Health information

QUESTION: My wife and I are now living in an adult retirement facility, where
everything is going about as well as can be expected
However, my bride is
now beginning to lose weight, and she just won’t eat because she claims the
food doesn’t taste as good as when she was doing the cooking
While it
certainly isn’t the same, it is not too bad
Does this mean something is
wrong with my wife that a doctor might help?

ANSWER: My initial impression from your story is that there is nothing
radically wrong with your wife, but a doctor’s visit might help confirm my
opinion or discover if something other than what I am about to discuss with
you is the cause of her taste problems
You see, the loss of taste and smell
is quite common as we grow older, and with those diminished senses, the desire
for food is also reduced
By the time the age of 75 is reached, there are
only half the number of taste buds or olfactory neurons (which are needed for
smelling) present than are available in a 20 year old
Loss of taste may also
be the result of certain medications, while the loss of smell can result from
viral infections and head trauma
There are some techniques, however, that
may help
Encourage your wife to chew her food thoroughly, extracting the
most flavor possible from the food
Make sure she switches from one food to
another as she eats, rather than eating all of one food on her plate at a
time
Staying with just one kind of flavor can reduce the body’s ability to
detect it
The use of herbs such as basil, dill and thyme may help, but stay
away from the hot and peppery spices that may provoke irritation to stomach
linings
Some bottled food flavorings, such as vanilla and banana, may be
used to give a little zip to the flavor of your food, and nonfat chocolate
flavoring can be sprinkled on bland foods like cereals and rice to produce a
taste that is usually a favorite for many
Another possibility is the use of
simulated flavors, bacon and butter substitutes, that may be found in many
food stores, to enhance the flavor of the food and rekindle your wife’s
interest in her diet
Letting your chef or cook know of your problem and
showing him this answer may also provide you with some welcome assistance.

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: On a recently completed physical examination a chest x-ray revealed
a “calcification”
My physician assured me that it was nothing to worry
about, and I believe him
However, I am now curious as to the meaning of this
finding
Can you please help out?

ANSWER: Certainly, and with a compliment to you
You have performed three
things in an admirable fashion
You had a physical, believed your doctor, and
continued to seek information when there were questions that you decided
needed answers
And your physician was correct, there is nothing for you to
be concerned about
It is probable that sometime in your past medical
history, perhaps as a child or young man, you were exposed to tuberculosis and
became infected
However, your own body defenses were strong enough to
conquer this infection without additional assistance
The small area of your
lung in which the infection occurred developed a “scar,” or area of healing,
which has become impregnated with calcium salts over the years
It was this
“calcification” that was seen on your chest x-ray
Many people carry these
signs of victory over disease, and they are an indication that their bodies
carry an immunity to the disease, one which you can not be passed on to others
as it no longer exists in their systems
Tuberculosis is still seen in the
United States today, mostly in older people or immigrants who have not been
adequately treated
A vaccination exists to prevent tuberculosis, called BCG
(the bacillus of Calmette and Geurin, two Frenchmen who developed a special
strain of the bacteria in 1906 that is used to produce immunity without
disease)
However this inoculation is rarely used today in the United States
because of the low incidence of the disease in our population
Good
nutrition and improved health standards are probably the reasons we no longer
see many clinical cases of tuberculosis.

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.

Phentrimine
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Phentrimine is a pharmaceutical quality appetite suppressant, acting in the same way as Phentermine and Adipex.

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QUESTION: After many doctor visits with our 7 year old son, we are now faced
with a diagnosis of “transient tic disorder” and a recommendation to do
nothing
That is easier said that accomplished when sitting across from the
youngster and watching his face twitch constantly
Isn’t there an approved
medication to help us?

ANSWER: I fully understand the anguish of a loving parent who desires to rid
her child of a disturbing problem, but let’s slow down here a bit and count
some blessings
A transient tic disorder is the mildest tic disorder, usually
beginning at about age 6 or 7 and seen three times more commonly in boys than
in girls
Assuming your physician is right, by definition a transient
disorder will probably last for less than 12 months
Such tics may be seen in
from 4% to 24% of all youngsters according to different authorities.
Psychological stress plays a part in the cause of these disturbing twitches,
which may include eye blinking, facial grimacing and shoulder shrugging; and
most physicians will advise patients to reduce, as much as possible, conflicts
or stress in the youngster’s life
Scolding or punishment may result in one
tic disappearing, only to provoke another type recurring
Medications are
generally not a cure, and can bring on unwanted side effects
You don’t have
to treat your child any differently than you would a child without a tic, but
there is nothing to be gained in calling his attention to it or becoming
anxious yourself
You have much to gain by patience and loving support, for
the duration is but a short one
If the twitch is disturbing you, change your
seat
You can’t hug a kid from across the table.

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.

Superloss Multi
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Superloss Multi is a hunger suppressant.

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QUESTION: Mike Tyson was recently diagnosed as having “costochondritis”.
What is it? What are its symptoms? This recently has been a favorite topic
among athletic followers.

ANSWER: I can only begin to imagine what some of your fellow boxing fans are
saying, or thinking
But there is such an entity, and it is pretty common.
Taking the word apart we find “costo” which denotes a rib, “chondr” which
means cartilage and then the familiar “itis” denoting an inflammation.
Together, an inflammation of the cartilage of the ribs, normally found at the
end of the rib where it attaches to the sternum, the bone that forms the
central chest structure
The history usually is enough to make the diagnosis,
upon hearing the story of a pain or discomfort in the chest, sometimes sharp,
sometimes dull, and aggravated by motion of the trunk
Usually the patient
can put one or two fingers on the exact area of the pain
Any pressure
applied directly to the area reproduces the pain
Occasionally, a physician
can feel a swelling of the cartilage at the exact location of the tenderness.
It’s not a very serious condition, and is considered in the same category as a
strain
In ordinary mortals, there is not too much that need be done, for the
condition will usually disappear in a week or two on its own, and doesn’t
interfere much with normal activity
However, a boxing champion whose
performance depends upon being in top shape and who is likely to be at risk
for more than a few sharp raps to the chest may see things differently
It is
probable that in his cases the pain would be more than slightly exaggerated.
As to the validity of this diagnosis in postponing a bout, I am going to side
with the Champ
I think it is safer that way.

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.

Prilosec
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Prilosec (Omeprazole) blocks the production of acid by the stomach.

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QUESTION: As I grow older (I am now in my 70’s) I find myself less sure of my
footing, and have grown unsteady on my feet
I have been fighting off using a
cane; I guess it is a question of pride, but wondered if there isn’t some
other way to deal with this problem? I am sure many of your readers have
similar problems and would appreciate some advice.

ANSWER: I think your question touches many lives and I am happy to respond.
As we extend our life span, we must dedicate attention to making those
additional years productive, filled with happiness and fun
We are aware that
as we grow older, things change and we do lose some strength
But it is
probable that more strength is lost in older people than need be, simply
because life slows down a bit and activity diminishes
The loss of muscle
strength is more noticeable in the legs than the arms, as we continue to use
our upper members even while sitting
Therefore, if there are no other
medical or neurological causes, the solution may lie in regaining some of the
strength in our legs through proper exercise
While exercise is effective in
reducing the risk of heart attacks, by increasing our cardiovascular fitness,
it may also be designed to increase flexibility and muscle strength
By using
a complete program that includes training exercises that develop and maintain
strength, as well as low impact aerobic exercises, and some flexibility
maneuvers as well, you can regain the force necessary to walk with greater
assurance and steadiness
More and more programs are being developed just for
people like you
A call to your local “Y” or to your physician may be the
first step to getting your “steps” back in order and avoid the need for a
cane.

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.

Lozol
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Lozol (Indapamide) is used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure).

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QUESTION: My girl friend is absolutely sure that bladder infections are a
result of sex, and she almost has me convinced
I don’t mean a sex infection,
but the disease that causes painful urination and the feeling that you have to
go constantly
Can you provide me with some answers?

ANSWER: There are many causes for “cystitis”, and certainly not every case
can be linked to a sexual act, but in women the most frequent cause is when
bacteria from the vagina find their way up through the urethra (the small tube
like passage between the bladder and the outside) into the bladder, where they
rapidly reproduce and create an infection
It can occur after sexual
intercourse, though not necessarily so, and when such an infection is seen
after prolonged or repetitive sexual activity, is called “honeymoon cystitis”.
It is not included with the group of infections known as STDs (or sexually
transmitted diseases), and can be treated successfully with antibiotics.
However prevention is still the best medicine and here are a few tips you can
pass on to your girlfriend to help reduce the possibilities of recurrence
It
is important to empty the bladder both before and after sexual relations.
Drinking a great deal of liquids produces more urine and washes out the
bacteria more frequently
Perfumed feminine hygiene products and douches may
cause irritation that can lead to infection
Birth control methods using
diaphragms and foams may lead to more frequent cases of infection, and
consideration should be given to changing these methods
External sanitary
napkins are preferable to the vaginal tampons, particularly in patients with
recurrent bladder infections
If all these methods fail, a physician should
be consulted to discuss the use of antibiotics prophylactically to prevent
this condition from recurring
Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole or
nitrofurantoin in low doses have been used successfully in such cases.

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.

Risperdal
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QUESTION: I recently had a puzzling 36 hour illness
I had a horrible
headache, with pressure behind the eyes which grew worse every time I moved my
eyes or head
Because my brother had the same thing, but with nausea and a
high fever, I think it was pretty contagious
I didn’t visit a doctor because
of its short nature, but I am curious about what that painful headache could
be from
In case you’re wondering, I’m 13 years old.

ANSWER: Curiosity about our health and the nature of disease is to be
encouraged at any age, and your recent experience has been shared by just
about everyone I know at one time or another
When the symptoms include
cephalalgia (headache), particularly with that sensation of pressure behind
the eyes, fever, and nausea the first diagnosis that comes to a physician’s
mind is one of viral infection
There might have been many other clues to
have looked for, red throat, swollen lymph glands, stiff neck, or rash, and
the sounds heard through the stethoscope might have revealed something going
on in the lungs, but the simple fact that it was over in just a day and a half
leaves us with few clues
The important fact is that it was a benign illness,
without any serious complications, and that you were back up and around in
short order
Such viral infections are frequent, and are highly contagious,
but there are so many different types of viruses that can produce the same
symptoms that the cost of the laboratory tests that would be required to
determine just which one it was is not worth the money
At such times, the
wisest course of action is to rest, drink plenty of fluids, and take an
analgesic to dull the pain of the headache
It is also a good idea to consult
with your physician, who may know just what type of illness is going around in
your community
There are times when even these relatively common symptoms my
be the first warning of conditions that are much more serious, and an early
diagnosis can lead to the prompt start of the treatment needed to assure that
you will recover both completely and rapidly.

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.

Vermox
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Vermox (Mebendazole) is used to treat infections caused by worms such as whipworm, pinworm, roundworm, and hookworm.

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QUESTION: I’ve had flare-ups of severe abdominal cramps
After a series of
tests and x-rays, my gastroenterologist told me I have something which he
called a “successful women’s ulcer.” He put me on a high fiber diet but would
prescribe no medication
Have you ever heard of such a thing?

ANSWER: Yes
The so-called “successful women’s ulcer” (SWU) is actually very
common, but it is really a misnomer, because it is not actually an ulcer
The
condition could more correctly be called irritable bowel disease
SWU may
occur in up to 25% of working women at some time, especially in women who are
meticulous and overachievers
The symptoms of SWU are a burning or stabbing
pain in the abdomen, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and indigestion
The
symptoms are the result of intestinal spasm caused by stress
Irritable bowel
disease is best treated with a high fiber diet and stress management programs.
High fiber foods, such as unprocessed cereals, breads and beans create more
bulk in the digestive tract
The added bulk prevents the painful intestinal
spasm, because it keeps the muscles from fully contracting
In addition to
the high fiber diet, your doctor might have suggested some stress management
techniques, such as meditation, biofeedback, and reading
Learning to fully
relax is really the key to ridding yourself of this 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: Is it possible for a young person, say 29 years old, to suffer a
stroke? If they can occur, what causes them?

ANSWER: Yes, strokes happen to young people
“Young people” here is defined
as those under the age of 45
About three percent of all strokes happen to
people in that age group
Reportedly most are caused by fatty deposits in the
arteries (atherosclerosis) in the brain, disorders of arteries in the brain
due to conditions other than such deposits, and certain blood diseases.
No one knows exactly what causes atherosclerosis, but research studies
have shown that people who suffer from diabetes, high blood pressure, and high
cholesterol levels, and those who smoke cigarettes are most likely to develop
it.
Other major possible causes in young people include: blood clots, blows
to or near the head from blunt or sharp objects, diseases of the arteries in
the head caused by many different conditions such as syphilis, congenital
conditions such as aneurysm, and sickle cell diseases.
Additionally, prolonged, heavy use of alcohol can cause strokes in people
of all ages.
Among young women, strokes have been associated with taking of oral
contraceptives
The risks from those medicines appear to increase in women
over age 45 who: take oral contraceptives for long periods of time, those who
smoke, have high blood pressure and/or high cholesterol, plus those who are
diabetic.
The only way to know accurately what has caused a stroke is for a
physician to take a complete medical history and give an extensive physical
exam
As with most illnesses, prevention is the best medicine
Follow your
doctor’s suggestions precisely concerning stroke prevention, and all other
medical problems.

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.

Zocor
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Zocor (Simvastatin) is a cholesterol- lowering medicine.

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QUESTION: A problem with my eating has been diagnosed as caused by something
called “Zenker”
I am very concerned
Could you shed a little light on this
situation for me?

ANSWER: I would be happy to
Known as Zenker’s diverticulum, or pocket (or
in medical terminology, a pharyngeal diverticulum) it is a pouch in the
esophagus that can entrap food and mucus
It can cause difficulty with
swallowing, problems with breathing, vomiting, hoarseness, lung abscess,
inflammations, neck pain, coughing, and in rare cases, cancer.
Zenker’s pocket is most prevalent in people over the age of 70
It
occurs in men about 3 times as often as women
Although there is no known
definitive cause, the most widely accepted hypothesis is that the pocket is
the result of incoordination of the swallowing mechanism
This can produce
abnormal pressure on an area of the esophagus, which can lead to herniation
that forms a sac, and once that begins, the sac elongates as a result of
gravity.
Surgery to remove the diverticulum is recommended for almost all patients
with this condition
If the problem is left untreated, the complications can
be extremely weakening
In rare cases, Zenker’s pocket can recur after
surgical removal, but this is the exception rather than the rule.
The only right way to deal with your concern, in this case, is to follow
your doctor’s counsel.

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.

Vasodilan
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Vasodilan (Isoxsuprine) helps to widen blood vessels so blood flows better.

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