 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||
Signs of the Times Australia / NZ edition — lifestyle, health, relationships, culture, spirituality, people — published since 1886 |
||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Signs of the Times Australia / NZ edition — lifestyle, health, relationships, culture, spirituality, people — published since 1886 |
||||||||||
Mammograms don’t always give a clear picture and medicos will sometimes recommend another, so don’t panic if called for a second scan or ultrasound examination. On the other hand, they may suspect a lesion and want it confirmed. Each image technique provides added information to the other. If something untoward is suspected, a fine needle biopsy (FNB) is the next step. This tells if cancer cells are present. In its early stages, cancer is often difficult to diagnose, but the rate of early diagnosis has improved with modern detection technology.
In summertime, it’s common for women to experience a persistent red, irritating rash under their breasts. The Medical Journal of Australia recommends bathing with a weak (faint pink), bodytemperature Condy’s solution, then dabbing dry with a tissue. It may also be necessary to apply an antifungal, antiyeast cream, especially one containing cortisone. After seven days if the rash remains, sprinkle it with cornflour, gently rubbing it in. Messy, but it is very soothing, and the irritation vanishes from the effect of natural enzymes.
If smelly feet is your problem and you want to do something about it, begin with a regular change of socks. If this doesn’t work, try washing your feet two or three times a day, as an infection is the most likely cause. Simply paddling barefoot in salt water then sunning them dry works wonders, naturally. But if you don’t live near the beach, tolnaftate gives good results or, for a natural remedy, apply tea-tree oil.
Constantly damp eyes, with tears dribbling over the lower lid, may be the result of a blockage in the narrow canal leading from the inner corner of your eye to the nose. It is a common problem among infants, when a fine membrane blocks it. This is easily fixed by an eye doctor, but requires anaesthetic. Antibiotic drops are useful for adults suffering recurring infections.
Funnelweb spider bites are most common during summertime hot weather when the male is on the move looking for a mate. Once confined to Sydney and surrounds, the funnelweb has now spread in all directions, thriving in urbanised areas. They can stay alive for days at the bottom of a swimming pool, will enter homes where they creep into clothing left on the floor or shoes. If bitten, apply a tight bandage, beginning at the extremity, then winding back over the bite to the armpit or groin. Then rush to hospital for an antivenom injection.
Being overweight can be an inherited tendency, for the “fat” gene comes from the male, says new research. A survey of 250 fat youngsters indicated that a gene adjacent to the insulin one and inherited from the father may be a cause of obesity. While its presence may be determined before birth in the future, for now it’s important and appropriate to make lifestyle modifications to ensure a weight problem doesn’t develop.
Some people experience a severe recurring burning sensation on one side of their face. Usually this is neuralgia, caused by an irritation of the facial nerves. A simple cold pack or a paracetamol tablet may bring relief. Tegretol has been used for many years, but for some it has side effects. For severe recurring bouts, seek a referral to a nuerosurgeon, who use a variety of very successful treatment techniques.
A: You probably have low blood pressure. This falls even further with such actions. Stand up more slowly whatever the situation, including climbing out of bed in the morning. Quickly take some very deep breaths to increase the oxygen surge to the brain. Buy your own blood pressure device and take and record readings three times each day. (My guess is it will be around 100/60.) Take the record to your doctor, who may offer further advice, but I doubt it.
Extract from Signs of the Times, November 2002.
Home - Archive - Topics - Podcast - Subscribe - Special Offers - About Signs - Contact Us - Links
Copyright © 2006 Seventh-day Adventist Church (SPD) Limited ACN 093 117 689
Unassociated
advertisement:
This article comes from a
regular column in
Signs
of the Times.
