Dr Bernadette Carr answers your questions on neck and shoulder pain and cervical cancer screening

Q: I’m using a laptop more having recently changed my job. My neck and shoulders feel very painful and tight by evening and I sometimes need to take paracetamol to ease the pain. Is there anything I can do?

A: Sitting for long periods at a desk can be a common cause of back pain. Maintaining poor posture by sitting hunched over a keyboard will often lead to tight sore muscles. Working at a laptop can exacerbate the issue because use of a smaller workspace will lead to hunching of the shoulders, and bending forwards of the spine in an attempt to lean forward to use the device. The possibility for tendonitis in the wrists from repetitive strain from typing is also a concern.

Ideally you should pay good attention to your posture by sitting up straight in your seat and by taking breaks throughout the day to stretch and move. Small changes to your work environment can make a big difference to your symptoms. Investing in an external keyboard will enable you to increase the distance of the screen from the keyboard and will improve posture and lessen the likelihood of back pain. Use of an external mouse will similarly help reduce poor posture. It is important to make sure you are sitting straight in front of the screen to avoid unnecessary twisting and bending, which can worsen back pain.

Adjusting the height of your chair at your desk is also important. Ideally the seat height should be adjusted so that your thighs are at right angles to the body with your feet firmly on the floor or on a footrest to allow support for the back. Use of wrist rests can also help to maintain a comfortable posture and avoid back and wrist pain. The monitor screen should be positioned so it can be viewed with the head and neck in a comfortable, relaxed position, ideally at arms-length from the body.

Small changes can make a big difference and paying attention to posture while taking breaks to stretch and move should go a long way to improving matters.

Q: Why do I need to get cervical cancer screening when I have no symptoms?

A: The national cervical cancer screening service is available nationally to all women aged between 25 and 60. It aims to identify women who may have early changes to the cells of the cervix (neck of the womb). Early changes to these cells may progress to become invasive cancer of the cervix or it may return to normal after a period of time. Early detection enables monitoring for change and progression in the cells to allow early treatment before cancer ever develops.

Cervical smears can be taken by your GP or practice nurse. The procedure is quick and simple and involves brushing the cervix to collect surface cells. These samples are sent away for analysis and your result will be sent to you by post.

Many factors are associated with cancer of the cervix. These include infection with the HPV virus (which may be transmitted through sexual intercourse), smoking, and an increased number of sexual partners. Most smears will be normal and abnormal results may vary in their severity on a spectrum from mild common abnormalities which will most likely clear up on their own, to high-grade changes which would necessitate a more detailed examination of the cervix. Often monitoring with yearly smears will be the only necessary action. If smears return to normal women may be offered three yearly or five yearly smears depending on their age group. If necessary some women may be referred to a specialist centre for colposcopy by their GP which is a detailed examination of the cervix.

At a colposcopy clinic, a specially trained nurse or doctor will view the cervix and treat any abnormalities by removing the layer of abnormal cells — this procedure is called a LLETZ. This is done in one day with follow up organised by the clinic.

n Registering for the national cervical screening programme can be carried out online at www.cervicalcheck.ie