popular names from the sixties and seventies Paul, Jonathan, Mark, Darren, Stephen, Andrew, Simon, Richard, Jason David Susan, Sarah, Julie, Diane, Karen, Lisa, Helen, Joanne, Jane, Michelle Popular names from the 1990s and 2000s Joshua, Daniel, Ethan, Luke, Liam, Samuel, Joseph, Thomas, Jack, Oliver Sophie, Olivia, Emily, Charlotte, Chloe, Grace, Jessica, Amy, Rebecca, Katie
About Hypertension
One in three adults in the UK has high blood pressure. Sometimes described as a silent killer, hypertension does not usually have any signs or symptoms; however 125,000 adults each year in the UK have a heart attack or stroke in which blood pressure is a key factor – that’s a preventable stroke or heart attack every four minutes4. Research from St George’s Hospital and Medical School London found patients with hypertension managed their condition more effectively when they monitored their own blood pressure in between GP appointments. Whilst age, ethnic origin or family history of hypertension can increase the chances of developing high blood pressure, the following lifestyle factors can also affect risk include too much salt in the diet, a lack of sufficient amounts of fruit and vegetables, being overweight, lack of physical activity and drinking more than the recommended amount of alcohol (14 units per week for women, 21 units per week for men) The new British Hypertension Society approved Lloydspharmacy Blood Pressure Monitors are at half price (£14.99) until 22nd June and available to buy in Lloydspharmacy pharmacies nationwide or online at www.lloydspharmacy.com.
Editor’s notes
1 Blood pressure risk statistics taken from www.heartstats.org
2 Prevalence of strokes of different age groups ONS
3 Most popular baby names www.babyplanner.co.uk
4 Blood Pressure Association Know Your Numbers Week 2009 evaluation report. www.bpassoc.org.uk
For media enquiries, please contact:
Press Officer
Lloydspharmacy
Tel: 02476 432192
Email: pr@lloydspharmacy.co.uk
June 2010
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45 IS THE NEW 18 WHEN IT COMES TO THE SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR OF OUR AGEING POPULATION
New research from Lloydspharmacy has revealed that, owing to trends such as divorce and changing social values, the 45+ age group is increasingly having sex with new and different partners but are failing to protect themselves adequately against the dangers of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). (1) One third of people in this age group believed it was unlikely or very unlikely that they would catch an STI when having unprotected sex with a new partner or someone who isn’t their current partner. (2) Compared with teenagers, twice as many people in this older age group thought their risk of infection was ‘next to nothing’. (2) The research has revealed that nearly one in ten (9 per cent) 45+ year olds has had unprotected sex with one or more different partners in the last five years. (1) “This kind of lack of awareness leaves people exposed to a myriad of dangerous sexually transmitted infections including chlamydia, gonorrhoea and genital herpes,” said Clare Kerr, head of sexual health at Lloydspharmacy. “The 45+ age group seems to be engaging in more dangerous sexual behaviour than ever yet they somehow believe themselves to be immune from contracting STIs,” added Clare Kerr. In the last five years, almost one quarter of divorced men reported having five or more sexual partners. Whereas 82 per cent of married men reported having only one sexual partner. Among divorced women, 20 per cent reported three or more sexual partners over the same time, compared with 3 per cent of married women. (3) When it comes to being open and honest about their sexual health, the young are far more communicative than older generations. The 18-24 year age group is twice as likely as the 45+ age group (61 per cent v’s 34 per cent) to ask new sexual partners about their sexual health. (1) A lack of communication could explain the rise in incidences of STIs in older people. According to a HPA report from 2008 (4), over the past 10 years there has been a significant rise in the number of reported STIs among the 45-64 age group.
“For many the arrival of drugs to improve their sex lives has resulted in people continuing to be sexually active well into their golden years, which is a positive move,” said Clare Kerr. “However, it seems there has been a real lack of education and awareness campaigns designed specifically for this age group on the importance of guarding themselves against possible infection.” Lloydspharmacy offers a comprehensive, highly confidential Online Doctor service at www.lloydspharmacy.com/doctor which offers screens for many genital infections that are prevalent in both men and woman; genital chlamydia, genital gonorrhoea, mycoplasma, ureaplasma, trichomonas and gardnerella vaginalis. This confidential service allows people to be tested and if found to be positive, to be treated without the need to visit their GP.
References: (1) Research conducted by ICM Omnibus for Lloydspharmacy, 5-14 March 2010 among 4075 UK men and women aged 18-65+ (2) http://www.nhs.uk/news/2009/04April/Pages/MiddleAgedSex.aspx (3) Anne Johnson, Sexual attitudes and lifestyle, Data from appendix 3, table A5.2A p444 & table A5.2B p446. (4) http://www.hpa.org.uk/web/HPAwebFile/HPAweb_C/1215589014053 For media enquiries, please contact:
Press Officer
Lloydspharmacy
Tel: 02476 432192
Email: pr@lloydspharmacy.co.uk June 2010
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Sex & The Citizens
S&TC girls notch up more then 115 million indirect sexual partners The Sex & The City characters bedded 94 partners between them across six seasons of the show but a new analysis reveals that their indirect sexual partners tops more than 115 million. That’s according to Lloydspharmacy’s Sex Degrees of Separation calculator which allows people to work out the number of sexual partners they have been indirectly exposed to. Over the course of six seasons, Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) and Charlotte (Kristin Davis) had 18 bed mates each, Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) got it on with 17 men and unsurprisingly, sexy Samantha (Kim Cattrall) notched up 41 bed fellows, including one woman. Lloydspharmacy entered these numbers into its Sex Degrees of Separation Calculator to get the following figures: • Samantha indirectly slept with 53,709,413 people
• Carrie indirectly slept with 21,325,861 people
• Charlotte indirectly slept with 20,865,356 people
• Miranda indirectly slept with 19,787,229 people Samantha’s phenomenal figure means she has, effectively indirectly slept with one in three US adults! During the course of the Sex & The City series Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda all had a sexually transmitted infection scare. It was Charlotte, the prudish one of the bunch, who first experienced the pain and embarrassment of contracting an STI. This shows that you don’t need to be as promiscuous as Samantha to be at risk. It only takes one lapse in judgement to leave yourself exposed. Clare Kerr, head of sexual health at Lloydspharmacy said “We developed the Sex Degrees of Separation calculator to help people understand the risks of unprotected sex. When you sleep with someone you are not only exposing yourself to any diseases or infections they have, but also any their partners, and their partners’ partners’ have had. “People should be aware of the importance of taking simple steps to protect themselves from disease and get checked out where appropriate. The majority of STIs are easy to rectify, but if left untreated, can have catastrophic long term implications.” Key stats about STIs in the UK (1) o Cases of sexually transmitted infections rose last year by 0.5% to 399,738 and cases of Chlamydia increased by eight per cent between 2006 and 2008. o Since 1999 the annual number of cases of chlamydia has more than doubled. In 2008 there were 123,018 new diagnoses of chlamydia in GUM (genitourinary medicine) clinics – a record number. o Between 2005 and 2006 the largest increases in new diagnoses of genital herpes were among men aged 35-44 (15%) and 45-64 (18%) and among women aged 16-19 (16%) and 20-24 (11%).London had the highest rates of diagnoses per 100,000 population, followed by the North West, and Yorkshire and the Humber. o The number of new diagnoses of genital warts in GUM clinics in the UK has increased by almost 30 percent since 1999. Genital warts are the most common viral STD diagnosed in the UK: in 2008 there were 92,525 diagnoses of genital warts in UK GUM clinics. o The number of diagnoses of syphilis has risen substantially in the past decade in the UK. In 2008 there were 11 times the number of primary and secondary diagnoses in GUM clinics, than 1999. The Sex Degrees of Separation calculator, and more information about Lloydspharmacy’s sexual health services, can be found at: www.lloydspharmacy.com/sexdegrees References (1) http://www.hpa.org.uk/web/HPAwebFile/HPAweb_C/1215589013729 For media enquiries, please contact:
Press Officer
Lloydspharmacy
Tel: 02476 432192
Email: pr@lloydspharmacy.co.uk June 2010
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PRESCRIPTION FOR DISASTER AS MILLIONS DISH OUT POWERFUL DRUGS TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS
Patients are handing over millions of doses of prescription medicines to family members and friends according to new figures released today. Research(1) by community pharmacy chain Lloydspharmacy has revealed that over the past five years more than 37 million doses of painkillers, antibiotics and other medicines have been given to someone for whom they were not prescribed. Heart medicines, statins, depressants and oral contraceptives are also among the prescription drugs which have been passed on by patients in the mistaken and dangerous belief that they are doing someone a favour. With only half of all prescription medicines being taken as directed(2) it seems that there is no shortage of ‘spare’ drugs available for amateur dispensing. Lloydspharmacy, which dispenses more than 150 million prescriptions a year, is urging people who have unused prescription medicines to return them to their nearest Lloydspharmacy where they can be disposed of safely. The community pharmacy chain’s Express Repeat Prescription Service is designed to ensure that medications are taken at the right frequency and dosage. It can also help patients to access repeat prescriptions more easily by taking away the need for them to visit their GP each time they need their prescription renewed. One in four British homes has some prescription medication which is no longer being taken according to the research. “You’d think that everyone instinctively understands the potential danger in giving a prescription medicine to a friend or relative, but according to our research more than 6.3 million people have done just that,” said Andy Murdock, Pharmacy Relations and Governance Director of Lloydspharmacy. The practise is most prevalent among older patients and people on lower incomes, suggesting that prescription costs may be one of the factors at play. “Doctors prescribe particular drugs to suit the individual needs and circumstances of the patient,” said Andy Murdock. “If you cross the wrong drug with the wrong person, the results could be awful, even fatal. What’s more, it’s likely that many of the drugs which are passed on are out of date, and that presents its own dangers.” In 2008 Lloydspharmacy found that there were 40 million items of out of date prescription medicines in Britain’s medicine cabinets(3). “People may think they’re being neighbourly by giving someone a prescription drug such as a painkiller,” said Andy Murdock. “You can understand the thought process; the drug has worked well for the patient, they have a friend who seems to be displaying similar symptoms and they have some pills to spare. It seems like a harmless and kind act to throw over a bottle and say, try one of these. “But they could be allergic to the active ingredient, or it may contra-indicated with other medication they are taking. And of course, the ‘diagnosis’ may well have been wrong in the first place.” 1) Research conducted for Lloydspharmacy by ICM, 29 – 31 Jan 2010 among 2043 people
2) Rahmner, P. B., Gustafsson, L. L., Holmstrom, I., Rosenqvist, U., Tomson, G. (2010)
3) YouGov, 25-27th February 2008 with a sample of 2,005 people aged 18+
For media enquiries, please contact:
Press Officer
Lloydspharmacy
Tel: 02476 432192
Email: pr@lloydspharmacy.co.uk June 2010
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TOO POSH TO DIE?
FIVE STAR TRAVELLERS CONSIDER THEMSELVES IMMUNE TO MALARIA
TV PRESENTER AND TRAVEL WRITER KATE HUMBLE VISITS LLOYDSPHARMACY TO WARN TRAVELLERS OF DANGERS Five star holiday makers are needlessly risking their lives when visiting malaria hotspots in Africa, Asia and South America according to new research(1) by Lloydspharmacy’s Online Travel Clinic. It is estimated that over 13.5 million(2) British travellers and holiday makers have stayed in four and five star resorts in malarial countries and of these over a quarter did not protect themselves against local diseases. In fact over three million Brits did not bother to check to see if the country they were visiting had a malaria risk. Worryingly one third (32%) of all Brits believe they are less at risk of catching malaria if they stay at a luxury resort. This view was echoed by GPs. Sixty four per cent agreed that their patients wrongly believed they were less likely to catch malaria if they stayed in five star resorts. Today television presenter and travel writer Kate Humble, accompanied by a box of live mosquitoes, visited Lloydspharmacy’s Selfridges store in London to launch a new campaign encouraging travellers to take the necessary precautions to protect themselves against malaria. Kate has been struck down with cerebral malaria twice. Both times it meant spending a week in hospital to recover. So she is more than familiar with the dangers of travelling unprotected. According to the NHS(3) approximately 1,500 travellers return to the UK with malaria every year. In 2008, there were 1,370 cases of malaria reported and six deaths in the UK. “Mosquitoes have no qualms about checking into luxury resorts!” Said Clare Kerr,
Lloydspharmacy’s Head of Travel Health. “The belief that staying in five star accommodation somehow provides immunity against diseases like malaria is very dangerous. “Most UK travellers who catch malaria either do not take any anti-malarial treatments or do not get the right pills for the part of the world they’re visiting. It is important to get health advice before going to an area where there is a risk of malaria or other diseases such as diphtheria, typhoid and hepatitis.” Lloydspharmacy’s Online Travel Clinic aims to make it as convenient as possible for travellers to obtain the malaria pills they need. After a consultation, Lloydspharmacy’s online doctors can provide a private prescription and arrange delivery of the medicines by post. The new research marks the launch of a partnership between Lloydspharmacy Online Doctor and Oxfam(4) which aims to raise money for the charity’s work in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Every purchase of anti-malarial treatments(5) this summer triggers a donation of £1 which will help Oxfam tackle the scourge of malaria in DRC where the disease is the believed to be the biggest cause of death. A range of anti malaria treatments are available through Lloydspharmacy Online Doctor service and travellers can have pills sent in the post using Royal Mail Special Delivery or collect them from one of 397 Lloydspharmacy stores throughout the UK. Please visit the travel clinic at www.lloydspharmacy.com/doctor for more information. Before obtaining anti-malarial medication Lloydspharmacy advises that holiday makers visit the fitfortravel website (www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk) to see whether malaria pills are recommended for where they are travelling.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Press Officer
Lloydspharmacy
Tel: 02476 432192
Email: pr@lloydspharmacy.co.uk May 2010
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MEN MORE LIKELY THAN WOMEN TO HAVE SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS BUT LESS LIKELY TO BE TESTED
More than seven in ten men (72%) have never had an STI screen, compared to 62 per cent of women according to a new study of sexual health from Lloydspharmacy. Lloydspharmacy also found men were almost twice as likely to test positive for certain STIs such as chlamydia. 13 per cent of men buying chlamydia tests from Lloydspharmacy’s Online Doctor tested positive compared to just six per cent of women. The research from the community pharmacy chain also found that men are placing themselves at greater risk of picking up an STI with 13 per cent of men having had unprotected sex with more than one person over the last five years, almost double that of women (7%). With the research revealing that men are more reluctant to be tested but significantly more likely to test positive than women, the findings fuel concerns that men may be delaying testing until they are showing symptoms and that real rates of infection are significantly higher than reported. Although men are less likely to have had a face-to-face consultation for an STI screen, according to Lloydspharmacy sales of tests online are split almost equally between men and women. This suggests that men prefer the anonymity of the online channel.
Through its Online Doctor service at www.lloydspharmacy.com/doctor the community pharmacy chain has launched a postal Platinum Test for men which screens for five genital infections; genital chlamydia, genital gonorrhoea, mycoplasma, ureaplasma and trichomonas. This confidential postal service allows men to be tested and if found to be positive, to be treated without the need to visit their GP. “The lower rate of face-to-face testing and higher incidence of positive results amongst men suggests that many men may be waiting until they suspect they have an infection before getting themselves tested” said Clare Kerr, Lloydspharmacy's head of sexual health. “This is particularly worrying as many STIs don’t have any obvious symptoms, so men could be putting both themselves and their partners at risk by delaying tests.” “Embarrassment is a huge barrier to testing and so we hope that removing the need to see a GP or GUM clinic face-to-face will encourage men to test themselves regularly. We can provide accurate tests for a wide range of genital infections anonymously and discreetly through the Online Doctor.” Key research insights: 72 per cent of men have never had an STI screen, significantly more than women (62%) 13 per cent of men admit to having unprotected sex with different partners, almost double that of women (7 per cent) In terms of STIs men are being screened for, the most common was HIV (38 per cent), followed by chlamydia (34 per cent) and gonorrhoea (20 per cent) 13 per cent of men buying chlamydia tests from Lloydspharmacy Online Doctor have tested positive compared to only six per cent of women
References (1) Research conducted by ICM among 3001 adults over the weekend of 5-7 March 2010 For media enquiries, please contact:
Press Officer
Lloydspharmacy
Tel: 02476 432192
Email: pr@lloydspharmacy.co.uk April 2010
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