WE give our children yoghurt and cheese to assist them “develop robust”, however overlook about our personal bone well being as we age.
Adults’ bones consistently rework themselves, in order outdated bone tissue is eliminated, new bone varieties.
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From 40, nonetheless, much less is changed and from our fifties bones get considerably weaker – that is particularly so for girls as their hormones change throughout menopause.
Some folks lose bone tissue sooner than regular or are vulnerable to osteoporosis.
This implies they’re at better threat of a fracture.
Train maintains power within the bones, identical to it does within the muscle tissue.
It’s by no means too late to start out exercising, and should you’re middle-aged, I implore you to get into the behavior now.
As we age we’d grow to be extra motionless or have well being circumstances that get in the way in which of train.
However any weight-bearing train, even strolling or dancing, maintains bone power.
So hold shifting as a lot as you possibly can.
Take note of calcium in your food regimen, from dairy and darkish leafy greens.
Vitamin D is necessary too, and located in purple meat, oily fish and egg yolks – although a every day complement is suggested as our fundamental supply is daylight.
Sardines are additionally an important supply of each calcium and vitamin D.
Right here’s a choice of what readers have requested this week.
Mouth so dry I can not swallow
Q) I HAVE had an issue with my throat for fairly some time.
My throat is so dry that I battle to swallow as a result of there isn’t any saliva in my mouth.
It largely occurs after I awake within the morning and infrequently through the day.
Are you able to inform me why and what I can do about it?
I undergo from hypertension and kind 2 diabetes.
A) Do you breathe via your mouth at night time as a result of a blocked nostril or loud night breathing, for instance?
In the event you snore and have daytime sleepiness, please examine sleep apnoea on the NHS web site, and should you suppose you may have it inform your GP.
Let’s think about different potential causes; Dry mouth (xerostomia) generally is a aspect impact of many medicines, particularly those who deal with hypertension and diabetes.
Ramipril particularly is thought to trigger dry mouth.
Tinkering together with your medicines by yourself will not be a good suggestion!
Dr Zoe Williamson
Moreover, folks with diabetes are extra vulnerable to dry mouth.
When the blood sugar is simply too excessive, you possibly can grow to be dehydrated, reducing saliva manufacturing.
Equally, low blood sugar triggers a stress response that may additionally scale back saliva manufacturing.
Managing diabetes and hypertension is essential.
However tinkering together with your medicines by yourself will not be a good suggestion!
Focus on adjusting your medicines or exploring alternate options together with your GP.
Within the meantime, keep hydrated by ingesting loads of water, consuming fruit and veggies and limiting alcohol and caffeine.
You may also strive sugar-free arduous sweets or gum to assist enhance saliva manufacturing.
Persistent dry mouth can improve the chance of dental points and have an effect on high quality of life so it is very important act on it.
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Q) I HAVE been affected by higher tummy ache beneath my rib cage for 3 years.
It’s worse within the morning, typically after I eat within the night.
I’ve seen my GP a number of instances and had two scans.
Up to now my bloods are regular.
However this ache is alarming, particularly as a result of I misplaced certainly one of my sisters to ovarian most cancers.
My GP is insisting on placing a digicam down via the mouth however it is vitally scary for me to undergo this process.
Is there one other manner they’ll discover out what’s unsuitable with me? I’m in my late 60s.
A) It’s reassuring that your blood checks have been regular, however additional investigations are certainly important to determine the under- mendacity explanation for your ache.
The signs you describe are fairly suggestive of gastrointestinal illness, reminiscent of irritation to the liner of the abdomen, hiatus hernia, or a abdomen ulcer.
The truth that it has been occurring for 3 years lowers the suspicion of gastrointestinal most cancers, however doesn’t rule it out totally.
An endoscopy, which is the digicam check you point out, would enable the medical staff to really take a look at the meals pipe (oesophagus), abdomen and the primary a part of your small gut.
The truth that it has been occurring for 3 years lowers the suspicion of gastrointestinal most cancers, however doesn’t rule it out totally.
Dr Zoe Williamson
It’s thought-about the very best check for these elements of the physique, particularly as a result of it permits for biopsies to be taken if vital.
My recommendation is to have a dialogue together with your GP about what your particular fears are, as they are able to reassure you.
You might be often supplied the choice of getting a numbing throat spray and sedation, to make you drowsy through the process.
The endoscopy could be carried out by a educated specialist physician or nurse and would solely take roughly quarter-hour.
If that also sounds too scary then you would ask to discover if an alternate check is out there at your native hospital.
Options to higher endoscopy could embrace CT or MRI scans, barium swallow or capsule endoscopies.
Are scorching legs linked to my situation?
Q) IN July 2022 I used to be identified with Parkinson’s illness and prescribed co-careldopa.
The dosage elevated when, a yr later, I started getting scorching legs and ft at night time.
In December 2023 I used to be given transdermal patches however the problem has continued to worsen.
The hospital stated they might discover no connection between my signs and Parkinson’s.
My GP has urged it may very well be a circulation downside and prescribed gabapentin.
He stated it could assist me sleep higher however, if something, it’s getting worse.
Do you may have any recommendations for what may very well be unsuitable?
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A) I’m not a specialist on this space, however experiencing scorching, achy legs and ft will not be a typical symptom of Parkinson’s or a aspect impact of co-careldopa (levodopa/carbidopa).
Medicines like co-careldopa may cause sleep disturbances or certainly exacerbate present sensory signs.
Your scorching, achy legs and ft may very well be associated to different elements, reminiscent of vascular points, musculoskeletal circumstances or neuropathic ache (ie, sharp, capturing, or burning sensations as a result of nerve harm).
When nerves grow to be overactive, they’ll ship out too many ache indicators to the mind, resulting in discomfort or ache.
Gabapentin works by calming down these over-excited nerves and is due to this fact typically an efficient therapy for neuropathic ache.
It will probably nonetheless trigger dizziness, drowsiness, or fatigue – notably whenever you first begin the medicine.
Given your advanced medical historical past, it’s a good suggestion to talk to your physician once more to analyze the underlying trigger(s) additional.
If there’s concern about poor circulation to the legs then a Doppler ultrasound can assess this additional, because it measures the blood move via your blood vessels.
If you’re nonetheless having no pleasure then it might be value asking for an appointment with the specialist who takes care of your Parkinson’s illness.
E book a Covid booster
THE NHS is asking folks to get a spring Covid booster jab this week.
Prime-ups will probably be supplied at pharmacies and walk-in centres till June 30.
Steve Russell, of NHS England, stated: “Covid-19 can nonetheless be very harmful for older folks and people with a weakened immune system.
“Over time, immunity – both from the virus or from a earlier vaccination – can fade.
“So it is important that those that are at increased threat prime up their safety.”
The Pfizer and Moderna jabs have up to date to guard in opposition to newer Covid strains.
Dr Zoe Williamson
Those that can get a booster embrace these aged 75 and over, folks with a weaker immune system, together with kids as younger as six months, and people who dwell in a care dwelling for the aged.
The Pfizer and Moderna jabs have up to date to guard in opposition to newer Covid strains.
The virus remains to be circulating.
Covid positivity elevated from 3.4 per cent to 4.1 cent within the week as much as April 7.
The NHS will ship a textual content, e mail, letter or notification within the NHS App to these eligible to get the booster.
However you don’t want to attend.
You’ll be able to e book a Covid jab by calling 119, utilizing the NHS App, the NHS web site (nhs.uk/nhs-services/covid-19-services) or by strolling into some vaccination centres.
TIP OF THE WEEK
MOST of us sit all day, particularly these in workplace jobs.
So be sure to stretch earlier than mattress – this will help with pain-free sleep in addition to posture.
Do no matter feels good – or comply with a stretch information on YouTube.
Assist with Parkinson’s
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STOOL transplants might scale back signs of Parkinson’s illness, an ongoing examine has proven.
Individuals with early phases of the situation had what is known as a faecal microbiota transplant via a well being donor whereas a management group got a placebo of their very own faecal matter.
All members obtained the stool via a tube that was inserted via the nostril, down into the small gut.
FMT transfers the wholesome intestine micro organism of 1 particular person to a different to attempt to enhance the illness however will not be but extensively used.
Researchers in Belgium discovered “motor signs”, reminiscent of stability issues, stiffness, and the attribute tremor, improved within the FMT group.
Their motor rating improved by 5.8 factors after 12 months, in contrast with an enchancment of two.7 factors within the placebo group.
Stool transplants might scale back signs of Parkinson’s illness, an ongoing examine has proven.
Dr Zoe Williamson
Nevertheless, elevated fatigue was seen as a aspect impact of FMT for unknown causes.
The placebo impact was additionally robust; There’s proof that the extra invasive the placebo therapy is, the extra a affected person experiences the placebo impact.
Learn extra on the Scottish Solar
Dr Arnout Bruggeman stated: “Our outcomes are encouraging.
“After 12 months, members who obtained the wholesome donor stool transplant confirmed a major enchancment.”
