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Shingles vaccine FAQs

What is shingles? How do you catch shingles? Is shingles serious? How common is shingles? How is the shingles vaccine given? Who will be able to have the shingles vaccination? How do I get the shingles vaccination? Do you need to have the shingles vaccination…

Shingles vaccine side effects

Like all vaccines, the shingles vaccine can cause side effects, but they're generally mild and don't last long. Common side effects of the shingles vaccine, which occur in at least 1 in 10 people, are: headache redness, pain, swelling, itching, warmth and bruising at the injection site…

Short breaks

Short Breaks are for children and young people with disabilities to spend time away from home to give parents a break from caring. The breaks can be for a few hours, a day, evening, overnight, for a weekend or longer. There are different kinds of…

Should I have a PSA test?

The PSA test is a blood test that can detect the early signs of an enlarged prostate. It is the most common initial test for men who are worried about prostate cancer. The test, which can be done at a GP surgery, measures the level of…

Should I volunteer?

There's good evidence that volunteering brings benefits to both the person volunteering and the people and organisations they support. Volunteering involves spending unpaid time doing something to help other people or groups, other than (or as well as) close relatives. Evidence suggests that volunteering brings health benefits to…

Should you cut out bread to stop bloating?

Is eating bread giving you bloating and other digestive symptoms? If so, you could be sensitive to wheat. Cutting out bread or changing the type you eat may help. More and more of us claim to suffer from a wheat allergy, so we shun bread…

Should you lose weight fast?

When you're trying to lose weight, it's tempting to want results as fast as possible. But losing weight fast is unlikely to help you keep the weight off - and it also comes with health risks. If you're trying to lose weight, you're probably keen to see, and feel,…

Sickle cell anaemia

Pamela Gyebi-Ababio, 18 at the time of this interview, from Croydon in South London, has three AS-levels and wants to be a doctor. She also has sickle cell anaemia. "I've known I've had sickle cell anaemia for as long as I can remember. I'm determined…

Sign up for weight loss email support

Sign up for 12 weekly emails to support you as you progress through the NHS Choices weight loss plan. Our weight loss plan consists of 12 weekly weight loss packs full of diet, healthy eating and physical activity advice. Each email contains a link to the relevant weekly weight…

Signs and symptoms of pregnancy

Early signs of pregnancy For women who have a regular monthly menstrual cycle, the earliest and most reliable sign of pregnancy is a missed period. Women who are pregnant sometimes have a very light period, losing only a little blood. Some of the other early…

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