Health information

QUESTION: On my recent visit to my doctor I discovered a soft, spongy lump on
my shoulder blade
The doctor called it a lipoma tumor
He said they were
generally benign, but this was sort of large
Can you tell me more about this
condition? Just the word “tumor” terrifies me.

ANSWER: It is very apparent that you can do with some simple explanations to
help deal with your anxiety
Let’s start with the word “tumor.” Doctors use
this term to describe many types of growths which occur in the body, not all
of which are cancerous
It’s important to understand, therefore, that tumor
does not mean cancer and merely means a swelling or new growth of tissue
If
this growth is noncancerous, the tumor is labeled benign
Now let’s look at
the word “lipoma.” Since many types of growths can occur within the body, we
attempt to identify the kind of tissue that forms the tumor
If the tissue is
made up of fat cells (adipose tissue), we give the tumor the name “lipoma, ”
just another word that signifies fat
In essence, a lipoma tumor is a small
collection of fatty tissue which has created a lump or bump someplace in the
body
For the most part, they are totally insignificant and never change into
cancers or cancer-like growths
When they become too large and get in the way
of some of our normal functions or they are in a place that makes them
unsightly and cosmetically unacceptable, they can be removed surgically
At
any rate, this is one of those times when the name of the condition sounds far
worse than the condition in itself
Your physician was correct in reassuring
you
Now with this explanation in hand, you can put all your fears to rest.

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 frequent headaches, that occur many times a month
They do
not affect me so that I must lie down, but because they are so frequent, I am
beginning to worry about a brain tumor
Since there is nothing to see, can a
doctor really help me discover the cause of my problem?

ANSWER: Fortunately, a doctor has many tools at his or her fingertips for
diagnosing your problem
When you show up for your appointment, the first
procedure you should prepare for is to be able to relate a complete history
of your complaints
Your doctor will want to know where your head hurts, how
long the pain lasts, what type of pain you feel, how often the headache
occurs, what time they usually start and any factors that may set them off.
You’ll also be asked how old you were when the headaches started, whether the
headaches have gotten worse, whether you can feel an attack coming on and
whether your headaches are accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea,
vomiting, or an abnormal sensitivity to light
It’s also important that you
note whether your headaches force you to stop whatever you’re doing and
whether there are any particular actions that make the pain better or worse.
To uncover any underlying medical conditions, your doctor run through a
number of important questions about other parts of your body
He may ask
whether you find that your eyes are red or your vision is blurred
This might
indicate glaucoma
If there’s a history of hypertension in your family,
undetected high blood pressure may be the cause of your problem
Fever,
nausea or diarrhea signs of a recent infection can also be a clue to making
a diagnosis
And if you’ve been confused, irritable or have had seizures, a
fever, or a stiff neck, meningitis may be at work.
Of course, not all headaches have physical causes, and so your doctor
will desire to know about any stressful situations, anxiety or depression that
you face in your everyday life
Even something as simple as clenching your
teeth can bring on a type of headaches commonly known temporomandibular joint
syndrome, characterized by a pain that starts in front of the ear and radiates
towards the temple and down the side of the neck.
Once your medical history is out of the way, a physical exam is in order.
Since there are many causes of headaches, your doctor will want to check you
thoroughly
For instance, he or she will look for symptoms associated with
cluster headaches congestion in only one nostril, red eye, drooping of the
upper eyelid
Cluster headaches most often occur in men age 20 to 60.
If a medical history and an exam are not enough to make a clear
diagnosis, your doctor will order lab tests
A CT scan, for example, may
reveal many problems within the skull itself, the brain, its coverings the
meninges, and spinal cord.
As you can see, a headache doesn’t have to mean a tumor
But the best
course of action for frequent headaches is to see a doctor for the right
treatment for your particular problem
And since some conditions that cause
headaches can also lead to other, less benign situations, it’s best to see a
doctor as soon as possible.
I know many people who put off visiting their physicians in cases like
yours, because they are afraid that it will only “bring bad news”
But
whatever the news or diagnosis (and the odds are heavily in favor of it being
some easy to treat situation), an early diagnosis and effective treatment is
the “good news” that may result from overcoming your apprehensions.

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 more than mere annoyance and it is completely ruining my
carefully planned exercise program
What can you tell me about the “heel spur
syndrome” that bothers runners and how is it treated?

ANSWER: Heel spur syndrome is a painful condition of the heel and bottom of
the foot that can happen to runners and others who walk or use their feet a
lot
It is usually triggered by an injury to the heel
The syndrome is
misnamed a bit because it may be due to an inflammation of a tendon called the
plantar fascia that runs along the bottom of the foot as well as a true heel
spur, an overgrowth of bone (exostosis) that extends from the weight bearing
portion of the heel bone (the calcaneus) forward along the same tendon
This
type of spur is frequently found affecting both feet, but not all spurs cause
pain, nor is every heel pain caused by a spur
The easiest way to treat heel
spur syndrome is to give your feet a bit of the extra rest they are demanding.
It may help to take pain relievers or anti-inflammatory drugs
Runners who
develop this syndrome should add extra heel padding to their running shoes.
Several special heel pads for this condition are currently on the market.
Special taping or strapping of the foot may also help
If symptoms are not
relieved, cortisone injections may be prescribed and if the condition does not
respond, surgical removal may be necessary if the spur is the cause of the
pain.

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: In an attempt to gain some relief from a variety of problems too
unimportant to warrant a visit with my physician, I purchased a book on herbal
remedies
When I did visit my doctor, he was quite negative about the things
I had read, and cautioned me about their use, stating that I might even poison
myself
What do you think? I thought all natural products and herbs were
good for you.

ANSWER: Natural is not necessarily safe
Herbal preparations or even
overusing vitamins in excessive amounts as self medication can bring on
results that can be disastrous.
Additionally, many people try to cure serious health problems with herbal
preparations that may not work and delay seeking medical help for a serious
but treatable condition that can be helped if caught in time.
For example, herbal remedies to relieve arthritis may indeed contain
substances to relieve inflammation
However, these natural concoctions may
also contain dangerous steroids and other contaminants including mercury,
arsenic, camphor, lead and carcinogens.
Ginseng is now used in teas, sodas, even candies, and is regarded as
useful in treating several different health problems
Unfortunately, ginseng
can affect glucose metabolism, elevate blood pressure, and produce an estrogen
effect.
Those who over medicated themselves with ginseng can suffer with
diarrhea, nervousness, insomnia, and increased motor and cognitive activity.
Most of these symptoms will disappear when use of ginseng is discontinued.
Chamomile tea is very popular too
It’s touted as soothing, calming and
good to drink before going to bed
Many people, however, are allergic to this
tea, and don’t realize it is the cause of their flare-up of allergies
A
single cup of chamomile tea can cause an outbreak of hives and respiratory
troubles
Chamomile is in the same family as ragweed, aster and chrysanthemum
and anyone who knows they are allergic to pollens from those plants should
stay away from chamomile tea.
Bee pollen is another natural product that has caused allergic reactions
in many people
Some “natural” vitamin companies are marketing bee pollen as
a product that enhances athletic performance, though this has not been
substantiated by scientific investigations.
Other herbal teas are said to work as natural laxatives, but the package
directions don’t say how many cups to drink and how much would be too much.
In large doses, laxative teas containing senna and goldenseal may produce
hypotension, respiratory depression and seizures.
Fortunately, most of the health problems caused by herbal remedies can be
relieved by simply refraining from using the concoction
Sometimes, however,
a substance must be taken to clear your system of the toxic substance.
Clearly, your best bet is to consider an herbal remedy a type of medicine, and
as you did, ask your doctor about taking it.
Now, I am sure that many of you will feel that I am merely taking the
usual “medical” line with this response, for many of you may have had a “good”
result with a given preparation or herb
But when the situation is looked at
from the point of view of reliable proof or valid statistics, the conclusions
are less positive
I must therefore advise on the basis of research I have
confidence in and feel is reliable.

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: With the possibility of an operation in my future, I am trying to
get as much information as possible
Is a rupture and a hernia the same
thing? The doctor said I had a rupture and I want to know if it is advisable
to have it repaired.

ANSWER: There are many kinds of hernia which can occur within our body, but
when you use the word “rupture” it narrows it down to one specific area, the
groin, and a condition doctors normally call an “inguinal hernia.” There are
really two kinds of inguinal hernia, direct or indirect, which describe the
route taken by a sac of intestines as it pushes its way down into the scrotum.
Hernias usually occurs when weakness develops in certain muscles located in
the lower abdominal wall
Surgical repair is most often recommended
Because
of the probability that this condition will progress and the possibility that
complications can occur, surgical correction is generally advised
If the
hernia becomes “strangulated”, where the blood supply to the bowel located in
the hernia may be cut off, or “incarcerated”, where the bowel becomes
imprisoned within the scrotum, the operations become much more difficult to
perform
These days, the repair of a simple inguinal hernia or rupture is
quite routine, and in many circumstances may not even require remaining in the
hospital overnight after surgery
You will be back on your feet and about
your business before you know it, and without the fear of having something
serious to contend with in the future.

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 hiccups sometimes go on for days
Are there any medications
that can help me?

ANSWER: I presume that you’ve tried physical approaches, such as swallowing
granulated sugar or bitters, deep breathing or rebreathing in a paper bag, for
example
Sometimes a doctor will find that inserting a nasogastric tube into
your esophagus is enough to “break” the hiccup reflex.
If these conservative maneuvers haven’t produced results, drug therapy
may be the next course of action required
Two relatively mild ones are
chloropromazine (brand name Thorazine) and metoclopramide (Reglan)
If these
don’t stop your hiccups, your doctor will want to investigate some rather more
serious causes of hiccups, such as kidney trouble, lung infections, tumors or
subdiaphragmatic process.
Should your tests turn out normal, then your doctor will move on to the
anticonvulsant drugs, such as carbamazepine (Tegretol) or phenytoin
(Dilantin)
A few patients respond to a stronger anticonvulsant drug called
valproic acid (Depakene), a heart drug called nifedipine (Procardia), an
antipsychotic called haloperidol (Haldol), or tranquilizers in the
benzodiazepine group like diazepam (Valium)
All of these medications can
only be obtained with prescriptions, and should only be taken under medical
supervision
As the long list of medications indicates, hiccups (or
hiccoughs) may be difficult to treat successfully.

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 too embarrassed to ask my boyfriend why his nose is fiery red
and swollen
He also has red splotches on his cheeks
I don’t think he is an
alcoholic
He is elderly, active and to be in good health
Would you care to
offer an explanation?

ANSWER: I am happy that I have an answer for you that can be quite
reassuring
You have clearly described a condition called “rhinophyma;” the
term derived from Greek words “rhino” for “nose” and “phyma” meaning “growth”.
It occurs as a result of a skin condition rosacea which is a chronic
inflammatory disorder that affects the central areas of the face, and
particularly the nose
The areas become red, with widened blood vessels
apparent, and pustules and papules appearing in the area as well
The nose
tissue begin to grow, appearing swollen and sometimes misshapen
The cause is
still unknown, but it usually appears after middle age and is most common in
individuals with fair complexion
Although commonly thought to be a sign of
an alcoholic, this is not true, and many nondrinkers suffer with this
condition
Diet probably has nothing to do with it either
It can be
treated, and long term use of tetracycline antibiotic is frequently
recommended and may be quite effective, since a single dose once a day may be
enough to keep the condition in check once control has been achieved
A
topical cream of metronidazole may also be applied locally
If the shape of
the nose has become a cause of concern, surgical correction may be used to
reshape its form
The presence of this disorder is not a sign of any other
health impairment, and so the good health your boyfriend apparently enjoys is
probably real
Since there are treatments available, I hope he reads this
column and avails himself of them.

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 considering purchasing the equipment to measure the blood
pressure of my husband, who has a mild hypertensive condition, and have
noticed a number of different devices in the local pharmacy
How accurate are
they, and how can you be sure of getting accurate results when using a home
monitoring device?

ANSWER: That is a fine idea, for it can help greatly in helping your husband
deal with his condition
Home blood pressure monitoring devices give
hypertensive patients an immediate idea of how well they are doing with their
medication program
They also help the patient’s doctor by making creating a
record of daily readings so that he can evaluate, in an ongoing fashion, the
progress of the patient.
Three different types of instruments are currently available for home
use
All three are packaged in kits that contain a blood pressure cuff, and,
if necessary, a stethoscope.
The first of these devices, the mercury sphygmomanometer, is calibrated
by the manufacturer so that the top of the mercury column stands precisely at
zero when the cuff is deflated
This device is considered the most accurate
and reliable of the three
If the mercury column is soiled or does not rest
at zero, the instrument should be returned to the manufacturer for
recalibration.
Nonelectronic aneroid manometers cost less and are accurate if properly
calibrated
They should be calibrated once every year against a standard
mercury sphygmomanometer.
The newest choice for home blood pressure monitoring is one of the many
electronic devices that provide a digital readout and do not require a
stethoscope
Some are fully automated so that the push of a button inflates
and deflates the cuff
These are particularly useful for persons with hearing
deficiencies or those anxious about the to use of a stethoscope, or even just
for those who wish to have an instrument that is easy to use.
Moving the arm, failing batteries or incorrect placement of the cuff can
cause erratic measurement, so before an unusual result leads you to assume the
worst, be sure to test your pressure a second time
False readings may also
result from an ill-fitting cuff, so choose the right size if you are given a
choice
Also, a noisy environment may cause a high reading
Recordings more
than once or twice a month are generally unnecessary for hypertensive
patients, who should expect some normal daily fluctuations in pressure.
However it does make sense to check the pressure under the same conditions
each time, so that comparisons are valid
Pick a time of the day when stress
is at a minimum to obtain a good base line reading.
There is one additional benefit from using these devices which isn’t
always written about
Just using the instrument reminds patients that they
should be taking their medication on a regular basis, even when they are
feeling fine, for that’s the best way to keep those readings down!

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 haunted by the fact that heart attacks are frequent in my
family
My father passed away at the age of 52 as the result of a heart
attack, and now my older brother has had his first one
Isn’t there anything
I can do to prevent it in my case?

ANSWER: Very possibly
Many doctors believe a person can lower his/her risks
of such attacks by following good health rules
There are some things that
cause heart attacks risk factors you cannot change: age, sex, race, and a
family history of heart disease
Nevertheless, there are causes that depend
entirely upon you, and those are the ones you will want to work on as they can
really make a difference.
In the past 20 years, certain types of heart conditions and deaths from
them have decreased in this country
That is due to many things, including:
improved diagnostic methods, medications, bypass surgery, and better
understanding of what role some risk factors such as age, sex, smoking, high
blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, obesity, diabetes, nonexercise, and
other things, actually play in heart attacks.
About 85 percent of all heart disease cases in the United States may be
attributed to modifiable factors, including smoking, high blood pressure, high
cholesterol levels, alcohol, salt, oral contraceptives, and obesity.
So stop smoking and being around those who do as much as possible.
Cigarette smoking is the single most preventable cause of heart diseases and
deaths from them in the United States
If you have tried “everything” to quit
smoking but have not been able to do so, talk with your physician.
Seriously curtailing excessive alcohol use and eliminating as much salt,
sugar and animal fats as possible from your diet also can help decrease
chances for an attack by lowering your blood pressure and cholesterol.
Increasing consumption of fish some say as many as three meals of fish
per week are needed may prove beneficial in lowering cholesterol levels.
Also, if you are sedentary, slowly but steadily increasing exercise that
you do on a regular basis (try three times each week) can be helpful.
Obesity raises blood pressure weight loss helps reverse it
Also,
obesity goes hand in hand with increased cholesterol levels and possibly other
heart-damaging conditions.
If you are obese, you must lose weight to be healthy
Weight loss will
be easier for you if you increase your exercise at the same time, and stay
with the exercise after you have become thin to help you keep the fat off and
maintain your health.
Additionally, many believe that taking one aspirin daily can help prevent
heart attacks in some people suffering from hardening of the arteries who have
several known heart attack risk factors.
So you see, it may not be the easiest thing to do, but by applying all of
the tips I have given you here (or at least some of them) you can actively
wage war on the disease you fear, and increase your odds to the point where
you may never suffer from it.

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: If steroids are so bad for you, what about using growth hormones to
improve athletic ability? Don’t they work as well?

ANSWER: Taking human growth hormones, or HGH, to improve strength for
athletic events isn’t too smart either
The American College of Sports
Medicine strongly advises against such use because it is against the ethic of
competition, and because of the physical problems it can cause an athlete
It
does, however, support the legitimate use of HGH in treating individuals with
HGH deficiencies and growth problems resulting from such deficiencies.
HGH is very useful in helping children with growth problems, so they can
grow to normal stature
It is a powerful substance, and must be administered
with extreme care so that the side effects are minimized.
Excess HGH can cause growth abnormalities, increased risk of diabetes,
high blood pressure, excess sweating, and problems with the heart, bone and
muscle
Using it to increase athletic success is not worth the risks, and it
can create severe health problems for the athlete
However, you are missing
the whole point in this; that competitive athletics are worthless where the
athlete must use artificial means to force the body to perform
Rigorous
training, diet, and attention to all the general rules of health are the only
ethical ways to achieve athletic ability.

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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