shington University,StLouis +++ Research has found sleep helps you recover from embarrassment** +++^19
HIT MYTHDr Martin Edwards✗Kids’ bit!Turnoverformore health
CASHWE PAYWe’llpaycash,ormentiona charityofyourchoice,if weprintyourhealthstory.WritetoYourHealth,
Chat, 161 MarshWall,LondonE149APorphone 02031486150. Youcansendyourstoryore-mail
[email protected] before using any
over-the-counter or prescription remedies, and read the packet carefully.Kidswhodon’tbrushtheir
teethcouldputthemselves
atriskofheartdiseasein
laterlife,theUniversityof
Helsinkihasfound.
A studyof 755 children,
followedupover 27 years,
foundtoothdecayor
gumdiseasecancausea
build-upofplaqueinthe
arteries,which
limitstheflow
ofoxygen-rich
bloodtothe
organs.This
increasesthe
riskofheart
attacks,
strokesand
early death.Cuttingoutallalcoholisbetterforyourhealth
Notnecessarily.A study
foundpeoplewhodrank
a glassofwinea dayhad
a lowerriskofdepression
thanteetotallers.But,
whilethosewhonever
drankhada 70percent
higherriskofdepression,
bingedrinkerswere 80 per
cent more likely to suffer.*Swapyour
usualbrewforsugar-free.
TheNHSsaysweBrits
consumetoomuchsugar,
buta newstudyfrom
UniversityCollege
Londonandthe
Universityof
Leedshasfound
cuttingsweetness
froma cupoftea
doesn’tmakepeople
anylessfondofthe
drinkand– evenbetter–
couldsignificantlyreduce
oursugarconsumption.Hit orMYTH?Ask our docDon’tbeshy–Chat’s DrMartinEdwardsis a familyGPwho’sseenit allbefore...‘Erm ,it’s abit...personal’SwollenbitQMyclitoris
getsbigger
andmoresensitive
inthemiddleof
mymonthlycycle.
Is thatnormal?
Izzie,StocksbridgeALevelsofoestrogen
hormoneincrease
aroundovulation,two
weeksbeforeeach
period.Thisboostsblood
flowtoyourclitoris.What
youdescribeis normal,
thoughinsomewomen
theeffectis slightand
theymightnotnoticeit.CloudyweeQSometimes,my
weeis cloudy
withbitsin,butmy
practicenursecan’t
findwhat’swrong.
Thea,CamelfordACloudyurinemay
indicatea kidney
orbladderinfection–
or,morerarely,kidney
damage,stonesor
vaginaldischarge.Butit
canalsohappenif you’re
dehydrated,when
crystalsaremorelikely
toforminyoururine.
If youhavepainwhen
you wee, see your GP.WritetoDrMartinEdwardsatChat, 161MarshWall,LondonE149AP.
Or e-mail [email protected] Sorry, he can’t reply personally.Daughtercan’twalkproperlyQMytwo-year-old’s
feetturninwards
andshekeepstripping
overherowntoes!My
specialisthastoldus
justtowaitand see.
Fen,AberdareAThisis commonintoddlers,duetotwistingofthesoft
youngbonesin theirfeet,lowerlegsorhips.It nearly
alwaysit clearsbyitself,withouttreatment,althoughsplinting
sometimeshelpsif feetaretwisted.Veryrarely,if things
aren’t improving after a few years, surgery might be needed.Willrashgo?QI havea scalyrashall
overmybackwhich
myGPsaysis pityriasis
rosea.I’vehadit three
weeks.Whatcan I do?
Jess,WidnesAThecauseofthisis probably
a virus,thoughno-one’s
sure.It usuallystartswitha large
scalypatch,followedbya rash
alloveryourtorso.
Moisturiserwilleaseany
irritationandit willclear after
fourtoeightweeks.PiercingproblemQI’mpronetokeloid
scars.Is it OKto
havemyearspierced?
Samantha,WoolwichAKeloidsarelarge,raised
scarstowhichsomepeople
aregeneticallypronewhen
theirskinhealsaftera cut.That
wouldincludeearpiercing.
If youdogoahead,ask
aboutcompressionearrings
to reduce scarring.Whya stye?QI havea sore,red
swellingonmyeyelid.
Mychemistsaidit was
a styeandgavemeeye
drops,butit’sstill there.
Lynda,AlfretonAStyesareblocked,infected
glands.They’recommonif
you’retiredorrundown,and
usuallyclearwithina fewdays.
A warmcompressseveral
timesa daymighthelp.
Antibioticeyedropswon’t
speedhealing,butcanstop
theinfectionspreading.PainwhenI runQI’mtryingtogetfit- butwhenI start
running,I geta stitch...
Marina,Basildon
AThiscouldbeduetomuscle
crampsorirritationofthe
membraneliningtheabdomen- no-one’ssure.It shouldstop
onceyourfitnessimproves.
Meanwhile,don’trunon
a fullstomachand,if youget
a stitch,stopfora breather or
run through it.
*ACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA .** NETHERLANDINSTITUTE FOR NEUROSCIENCE. WORDS: EMILY JEFFERIES. PHOTOS (HEALTH S.O.S, KIDS’ BIT POSED BY MODELS): GETTY