Moles

Moles

Moles are clusters of differently coloured cells on the skin. They may be large or small, flat or raised, dark or light, round, oval or irregularly shaped, and in most cases they are not sinister.

They may occur from damage to the skin, usually from the sun, and are especially common in pale skinned New Zealanders of European descent, but may occur in all races. These moles arrive at some stage after birth and are called acquired moles.

Some people are born with hyper-pigmented skin areas, called birthmarks, or congenital moles.

Moles are really only a matter of concern when they change in appearance. It is helpful to know what moles and skin markings you have, so that you may determine if any changes are significant. It is best to check all of your moles at least once a year to note any changes.

There is a simple way to determine if any change to a mole is likely to be an issue, or a sign of possible melanoma, or skin cancer: the ABCD coding.

A = asymmetry, does one half of the mole look different to the other?

B = border, has the edge or border of the mole become irregular or blurry?

C = colour, has the colour changed, is the mole now unevenly coloured?

D = diameter, has the mole become larger?

If any of the ABCD signs above have changed for any of your moles, then you need to seek some help from your doctor or pharmacist. If you are unsure if you need to get your moles checked then talk to your community pharmacist. They can advise you if the moles have changed and refer you for specialist help to get your moles treated.

If your moles have not changed, then congratulate yourself for passing the ABCD check, and continue to use sunscreen and protect your skin from sun damage in the future.

Swallowing difficulties (dysphagia)

Causes of swallowing difficulties

Swallowing difficulties can happen at any age. There are a wide range of causes for them, including:

some medicines, such as antipsychotics
heartburn and acid reflux
cancer, such as mouth or throat cancers
nervous system or brain disorders
muscle disorders
blockages or structural issues with your mouth, throat or oesophagus.

Symptoms of swallowing difficulties

Symptoms of swallowing difficulties may include:

coughing or choking when eating or drinking
bringing food back up, may be through your nose
the feeling that food is stuck in your throat
having issues chewing your food
problems with dribbling.

Swallowing difficulties can cause weight loss, dehydration and chest infections.

Diagnosing swallowing difficulties

Let your healthcare provider know if you have swallowing difficulties. They will ask you about your symptoms and check if any other health conditions you have may be the cause.

Your healthcare provider may refer you to a specialist for tests. These may include a:

gastroscopy—a camera is passed down through your mouth to look at your throat and stomach
swallowing study—your throat and stomach are x-rayed as you swallow small amounts of food.

Treating swallowing difficulties

How your swallowing difficulties are treated depends on the cause and how severe it is. Treatments may include:

medicines to treat acid reflux
swallowing therapy with a speech and language therapist
making changes to what you eat and drink, such as softer foods and using thickener in drinks
using special spoons, plates and cups
surgery to widen your oesophagus.
using special medication lubricants eg Gloup to help make it easier to swallow tablets etc. For more information click here.

Self care for swallowing difficulties

As well as seeing your healthcare provider, the following tips may help you to get food or liquids into your stomach.

Sit upright in a chair—at a table is best.
Have regular small meals instead of the main large meals.
Eat or drink small mouthfuls at a time.
If your voice is gurgly when you eat or drink, give a small cough to make sure your airway is clear.
Wet food will be easier to swallow as dry food can catch in your throat.
If your food has 2 consistencies, such as fruit in juice and cereal in milk, try to mix it into 1 consistency, or eat the solid and liquid portions separately.
Concentrate on eating and avoid talking.
Hot, ice-cold or fizzy liquids are easier to swallow than room temperature liquids.
If you are told to have thickened liquids, avoid ice-cream and jelly as they thin before swallowing.
Drink from the top half of you cup to avoid tipping your head back.

Have a look at our range of Gloup medication lubricants here which can help with difficulties swallowing tablets...

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