Is being deaf

QI SUFFER almost constant giddiness although I’m in good health otherwise. I am deaf in one ear. Would this have any bearing on the problem? I am 89.

ATHERE are lots of different problems that can cause giddiness, including an erratic heartbeat, low blood pressure and arthritis of the neck as well as conditions affecting the balance system which includes the inner ear and the nerve connecting this to the brain.

Also the cause of deafness is not always straightforward as it can be due to something simple, such as a build-up of wax, to fluid inside the middle ear cavity, to problems with the nerve or blood supply to the ear.

So it’s very difficult to say whether your giddiness is connected with your deafness or not. At your age giddiness can not only be distressing but can be more dangerous than you may realise, as it is a common cause of falls which can lead to broken bones.

So go and see your doctor, who will hopefully do some tests to try to find out why you are giddy and most importantly, arrange treatment so that you can stay in good health.

My wife has an erratic heartbeat, it beats very fast and can last for two hours or more at a time. Unfortunately, when she saw the GP she did not have this problem at the time. This has been going on for months and at various times of the day.

ATHIS is a well-known issue in people with intermittent palpitations – the heart behaves itself in the surgery and then will randomly start beating fast a few hours later.

The best way of detecting the problem is with a heart monitor that is worn either for 24 hours (for palpitations that occur on a daily basis) or eight days for those occurring less frequently.

This is a standard investigation which a GP should be able to arrange, so your wife should make another appointment. In the meantime it can help to cut back on caffeine (in coffee, tea and cola drinks) as this can make a tendency to a fast heartbeat worse.

QAT 88, I now sit still for most of the day and am no longer able to walk much. When I am sitting down, my stomach meets the top of my leg and it is making

the skin in that area very red and sore. Is there anything I can do about this?

ASORENESS in skin folds is often caused by a fungal infection, a condition known as intertrigo. It commonly occurs under large breasts in women and around the scrotum in men.

It can usually be treated with an anti-fungal cream which you can buy from chemists but I would advise you to see your GP first just to check the diagnosis.

You should also try to keep the skin as dry as possible and it can help to keep the skin folds separated by either cotton clothing or a piece of thin cotton gauze which will absorb any sweat in the area. AFTER reading in your column about the man who suffered from Achilles tendonitis (March 20), I thought I would let you know that I had the same problem for two years.

I went to the doctor, hospital, physiotherapy and to a specialist