DR JEFF FOSTER is The Sun on Sunday’s new resident doctor and is here to help YOU.
Dr Jeff, 43, splits his time between working as a GP in Leamington Spa, Warks, and running his clinic, H3 Health, which is the first of its kind in the UK to look at hormonal issues for both men and women.
Dr Jeff Foster is The Sun on Sunday’s new resident doctor and is here to help you
See h3health.co.uk and email at [email protected].
Q) ANY tips on how to get rid of hangovers quickly? Mine are awful. I worry so much about getting one that I fail to enjoy myself. When I was younger I didn’t suffer at all, but now I’m over 40 they are terrible.
Sandra James, Didcot, Oxon
A) Humans have suffered from hangovers since the discovery of alcohol thousands of years ago but, despite this history, we still don’t know how to prevent or cure them.
The causes of a hangover include the effects of dehydration caused by alcohol; its inflammatory response to our immune system; the fact alcohol irritates our stomach and digestive tract, causing our blood sugars to fall; and its effects on dilating our blood vessels and making us tired. Knowing these separate elements, we can try to prevent them by eating to slow down alcohol absorption and reduce the drop in blood sugar; drinking water in between alcoholic drinks to reduce dehydration; drinking in moderation; and taking it slowly.
The next day, taking paracetamol, drinking fluids (not alcohol), resting and eating to get your sugars and salts up may help ease hangover symptoms.
Q) I AM a 30-year-old man but I’ve led a sheltered life when it comes to sex. I was a Jehovah’s Witness until two years ago. I left the religion and met a girl who wants us to have sex. I want to, but my penis goes limp every time I try to penetrate her. Please help me.
ANON
A) Half of men will suffer erectile dysfunction at some point in their lives. In your case, the key is to work out if your erectile problems only occur when you are with your partner, or all the time.
If you are able to gain a satisfactory erection when alone, then the problem is down to nerves and based on your history.
You should make sure biochemical causes for erectile dysfunction, such as low testosterone or diabetes, are ruled out – but these are less common in younger men.
From your perspective, the likelihood of erectile dysfunction being due to a psychological trigger is more probable, due to your history of a religion-induced sexual repression. This is a common problem in men who have had very sheltered adolescences and were unable to explore their sexual preferences as they’ve developed, due to ideologies that demonise or constrain sex.
My advice would be to talk to your girlfriend about how you feel and, if there is still an overwhelming pressure, consider speaking to a psychosexual counsellor.