The UK is in the grip of a potential public health crisis caused by alcohol. Update looks at the health risks associated with excessive alcohol consumption

This week's Update looks at understanding the value of food types and creating balanced diets for obese patients

This week's Update looks at pharmacists' role in preventing the 80,000 smoking-related deaths in England each year.

A best-practice guide on the use of the potentially toxic drug methotrexate in primary care

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative condition caused by thinning of cartilage. More than six million patients in the UK have OA in one or both knees.

Pain is defined as: “an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage”. It is always subjective.

Insomnia describes the condition where an individual feels they are not getting sufficient sleep to feel refreshed the next morning despite having had the time and opportunity. This Update provides a guide for four common sleep disorders.

The aim of treatment with anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) is to prevent seizures.

Epilepsy is the most common serious neurological condition in the UK. It affects around 380,000 people in England and Wales.

Hypertension is a major risk factor for both cerebro- and cardiovascular disease (CVD) with no outward signs or symptoms.

A clinical photoguide for pharmacists on diabetic retinopathy - the most common cause of blindness in working adults

Type 2 diabetes is caused by impaired insulin secretion and insulin resistance. It is associated with excess body weight and physical inactivity.

Acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (AUGIB) is terrifying – but passing blood by mouth or rectum is not necessarily sinister, and patients’ chances of recovery from peptic ulcer and varices have improved over the years as a result of advances in treatment.

The two major respiratory conditions, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), are associated with significant morbidity and mortality in the UK. According to recent data by Asthma UK, 4.3 million adults and 1.1 million children are being treated for asthma.

One of the most common drug-related causes of hospital admissions is bleeding caused by inappropriate anticoagulation. Many patients may be confused by the advice that has been given and, as initially there may be no symptoms as a result of non-compliance, patients often find it harder to adhere to treatment, causing haemorrhage, stroke or thrombosis.

The new medicine service (NMS) will provide support to people newly prescribed a medicine by helping them to improve their medication adherence. This should lead to a reduction in medicines wastage, reduce medicines-related hospital admissions and improve quality of life for patients.

On October 1 this year, the new medicine service (NMS) will launch in England. It is part of the changes to the community pharmacy contractual framework that have been agreed between NHS Employers and PSNC, which also include the requirement that at least 50 per cent of MURs must be performed for patients in three agreed national target groups.

One in nine women will develop breast cancer at some point in their lives. There are about 45,000 new cases annually, and more than 10,000 women died from breast cancer in England in 2008. Early detection and treatment improves outcomes, and survival rates are increasing

A guide to using HRT to manage the menopause and demystifying the risks associated with treatment

Effective contraception is needed by a large number of people in the UK; an estimated 30 per cent of pregnancies in the UK are unplanned.

There were 418,598 diagnoses of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in England last year. Young people and men who have sex with men are at higher risk, and rates of infection are increasing among the over 50s.

Around half of UK men aged 40-70 years experience at least one episode of erectile dysfunction (ED) in which they are unable to sustain an erection sufficient for intercourse. The effect can be powerful.

Men’s health is poor. Men’s life expectancy is more than four years lower than that of women (77.9 compared with 82 years) and the headline figures mask still more significant inequalities – a girl born today in Chelsea can expect to live to 89, while a boy born in Glasgow to 71.

Health risks for international travellers depend on the destination and the traveller. Patients should prepare for a trip four to six weeks beforehand, especially for vaccinations.

Coughs and colds are common, but symptoms may be suggestive of more serious complaints. This Update article looks at the differential diagnosis of common symptoms and when to refer patients to their GP or hospital.

Fungal infections can affect any area of the body and range from mild self-limiting conditions to potentially life-threatening infection requiring referral. This is your guide to six common fungal skin infections - how to diagnose them, the management options available, and when referral is necessary

Eye conditions are common and have a variety of causes. While most are self-limiting, others can be more serious.

Getting children to take medicines is a feast or famine topic. For every parent who claims their child loves paracetamol suspension so much that they’ll ask for it, there will be another struggling to get a much-needed antibiotic suspension into their child and worrying that enough hasn’t gone in because it has been spat or vomited out.

One adult in 12 and one child in 11 currently receives treatment for asthma in the UK. This Update will help you provide information and advice on improving inhaler technique. It covers the types of inhaler, their pros and cons, and gives solutions to common problems.

Insulin is needed for normal metabolism in the body. In type 1 diabetes mellitus, insulin is not produced and therefore insulin therapy is needed for survival.

The first part of compliance month examines the management of common scalp disorders. This Update covers treatment options and the problems pharmacists need to be aware of and tell patients about.

Anxiety is our normal protective physiological response to an unpleasant situation or threat. A certain level of anxiety is necessary to improve performance and ensure we take appropriate action. However, severe, disproportionate and persistent anxiety can be disabling and impair social and occupational functioning.

Dementia is an umbrella term describing the symptoms that stem from progressive decline of the brain and cognitive abilities. There are several different types of dementia, with the most common form - Alzheimer's disease accounting for more than half of all cases.

Depression is characterised by persistent low mood, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness and lack of enjoyment. In any one year, 5.8 per cent of men and 9.5 per cent of women are affected while the lifetime risk for men is 12 per cent and 25 per cent for women.

Eating disorders affect 1.6 million people in the UK. This Update gives you the facts on the conditions, signs to watch out for, and tips for approaching patients you suspect of having an eating disorder.

The metabolic syndrome can lead to life-threatening conditions, but risks can be reduced through simple weight loss interventions. This Update gives you essential information on how to advise patients on diet and exercise.

The metabolic syndrome is a major risk factor for CVD and diabetes. This Update explores how the syndrome is defined, and how you can measure CVD risk.

Unstable angina and other acute coronary syndromes are medical emergencies. This Update tells you how to identify the condition, how it is managed, and how to reduce risks to patients

Venous thrombosis is a condition where a blood clot (thrombus) forms in a vein. The clot may restrict blood flow through the affected vein, giving rise to swelling and pain, or may be asymptomatic.

This Update will help you provide information and advice to patients who may be undergoing some of the more common liver function tests.

Six cytochrome P450 enzymes metabolise 90 per cent of drugs, but can be influenced by a variety of factors. This Update covers how drugs, diet and genetics can affect P450 enzymes and the potential consequences.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is an often overlooked complication of diabetes. This article details the potential risks associated with the condition and the implications for pharmacists

This article discusses common ear problems such as otitis media, glue ear, otitis externa and ear wax. It includes information about causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment and advice that pharmacists can give to patients.

This article discusses some oral problems patients may ask the pharmacist for advice about. It includes pictures for identification and information about the diagnosis and treatment of tonsil stones, oral thrush, ranula, leukoplakia, geographic tongue and herpes labialis.

This article describes common dental problems and includes information about wisdom teeth, bleeding gums, cavities, loose crowns and fillings, bad breath and stained teeth. It also discusses differential diagnosis and advice that pharmacists could give to patients.

This article discusses the management and treatment of eczema, including information about emollients and topical steroids. Side effects and other treatments such as topical immunosuppressants, phototherapy and wet wrap therapy are also described.

This article describes the drug treatment of hypo and hyperthyroidism and includes lifestyle advice for those with Graves’ disease. There is also information about the treatment of thyroid disease in pregnancy, thyroidcancer and the importance of dietary iodine.

This article discusses the causes, testing and diagnosis of thyroid disease. It includes information about the function of the thyroid gland and the causes and symptoms of hypo and hyperthyroidism. Thyroid eye disease, thyroid nodules and thyroid storm are also described.

This article discusses the treatment of sore throats and includes information about causes and risk factors and when to refer a patient. It also describes the treatment and advice pharmacists can offer and the current rationale behind antibiotic prescribing.

This article describes the main types of cystitis: traumatic, bacterial, interstitial and radiation. It includes information about causes, symptoms and differential diagnosis. OTC and prescription treatment is discussed as well as non drug treatments and lifestyle advice.

This article describes the treatment of the different types of leukaemia and includes information about cautions, contraindications and side effects of the drugs that are used. The management of side effects such as nausea and vomiting and sore mouth are also discussed.

This article describes the four main types of leukaemia: acute myeloid leukaemia, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, chronic myeloid leukaemia and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. It includes information about signs and symptoms, diagnosis, causes, risk factors and the pathophysiology of the disease.

This article discusses the drug lithium and includes information about its action, side effects and the monitoring of patients who are taking it. It also describes interactions with other drugs, overdose, the NPSA safer lithium therapy alert and lifestyle advice for patients.