Health information

QUESTION: I would very much appreciate some information on a condition known
as diverticulosis
My mother has just been told she has this problem, and I
would like to be able to discuss this with her.

ANSWER: Diverticulosis is a condition of the large intestine
Instead of the
intestine being a relatively smooth tube of thin muscle, it has numerous small
pouches or protrusions called diverticula, that bulge out from the wall of the
intestines.
Most people develop diverticulosis as they get older
Ten percent of
people over 40 have it and 50% of those over 60 have it
Diverticulosis is
usually not a problem unless the diverticula become infected or inflamed, a
condition called “diverticulitis”.
Diverticulosis is thought to be caused by the pressure of food and gas
within the large intestine
This pressure causes weakened spots on the
intestine wall to pouch outward
Chronic constipation or use of stimulant
laxatives are linked to increased pressure within the intestine and to
formation of diverticula
It is now thought that the highly refined low
residue diets common to the Western world may also play a part in the cause of
diverticulosis
When there is insufficient bulk to the stool, the muscles of
the colon, particularly the sigmoid colon, may contract too forcefully
(spasm), which increases the pressure inside the colon and provokes the
diverticula
A good diet that is high in fiber and includes plenty of fluids
may help prevent diverticula from forming, since such a diet also helps
prevent constipation and provides the bulk necessary for the proper
functioning of the colon.

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, father who is 79, has had spells of light-headedness when he
stands suddenly
His doctor diagnosed the problem as a result of some heart
medication he is taking
However, I have recently experienced the same
problem on several occasions, though I am only 49, exercise regularly 5 to 6
times a week, and am fit and in great health
I take no medication, and my
question is whether or not this may be some type of inherited problem
Do you
have an answer for me?

ANSWER: As you sit and read this answer, take your pulse
My bet is that it
may be somewhere in the range of 60 to 65, perhaps lower, and certainly below
the range of a normal pulse, which is usually between 72 and 78 beats a
minute
A slow pulse of this nature, which reflects the speed at which the
heart is beating, is common in athletes or those who maintain a regular,
somewhat strenuous exercise program
And it is this slow beat which may be at
the root of your light-headedness just as it is with your Dad, although the
cause is different
When we are at seated at rest, the heart beats with
enough force to send the pressure into our head, and nourish the brain with
needed nutrients and precious oxygen
When we stand suddenly, additional
pressure is needed to compensate for the abrupt increase in height
In people
with the heart beating at near normal speed the next beat is less than a
second away, while in individuals with slower pulse the time needed for the
next surge of blood increases to more than 1 second and approaches 2 seconds
in individuals with pulses closer to 30 beats per second
For that period of
time, the brain has less than the amount of oxygen it needs and a feeling of
light-headedness occurs that may approach dizziness or even fainting
Your
cause is the state of physical fitness you have achieved
In your Dad’s case,
the medication is responsible for slowing his heart beat, although it may be
increasing the force of the beat and helping his condition
What is clear is
that your condition is neither the result of any inherited traits nor in any
way dangerous
The truth is you should continue your healthful ways, and
possibly avoid some of the problems that might be the reason for your Dad’s
need of 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 terrible problem with an itchy skin
There are times I
can’t stop scratching
It is worse at night, although I do get a bit of
relief after a warm bath
When I look at my skin there is no rash, but it
just seems drier than at any previous time in my life
I can’t complain
though
This set of skin has lasted me for 82 years, I just don’t want it to
give out before the rest of my body quits
What can I do to preserve it?

ANSWER: It looks like you have been doing a pretty good job with all your
body parts, and it might be that your largest organ, the skin, needs a bit of
special help now
You give a perfect description of the dry skin that can
affect so many of our older youngsters, and providing you have no other signs
of skin problems or allergies, we can proceed with some simple tips to help
get things right
In order to stay springy and flexible, our skin needs a
certain amount of moisture that must be retained in the tissue
Since older
skin has lost some of the waxes that help conserve the moisture, dry skin can
occur more easily
And if you live in an overheated environment, where the
humidity in the air is low, or use a lot of soap a bit too frequently, you can
be making the condition just a bit worse
The trick is to keep the moisture
in the skin after it has been well hydrated, in one of your warm baths for
example
Spreading an emollient cream or lotion that softens and smooths
immediately after a tub or shower can help hold the moisture in
There are
several such preparations available at your local pharmacist that have a water
base and are easy to apply
Another means of reducing the problem is to
reduce the use of harsh and drying soaps, carefully washing the hands and
face, under the arms and other important areas, and leaving the rest of the
body with a less attentive cleansing
Use a soap that is high in softening
agents, and free of perfumes
Don’t use a wash cloth as it can irritate the
skin, and try a patting movement with the towel rather than a brisk rubbing.
While each of these tips may help only a bit, using all of them in a routine
manner can sometimes totally subdue the problem
And they are all easy to do
and cheap too!

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: Can you explain a little about the “DTs”? Is it just a case of
the “shakes,” or can it be a serious condition that might possibly be fatal?
Please mention a bit about treatment as well
Thanks, this is an important
question for us.

ANSWER: “DTs,” or perhaps a bit more precise “delirium tremens,” is a form of
mental illness brought on by a withdrawal from alcohol, which causes the
sufferer to lose touch with reality
The primary symptoms of the “delirium”
component often center around terrifying and vivid hallucinations: sounds,
smells, and sights which only exist in the patient’s mind
For instance, the
person may see snakes, or feel ants crawling all over his body
The “tremens”
part, however, is the more important factor indicating the underlying danger
because it is characterized by a soaring heart rate, seizures (shakes),
sweating, and hypertension which can lead (among other things) to heart and
kidney failure.
Treatment for DTs, as it is commonly called by many, is often a complex
process, the success of which depends on the basic health of the individual.
Usually it begins with a prescribed sedative such as diazepam to calm the
central nervous system, plenty of fluids, electrolytes to replenish lost body
salts, continued abstinence from alcohol, and multivitamins and sound
nutrition to bring the body back to normal function.

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 always preferred simple terms to explain medical conditions, but
was surprised when I was told that I had dyspepsia
Although simple enough, I
am now afraid that my doctor is trying to conceal something from me
What
does the word “dyspepsia” really mean? Is it a condition that can be helped,
and if so what is the treatment?

ANSWER: It may be confusing but its not meant to hide anything from you
The
term “dyspepsia” means “bad digestion”
By definition, it relates to food or
drink and their digestion, but digestion difficulties can be a symptom of more
complex problems
Dyspepsia is a problem that plagues all of us from time to
time, and some suffer it more often and more severely than the rest
If it is
a constant problem that causes you severe discomfort, it deserves attention.
But you and your physician are faced with a puzzling scenario when you
have dyspepsia
The problem is so common, yet has so many variations, that it
is hard to evaluate
Digestive discomfort can mean nothing more than
overindulgence, or it can be the warning sign of ulcers, heart attack or gall
bladder disease.
In light of the complex problems that can hide behind the upset stomach,
your role as patient and chief observer of the problem becomes really
important
Know as much about your complaint as you can, so that you can help
your doctor decide which investigative avenue to take
Total evaluation of
all the possible causes of dyspepsia is expensive, uncomfortable and
unnecessary, if the two of you work together to investigate the most likely
causes first
Despite the best efforts of you and your physician, the cause
of your dyspepsia may never be found
In this case, he will probably
recommend that you avoid the foods that cause your problems, and treat the
symptoms with an antacid or acid antagonist like cimetidine or ranitidine.
To help your doctor evaluate your problem, ask yourself these questions,
and keep a simple diary for a while so you can identify patterns of symptoms.
Are your symptoms related to eating? Do the symptoms occur during eating,
after eating, or before eating? Do certain foods trigger different symptoms?
Exactly what are your symptoms? Are you nauseated; does the nausea progress
to vomiting? Is there vomiting without nausea? Do you have pain? Exactly
where is it? Are there tender spots or is the pain vague and diffuse? Do you
notice other symptoms that seem unrelated to your digestion? Have you had any
weight gain or loss? Have you noticed any change in your bowel habits? Are
your eating patterns changed? What emotions are you experiencing when you
have digestive problems? Is there a family history of ulcers, gall bladder
disease or other problems? What medicines are you taking? Do you drink
alcohol or smoke?
Dyspepsia has been blamed for everything from bad marriages to decline of
entire empires
Its sufferers support an entire industry of antacid
manufacturers, and the only problem that keeps people away from work more
often is the common cold
Those that haven’t suffered a bout of dyspepsia
yet probably will someday
And though it may be unpleasant, it most likely
will not be dangerous
However, the important thing to remember is that you
should keep track of your symptoms and see your doctor if the problem is
severe enough to interfere with your normal activities and good health.

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 he been checked twice, my doctor can find nothing to explain
a pain in the ear that my 9 year old son continues to complain of
Do you
have any ideas what might be causing this?

ANSWER: Your physician may be finding nothing wrong with the ear because,
sometimes, ear pain is a referring signal from a problem somewhere else.
In about half of cases of referred ear pain, the problem is with the
teeth or mouth, and might be better diagnosed by a dentist
An abscessed or
fractured tooth, periodontal disease, or impacted third molar (wisdom tooth)
may cause ear pain
Your son may need a complete dental evaluation, including
all the necessary x-rays
Another mouth problem that can cause pain in a
normal ear is temporomandibular joint dysfunction, where the lower jaw is not
properly seated in its joint with the rest of the skull.
Ear pain has other possible causes, including sinus, tonsil, salivary
gland, and throat infections
Neuralgias of the nerves to the face and head
or a condition called temporal arteritis may also show up as ear pain, though
this condition is not common in youngsters.
Other causes that might be considered with referred ear pain are tumors
of the chest, neck, and head
Luckily, these are not found very frequently
and are considered quite rare.

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 love this time of the year and my regular frolic in the pool.
But then there is the problem of water that remains in my ear, disturbing my
ability to hear and giving me a clogged sensation
Is there any proven method
to get the water out without hopping all about like some cartoon character?
This advice could be important to many during this season.

ANSWER: There is no doubt that if you turn your head so that the affected
ear is towards the ground, that hopping will help get the water out of your
ear
However, with your head in the same position, tapping the side of your
head just above the affected ear with the heel of your hand will have the same
affect without the hopping that seems to be embarrassing to you
Another good
method that takes just a bit of preparation is to bring a dry cotton ball or
two with you
Twist the cotton between your thumb and forefinger to produce a
long wick, which can be inserted into your ear and which will “suck” the water
out with no trouble at all
No, cotton swabs on the end of sticks are not
wise substitutes!

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 only thought it was a simple swelling of my ankles like many
people get, but when the doctor called it “edema” I got scared
Could you
please explain the difference and what does edema come from?

ANSWER: Edema occurs when there is an abnormal buildup of fluid in body
tissues, therefore edema and swelling can often mean the same thing
There
are many possible causes, and it is sometimes a warning sign of a more serious
problem in the body
Most often, edema is noticed in the lower legs, feet and
ankles, where fluid accumulates under the skin and causes swelling
This is
sometimes the result of a job that keeps you on your feet all day
If that’s
the case, you should take hourly breaks, if possible, and raise the feet for a
few minutes.
Edema may also occur when the veins in the lower extremities don’t keep
pace with the arteries, so that it may be a sign of vein disease
Wearing
clothes that are too tight around the upper legs may cause the ankle to swell.
This can be remedied by simply wearing looser garments
Many women have some
edema just prior to their menstrual periods
There may be a fluid buildup in
the breasts, legs and abdomen
Women who are on the pill may experience more
noticeable cases of edema
On the more serious level, edema may be an
indication of the beginning of kidney, liver or heart disease
Therefore, if
you notice repeated episodes of swelling that last for more than a day or two,
see your doctor.

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 been diagnosed as having Bullous Emphysema (severe) and have
been unable to obtain information regarding the disease
The American Lung
Association advised me that they have no literature available and at this
point I don’t know where to look
Could you please tell me about this disease
and how it differs from emphysema?

ANSWER: All types of emphysema, yours included, belong to a larger
classification of lung disease, called chronic obstructive lung disease or
COPD for short
Under this heading you would find information about chronic
bronchitis, chronic obstructive bronchitis, persistent asthma, chronic
asthmatic bronchitis as well as emphysema, and chronic emphysema
They are
all interrelated, and many of the mechanisms that create problems in one type
of illness are found in the others as well
Their development seems
determined by an individual’s susceptibility, and the exposure to certain
elements that can precipitate the illness
Emphysema is a condition in which
the tiny air sacs (alveolar) which are located at the ends of the tubes that
carry air to the lung tissues (bronchioles) are larger than normal, due to the
partial destruction of their walls
This may be the result of frequent or
chronic inflammation, and certainly can be the result of smoking
Large
alveolar sacs with damaged walls are not as efficient in transferring the
oxygen in the inhaled air over to the blood vessels, and that leads to a
reduced supply of oxygen for the entire body
In advanced cases and severe
cases such as yours, bullae may develop
A bullous is nothing more than a
very large sac, a “balloon” if you will, that develops when many enlarged
alveolar sacs unite into one single unit large enough to be detected on a
chest x-ray
Such bullae (the plural form of the word) may be either a
solitary finding or part of the general disease process found throughout the
lung, and may be found in other types of COPD
There is no special treatment
for this type of emphysema, but the presence of bullae should make you take
all your doctor’s advice very seriously
Incidentally, my sources at the
American Lung Association tell me they do have a Fact Sheet on Emphysema,
which contains additional information that may be helpful to 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 siege of the most terrible headaches you can imagine, I
consulted a physician and was told that I had condition known as “cluster
headaches”
It was more than a month before I was finally over the attacks.
I need to know all I can, and hope you will answer my question
Can you tell
me where these frightful headaches come from, and what can be done to treat
them besides antihistamines and pain pills?

ANSWER: This type of headache was named for the manner in which they occur,
attacking the patient in episodes that come in groups or clusters
Their
cause remains puzzling to the medical community
We do know that they seem to
be aggravated by certain substances that cause blood vessels to enlarge, like
alcohol, nitroglycerin and certain foods
They affect men more frequently
than women and they usually first appear between the ages of 20 and 40
The
headaches themselves come on abruptly, creating a severe burning pain around
the eye which can last from a few minutes up to four hours, but usually last
for 30-45 minutes
Sometimes they are accompanied by a drooping of the
eyelid, a narrowing of the pupil, sweating, red eye and flushing of the face
on the same side as the headache
In many cases only some, but not all of
these symptoms may occur
Most people will experience the pain a few times a
day and this may continue for weeks to months.
The two most commonly used therapies to decrease or relieve the pain are
ergotamine and oxygen
Ergotamine is a drug which can be taken under the
tongue and is about the easiest to use
100% oxygen inhaled for about fifteen
minutes also seems to provide relief, but this is a cumbersome treatment as it
is not easy to carry the necessary equipment about with you
Various other
therapies use beta-blockers (such as indomethacin) and calcium channel
blockers
Lithium carbonate has been used to treat the chronic variety of
this distressing disease
Its not an easy disease to treat and there are
moments of frustration for both the patient and physician
The best counsel I
can offer you is to understand your condition thoroughly and follow the advice
of your physician carefully
You will want every possible factor to work in
your favor to prevent the frequent reoccurrence of this trying disease.

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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