Vision of Britain+++Halfofwomenweewhensneezing,coughingorlaughing,accordingtoElvie+++^19
DrMartinEdwards
Kids’ bit!
Turnoverfor
morehealth
CASHWEPAY
We’llpaycash,ormentiona charityofyourchoice,if weprintyourhealthstory.WritetoYourHealth,
Chat, 161 MarshWall,LondonE149APorphone 02031486150. Youcansendyourstoryore-mail
theDocatchathealth@ti-media.comAlwaysconsultyourpharmacistorGPbeforeusingany
over-the-counterorprescriptionremedies,andreadthepacketcarefully.That’show
muchyour
riskof
heart
disease
increases
if you
drink
morethan
sixcupsofcoffeea day,
accordingtothe
UniversityofSouth
Australia.Theexperts
lookedintothecaffeine-
metabolizinggene
CYP1A2.Theyfoundeven
thosewiththeCYP1A
genesawnegativehealth
consequencesaftertheir
sixthcupofcoffee.Big issue
A British
Heart
Foundation
report says
premature
deaths
from
strokes and
heart attacks
have increased for the
first time in half a century,
due to the UK’s obesity
crisis. Poor diet and lack
of exercise is reversing
years of medical progress.LOOSEN UP
Swap your skinny jeans
for a dress, skirt or looser
look. Women who wear
tight trousers are more
likely to suffer with long-
term vulval pain
ue to friction,
s well as
gher risk
f infections,
uch as thrush,
ccording to
ew research
rom Boston
University.Ask our doc
Don’t be shy – Chat’s Dr Martin Edwards
is a family GP who’s seen it all before...
Too hot at night!
Q
I sweat at night and
sometimes wake up
drenched. What’s wrong?
Greta, King’s LynnA
Infections such as tonsillitis or
flu are a common temporary
cause, but longer-term night
sweats are often due to anxiety or
menopause. Check with your GP,
as more serious causes include
tuberculosis or blood cancer,
particularly if you have other
symptoms, such as weight loss.Painful eyes
Q
My eyes are always
red and sore. My
optician says it’s due
to ingrowing eyelashes- what can I do?
Marjorie, Pangbourne
A
Weakness and thinning of
your lower eyelid can cause
it to turn inwards, causing your
eyelashes to scratch and
irritate your cornea, the
transparent covering of your
eye. Usually it’s due to age, solubricating eyedrops, or a small
operation, should do the trick.Outie to an innie
Q
I hate my ‘outie’ belly
button. Can I have
an op on the NHS?
Mina, CardiffA
If you’ve just noticed this,
it could be an umbilical
hernia – the bowel poking out
under your skin through a hole
in your muscle – and you’d be
eligible for an NHS op. But if
it’s always been like this, you’d
have to pay for an op.Rash problem
Q
Antiperspirants have
started to give me a
rash in my armpits! Do
I just have to pong?
Vee, ManchesterA
You’ve probably developed
an allergy to one of the
ingredients. Switch brands and,
as fragrances are often to blame,
try unperfumed. Wash daily but
only use antiperspirant once
every two or three days. It’s often
enough to control sweating.‘Erm , it’s a
bit... personal’
Weird sex!
Q
When I orgasm
I see colours or
beautiful patterns!
Is that normal?
Eve, LeedsA
You may have a form
of synaesthesia,
where one sensation
triggers a different one- each day of the week
makes you think of
a particular colour, for
example, or hearing music
triggers hallucinations.
Sometimes orgasm can
be a trigger. It’s harmless,
so just enjoy!
Condom worry
Q
We’ve always
used condoms
with spermicide
onthem,butnow
ourchemistsays
thatthey’renot
recommended.
Lily,BolsoverA
Weusedtothinkthat
thesewerebetterat
preventingpregnancy
andSTIs,butit seems
that’snottrue.Theymight
evenincreasetheriskof
catchinginfectionssuch
asHIV,cancauseirritation,
andarebestavoided.WritetoDrMartinEdwardsatChat, 161MarshWall,LondonE149AP.
[email protected],hecan’treplypersonally.Clumsy cure?
Q
Myson,now6,has
beendiagnosedwith
dyspraxia.Is therea cure?
Kate,WorksopA
Dyspraxiais a formof
clumsinessthat’smore
commoninchildrenborn
prematurely,orwithan
inheritedtendency.There’s
nocure,butit usually
improveswithage.Therapy
tohelpwithcommontasks,
andadaptationssuchas
easy-gripcutlery,willhelp.Yes to the dress
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WORDS: EMILY JEFFERIES. PHOTOS (POSED BY MODELS): GETTY