Students in Cork are being advised to protect themselves against minor ailments as exam time begins.

The Irish Pharmaceutical Union (IPU) has warned students taking college, leaving and junior certificate exams that they should protect themselves from ailments including headaches, stomach upsets, diarrhoea or constipation and a flare up of certain conditions such as eczema, asthma and acne which can, in some cases, be triggered by stress.

Local pharmacist and IPU members Keith O'Hourihane highlighted that students may experience bouts of insomnia associated with long hours spent revising for their exams and advice that other ailments associated with long period of study or 'cramming' are headache, sore/itchy eyes, back and joint pain."Exam stress can manifests itself in the body in a number of ways, so we encourage students and their parents to talk to their local pharmacist if they have any concerns or want to take precautions in advance of the exams starting. The best advice is to be prepared and recognise the triggers associated with minor ailments, that way you can treat the ailment as soon as it presents and minimise its impact."

Meanwhile, pharmacists have also advised any students that may be susceptible to hayfever to take preventative steps now to try to ensure that the ailment does not affect exam performance. "Hay fever can cause severe deterioration in people's well-being over a number of months as they grapple with symptoms including blocked and itchy nose causing frequent sneezing. Suffering from hay-fever can add stress to a student who is already feeling the pressure of exam revision. Prevention is of course better than cure and students should take steps now to prevent hay fever ruining their exam preparation," concluded Mr O' Hourihane.

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