About 60,000 hysterectomies are performed in the UK every year. On in five women will have the operation, usually in their 40s or 50s. The operation is offered for heavy and painful periods, fibroids, endometriosis and other gynaecological conditions such as cancer.

There are alternatives, such as uterine artery embolisation for fibroids, drug therapy or endometrial ablation (removal of the womb lining) for heavy, painful periods and drug therapy for endometriosis.

The one-to two hour operation  is usually done under general anaesthetic. It can be performed vaginally (if only the uterus or womb is removed) or by an incision in the abdomen.

The stay in hospital usually lasts a week, followed by two months recuperation at home.

There are different types of hysterectomy involving just the removal of the womb and leaving the cervix (subtotal) but a total operation is most common- it includes removing the womb and cervix and can also include one or both ovaries and tubes.

More information: visit the Hysterectomy Association website

www.hysterectomy-association.org.uk/index.htm

Steroids, HRT and the pill can cause swollen legs, also treatments for high blood pressure. SEE YOUR DOCTOR

Have you flown recently or been in a hot climate? Both can cause swelling. If the problem persists, use support bandages or see your doctor.

Varicose veins can trigger swelling in the calves, ankles, knees and thighs. Support stockings, rest or surgery may help.

If your calf is painful, hot and red, it could be caused by blood clots (deep vein thrombosis) SEE YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY.  THIS IS SERIOUS.

A heart attack happens when sticky blood forms a clot in a narrowed artery blocking the blood supply. Part of the heart will be starved of oxygen and die.

Five times as many women die from coronary heart disease as breast cancer- it kills one in five women in Britain. Fewer women then men survive heart attacks.

Persistent vice-like pain in the centre of the chest  which isn’t relieved by rest. It can often be mistaken for indigestion. Pain may spread to arms, neck and jaw. You may feel light-headed, sweat, have nausea, shortness of breath or need to empty your bowels.

For more information: British Heart Foundation www.bhf.org.uk

A hip replacement is when the hip joint is removed and replaced with an artificial joint. The artificial joint has metal shafts that are inserted into the bone and anchored into place.

Hip replacements are usually performed on people with severe osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. The decision to have surgery is based on how much pain the patient is suffering.

Most patients return to a full, active life. About 15 per cent of patients who have had hip replacements need another replacement 15 years later.

For more information: Arthritis Care www.arthritiscare.org.uk

Millions of lives could be put at risk by a bug that many people do not even know exists. The pneumococcus or pneumo bug claimed 15 times more lives last year than the flu bug.

The bug is carried by about one in three of the population. In most people, the bug sits at the back of the throat and nose and is completely harmless but it can spread to the bloodstream. It can cause meningitis, pneumonia or blood poisoning.

Experts are urging all those people who are most at risk of infection to ask their doctors for a vaccination. If you have chronic heart, lung, liver or kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, asplenia, sickle cell disease, coeliac syndrome or HIV see your doctor.