Health information

QUESTION: My boss is trying to lose weight, but I think he is on the wrong
track
He gobbles down a quick lunch, then spends the rest of his lunch hour
“speed walking”
He thinks this helps to burn off the calories he has just
consumed
I was taught that exercise after eating was dangerous
Is my boss
in some type of danger? He really is too good to lose!

ANSWER: Well then, let’s see if we can keep him fit, without any undue risks.
Your lesson in the dangers of eating first then exercising probably came from
the same admonitions I received as a lad; no swimming right after eating
And
they still hold true
As the process of digestion starts, and foods are
broken down into the fatty acids, amino acids and simple sugars used by our
body; and large amounts of blood are sent to the abdomen, where the intestines
are located, to aid digestion and absorption
Since active muscles demand
increased blood flow, exercise can pull the blood away from its digestive
functions, resulting in distress, cramps and indigestion
While a bloated or
full feeling resulting from gorging on a feast can be relieved by low level
exercise, like walking, your boss’ actions will not help him accomplish his
weight loss objective
However, reversing the pattern might
Vigorous
exercise before a meal can raise the metabolic rate at which calories are
burned
This rate remains elevated, even when the exercise stops, and this
“afterburn” can help in weight control
In addition, exercise may also
decrease appetite and help your boss resist the temptations of overeating.
The exercise will also burn the stored reserves of glycogen (the body’s ready
source of energy), and the new food carbohydrates will be used to replenish
this glycogen rather than being converted to fat
So here is a health tip for
your boss (and other readers)
Use exercise before meals as an appetite
suppressant, and restrict after meal exercise to the slow walk that aids
digestion.

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 there such a thing as using eye drops too frequently? There is
this guy in my office who is continuously popping drops into his eyes, and I
am sure he can be doing himself a great deal of harm
I wish I knew more, so
that I could warn him about the dangers of his actions.

ANSWER: It is hard to be sure from your letter, but I must assume that these
drops are the nonprescription or over-the-counter type
I must believe that
if they were prescription medications, containing active ingredients necessary
to correct a medical situation, that his personal physician would be
instructing him as to the correct use and frequency of instilling these drops
in his eyes
Such medications would be needed to treat glaucoma, infections,
allergic irritations and a host of other conditions, and would be most
important for your co-worker’s health
Over-the-counter drops are used for
quite different purposes, most often as a simple lubricating solution to help
calm irritated eyes
Contact lens users help keep their corrective
prescriptions moist and clear, and may feel the need to do so more frequently
in dry environments such as heated offices or apartments, where there is less
natural moisture in the air
Some nonprescription eye drops contain a
decongestant which constricts the blood vessels in the eye, and “helps get the
red out”
They too are harmless, provided they are used as directed, and not
excessively
However, any chemical in these solutions can provoke an allergic
reaction, creating the very situation of reddened eyes they were formulated to
control
Frankly, I don’t think your co-worker is in much danger, but perhaps
you would feel better if you found out just why he seemed to need these drops
so frequently
Why not just ask him?

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: Recently my 2 year old son was taken with a case of roseola, and
ran a very high temperature
During the illness he had a seizure which passed
rapidly, leaving the parents more affected than the patient
We are very
concerned, and though our doctor has been very reassuring, we fear that this
may be a sign of epilepsy developing
Do you have any answers for us?

ANSWER: The type of seizure experienced by your youngster is quite common and
may affect between 2% and 5% of all children
It is called a febrile seizure,
and is seen in almost 500,000 children each year
Usually they are seen as a
single episode that is not repeated, and thus is considered benign
Febrile
seizures are usually brief, leaving the child with little confusion or
weakness when they have passed
We now classify them into “simple” or
“complex” seizures
A simple seizure will last for less than 15 minutes,
affecting the entire body, and occurring but once in a 24 hour period
In
children with but a single, simple seizure, 65% have no further problems, and
only 2% develop epileptic seizures according to one study
There is no
conclusive evidence that febrile seizures by and of themselves cause epilepsy.
In order to attempt to predict the possibility of future development of
epilepsy, physicians look at four risk factors
They are; presence of complex
seizures which last for more than 15 minutes and seem localized in one part of
the body, abnormal neurological findings, a history of 3 or more seizures, and
a positive family history of seizures unrelated to elevated temperature
The
greater the number of risk factors present, the greater the possibility of
epilepsy developing on down the road
However, the prognosis for you is most
certainly a good one
The history of but a single episode, and the knowledge
that this type of attack leaves no physical or mental impairment, and that we
have no evidence that febrile seizures provoke epilepsy, should be reassuring.

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: Though my doctor has diagnosed the cause of my aches and pains to
be a condition he calls “fibromyalgia,” he claims that there is no real
treatment that can cure it
My girl friend, who follows a regular aerobic
program, thinks that exercise may help me
Do you think that this is a good
idea, and just how much activity is safe?

ANSWER: Not only is fibromyalgia difficult to treat, it is also a most
difficult condition to diagnose
There are no laboratory tests to give the
physician an exact reading or definitive diagnosis, although tests and x-rays
to exclude other possible causes of diffuse and generalized muscular pain are
used to rule out conditions such as arthritis, connective tissue and muscle
diseases
A physical examination that reveals from 11 to 18 “tender points”
is still the most important element in establishing the diagnosis
These
points are usually discovered in the spine, middle and lower back, neck and
shoulder, arms and legs
Other symptoms that may be associated with
fibromyalgia are muscle tension headaches, frequent urination, skin
sensitivity, and in some cases sleep disorders
Women are most frequently
affected between the ages of 20 and 50, and most are not as physically fit as
individuals who exercise regularly
Since the relatively fit are less likely
to develop this condition, there is some indication that exercise may be
beneficial in reducing the effects of the condition
The goal of any exercise
program should be one of gradual conditioning, rather than preparation for a
competitive sport
It should be gradual and regular, and not excessive, and
may include activities such as low impact aerobics, swimming, stationary
bicycling with or without upper body movements, and rowing
As your
cardiovascular situation improves, your fibromyalgia aches and pains may be
reduced
If you can also reduce the levels of stress in your life, which may
activate painful episodes, you should be able to gain control over the
situation
You can thank your girl friend for putting you on the right track.

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: Each year we hear the same publicity about flu shots, but I am sure
they give you just as much problems as the actual disease
How is it that
each year they change the names of the flu shots? Isn’t this just another way
of making people spend their money for nothing?

ANSWER: It sounds like you are a true “doubter,” but you must have a lot of
company; each year only about 25% of the people who need protection from the
flu take the trouble to get this important disease preventive
The names
change each year because the viruses change
As the world population develops
immunity to one strain of virus, others emerge through a process similar to
genetic mutation that changes the way they affect our immune system.
Scientists of the World Health Organization flu team around the world work to
predict just which strain will be the most prevalent during the coming flu
season, which begins in December and runs through March with the peak of the
season occurring in February
This year there are three strains of virus
predicted to make their yearly attack, A/Shanghai, A/Singapore and B/Yagamata,
named after the places in which they were discovered
Flu is not a mere cold;
in fact flu viruses and cold viruses are different, but the flu can cause
serious illness, high fever, headache, generalized aches in arms, legs and
back and inflammation of the respiratory system
Although it is mid-November,
it is still not too late to get your shot, particularly if you are over 65,
have chronic respiratory disease, or a weakened immune system
You probably
will have little to no reactions, as the inoculation is an inactivated vaccine
prepared in eggs
Individuals with allergy to eggs should consult their
physicians first
As to cost, you probably can get yours for a most nominal
fee at your local health department, hospital clinics or other facilities set
up in your region to serve you
Since the flu can leave you weakened and at
risk for additional bacterial infections that may be life threatening, why not
take this sincere advice, and get your flu shot this year?

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: When I took a good look at my grandson’s tongue, I got the shock of
my life, for it was like nothing I had ever seen before
My daughter in law
was less concerned and said her doctor had diagnosed it as something called a
“geographic tongue”
Do you know what she is talking about and will you
please explain it to me?

ANSWER: Although not a common finding, it is present in about 1% to 2% of the
population, but is most common in children under 4 years of age
It also is
called “benign migratory glossitis” and the word “benign” should be of some
comfort to you
Geographic Tongue describes a condition where the tongue has
smooth patches, outlined by grey-yellow or whitish margins that form a
map-like pattern, one which keeps changing its shape (migratory)
Usually
there are no symptoms, although occasionally there is a slight burning or
soreness experienced when eating spicy foods
There is no generally accepted
cause, although some believe it may be associated with psoriasis or seborrheic
dermatosis
Likewise there is no specific treatment
Multivitamins and
antibiotics have been tried without any notable success in changing the
situation
Good oral hygiene is helpful, and may be all that is required when
no symptoms are present
The condition will subside by itself, only to return
and disappear again over time
In adults it tends to return during periods of
emotional stress
I am sure the baby’s physician will keep an eye on the
condition and act appropriately to control any symptoms which might develop.
Apparently your daughter in law has been reassured about the situation, and I
hope that now you feel a bit better about it as well.

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 doctor tells me that I suffer from globus hystericus
I have
never heard of this condition and would like to know more about it
I
understand that it is related to stress in some way.

ANSWER: When a patient experiences a sensation of being “all choked up”
during moments of stress, grief, of even events that may elicit pride and
happiness, it is considered a normal reaction
However when someone
experiences a sensation of a mass or lump in the throat, without physical
cause but during certain emotional states, it is given the name of “globus
hystericus”
There are no specific causes related to this condition, but it
must be carefully distinguished from other conditions which can provoke a
similar sensation
With globus, even when the sensation is present, the
patient can swallow normally, and frequently the symptom may be relieved by
eating or drinking
You can further check on the diagnosis by obtaining
special x-rays which show the passage of food down the esophagus, and other
studies which calculate the pressures developed in the esophagus during the
descent of a bolus (small rounded mass of food) from the mouth to the stomach.
There are no serious complications from your condition
You should experience
no pain or weight loss, but a careful evaluation of your emotional state
during these occasions may help you overcome 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 husband was rushed to the hospital with what we thought was a
heart attack
After undergoing all the tests we were told that he had a gall
bladder attack
Is there anyway to dissolve gall stones, or is the only cure
an operation to remove the gall bladder? Our doctor tells us that surgery
isn’t necessary.

ANSWER: Your doctor is very much up to date in suggesting an alternative
therapy to surgery
Until just recently, cholecystectomy (surgical removal of
the gall bladder) was the only choice and more than a half million operations
were performed each year
But if the gallstones are composed of cholesterol,
without calcifications, they may be dissolved by a medication that was
recently approved called ursodeoxycholic acid (URSO)
URSO is a naturally
occurring bile acid, which is found in small amounts in human bile, but is now
marketed in the United States under the brand name of Actigall
This
treatment may be used in nonemergency patients who do not desire surgery, or
who may be at high risk as a surgical patient
The medication can dissolve
small stones (less than 20 mm in diameter) in from 30% to 80% of patients, but
may take from 6-24 months to do so
When there is some reduction in size
after 6 months, it is likely that the entire stone can be dissolved by
continuing the treatment
The medication is taken orally in capsule form
twice a day
Another technique still under investigation is called
lithotripsy, a process which uses sound shock waves to fragment the stones
into smaller pieces, followed by the oral medication to complete the process.
While you are making your decision, keep your husband away from fatty foods,
which can reduce the chances of recurrence of another painful attack.

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 true that loud noises can damage my hearing? Can you tell me
what type of sound can do this, and how loud it must be before I am in any
danger? This is not one of my senses that I wish to lose if I can something
to prevent it.

ANSWER: There is no question that continual and repeated exposure to loud
sounds can seriously and permanently damage your hearing
About 1 out of
every 10 Americans has some hearing loss that can affect their ability to
understand the spoken word, and in many cases the cause has been excessive
exposure to loud sounds and noise
It isn’t the type of sound that is
important; loud music and noise in the work place are equally damaging, but it
is the intensity or force of the sound that makes the difference
The
intensity of sound is measured in decibels (dB), and to give you some idea of
the decibel ratings of some common circumstances, take a look at these
figures
A whispered word may equal as much as 30 dB, while normal
conversation will generate 60 dB
Truck traffic and shop tools produce about
90 dB, but a loud rock concert and auto horn or sandblasting operation create
levels as highs as 115 dB
When you get up to 140 dB, the amount of sound
produced by a gun blast or a jet engine, the sound is both painful and even a
brief exposure may injure your hearing, even if but for a short time
The
amount time that you are exposed to the sound is important too; obviously the
longer the exposure period, the greater the possibility of harm
Continuous
noise over the level of 85 dB will cause a gradual loss of hearing in most
individuals and the government now requires hearing protectors for workers who
must remain in an area where the sound averages more than 90dB during an 8
hour day
Hearing protectors come in two main forms, ear plugs and earmuffs.
When properly fitted they can reduce the sound levels from 15 to 30 dB
Using
both together would add another 10 to 15dB of protection
It is important to
realize that once your hearing has been damaged by excessive noise, there is
no medical treatment that can restore it, so prevention now is your best bet
to conserve the hearing levels you now enjoy.

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 girl friend insists that ordinary medications for headache don’t
work for me because I have a vascular type headache not a tension type
Is
there a real difference between tension headaches and vascular headaches?

ANSWER: There is a true distinction between the two types of headaches.
Tension headaches, as the name implies, can usually be traced to the stresses
of daily life
The stress and anxiety cause the muscles in the scalp and neck
to tense up, exerting pressure and pain on nerves and blood vessels
The pain
often feels like a tight band around the head.

Vascular headaches occur when blood vessels in the head alternately
expand and contract, causing pain.

Migraines and cluster headaches are forms of vascular headaches
People
with migraines suffer from throbbing pain on one side of the head
Migraines
can last up to 18 hours and are sometimes accompanied by nausea and vomiting.

While researchers know stress causes tension headaches, they aren’t sure
what causes vascular headaches
They do know, however, that certain chemicals
trigger these painful attacks
Foods containing monosodium glutamate,
tyramine and nitrates are know to spur attacks.

The female sex hormone estrogen is associated with migraines, and some
women suffer the headaches before every menstrual period when estrogen levels
peak.

Treatment of tension headaches and vascular headaches begin the same
way with over-the-counter aspirin, acetaminophen or ibuprofen
These
remedies will often suffice for tension headaches, but most who experience
vascular headaches eventually resort to other drug therapies, which must be
prescribed by a doctor
Your girl friend has been doing her homework.

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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