THE holidays are in full swing, and keeping an eye on your kids can feel like a never-ending challenge.
Between sunburn and wasp stings, sand in the eyes and too many late bedtimes, the whole family can feel a little worse for wear at this time of year.
NHS GP Dr Zoe Williams answers health questions sent in by readersThe Sun
Sticking to a routine is tricky when there’s no school to get up for.
But a good night’s sleep and regular, balanced meals can cure many ills, such as irritability and grumpiness, making for a happier and healthier summer break for all of you.
Here’s a selection of what readers have asked this week . . .
Q) ABOUT six weeks ago I woke up lightheaded and dizzy. Otherwise no other symptoms, although over the last few months my menopause has got worse.
Checks such as a blood test and an electrocardiagram have found nothing.
The doctor has put me on hormone replacement therapy patches. I have been on these for two weeks and my head is no different.
I have also had a full eye test and 3D scan of my eyes.
My blood pressure can sometimes be on the low side, so I may need medication adjustment. I’m just really looking for some advice as to your thoughts.
A) Questions like this are so important.
A lot of women put up with symptoms rather than try to access help, so writing in and speaking to your GP are so important.
While a normal ECG is somewhat reassuring and certainly rules out lots of significant heart conditions, it doesn’t tell you if there are any temporary changes to your heart rhythm at the time you have symptoms.
When you next see your GP, I would suggest asking about a 24-hour or even a seven-day Holter test.
This is a little monitor about the size of a mobile phone that is designed to pick up if your heart rhythm changes — going too slow, too fast, or irregular — at the time of symptoms, so in your case when you have light-headedness/dizziness.
Being lightheaded and dizzy are recognised symptoms of menopause and it’s not unusual to get new symptoms as you journey through the menopause transition.
The good news is, you have a proactive GP. Trialling hormone replacement therapy is a sensible option, but two weeks isn’t really long enough to decide if it has helped or not.
It’s usually advised to give it at least two months, unless it is giving you unwanted side-effects.
Also, HRT isn’t a “one size fits all” medication.
It can take as much as six months and maybe longer to find the type and dosage that suits you as an individual, so this may need adjustment over time.
You’re only six weeks into your new symptoms too, so keep a diary of when you feel worse or better and see if that correlates with sleep, what you eat or what’s going on in terms of stress levels at home or work.
It sounds like you have a good dialogue with your GP, so feed all that information back to them and they can help you analyse the findings.
HRT is the gold-standard treatment for menopausal symptoms but it’s always worth looking at the holistic side of things too.
What are your sleep patterns like? Are you eating a healthy, balanced diet?
How much processed or ultra-processed food do you eat? How much time do you exercise every week?
Have you been through a stressful event in the last six months?
In Chinese culture, menopause is viewed positively.
It is referred to as the “second spring”, which means it’s a time in life to focus on yourself and adapt lifestyle patterns to help you feel nourished, calm and healthy.
I know that might sound unachievable right now, but it’s what women should be aiming for in this chapter of their lives.
So please do keep pursuing answers. It sounds like you’re very much in the driving seat with your menopause and that’s where we want everyone to be.
Q) I HAVE got a hard black bit in my belly button. What is it and should I speak to my GP about it?
A) Belly buttons are one of those parts of our bodies that a lot of us don’t even think about, let alone take care of.
The general advice is that you should specifically clean your belly button once a week, as it can harbour dead skin cells and bacteria.
But the reality is very few of us pay attention to that part of our bodies.
Rarely, skin cells, hair, oil and even fabric can collect in there and form a navel stone, which is also called an omphalolith.
These can be diagnosed by your GP and can be removed by a dermatologist.
They’re mostly harmless but they can be uncomfortable and you’re much better off treating them, as they can continue to grow and become more uncomfortable.
In the first instance, make an appointment with either a nurse or doctor at your GP surgery, as they should be able to help
Tummy bloat gets my goat
Q) MY stomach is always bloated and gassy. When I go for a poo it’s urgent and soft
I have had some blood too. But it’s all been checked and it’s not diverticula.
A colonoscopy shows everything is OK. I am 70. I have asked the doctor to check if I have lactose intolerance.
Is there any advice you can give me? I’ve started to omit dairy but would love to get a lactose test.
A) The fact you’ve had a colonoscopy is reassuring, as that is the best test to rule out colorectal (bowel) cancer.
I assume a full set of blood tests has been done too, to rule out other conditions such as Crohn’s, colitis and coeliac disease, and also a CA125 test for ovarian cancer – if you are female?
The best way to test for lactose intolerence is to complete two weeks of a strict lactose-free diet.
If symptoms resolve but recur on reintroduction of lactose-containing foods, the diagnosis can be made.
If you’ve not checked labels to cut out all lactose-containing food, start the two-week trial over.
Keep a diary of the bloating and how you feel, and to what extent symptoms recur when you reintroduce lactose.
Not doing the reintroduction is not advised because if you do not have an intolerance, you would be limiting your diet, and potentially your nutrition, without good cause.
If this test is negative and everything mentioned above is ruled out, your GP may diag-nose irritable bowel syndrome.
IBS resources are on the British Dietetics Association website (bda.uk. com/resource/irritable-bowel-syndrome-diet.html).
If things do not improve, try to see a dietitian/nutritionist.