 Since 2003, global charity Movember has funded more than 1,250 men’s health projects around the world, advocating for men's health, raising awareness of the key men's health issues and creating services that work for men.
We're supporting Movember this year by championing men’s health and wellbeing locally and promoting support, initiatives, and activities for men here in Portsmouth. This includes services that can support with mental health, money advice and gambling, dedicated groups for troubled young men, veterans and dads, activities from cooking to getting fit, as well as information on physical health, including prostate and testicular cancers, and events.
 Most COVID infections go away within the first couple of weeks, but if your symptoms are lasting much longer you may be suffering from Long COVID.
This means your symptoms carry on after your COVID infection has gone away, usually for 12 weeks or more. Symptoms are varied and can even change over time. They include:
- Breathing and chest problems (breathlessness, tightness in the chest, a persistent cough)
- Feeling very tired
- Fever
- Brain problems (difficulty focusing, headache, dizziness, trouble sleeping, delirium)
- Stomach problems (stomach aches, nausea, sickness and diarrhoea, weight loss)
- Joint and muscle pain
If you're worried about your symptoms, please contact your GP who will decide on what tests or treatments you need to manage your symptoms. If they think you have Long COVID they may refer you to the local Long COVID service.
 The flu vaccine is offered every year on the NHS to help protect people at risk of getting seriously ill from flu. If you're eligible for the free flu vaccine, it's likely you are also eligible for a COVID-19 autumn booster.
The flu vaccine is available for free to adults who are 50 and over (including those who will be 50 by 31 March 2023), those who have certain health conditions or are pregnant. Other groups are also eligible, see the full list here.
You can have the NHS flu vaccine at your GP surgery, a pharmacy offering the service or some maternity services if you're pregnant.
All primary school aged children will be offered a free flu vaccine at school or a community clinic. It’s a quick and easy nasal spray. If your child is aged 2-3 before September 2022, you can book an appointment with your GP surgery.
 If you have a cough, cold, sore throat, ear ache, upset stomach or teething troubles - consider going to your pharmacy before contacting your GP practice. Pharmacists are trained medical professionals who can provide fast and convenient advice and guide you on the best treatment. You don’t need to make an appointment to see a pharmacist.
There are also teams of specialist experts at GP practices - such as physiotherapists, dieticians, social prescribers, and care coordinators. This might mean that instead of seeing a GP, you are referred to another member of the team who are more appropriate to help.
It takes a team to care for a community.
 Self care is about taking control of your own health, keeping fit and healthy, understanding when you can look after yourself, and when to get advice from a healthcare professional. If you have a long-term condition, self care is about understanding that condition and how to live with it.
Self Care Week is the perfect time to think about how we live our lives and make some small changes that will improve our health and wellbeing, and that of our family. That could be looking at what we eat and drink, how much exercise we do, and how we're looking after our physical and mental health.
From 14 November we'll be sharing our tips for self care that you can do for yourself and for your family. Follow our social media pages for more information on how to look after yourself and exercise self care for life.
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