Pharmacy knowledge base
Health guides & medicine information
Plain-English explainers from our editorial team — what the medicines do, how the strengths differ, and how to use them safely.
Showing 229–240 of 287 guides
Page 20 of 24
Staying Alert Safely: Managing Tiredness Without Cutting Corners
Summary: The most reliable route to daytime alertness is regular, good-quality sleep. Morning daylight, short walks, regular meals, water, short breaks and moderate caffeine early in the day all help. Wakefulness medicines such as modafinil are prescription treatments for diagnosed sleep disorders, not lifestyle aids, and never drive when you feel drowsy.
Delayed Ejaculation: An Overview
Summary: Delayed ejaculation means regularly needing prolonged stimulation to climax, or being unable to ejaculate despite wanting to. Causes can be physical, such as some antidepressants and blood-pressure medicines, nerve damage, low testosterone or heavy drinking, or psychological, such as anxiety and relationship issues. A doctor can review medicines and suggest therapy or treatment.
Ejaculation Problems: An Overview
Summary: The main ejaculation problems are premature, delayed and retrograde ejaculation, and anejaculation; premature ejaculation is the most common. In retrograde ejaculation semen goes back into the bladder; anejaculation means none at all. Causes include hormone problems, nerve damage, prostate surgery, some medicines, anxiety and relationship stress. Most have a treatable cause, so they are worth discussing with a doctor.
Condoms and Erectile Dysfunction: What You Should Know
Summary: Losing an erection while putting on or using a condom is common and usually manageable. It is mostly caused by the interruption, reduced sensation, a poorly fitting condom or performance anxiety. Finding the right size, trying thinner condoms, practising putting them on and keeping arousal going help. Persistent problems deserve a doctor's check.
Sex and Heart Health: What the Connection Means for You
Summary: For most people, including many with a stable heart condition, sex is safe moderate exercise. It is comparable to a brisk walk or climbing a couple of flights of stairs. Erectile problems can be an early warning of heart disease, so they deserve a check. If you take nitrates for angina, never combine them with ED medicines.
Exercise and Sexual Health: The Benefits of Staying Active
Summary: Regular exercise supports sexual health by improving circulation, helping maintain testosterone and a healthy weight, and lifting mood. It also reduces stress, boosts energy and builds confidence. Aerobic activity is most consistently linked to better erectile function. Start gradually with brisk walking, cycling or swimming most days, and add some strength and pelvic floor exercises.
Reader favourites
Treatments our readers shop most
The treatments readers ask about most — genuine, discreetly delivered across the EU & EEA.
Diet and Erectile Health: Eating for Better Function
Summary: No food works instantly, but a heart-healthy diet supports the blood flow erections depend on. The evidence points to a Mediterranean-style pattern: vegetables, fruit, wholegrains, beans, olive oil, nuts and oily fish, with limited red and processed meat. Since ED can be an early sign of heart disease, persistent problems still need a doctor.
Paracetamol vs Ibuprofen: Which Painkiller Should You Choose?
Summary: Paracetamol eases pain and fever and is gentle on the stomach, making it a first choice for many people. That includes those who can't take NSAIDs; never exceed the daily dose, as overdose harms the liver. Ibuprofen also reduces inflammation, suiting sprains and period pain, but can irritate the stomach and affect kidneys and the heart.
NSAID Safety: Using Anti-Inflammatory Painkillers
Summary: NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, naproxen and diclofenac ease pain, inflammation and fever, but regular or high use carries risks. They can cause stomach ulcers and bleeding, reduce kidney function and raise heart risks. Use the lowest dose for the shortest time, take them with food, and seek urgent help for black stools or vomit that looks like coffee grounds.
Neuropathic vs Nociceptive Pain: Understanding the Difference
Summary: Nociceptive pain comes from tissue damage, such as a sprain or burn, feels aching or throbbing, and usually responds to simple painkillers. Paracetamol or anti-inflammatories are typical. Neuropathic pain comes from damaged or misfiring nerves, feels burning, shooting or electric, and often needs nerve-calming medicines such as pregabalin or certain antidepressants. Many conditions involve both.
Trigeminal Neuralgia: Understanding Sudden Facial Nerve Pain
Summary: Trigeminal neuralgia causes sudden, severe, electric-shock-like pain on one side of the face, lasting seconds to a couple of minutes. It is often triggered by touching the face, brushing teeth, eating or a breeze. It is usually caused by pressure on the trigeminal nerve. Ordinary painkillers rarely help; nerve-calming medicines or surgery are used instead.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Causes, Symptoms and Relief
Summary: Carpal tunnel syndrome is pressure on the median nerve in the wrist, causing tingling, numbness and pain in the fingers. It affects the thumb, index and middle fingers, is often worse at night, and sometimes weakens grip. Repetitive wrist movements, pregnancy, diabetes and arthritis raise the risk. Wrist splints, activity changes, steroid injections or surgery help.