Self-care

Most animal bites are not serious, but you may need to get medical help if the bite is severe or there are signs of infection.

Burns and scalds are damage to the skin usually caused by heat. Both are treated in the same way.

Most cuts and grazes can be treated at home and will start to heal in a few days. But some wounds may need to be treated by a medical professional if there's a risk of infection or the cut is serious.

You can often treat a cold without seeing a GP. You should begin to feel better in about 1 to 2 weeks.

Cold sores are common and usually clear up on their own within 10 days. There are things you can do to help ease the pain.

A cough will usually clear up on its own within 3 to 4 weeks.

Norovirus, also called the "winter vomiting bug", is a stomach bug that causes vomiting and diarrhoea. It can be very unpleasant, but usually goes away in about 2 days.

Most head injuries are not serious, but you should get medical help if you or your child have any symptoms after a head injury. You might have concussion (temporary brain injury) that can last a few weeks.

Back pain, particularly lower back pain, is very common. It usually improves within a few weeks but can sometimes last longer or keep coming back. There are things you can do to help ease the pain.

Hay fever is a common allergy that causes sneezing, coughing and itchy eyes. You cannot cure it, but there are things you can do to help your symptoms, or medicines you can take to help.

Sprains and strains are common injuries affecting the muscles and ligaments. Most can be treated at home without seeing a GP.

Most headaches go away on their own and are not a sign of something more serious.

Asthma is a common lung condition that causes occasional breathing difficulties

Cancer is a condition where cells in a specific part of the body grow and reproduce uncontrollably. The cancerous cells can invade and destroy surrounding healthy tissue, including organs.

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a major cause of death in the UK and worldwide. CHD is sometimes called ischaemic heart disease or coronary artery disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the name for a group of lung conditions that cause breathing difficulties.

Diabetes is a condition that causes a person's blood sugar level to become too high.

Find information and support for your mental health.

With the right support, you can lead a healthy, active life with osteoarthritis. The condition does not necessarily get worse.

Whether your pain has just come on or you've lived with it for years, these tried-and-tested self-help steps can bring you relief.

A stroke is a serious life-threatening medical condition that happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off.