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Embarassing they may be, but there's often a solution to these problems. The important thing to remember is that you are not alone.
I'm a 35-year old mum and already I notice my hair thinning. How now?
There are many causes of hair thinning. Some women suffer hair loss similar to male pattern baldness. We call this condition Androgenetic alopaecia. Hair loss can also occur in reaction to stress - for example after a severe illness, a major operation or after childbirth. Nutritional deficiencies, hormonal causes like thyroid disease and skin diseases of the scalp can also contribute to hair loss. Sometimes, systemic diseases (diseases affecting a particular body system or systems), of which lupus erythematosus is an example, or scalp tumours like cysts and malignant tumours could also be the cause. As hair thinning can be attributed to several causes, do consult your doctor for proper management.
How do I get rid of unsightly nail fungal infection?
Accurate diagnosis is important. Unsightly nails can be due to many other causes besides fungus. They can range from skin diseases and growths on the nail folds to more serious diseases. Most of these conditions are treatable. If indeed it is a fungal infection, there are several treatment options, including potions or pills. Do see your doctor for a proper diagnosis.
What can I do about smelly feet?
Smelly feet could be a combination of excessive sweating, skin diseases involving the feet such as bacterial, fungal or yeast infections, use of unsuitable creams or lotions, prolonged wearing of enclosed footwear and adverse hot and humid environmental conditions. Avoiding these factors, maintaining proper foot hygiene, and using a sweat-absorbing foot powder will help. But if the condition persists, do consult a doctor.
Why do I burp so much?
Belching and burping could arise from simple situations such as eating or drinking too fast, during which air is swallowed and therefore needs to be expelled. It could also be due to drinking carbonated drinks, such as beer or soft drinks. Certain foods like cabbage, beans and milk may also predispose one to excess gas formation, causing bloating and burping. In such cases, over-the-counter medications like simethicone and carbon may help.
However, burping may also be a reflection of underlying medical conditions such as peptic ulcer disease, irritable bowel syndrome and even malabsorption, with associated symptoms like acid regurgitation in the case of gastroesophageal reflux disease. If there is a concern about possible underlying medical diseases, do consult a doctor. He can do the initial evaluation, and if there is a need, organise further diagnostic tests or refer you to a gastroenterologist. For patients with underlying medical conditions, specific medications may help to improve the symptoms; one example is acid suppressants (eg omeprazole) in the context of gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Is there any cure for varicose veins?
Varicose veins are enlarged superficial veins that develop due to abnormal pressures. It is a common problem, which gets more common as we age. Physical examination is usually enough to diagnose varicose veins. Compression stockings relieve most symptoms and conceal the veins. Surgery involves removing the veins through an incision at the groin crease and several smaller incisions along the leg. Patients can usually walk on the same day. Convalescence takes one to two weeks, and recurrence is uncommon. As there are safe treatments, and newer techniques for selected patients, do see your doctor.
I sometimes experience leaks - not blood, but faeces.
Faecal incontinence is a result of difficulty controlling bowel movement. You may pass faeces at the wrong time or in the wrong place, or pass wind without control. It is also quite common to have concomitant urinary incontinence (unable to control urine). Many research studies have suggested that faecal continence occurs in two to 15 per cent of adults.
There are several causes, among them:
• Diet Things that increase the fluidity of stools will aggravate this problem, for example, a diet low in fibre, or certain "weight loss "diet or medications.
• Medications Some "weight loss" pills prevent absorption of fat that we take.This unabsorbed fat can make the stools "oily" and leak out of the anus.
• Large, hard stools in the lower rectum may result in watery stools leaking around them and be hard to control. Causes: low fibre or fluid intake.
• Disease of lower rectum or anus. Faecal incontinence can also be a result of cancer, anal fissure (ulcer) or fistula (abnormal passage between two internal organs),or haemorrhoids.
Please seek assessment by a doctor so that such embarrassing conditions can be treated.
Sex with my husband is painful, but I daren't mention it to him.
Pain during sexual intercourse (dyspareunia) is not normal, and you should not have to live with it, as there are treatments. It's caused by many reasons ranging from endometriosis and hypersensitivity of the vulva to ovarian problems such as a cyst, and emotional issues, such as a history of sexual abuse in the past.
As there are many possible causes, do consult your gynaecologist for a thorough evaluation.You may be asked specific questions regarding the nature of the pain, eg location of the pain and its characteristics.
Further investigations such as an ultrasound of the pelvis and sometimes even keyhole surgery may be ordered. Treatment obviously depends on the underlying cause, and range from simple measures such as lubrication, relaxation therapy, to medication or even surgery.
You don't need to be embarrassed. Pain during sexual intercourse is not as uncommon as you think-about 10 percent of women may experience it at some point in their lives.
Article Contributed by Dr Liu Tsun Tsien, Dr Ang Tiing Leonq, and Dr Chen Chung Ming, Changi General Hospital;
Dr Tan Lay Kok, Singapore General Hospital.
This article first appeared on All Women ! " Glowing with Health " Her World/ Singhealth 2008 |