Every couple of days my ankles swell up. I sit at a desk to work, so I put them up when I can. I’m 33 and not overweight. Why are they swelling up? Swollen ankles in women are relatively common and are usually due to slow blood flow. Sitting for long periods won’t help and sitting cross legged is the …
Thirsty all the time
I’m 62 and I have started feeling thirsty all the time. I drink a lot of tea and water, but it doesn’t seem to be enough. I even wake up thirsty in the middle of the night. A friend said it could be diabetes. Is she right? She may well be. Undiagnosed diabetes can present as being unusually thirsty and …
Is my mole normal?
A few hairs have started growing out of a mole on my arm. It looks really ugly. Is it normal and can I get it removed? Most of us have some moles and they can be hairy. Contrary to popular belief, plucking the hairs is not dangerous but signs that you should look out for are itching, bleeding and a …
How can I get rid of stretch marks?
I had my first baby nine months ago (I’m 32) and I have horrible purple stretch marks on my belly and thighs. Everyone keeps talking about going to the beach when it’s sunny, but I don’t want to strip off in front of anyone. Can I get rid of them? Stretch marks are more common in women than men and …
Are colonics a good idea ?
I keep reading about celebs having colonic irrigation to help them lose weight, but my mum says they’re a waste of money and can be dangerous. What do you think? A. Colonic irrigation may be all the rage with Demi Moore, Goldie Hawn, and Janet Jackson, but I’m afraid I’m not a fan. Proponents argue that the inside of our …
What’s causing these dizzy spells?
Sometimes, when I stand up my sight goes black and I feel very dizzy. I have to sit back down again until my sight clears. Why is this happening? Standing up quickly can cause blood pressure to drop which can lead to the sort of symptoms you describe. Elderly people and young women are particularly prone to this and often …
I wake up unable to breathe
Once or twice I month I wake up in the middle of night gasping for air. It’s very scary as I feel like I can’t breathe. It takes about five minutes for me to get my breath back. It’s almost as if I am holding my breath in my sleep. You may well be. Sleep apnoea is a condition where …
Itchy Feet
I have itchy feet. I’ve been waking up with the soles of my feet itchy. It drives me mad and scratching doesn’t seem to help. Is there a cream I could use to soothe them? In fact scratching rarely does help an itch. It may give temporary relief, but the trauma of scratching causes the release of histamines in the …
Nosebleeds
I’m 48 years old and generally well, but I suffer from a lot of nosebleeds. I seem to have one every couple of days. I also get pain in my sinuses and regular headaches. Someone said I should get my blood pressure checked. Do you think that might be the problem?
Adult Acne
I’m 33 years old and I still get spots on my chin, nose and chest. I wasn’t very spotty as a teenager, but since my mid-twenties the problem has been getting worse and worse. I use medicated soap and special cleansers and moisturisers, but nothing seems to get rid of them all together. What can I do?