I was interested in a recent reader’s letter you answered, from someone saying they always felt cold – because I am the opposite.
It’s all too warm for me. People often complain that the house is too hot, but it’s not true. I cannot tolerate heating the home.
Visiting friends this time of the year can prove to be quite difficult as it is always too hot.
What do you think the problem might be?
Feeling warm all the time is not a problem I often see – but if a patient complained of this, the first thing I’d do is look at what medication they were on.
Ramipril can lead to hot flushes when used for high blood pressure. The whole group of drugs known as ACE inhibitors can also cause sweaty palms.
A reader claims that their heating is too hot and they can’t bear to switch it on. DR.ELLIE CANNON was contacted by the author.
Rosacea, eczema and urticaria can make someone feel uncomfortable.
Feeling extremely hot, or intolerant of heat, can be a sign of an over-active thyroid gland – blood tests should be able to show if this is the case.
Overactive thyroid glands can cause symptoms such as heart racing and agitation. Menopause can cause hot feelings.
Although this is not an easy topic to discuss, I’ve been experiencing uncontrollable bowel movements over the last three-four months, without much warning.
A colonoscopy was performed, but it didn’t give any answers. The GP told me she couldn’t perform anything more. Imodium is very ineffective and I’m afraid to leave my house.
It has stopped me dead in my tracks. What should I do?
Recent letters from readers showed me that they had experienced some very serious symptoms. Then, I did one normal blood test, then there was no more investigation.
I am concerned about this. If you are over 60, there is likely to be serious and severe new symptoms.
It is usually not enough to do a routine exam. If this is the case, it should be possible to perform a colonoscopy to confirm that there has been no bowel cancer. But, with so many symptoms at once, I think you would want more tests.
A specialised stool test for bowel cancer – known as qFIT – should be done. To determine whether there is evidence of liver disease, blood loss or inflammation, it’s important to run blood tests.
Diarrhoea can also be caused by bowel cancer. Pancreatic or ovarian cancer can also cause diarrhoea. Scans are necessary in order to rule out these conditions. This can occur as a result of anal carcinoma. It is uncommon, but it’s more prevalent in women than in men.
Diarrhoea can also be caused by side effects of medication, infections and other bowel diseases.
However, it could be a warning sign that something is wrong. An in-person consultation will help to determine if you need further testing.
I have a big snoring problem – just as my mother did. What should I do? What can I do?
It can seem almost comical, but snoring is a serious issue – and one that impacts the health of both the snorer and their partner, and even other members of the household who have their sleep disturbed.
According to our estimates, 25% of Britons are known to snore at least once a week.
Snoring can be described as noisy breathing. This is caused by the air not moving freely through the lungs and causes noise in the throat, mouth and nose.
Doctors are interested to determine if a person is suffering from sleep apnoea, or if they have an underlying condition that causes snoring.
This happens when your airways during sleep relax until they almost collapse.
The noise can be very loud and disruptive. Those who suffer from it often have daytime headaches as well.
To diagnose sleep apnoea, the GP must refer the patient for sleep studies. A special oxygen mask (called CPAP) can be used to treat this condition. It keeps the airways open over night.
Lifestyle measures can help snorers without sleep apnoea. Avoid alcohol before bed and quit smoking. Weight loss can also reduce pressure in the neck.
People who have allergies may snore more. This can be treated with nasal spray or antihistamines. Mouth devices – which look a bit like a boxer’s mouth-guard – which move the jaw forward are available commercially and can help some people as they keep the airway open.
Nasal dilators are now also available – little soft devices that sit in the nostrils and gently keep the nasal passages open while you sleep.
Safety is a little price for booster queues
I’ve had a few patients asking me how they can avoid a long queue when they turn up to get their booster.
My answer is this: unfortunately, you’re going to have to queue.
Of course you can book in on the NHS website, but with so many logging on, it’s fraught with technical difficulties.
A few of my patients have asked me how to avoid waiting in a line when getting their booster. My answer is this: unfortunately, you’re going to have to queue. Image: The queue for booster shots at Central London hospitals.
The best and quickest way to get a jab is to go to a walk-in site – you can find a list on your local council’s website.
Yes, there might be a wait, but this is an acceptable price for not being locked down again or to avoid potentially deadly viruses.
You might get a quicker wait if you arrive early. But a little queue won’t hurt you: we’re British – we love them!