Health information

QUESTION: Please do not laugh at my question, but since I have been unable to
find an answer to it, I thought you might be able to help me
Quite simply I
would like to know why we yawn, and why everyone seems to do it at the same
time? Could you look up the answer for me, and put it in your column?

ANSWER: Actually, that is a very good question, since it may interest many
people and so deserves an answer
I’ll be honest
There has not been a
tremendous amount of medical literature written about the process of yawning,
but it certainly is something we all do at one time or another
Now, a yawn
is not simply opening the mouth wide, but is usually accompanied by a deep
inspiration, filling the lungs fully with air
That circumstance has lead to
a theory that yawning has something to do with the physical state of our lungs
at the time the yawn comes along
As we all know, the lung is filled with
millions of minute air sacs called “alveoli” where oxygen is taken out of the
air and transferred into the blood stream, for transportation to all the cells
of the body
After we have been sitting for a prolonged period of time,
perhaps in a slumped position, some of the air sacs collapse
When enough of
them have been affected, the lung can not function as it should and so we yawn
to re-expand all of the lung tissue once again
If we search for a logical
reason for everyone yawning at the same time, it might be because they are all
doing the same thing, sitting in a room with stale air, watching a show or
television, not exerting themselves too much, a time when shallow breathing
sets in
Therefore, it could be speculated that they would all need to yawn
at the same time
Of course, it has also been written that yawning can be
induced by the power of suggestion, and we sort of “catch” it from the next
person
Or it could just mean the show was boring and the yawn was a display
of disinterest
Now take a deep breath and take your pick.

The material contained here is “FOR INFORMATION ONLY” and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician
Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.

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QUESTION: I am trying to control my mildly elevated blood pressure by doing
all the right things
I have finally started to take off those extra pounds
and get a bit more exercise
I have also been cautioned to watch my salt
intake, but I don’t add any extra salt to my food
An associate tells me
there is salt hidden in a lot of food products
Can you help me identify
these foods, so that I may avoid them?

ANSWER: Baked goods, canned, processed and frozen foods are all hidden
sources of sodium
Sodium is the mineral in salt that can contribute to high
blood pressure, particularly in individuals who are “sensitive” to this
element
Although you do not add salt to your foods, you may be eating salty
snacks
You should learn to read labels carefully
Ingredients are listed in
order of their weight in the food item
Should salt or sodium be at the
beginning of the ingredient list, it means there are significant amounts in
the food, and you should restrict the amounts of that food preparation you
consume, or just not eat any at all.
Look for and beware of sodium compounds, including monosodium glutamate
(MSG), baking soda and baking powder.
Avoid bacon, sausage, ham, cold cuts, and most bottled salad dressings,
as they are high in sodium nitrate
Other “hidden” sodium sources are
quick-cooking cereals and processed cheese which are high in di-sodium
phosphate.
Ice cream and chocolate milk often contain disodium alginate, which gives
them a smooth texture
Sodium hydroxide is used to soften the skins of olives
and other vegetables.
Another form of salt sodium propionate is used in breads, cakes, and
some cheeses to inhibit mold.
Dried fruits are often high in sodium sulfate
Besides cutting down on
salt, you are already doing some of the other things that can keep your
hypertension in check
A moderate exercise program, finding new ways of
reducing mental and emotional stress, and losing those excess pounds will all
help you beat your blood pressure problem.

The material contained here is “FOR INFORMATION ONLY” and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician
Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.

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QUESTION: I am now on a low salt diet to help keep my blood pressure under
control
In trying to eat a low salt diet, I decided to fill my plate with
plenty of vegetables, thinking that they were all low in sodium
My friend
says I can still get in trouble if I don’t watch out what I prepare, but I
think she is wrong
Can you offer me any words of advice or explanation?

ANSWER: You are certainly on the right track according to my book on
nutrition, for as a general rule, vegetables are low in sodium
My impression
is that you and your friend, rather than talking about apples and oranges, are
talking about carrots and carrots, only she is thinking about the preserved or
canned type, while you are sticking by your guns and the right kind straight
off
The fresh garden variety vegetable can be turned into a sodium
restricted dieter’s nightmare when canned or preserved, if you don’t pay
careful attention to those labels
Plain frozen vegetables should contain no
salt, but when sauces are added, as in some gourmet preparations, liberal
quantities of salt or sodium containing additives are included to enhance
flavor
Sodium may also be in some preservatives added to canned variety
vegetables
Your best bet is to use fresh vegetables, prepared in your own
kitchen, using all the precautions about sodium and salt you have apparently
learned so well
There you too must be cautious, using only the herbs and
flavorings which will not bring unwanted sodium to your plate
Keep on the
alert and you will find many new recipes that add flavor without the risks
that sodium holds for you.

The material contained here is “FOR INFORMATION ONLY” and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician
Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.

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QUESTION: After a surgical operation several years ago, I was left with an
ugly scar
When I needed another operation recently I dreaded the fact that I
would now have a companion to the first scar to make my belly even more
unattractive
To my amazement there is still but one scar
Did the surgeon
open up the old scar to do the surgery to try and save me from further
embarrassment?

ANSWER: Probably not
A surgical incision is not like a zipper fastener.
Once healed it can not be reopened again, because the healing process has
reformed all the tissues, just as before, except for the scar
Your
thoughtful surgeon planned his operation well, and in all likelihood removed
the old scar as part of your most recent surgery
All surgeons are quite
aware of the patient’s concern about unnecessary, ugly surgical scars,
particularly if they may be seen when wearing beach apparel
Of course the
needs of the operation come first, and there are times when it is necessary to
create another opening in an abdomen, but apparently luck was with you and
your problem could be dealt with and still consider your legitimate desires
for a good cosmetic outcome.

The material contained here is “FOR INFORMATION ONLY” and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician
Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.

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QUESTION: I been practicing so hard for a concert that my choir is giving
that I now have a sore throat, and fear that I may not be able to take part in
the performance
What do “big time” performers do in a case like this? Is
there some magic spray I can use? While I know the chorus can go on without
me, I would much rather be part of it if I can
Help!

ANSWER: I suppose “big time” performers have coaches and knowledgeable
physicians to help them in these circumstances, for most certainly any
treatment is only going to be as good as the diagnosis
And a good diagnosis
requires more of a history than you provided to me and a careful examination
of your vocal chords
If your problems seem to be in the muscles of your
throat and neck, the cause may be overuse or strain due to lengthy rehearsals.
However a sensation of hotness or pain in the throat might be the result of an
infection, either viral or bacterial, that has little to do with your singing.
It would also be interesting to know whether your voice has changed at this
time, if it has become weaker than usual, or whether you have difficulty in
reaching all the notes you normally can
The possibility of a hemorrhage in
your vocal cords makes an examination a must, for that would require special
attention
Most experts would agree that rest is of prime importance in cases
such as this, and that you should seek to avoid any excessive use of your
voice at this time
Stay within your vocal range while singing, and use as
little effort as possible during rehearsals
Breathing in cool vapor, along
with increased fluid intake, will help somewhat
The use of sprays at this
time may be helpful, oil of eucalyptus, menthol or other aromatic substances
to help “oil” or lubricate the vocal cords
Some experts feel that such
solutions are irritating, and prescribe gargles instead, using plain salt or
baking soda solutions
In extreme cases, some physicians might use a
corticosteroid spray to reduce inflammation, but that would depend upon an on
site examination, the extent of your problem, and just how much is at stake.
For now, get out your pencil and pad, and rest your singing apparatus as much
as possible.

The material contained here is “FOR INFORMATION ONLY” and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician
Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.

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QUESTION: I have a problem with my vision
Whenever I look at a bright
surface, or up at the sky, I see dots and threadlike shapes swimming around.
What are they? Are they dangerous?

ANSWER: The shapes you’re seeing are called floaters and they’re clumps of
gel that form in the vitreous, the clear, jellylike fluid that fills the eye.
These dots and lines (they can also take the form of circles or cobwebs), are
usually harmless and a natural part of aging
Floaters are especially common
in nearsighted people or after a cataract operation
They often go away by
themselves.
When floaters crop up suddenly for no reason, though, or become
dramatically worse, it’s a good idea to see an eye doctor
Floaters can also
signal a torn retina or, less commonly, inflammation or crystal-like deposits
within the eye
All of these vision-threatening conditions arrive quite
painlessly
By the way, the flashes of light some people see are much like
floaters in that they’re usually harmless
But, if they’re accompanied by
numerous floaters or a blacking out of part of your field of vision, again,
see a professional.
If your floaters have ever gotten in your line of vision, while you were
reading, you’re probably tried moving your eyes back and forth to get the
floaters out of the way, and had little success
Next time, try looking up
and down instead
This will create currents that carry the floater to a less
sensitive part of the eye, and you can return to your reading without this
annoyance
But don’t experiment for too long a period of time without seeking
professional evaluation of your problem.

The material contained here is “FOR INFORMATION ONLY” and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician
Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.

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QUESTION: My son was hurt recently in an auto accident
Although at first we
did not think his injury was severe, he has continued to have constant pain in
his left arm, and the physician has called his condition “reflex sympathetic
dystrophy”
Can you tell me what this means and what can be done to relieve
the pain? We appreciate all the help you can offer.

ANSWER: Normally pain impulses are carried by the sensory nerves in the body,
and the sympathetic system controls such things as sweating, blood circulation
and temperature regulation
However, when this system begins to malfunction
after an accident, it can affect the area of injury in a variety of unusual
ways
It may change the perception of pain, the manner in which the skin
senses cold and touch, the temperature and color of the skin, and the sweating
function of the skin
When these symptoms can be related to the injury,
rather than to other nerve problems, such as result from diabetes, nerve
tumors or conditions which cause pressure on the nerve (carpal tunnel syndrome
for example), the diagnosis may be “reflex sympathetic dystrophy”
There is a
burning pain, sometimes described as throbbing in nature and it may affect an
entire arm or leg in the region of the injury
As the condition progresses,
there are changes in the consistency of the skin, loss of body hair in the
area, muscle wasting and swelling and edema
The nails become brittle and the
joints may atrophy
Corticosteroids may be used in the early stages of the
condition, but if the symptoms last more than 6 months the chance of recovery
is remote
Ordinary short acting pain killers do little to relieve the
constant pain, and the physician may resort to injecting a local anesthetic or
nerve blocking agent to determine if the pain can be stopped in that fashion.
Repeated blocks may be used, but if the help lasts for but a short time,
surgical procedures may be necessary, using a permanent sympathectomy or
complete block of the affected nerves to achieve the needed pain relief
Once
the condition is chronic, many patients require antidepressants,
anticonvulsants and narcotic pain medications to control their symptoms.

The material contained here is “FOR INFORMATION ONLY” and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician
Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.

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QUESTION: Whenever there is a bit of an extra chill in the air, and whenever
I am startled or emotional, my skin breaks out in a crop of “goose bumps”
I
know it is not harmful, but I can’t help wondering what it means
Can you
please tell me just what causes these peculiar bumps?

ANSWER: It’s all part of some left over reactions we inherited from our
primitive ancestors
Thinking about some of our pets, whose hair stands on
end when they are frightened, will help you understand your own situation.
Each of our hairs are supplied with a tiny muscle
Its called the “arrectoris
pili” muscle (and means it causes the hair to stand erect)
In some areas of
our skin the muscle, which is part of the hair follicle, is still present
although the skin is hairless
When we are frightened or aroused, in fact
anything that stimulates the production of adrenaline in our system, these
muscles contract
If there is hair present, it “stands up”
In hairless
skin, it produces “goosebumps”, or “gooseflesh” if you will
It’s an
interesting reaction, but can give your thoughts away if you become emotional
over someone who is a careful observer.

The material contained here is “FOR INFORMATION ONLY” and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician
Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.

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QUESTION: It is time you devoted some space to your readers with gout
This
is my problem which always strikes just when I think all is going well
Can
you please explain the workings of this disease for me?

ANSWER: Gout is a form of arthritis
It’s caused by an excess of uric acid
in the body
Everybody has some uric acid, but some people have too much.
Either they make too much or their kidneys don’t flush enough uric acid out
with their urine
As a result, the excess acid forms crystals, which tend to
collect in the joints, especially in the fingers and toes
A gout attack
occurs when these crystals cause pain, redness and swelling in the joint.
Generally, the first attack of gout will disappear by itself after no
more than two weeks
Another attack may occur shortly thereafter, or it may
not happen again for years
Left untreated, though, gout can cause
complications
As the uric acid crystals build up in the joints, they form
tophi (or deposits)
The crystals can also lead to kidney damage and kidney
stones
Therefore, it’s important to seek medical attention for gout.
Your doctor may check for gout via several techniques
For example, he
or she may want to draw some fluid out of the affected joint to check for the
presence of uric acid crystals
If that’s not possible, you may be put on a
trial course of medication
If the drug works, it rules out most causes of
your joint pain other than gout
Finally, the level of uric acid in your
urine may be tested
(If this is the case, for three days before the test
you’ll have to limit your intake of foods high in purines, substances that
turn to uric acid in the body.)
If a diagnosis of gout is confirmed, two types of medications can treat
the disease
Colchicine or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) are
often prescribed to relieve the pain and inflammation
These drugs will clear
up an attack of gout; however, they have no effect on future attacks
NSAIDs
take longer to relieve gout’s symptoms, but they have fewer side effects than
colchicine, which causes cramps, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea in 80 percent of
the people who take a full dose of it.
Other drugs go to work to lower the level of uric acid in your body,
thereby preventing future attacks
Allopurinol does this by reducing the
amount of uric acid you produce
Probenecid and sulfinpyrazone help your
kidneys clear uric acid out of your bloodstream
These drugs will also
dissolve any tophi you may have formed and prevent future complications such
as kidney disease
Some doctors feel that gout patients must take drugs that
lower uric acid levels indefinitely
However, other experts disagree
In
mild cases, the risk of long-term use of the drugs may outweigh the risk of
future gout attacks.
Besides taking your medication, there are a few things you can do to help
control your gout
Keep alcohol consumption to no more than one or two drinks
a day, avoid large amounts of foods high in purine (anchovies, bacon, salmon,
herring, turkey and veal, to name a few), cut back on red meat to no more than
two to three times a week (it’s also high in purines), drink at least two
quarts of liquid a day and avoid aspirin and other drugs that contain
salicylates, which can increase uric acid levels and reduce the effectiveness
of gout medications
Remember, though, you can’t cure gout with your diet;
for that you need medication.

The material contained here is “FOR INFORMATION ONLY” and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician
Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.

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QUESTION: I have a condition that causes me to sneeze at most any time of the
year
I always thought it was a type of hay fever, but I don’t think it has
anything to do with pollen since it can occur when there is none
Is it
possible to have hay fever and not be allergic to pollen?

ANSWER: Although the term “hay fever” is usually associated with the abrupt
sneezing, sniffling, and stuffy head symptoms brought on by the seasonal
release of pollen, it’s actually a catch-all term for inherited sensitivities
people have to any inhaled airborne substance
For instance, tree pollens are
active in early spring, grasses in the summer, and weeds in the fall
But
people who are allergic to molds, animal dander, and dust suffer all year
long.
The list of allergy-causing particles is endless
They can be found in
the workplace as well as the typical home
They range from insecticides,
cigarette smoke, plaster, newsprint and glue to microscopic particles of linen
and wool in common household dust.
If you are one of the 40 million Americans who suffer from allergies, the
best line of defense is to avoid contact with these substances
It may take a
bit of detective work to identify the substance that causes your problem
And
it means keeping a spotless house, storing chemicals away from the living
area, and perhaps banishing Fido to the great outdoors
If all else fails,
medication or immunotherapy (allergy shots) may give lasting relief.

The material contained here is “FOR INFORMATION ONLY” and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician
Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.

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