Am I A Heartbeat Away From Crisis?

May 4 2008 Dr Gareth Smith

I'm Haunted By O'donnell Tragedy

Q I AM 25 and love playing football. But recently after games I feel like my heart is missing beats. I am especially worried after what happened to Motherwell captain Phil O'Donnell. What should I do?

A AT 25 the chances of you having regular dropped or missed beats is low, especially with no other symptoms.

It is much more likely you are aware of your heart beating due to exercise and are noticing the normal changes in rhythm. If you don't believe me take your pulse now for 20 seconds, then while still feeling it take a very deep breath, hold it for a count of two then blow it out. You will notice that your heart slows down then speeds up again.

If you have other symptoms such as dizziness or fainting, go to your doctor. Otherwise just concentrate on your game.

Q I AM terrified my cheating boyfriend has given me an STD. I'm too embarrassed to tell my GP.

A YOU don't have to tell your doctor as every city has a genito-urinary medicine clinic, which works on an anonymous basis. They will treat any infections and will not write to your doctor. As for your boyfriend, bin him.

Q MY husband and I have three girls and want a boy. Is there any truth in old wives' tales such as the position you have sex or what night you do it?

A NO but there are 51 boys born to every 49 girls so the odds are slightly in your favour.

Your husband should avoid hot baths and a study published last week in a medical journal showed women who eat breakfast cereal are more likely to have boys than women who don't. They think it is something to do with the high sugar levels and folic acid found in cereal.

Q I HAVE a constant horrible sensation of mucus running down the back of my throat. I can't cough it up. How can I get rid of it?

A IT sounds like a common condition post-nasal drip, where mucus from the back of the nose is overproduced and runs down the throat. It is sometimes brought on by allergies and there may be something in your home causing it, such as a reaction to house dust mites.

Try a non-sedating, over-the-counter antihistamine such as Clarytin and a course of decongestant such as Sudafed. If that doesn't help, after a week see your GP.

Q I HAVE really sweaty palms and it is so embarrassing. What can I do?

A PALMAR hyperhydrosis is a very distressing condition which makes social interactions very awkward. There is no known cause or guaranteed permanent cure but try a strong aluminium-based antiperspirant on your hands such as Driclor to reduce sweating.

Otherwise your best bet is Botox injections in the palms. This will not affect movement but switches off the sweat glands for up to nine months.

Q MY dad has an ingrowing eyelid. The GP said he may need an operation. What will they do?

A THERE are several different - and relatively simple - procedures.

Usually they remove the problem lashes and the roots too. If this leads to a change in the shape of his lid, they may have to correct this. Most patients recover very well.