Starting 2026 the right way: a renewed focus on your health with Locke Medical

A new year and a new approach to your health

With the typical indulgence and excesses of Christmas, it is common that we attempt to turn over a new leaf in the new year.
A trend we observe over the run up to Christmas is that symptoms get overlooked or ignored in the distracting chaos that leads up to, and throughout, the festive period. This could be frequent headaches, put down to ‘the busy run up to Christmas’, or worsening reflux symptoms blamed simply on the dietary and lifestyle changes that are common as we celebrate Christmas.

In the new year, is it time to explore your symptoms with one of our GPs at Locke Medical? For anyone experiencing symptoms, we would encourage you to discuss these with one of our GPs. At Locke, you can skip the waiting lists, get immediate assessment, testing and treatment, as required, with our discrete private GP service.

Are your stress levels normal?

Stress affects us all. Some stress can be helpful and it can even be good for us. Whereas, too much stress can start to have negative impacts. We have published information in the media on this:
https://www.thesun.co.uk/health/37521676/banging-headache-exhausted-christmas-stress-signs/

The good type of stress is in response to a stimulus requiring a heightened state of alertness, which in extremes, is well known as the fight-or-flight response – the body preparing itself to defend from attack, or run. A cascade of hormones is triggered from such stimulus and the body becomes awash with cortisol and adrenaline. This results in higher blood pressure, increased mental alertness and a surge of energy available in the requisite tissues.

The body needs to settle down again after such events, hormones need to rebalance. If exposed to a chronic state of stress, an unrelenting state of heightened stress hormones, this can start to have many negative consequences for the blood vessels, immune system and mood amongst many others.

Christmas can be a stressful time with the expectation of a perfect Christmas misaligned with the reality of family feuds. There are financial pressures and forced social interactions all while we tend to make less healthy lifestyle habits: less sleep, more alcohol and poor dietary choices.

Whilst this festive stress for most is transient, it is important to understand the symptoms and signs of when it may be a little more than simply stress. If you are worried by your symptoms, or would like to explore these with a professional, book in for a 30 minute in-person appointment with one of our GPs where this can thoroughly explored.