NowMyNews

1 View comments My 41-year-old son has been diagnosed with haemochromatosis, excess iron in the blood. The treatment is for him to have half-a-litre of blood removed every week for a year. I am very concerned — can he replace this blood so quickly?And should he not have some kind of supplement to his diet to help his body deal with this? Robert Robson, by email. Three-quarters of people with haemochromatosis will have weakness and lethargy, and there may also be liver damage and pigmentation of the skin This treatment does sound alarming, but pleased be assured — your son has been correctly advised and is being properly treated. His condition, haemochromatosis, is a genetic disorder that causes the intestine to absorb  excessive amounts of iron from food during digestion. Iron is an essential component of the blood, and is responsible for transporting oxygen around the body as part of the compound haemoglobin. However, in excessive amounts it can be harmful.

0 View comments For a number of years I have suffered from the sensation that my heart has skipped a beat. Tests have confirmed that my heart is sound, but over the past few weeks these heartbeats, which my doctor told me are called ‘ectopic’, have increased in number and severity. My GP has prescribed beta blockers, but what can I expect with these? I am 51 and pre-menopausal. Mrs S. Robinson, Hampshire. Ectopic heartbeats can occur in perfectly healthy hearts Please do not be alarmed — ectopic heartbeats happen to all of us, it’s just that most of the time we’re unaware of them. ‘Ectopic’ in this context just means out of synch, as the condition leads to extra or skipped beats. When they are noticed, we refer to them as palpitations — you can experience them as a fluttering feeling, or a sense that the heart has missed a beat, or a sudden forceful beat. Ectopic heartbeats can occur in perfectly healthy hearts, often without any cause. But they can also be t

3 View comments Around a year ago, I started to have difficulties swallowing after suffering from two tummy bugs. Doctors have since diagnosed nutcracker oesophagus. Could you tell me something about this condition, as I have never heard of it. Mrs J Barker, Cyprus. One reader has been diagnosed with nutcracker oesophagus (file picture) Funnily enough, I had never heard the phrase either until a year or two ago — it is one of those glib descriptive names that has now stuck. But although the name is new, most doctors have known about this condition for some time — and please be assured, although it is annoying it is not serious. Nutcracker oesophagus is a malfunction of the muscles in the oesophagus, also called the gullet. When you swallow, the food does not simply travel by gravity down from your mouth to your stomach, but instead it is massaged down by a series of co-ordinated muscle contractions, called the peristaltic wave. Sometimes this process becomes

2 View comments My husband and a lot of our friends have an infestation of small raised warts around the neck.I also now have brown, flat warts in my cleavage. What are these and how can I get rid of them? Mrs J. Fryer, Wiltshire. Warts are caused by a type of virus called human papillomavirus Please don’t be alarmed — these are not contagious, and are not warts. The flesh-coloured growths on the neck are called skin tags, and today I spent half an hour with one of my male patients removing about 20 of them from his neck and armpits. Technically, these are called fibroepithelial polyps, and are harmless skin growths that appear in areas where the skin creases: typically the neck, armpits, groin, cleavage and under the breasts. We do not know exactly what causes them, but they seem to be a consequence of the ageing of the skin. Warts, by contrast, are caused by a type of virus called human papillomavirus. These skin tags carry no health risks but can become

1 View comments Recently my wife has started to develop bruises on her arms and the back of her hands, but on no other part of her body. She is 73, and although she is a vegetarian her diet is good. The bruises appear and disappear in different spots with no apparent cause. Why does this happen? Patrick Berrill, by email. The forearms and hands are most likely to be damaged during everyday activities, causing blood vessels to weaken Please do not be concerned, for although these bruises can look alarming, they do not indicate any illness. You were kind enough to send me photographs of the bruises, and examining these suggests senile purpura, also known as actinic purpura. These are common in elderly individuals and are the result of a lifetime of wear and tear on blood vessels in the skin. These become weakened and are prone to rupture, causing blood to leak out into the surrounding area, triggering a painless bruise. Years of sun damage can also weaken the blood ve

12 View comments My 18-year-old daughter started to suffer from migraines two years ago. Brain scans came back clear, and doctors told us that the migraines are caused by hormonal changes and stress. However, for the past three weeks she has suffered from them on a daily basis and relies on painkillers to get her through the day. Is there anything that could help her, or any natural supplement that may be of use? A. Zaidi, by email. Migraines affects more than one in ten people and is a disorder of the brain that, in most cases, is inherited (picture posed by model) What a difficult time your daughter is having — migraines are much more than a simple headache and can prove debilitating. The condition affects more than one in ten people and is a disorder of the brain that, in most cases, is inherited. There are a number of factors that can trigger these painful episodes including stress, menstruation, missing meals, changes in the weather, too much or too littl

3 View comments After a suspected heart attack ten years ago I have been trying to control my cholesterol through diet, and avoiding dairy foods and fatty meats. I have also been buying cholesterol-lowering products such as Benecol. However, I have recently found that my teeth are crumbling and breaking. Could my diet be the cause? I have started taking a calcium supplement but it doesn’t seem to help. A. Hurst, Hampshire. Once formed in childhood, teeth remain unchanged throughout our years What a difficult situation you are in — you wisely recognise that your cholesterol must be controlled, yet you are worried that doing this has triggered your tooth damage. We are all aware of the commonly held view that calcium-containing foods, such as dairy products, build strong teeth and bones. But this is not completely true — for teeth are different from bones. Whereas our bones are in a constant state of repair throughout life — with the body removing old cells and replacin

0 View comments After suffering from constant pain in my legs, I have been told that I suffer from the condition polymyalgia rheumatica (although my doctor still seems unsure of this diagnosis). I am told this could last for up to six years, which means I could potentially suffer from this the rest of my life (I am 82). Is there anything you can suggest to alleviate this pain?Mrs J. Park, Peebles. Symptoms of polymyalgia rheumatica include pain in the neck and shoulders and in hips and thighs This is a little known but relatively common condition that causes pain and stiffness around the neck and shoulders and in the hips and thighs (usually described by medics as shoulder and hip girdle pain). The cause is unknown, though both genetic and environmental factors seem to be involved. It is thought to be caused by inflammation in the synovium —the membrane that surrounds the inside of the joint. There is no definitive test for the condition, so the diagnosis is based on re

0 View comments Over the past seven years, I have suffered strange episodes when I suddenly see shapes and zig-zag lines, followed by a dull ache across the temples. Tests and scans have not shown any abnormalities. These attacks used to occur every 12 months or so, but recently I have started to have two a month. What could be causing these frightening symptoms?Anne-Marie Cleather, by email. Stars in eyes: Fortification spectrum is more commonly known as a visual migraine CONTACT DR SCURR To contact Dr Scurr with a health query, write to him at Good Health Daily Mail, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT or email drmartin@dailymail.co.uk — including contact details.Dr Scurr cannot enter into personal correspondence.His replies cannot apply to individual cases and should be taken in a general context. This has been an alarming experience, and if it wasn’t for the fact that you have suffered for such a long time, these symptoms could easily ignite anxiety about the possib

0 View comments For a few years I have experienced blood in my urine. Despite various scans and tests, no one has been able to find the cause of this. However, I was recently diagnosed with the bowel disorder diverticulosis — could this be causing the problems? My wife says I could be suffering from sugar intolerance. Ian McDowell, Peterborough. Blood in the urine (called haematuria) may be caused by an underlying disease Though this symptom is no doubt alarming, blood in the urine without an obvious cause such as cystitis or a kidney stone is common. I have one or two patients whom I have followed for years with this symptom (called haematuria), with no obvious cause. However, it is unsettling when detailed investigations do not provide an accurate diagnosis and a chance to stop the problem. The important point is to keep re-checking, at least annually, because in some cases the cause is eventually revealed. The concern is that haematuria may be caused by an underl