THE DOC REPLIES

I’M a 70-year-old man who has visited a male doctor for years. He has retired and has been replaced by a younger woman. I’m quite embarrassed to speak to her. Can I ask for a male doctor again?

If there are male doctors at your surgery then you can request to see them. The main thing is that there is continuity of care, so for any particular problem it is important that you continue to see the same doctor. In the past, patients were registered with particular doctors whereas it is now possible to see any of the doctors from within the same practice.

I was advised by my doctor to eat bland foods as a result of a troublesome gall bladder. However, I’m not sure what he meant by bland foods. Any ideas?

The gall bladder stores bile which is used to digest fats. When you eat fatty foods the gall bladder contracts to release bile into the gut. Avoiding rich, fatty foods should improve gall bladder symptoms.

I had a heart attack three years ago but have recovered well. I have noticed my heartbeat is a bit irregular now. Should this be checked out?

It is important that you have your irregular heartbeat checked out. If it is only a little irregular then it is likely that these are just extra heartbeats, which everyone experiences. However, if the irregularity is more persistent then it is possible it is being caused by atrial fibrillation, whereby the heart is not contracting in a coordinated manner. You should definitely see your doctor as further treatment could be required.

Is it possible to find a cure nose-picking? My 14-year-old son has picked up the habit and it drives me up the wall. Is it bad for you?

There is no cure for this problem, I am afraid. It is just a bad habit and, unless your son wants to stop, then there is probably little that you can do about it. It is unlikely that he will cause himself any harm, although if he is persistent he may damage the lining of his nose.

Do you recommend moisturising skin on my face? Are there any health benefits to it?

As we get older our skin does tend to get drier and using moisturising cream can help prevent the skin drying out and becoming itchy or sore. There are many products on the market claiming to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. There is no halting the ageing process but many people say their skin benefits from such treatments.

My older brother died of cystic fibrosis when we were young. Could I one day develop the condition? I’m in my forties.

Cystic fibrosis is a condition which is genetically inherited and will present itself in early childhood. If you have got to your 40s without any lung problems then it is fairly safe to say that you will not develop it.

I’ve been diagnosed with an enlarged heart. What has caused it? Will it return to normal size?

An enlarged heart can sometimes be due to congenital – inbuilt – problems but more frequently it is the result of other conditions. If you have high blood pressure which has not been treated then the heart has to pump harder to move blood around the body. As the heart is a muscle, with extra activity it does tend to enlarge. You should speak to your doctor about the issue. It is unlikely to return to a normal size but if you have high blood pressure it is important that this is treated to prevent the condition getting worse.

Some of my eyelashes have fallen out in a distinct patch. Should I see an optician?

It is not uncommon for eye lashes to fall out. It is likely they will grow in again. Sometimes this can be the result of slight inflammation of the eyelid. Bathing regularly with a very dilute solution of baby shampoo can help to settle this problem.