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Radon found in rec room

July 31, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: After 14 years of using our finished basement rec room on a daily basis, I have discovered the presence of radon gas. The level ranges between 6 and 7. To disassemble the room is far too costly on our retirement income. Recent lung X-rays are OK, so what is our risk of cancer after all these years of daily exposure?

DEAR READER: Radon is a radioactive gas that comes from the breakdown of uranium. It is found in almost all soils and permeates the air we breathe. It moves through the ground and into buildings and water supplies through cracks or holes in foundations and solid floors, through gaps in suspended flooring, around service pipes and through walls. It can enter through well water. [Read more...]

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Battle of the bulge

July 30, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I read your column daily but have never seen you comment on an inguinal hernia. Can you address it? I am in my late 70s and suddenly have one. It is not incarcerated, and I am wondering if I need surgery. If so, can it be done with local anesthesia?

DEAR READER: An inguinal hernia occurs when a portion of the small intestine or internal fat protrudes through a weakened area in the lower abdominal muscles. This occurs on either side of the groin area between the abdomen and thigh, resulting in a bulge. Inguinal hernias are five times more common in males than in females and account for 75 percent of all hernias, of which there are several kinds. An inguinal hernia can occur at any time from infancy to adulthood.
[Read more...]

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How much sleep is enough?

July 29, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: My wife and I go to bed at about the same time every night. I never get a full seven hours of uninterrupted sleep, and most often awaken in less than five hours. I try to get back to sleep, but it seems to take hours to accomplish this. I know I often see the sun beginning to peek through our curtains at around 5:30 a.m., but I also know I do eventually fall back asleep, however briefly, because when I eventually awaken again, I realize I’ve been dreaming. My left hip arthritis doesn’t help. Are these two-plus hours worth anything? Or am I just as well off getting up and reading during that time?

DEAR READER: The amount of sleep people require varies greatly. In large part, it depends on age, health and physical and mental activity.
[Read more...]

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Can a CA-125 detect ovarian cancer?

July 28, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I would like more information about the blood test CA-125 for ovarian cancer. Articles and doctors here in Topeka, Kan., insist there is no test for ovarian cancer. However, I’ve read about it and have talked to people who have had this test. Topeka is now having a Whisper Walk and awareness for ovarian cancer such as we’ve had for breast cancer, but the people putting it on still say there is no such test.

DEAR READER: CA-125 is a protein found more often in ovarian-cancer cells than in other cells, and because it enters the bloodstream, it can be measured by a blood test. The rate at which CA-125 levels increase is a more accurate method of detecting ovarian cancer than is single testing for the same purpose. [Read more...]

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Speak to physician regarding fish allergy

July 28, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I am allergic to freshwater and saltwater fish (the oil, I believe). I am wondering if I would be able to take cod liver in capsule form.

DEAR READER: Cod-liver oil can cause GI upset, indigestion, abdominal pain, diarrhea, rash and a number of other unwanted symptoms in anyone. Because you are allergic to fish, you should avoid fish-oil supplements.

Speak with your physician regarding the possibility of taking flaxseed, grape seed or eating more green, leafy vegetables and nuts such as sunflowers or walnuts as a replacement for cod-liver oil. I must defer to your primary-care physician, who knows your medical history and can guide you better than I.

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Back Talk

July 27, 2010 By

Summer fun is here and so is summer yard work. Be kind to your spine and take the proper precautions when working hard in your back yard.

First, hydrate. Your body is 70% water and your nervous system is 90% water. Water feeds your body, discs, ligaments and joints.

Position yourself properly. Being bent over, kneeling for long periods of time or lifting and hauling heavy objects can put a strain on your back, shoulders and neck. Bend your knees when lifting; use a kneeling board or stool; and get help with the big stuff.

Rest. Take breaks. Stretch before any strenuous activity and in-between doing them. Warming up your muscles can significantly reduce your chance of injuring yourself. The job may take you a little longer, but your back will thank you in the lung run.

And, finally — get adjusted. Visit your local chiropractor to realign your spine and get that much-needed muscle work done to balance out all that summer “fun”.

People too often put more care and attention into their cars and homes than their own bodies. We only have one and if you take care of yours, it will take care of you.

Monica S. Nowak, DC
Chiropractic Center of Canaan
176 Ashley Falls Road
Canaan, CT 06018
860 824-0748
www.PeterMarkowiczDC.com

Above article reprinted with permission from Monica S. Nowak, DC

Filed Under: Guest Column Tagged With: ,

No quick fix for the lungs

July 27, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: Is there a cleansing recipe I can make at home to clear out toxins in my lungs? Being a former smoker, I want to make sure that my lungs are as clear and clean as possible.

DEAR READER: The lungs are organs the body cannot live without. Unfortunately, many people function with lungs that are not healthy, resulting in countless upper-respiratory infections and difficulties throughout their lives. The air we breathe is filled with impurities — from firsthand, secondhand or thirdhand cigarette smoke; cleaning-solution chemicals; automobile-exhaust fumes; and many other sources.
[Read more...]

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Cod-liver oil benefits outweigh risks for most

July 27, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: You recently wrote about the benefits of cod-liver oil. Is there a downside? Are there likely to be significant quantities of heavy metals or other toxic substances concentrated in cods’ livers?

DEAR READER: Generally speaking, cod-liver oil is safe for most people. It can, however, result in belching, heartburn, halitosis and nosebleeds in some users when taken on an empty stomach. When taken with meals, these unwanted symptoms are vastly reduced.

High doses of the supplement may be unsafe in that they can keep blood from clotting, may increase the chance of bleeding, cause loose stools and nausea, and cause blood pressure to drop to dangerously low levels. [Read more...]

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Benign tumor causes concern

July 25, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: Fifteen years ago, I was diagnosed with a pituitary prolactin producing adenoma. I was told it is not cancerous and isn’t operable. I was on a medication called Permax for 13 years until it was taken off the market. My endocrinologist then prescribed bromocriptine, 2.5 milligrams, that I took for a year even though it made me sick. She then came up with the idea of having the pill crushed and placed in a suppository, which I inserted in my vagina at bedtime nightly. After using it for four months, it brought my prolactin down from 156 to 124, but I had yeast infections, got sore, and experienced a burning sensation.

I’m now off my medication and have blood work every two months to check my prolactin. I suffer from headaches at times and don’t know whether it is some sort of swelling of my pituitary. For 15 years, my doctor has had me taking 30 milligrams of Hydrocort daily for inflammation.
[Read more...]

Filed Under: Daily Column, Leading Letter Tagged With: , , ,

Age spots on those with dark skin

July 24, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I am a 50-year-old light-skinned black female with dark spots on my face. My doctor says they are age spots. I have never smoked or consumed alcohol, nor have I ever worn makeup. Is there any over-the-counter product that is affordable you might recommend?

DEAR READER: Liver spots, also known as age spots, are common in people who are over the age of 40 and in those who may have had chronic sunlight exposure without protective sunscreen. The spots are harmless and do not require treatment. They typically appear on light-skinned people but can affect anyone. Exposure to ultraviolet light speeds up the production of melanin, the dark pigment in the outer layers of skin that give it color. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Daily Column, Leading Letter Tagged With: , ,
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