THE DOC REPLIES

I use various shampoos but nothing seems to help my very greasy scalp. It’s quite embarrassing.

Many people are troubled by this problem and often using shampoo made specifically for greasy hair can help to some extent. There is no magic cure for this other than washing hair frequently. This is contrary to some popular opinion that says it is bad to do this as it will wash the natural oils out of your hair. But there is no evidence that this does any harm.

Do women and men share the same number of ribs? If so, how many, and does it change? It’s for my science project in school!

In the majority of cases the number of ribs is constant. These are attached to the thoracic vertebrae in the spine and in most individuals there are 12 pairs with no difference between men and women. Very occasionally there can be a rib attached to the last vertebrae in the neck called the cervical rib but this is quite rare.

My child is five but has a comfort blanket. She gets upset when we take it away, even to clean it. Is this normal behaviour, or should we try to wean it from her?

I wouldn’t get too worried about this. Generally children will discard comfort blankets as they get older and feel more secure with themselves but often will resort to them if they are feeling a bit anxious or unsettled. I think the best thing would be to ignore it and she will probably discard it of her own accord. The more fuss you make about it the more likely she is to keep a hold of it.

I take pills for angina and have recently started developing swollen legs. Is this normal for someone with angina?

Swollen ankles is a common problem and sometimes can be a sign that the heart is not pumping as efficiently as it should. However, there are medications for angina which can, as a side effect, cause swollen legs. One of these drugs which is a common culprit is Amlodipine. If you are on this medication then it may be worth speaking with your doctor who can perhaps change the dose or give you an alternative.

I recently lost all sense of smell and some sense of taste – I’m not too bothered, but should I speak to the doctor?

A loss of sense of smell and taste is often associated with upper respiratory infections. It can also occur after a head injury. Most people will lose their sense of smell and taste if they have a heavy cold. If it persists then it may be worth discussing with your doctor.

Can cranberry juice help cure a bout of cystitis? I’m often troubled by it.

There is no clear evidence that says cranberry juice can help with cystitis although many people find that they benefit from it. Many studies have looked into, this with mixed results. It was thought cranberry juice helped to prevent bacteria sticking to the walls of the bladder. The bottom line is that if you are prone to urinary tract infections and cranberry juice seems to help then it certainly won’t do you any harm – but it won’t cure a bout of cystitis. Some people can have side effects from the juice such as heartburn and reflux. If you are on warfarin, then this should be avoided.

I’ve started to use foam ear plugs to drown out the sound of my husband’s snoring. Can long-term use damage my lughole?

It is unlikely that long-term use of ear plugs at night will cause any damage to your ears. It sounds as if it would be beneficial if they are allowing you to get a good night’s sleep.

Is it possible to develop an egg allergy? When I eat them I develop a rash on my arms and legs.

It is possible to develop an egg allergy. Often this happens in childhood but any allergy can develop at any time. If the rash seems to be connected to eggs, then it is worth excluding them from your diet.