I GET indigestion regularly and was really affected by it last Christmas with all the rich party food and alcohol on offer.

What can I do to avoid getting it again this year?

IT CAN be especially difficult at this time of year but you should avoid food and drink that make your symptoms worse.

For example, you may find that your indigestion is made worse by triggers such as fruit juice or chocolate.

Note any particular food or drink that seems to make your indigestion worse and avoid them if possible.

This may mean eating less rich, spicy, and fatty foods and cutting down on drinks that contain caffeine, such as tea, coffee and cola.

Try to eat smaller, regular meals rather than going for long periods of time without eating before consuming a big dinner - although constantly eating snacks all day can be equally as bad.

Take your time to eat and chew each mouthful slowly.

WHAT can I do to avoid catching seasonal flu?

SEASONAL flu is highly infectious and spreads through coughs and sneezes.

To help avoid spreading germs to others and avoid picking them up, cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue, dispose of the tissue after one use and wash your hands as soon as you can.

The best protection against the virus is to get the seasonal flu vaccination if you are in an at-risk group and invited to do so by your GP. Anyone who suffers from an underlying health condition, who is pregnant or who is 65 or over, should get the flu vaccine. For the rest of us, regular hand washing and eating a balanced diet is best.

Flu immunisation will also be offered to children, aged 2 to 5 years, through their GP practice and to all primary school pupils. Children aged two or above on September 1 2014 are eligible.

The Immunisation Scotland website at www.immunisationscotland.org.uk has lots of useful information on flu vaccination and the child immunisation programme.

What is Hallux Valgus?

HALLUX Valgus is the medical name for a bunion.

The foot includes five metatarsal bones that join the heel bone to the bones inside the toes. Normally, the big toe is in line with the first metatarsal, the second toe with the second metatarsal, and so on. Sometimes, the big toe can become angled inwards, towards the middle of the foot and the second toe. This can force the top of the first metatarsal to protrude from the side of the foot, at the base of the big toe. If this happens, a painful, swollen bunion forms.

It is not known why bunions occur, but wearing badly fitting shoes is a possible cause. Bunions can lead to other problems, such as arthritis within the big toe joint.

Anyone can develop a bunion, but they affect a third more women than men.