Before You Act on Anything
We write Scotland Wide Living to help you understand everyday health questions and feel better prepared for a conversation with a professional. We do not write it to replace that conversation. Please read this page once; it explains how to use our answers safely.
What our answers are
Our articles describe what is generally known about a topic, the habits many people find helpful and the signs that suggest it is time to get checked. They are written by a small team of writers using pen names. None of us is a doctor, nurse, dentist, pharmacist, dietitian or other health professional, and nothing on the site should be read as if it came from one.
Because we cannot see you, examine you or know your history, we cannot tell you what is wrong, which treatment to take or how much of anything is right for you.
Please speak to a professional before you
- start, stop or change any medicine, including ones bought over the counter;
- take a supplement, herbal product or CBD product, especially alongside other treatment;
- make big changes to what you eat or how you exercise, particularly with a long-term condition;
- use any product while pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to conceive;
- try vaping products as a way to stop smoking, if you have a heart or lung condition;
- decide on dental or cosmetic treatment.
A pharmacist is often the quickest person to ask about medicines and supplements, and many offer a private word at the counter without an appointment.
When you need help now
Do not wait to read an article or email us if you or someone with you has any of the following. Ring emergency services immediately:
- chest pain or pressure, especially spreading to the arm, jaw or back;
- sudden difficulty breathing, or lips turning blue;
- signs of a stroke, such as a drooping face, weak arm or slurred speech;
- heavy bleeding, a serious injury or collapse;
- thoughts of harming yourself.
For problems that are worrying but not an emergency, contact your GP surgery or your local non-emergency health advice line.
Products and services in our articles
Some articles discuss particular products, treatments or businesses. Talking about something is not the same as recommending it for you. Treat any mention as one starting point among several and check it with someone who knows your health.
Business and money articles
Our pieces on lifestyle businesses and side projects cover general principles only. They make no promise of income, and rules on tax and registration depend on where you live. Use official guidance or an accountant for decisions.
Keeping answers current
Guidance changes. We review older answers when we can, and the date on each article shows when it was published or updated. If you notice something that no longer matches current advice, please tell us through the contact page. Our checking routine is described in How We Keep It Careful.
Before you decide
Which kind of help fits this worry?
A rough way to judge where to turn. It is general information and never replaces your own sense that something is not right.
Small steps you can take yourself
- A regular wake time and a cooler, darker bedroom
- Lighter evening meals with a gap before bed
- Writing down patterns to show a professional later
Speak to a pharmacist, GP or dentist
- Any new supplement, especially alongside prescribed medicines
- Symptoms that keep returning or slowly get worse
- Toothache, swelling or bleeding gums that do not settle
Phone for an ambulance
- A crushing or tight feeling in the chest
- Severe difficulty breathing
- Feeling you might act on thoughts of self-harm
If you are unsure which group you fall into, choose the more cautious option and ask.
A word from our editor
Why we keep pointing you elsewhere
You may notice that nearly every answer here ends by suggesting a GP, pharmacist or dentist. That is deliberate. We can explain a topic and help you prepare good questions, but we cannot see you, and the details of your health matter more than any general rule.
We would much rather send you to the right person than leave you guessing, so please treat our answers as the start of a conversation rather than the end of one.
Senna, with Kester, Marguerite and Bramwell