Health

In this modern era, the Internet is always a source of information, but there is nothing like a direct answer to a direct question from a medical professional. Better Health’s Tell Me, Doc... intends to bring the element of humanity to all health-related questions from our readers. If you have a medical or health related question or comment, we encourage you to send it to us at betterhealth@nationnews.com

Dear Doc, I’m not yet middle-age but I find I’m having curious pains in my elbows. I’m fairly active and I have two young children, I do a little kitchen gardening, and as an admin assistant I sometimes sit at a desk and do a lot of typing. All of this means I use my elbows a lot – picking up or lifting the little ones, typing – so I linked that to the pain. But what really is causing

Dear Doc, Is there really a breast cancer gene? If my grandmother and mother both had breast cancer, the likelihood of me getting it is high, but does that mean I’m genetically disposed? I’m nearly 50 and have done my regular mammograms, and so far so good.Barbara Simmons Dear Barbara, There are genes associated with breast cancer and they are known as BRCA1 and BRCA2. Their mutation is a

Dear Doc, I started putting on weight during COVID, and as I’m over the age where life is supposed to begin, I can’t seem to shed the pounds. I know that I can exercise and modify my diet to lose the weight, but how do I get rid of the very dark skin where my legs are still rubbing together because of the weight? This is a common concern for individuals who have chafing from the increased

Dear Doc, To have a hiccup once in a while is normal, but I have for the last couple of months been having bouts of hiccups more regularly. Since COVID I have been gardening, which means more physical activity than I’m used to, and it is after that I realised I started having hiccupping bouts. I’m sure there is a connection, so could you explain it fully for me? Thank you.- Mons. W. Merryville.

UV & You by Nick Nunes Though not celebrated across the world or as yet endorsed by the United Nations, July was recognised as UV Safety Awareness Month in the United States. For a country that experiences pretty severe sunshine year round, Barbados should definitely be on board with advocacy for ultraviolet (UV) awareness. According to Winchester Hospital, “Dark-skinned people, including