Medical Hotline with Dr James Wright

chemical sweet
Some poeple are concerned that artificial sweeteners used in brews may be carcinogenic and wonder if they’re harmful. Known carcinogens are by law banned from food, so anything on sale can be assumed to be safe. I discontinued sugar and all forms of sweetening agents some 15 years ago (as well as caffeine beverages), and haven’t suffered. Any unnecessary chemical in your system is potentially harmful.

tummy trouble
Women sometimes notice a distinct feeling of discomfort in their right or left lower abdominal area about a fortnight before a period. This occurs with ovulation, when a few drops of blood trickle into the pelvic cavity. This causes irritation. If on the contraceptive pill, ovulation doesn’t occur.

natural aid
St John’s wort is a mild antidepressant plant that has been used for centuries. Many claim it improves mood swings, probably about as much as the older antidepressants. But for sufferers of mild depression, a proper assessment is essential to discover the causes. The new family of SSRIs dramatically help alleviate depression, which has become the medical and social problem of the decade, especially in young people.

health habits
Women under 40 should self-check their breasts for potential problems. Girls should be encouraged to do this from adolescence. The best time is on the third day of a period, when tissue is softer and an abnormality is more readily detectable. Mammograms usually start at age 50, and occasionally 40. Breast cancer can occur at any age, but it is more aggressive in young women, for whom an ultrasound gives a clearer picture.

headband
If you ever feel a tight band around your head, especially when you are in awkward or embarrassing situations, it’s the result of stress, which causes the muscles of the forehead and temple to contract. This will often lead to a tension headache. By reducing exposure to, or learning to control stressful situations will obviously help, but a paracetamol tablet will give you some relief. Relaxation therapy is effective for recurring cases. Ask your GP.

oh, no, lice!
Even in clean families head lice sometimes occur. The eggs or nits are laid on the hair shaft. The problem was once related to poor hygiene, but this isn’t necessarily the case. Kindergartens are a wonderful source of the problem, for all social groups. Lice is spread by direct contact, common in games. There are numerous effective shampoos (instructions on the bottle), and a fine-toothed comb is used to eliminate the dead ones.

mercury rising
As a mother, you may have heard that some immunisation shots contain mercury and are worried. While that may be true with some vaccines, mercury is rapidly excreted from the body via the renal system and isn’t considered harmful, a reassurance recently given in Lancet. Mercury is naturally present in the environment, but can build up in some seafoods. Amalgam fillings contain mercury, which some believe release toxic vapour into the body. There is ongoing pressure for it to be banned.

posturing

Q: I use a keyboard for hours at work, and note a pain in my lower back, which may extend into my shoulders. What I can do to relieve or avoid this?

A: A sensible chair with a shaped back and lumbar support is often helpful. Sit straight, with both feet on the floor, with your screen and working papers close to eye level. Avoid looking down onto the keyboard. Also, at least every hour, find a reason to walk around, or stand and do a few simple muscle exercises. With shoulders loose, contract the muscles between your shoulderblades. Hold, then relax. Repeat 10 times. This brings freedom from muscle-fibre spasm. And when you arrive home, a hot then cool shower will help, especially if followed by deep massage.

Extract from Signs of the Times, September 2003.

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