Health Heard

22/02/2026

Looking to make more of your health appointments, time and energy?

The FREE Get Your Health Heard Appointment Checklist is here to help. Comment 'HEARD' below and I'll send you a copy!

20/02/2026

Great advice from the NHS on - how to prevent it and look after yourself if you do catch it.

But don't forget that if you have a complex or chronic health issue, you might also need to follow some more specialist advice.

Have a look at the charities and patient groups that represent your health conditions, and see if they offer more specific advice.

And if you become very ill with norovirus, and this makes your other conditions worse or you are not sure what to do, please call 111 or visit the 111 service online.

https://111.nhs.uk/

19/02/2026

How many of us have hangnails that are brought on by, or get worse with intense or prolonged stress?

This happened to me the other day and I became curious about why. This is what I found out!

Stress hormones such as cortisol, adrenaline, push the body into survival mode

Immune signalling alters, increasing low-grade inflammation.

Blood flow is pulled from skin and nail beds, slowing repair and making the skin more fragile.

Digestion and absorption drop, affecting the availability of nutrients needed for skin repair (B,C vitamins, zinc, iron).

All of these make protein and collagen repair slower, and so tears don’t heal as well as they might otherwise.

Our stress behaviour and what we eat and drink can make hangnails worse too: picking at the skin or not drinking or eating as much as we usually would etc

And those of us who have differences in connective tissue from hypermobility, EDS or Marfan's may find we have hangnails even when we're not so stressed, especially in cold or dry weather.

But there might be something else that our body is trying to tell us! Hangnails are not “just dry skin”. They are a visible sign that our bodies been under too much strain and we might need to give them a break.

The good news is that if we use a good moisturiser with natural oils, our skin can recover quite quickly. It isn't quite so easy to deal with stress though, but worth looking into.

What signs does YOUR body give YOU when things get tough?

15/02/2026

"don't make your illness your personality"

How rude! For me, it's not that, it's this:

"Why would I not tell you about something that defines my life so much?"

Why is it so hard for some people to hear our stories?

What's your answer to this?

(Thanks for capturing the mood, Chappell Roan!)

13/02/2026

These are delightful and hilarious.

But there is a more serious side to this.

Unless we view attachment styles through the lens of neurodivergence, inherited trauma and cultural conditioning, what you we have are insights based on observation, yet limited and biased by the observer's narrow lens and projections.

And that can cause serious harm, and prevent people from getting the understanding, care and support that they really need.

Go deeper please, Wellcome Collection !

02/01/2026

Looking for a new health focus in 2026?

Or to have a health worry to look into?

Struggling to know what steps to take, or to find the right words or appointments?

The Get Your Health Heard eBook is here to help.

This 250 page guidebook has been described as the missing map to healthcare, and it's packed with tips, information and resources.

It's a great way to learn more about your health and how to stay well - and what to do if you're not.

It's yours to download right away for just £10.99

PLUS Sign up to the Health Heard newsletter and get your FREE seven page self-advocacy guide with THREE useful check-lists:

* Making the right appointments
* How to speak with doctors
* Making the most of appointments

You’ll also be the FIRST to hear about new features, events, and offers - plus EXTRA goodies!

SIGN UP at www.getyourhealthheard.com !

Living with health problems can be difficult. Sharing your concerns doesn’t have to be!

31/12/2025

Happy New Year!

In 2025, it appeared that more people than ever were speaking openly, in the press and elsewhere, about symptoms like fatigue, pain, dizziness, and brain fog that don’t fit neatly into one diagnosis.

There’s also been growing recognition that missed or delayed diagnoses reflect system design issues, rather than any personal failure.

In response, some areas are trialling longer GP appointments for people with complex needs. Even so, more needs to be done to make services work better for more of us. Many more of us are now seeking ways to articulate our health issues and experiences and to ensure our needs are taken serious.

This is why we temporarily paused our plans for the development of the Health Heard service to focus on our new book, Get Your Health Heard.

This 250-page illustrated practical guide is designed for anyone looking for assistance in making sense of their health, explaining their experiences, and preparing for health appointments and assessments.

It's the missing bridge between the NHS, and private and complimentary care!

Link and OFFER code in comments.

Health wishes to all! If you yourself are facing health challenges, we hope the year ahead brings you the support you need, when you need it.

Thank you for being part of our journey to revolutionize healthcare for everyone!

Living with health problems can be difficult. Sharing your concerns doesn’t have to be!

24/12/2025

Looking for a last minute gift? Get Your Health Heard is a great book you can buy now for immediate download!

This 250 page book has been written to help everyone:

✔️ Recognise when they need help and what to do next

✔️ Better understand and explain what they’re experiencing

✔️ Make the most of appointments & time between them

✔️ Explore and evaluate their options and priorities

✔️ Use online and AI tools safely to stay informed

✔️ Know their rights and how to stand up for them

✔️ Plan ahead for emergencies and times of crisis

✔️ Better support the people they care about

✔️ Navigate NHS, community, private and digital care

It's a great read full of health insights guidance and tips that will last way longer than your festive leftovers!

Visit the link in the comments to find out more, and to buy.

Health wishes and all the best for 2026!

Thank you!

01/12/2025

Want a new you or a new health focus for 2026?

Now's the time to take action.

www.getyourhealthheard.com

01/12/2025

Want a new you or a new health focus for 2026?
Now' the time to take action - and get a head start with Get Your Health Heard.
Buy the book from the link about us - or click to message on Whatsapp to say 'hi' and find out more.

Health wishes from the Surrey Hills!

01/12/2025

Want a new you or a new health focus for 2026?
Now' the time to take action - and get a head start with Get Your Health Heard.

Buy the book from the link in the comments - or click to message on Whatsapp to say 'hi' and find out more.

Health wishes from the Surrey Hills!

15/01/2025

How has 2025 been for you so far? Many of us set new health goals, such as to be more active, or to try a new therapy.

For some of us the goal might be to better understand and face our health challenges, and to do more about them.

If you would like a clearer picture of your health issues , why not try Health Heard.

We help everyone to identify record and share health concerns with the people best placed to help.

Our £5 introductory offer means you can test out an early version of the service - risk free.

Try us now, and