Recently I noticed
that I have uneven
pupils. Should I
be concerned?This is known
medically as
anisocoria. Twenty percent of normal
people have physiological anisocoria,
however it can also be caused by an
underlying disease, certain medications
or accidental eye contact with foreign
substances by rubbing the eyes.
To exclude all non-physiological
anisocoria, it is important to see your
GP for a check-up and if they are unsure,
be referred to an eye specialist.My teenage son takes lots of
protein powder supplements
prior to weight-lifting workouts
because he wants to build up
his muscles. Can these cause
long-term problems?Protein supplements contain
specific types of amino acids
(the building blocks of protein) called
branched chain amino acids (BCAAs),
which have been known to increase
muscle growth and to speed up recovery
after workouts. However, in animal
studies, they have also been shown to
compete with the levels of
another amino acid,
tryptophan, in the brain. It
is speculated from these
studies that over the long
term these protein
supplements may
increase the rate
of obesity.I am planning a holiday in Bali with
my partner and baby, who will be nine
months old at the time of travel. Will she
be at risk of contracting measles?
There has been an increase in reports of measles in
Australia and New Zealand due to international travel
to areas where immunisation rates are low, such as in Southeast Asia.
Babies are usually not given their first measles immunisation until they
are 12 months old. This is because antibodies in the mother that were
passed to the baby in utero can interfere with the vaccine and reduce its
effectiveness. It’s safe to give babies as young as six months a measles
vaccination, however they will still need their routine two measles
immunisations at 12 and 18 months to give full ongoing cover. Don’t
forget that vaccinations for hepatitis A and typhoid are also
recommended for travel to Bali.My mother recently had a stroke
and we were told if she had gone to
the hospital sooner, they could
have reversed it. Is this true?Strokes are caused by loss of
blood supply to part of the brain.
This can be caused by a haemorrhage
(bleeding) in the brain or by a clot that
blocks the blood supply to part of the
brain. Scans can determine which of
these two causes is responsible, and if
it is a clot, specific ‘clot-dissolving’
medication can be given that unblocks
the artery and stops permanent brain
damage. It is essential to start this
treatment as soon as possible. Previously,
the critical time was under four-and-a-
half hours but new research indicates
that there is benefit in treatment up to
nine hours. The bottom line is that a
stroke is a medical emergency and early
treatment can significantly decrease
long-term disability.DR PENNY ADAMS TALKS MEASLES VACCINATIONS FOR
TRAVELLING BABIES, TEENS AND PROTEIN SUPPLEMENTS,
AND WHY SPEED MATTERS IN STROKE TREATMENTAsk the expert
‘It’s safe to immunise as young as six months’
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