THE DOC REPLIES

WHAT is Marfan’s Syndrome? A friend has it and I wondered if I could help.

It’s a condition of the soft tissues around the joints. As an inherited connective tissue disease, it’s present from birth but is likely to only become noticeable in early adult life. It causes problems with the muscles and bones, which can be long and bendy. There are also occasionally heart and eye complications. With modern treatment, most people with Marfan’s will still do quite well and have a reasonable life expectancy. There is nothing in particular that you need to do except be there to support your friend who will experience special difficulties.

I had a hysterectomy recently after a cancer diagnosis. Will I have to return for further smear tests in future?

Usually when a hysterectomy is carried out the whole womb, including the cervix, is removed. The cervix is sometimes referred to as the neck of the womb. Occasionally, a hysterectomy is done leaving the cervix in place. Smears are taken from the cervix. If the cervix remains, then smears should continue.

I’M a 33-year-old man and have noticed blood on my toilet paper recently. Should I be asking the doctor for a check-up?

Usually when you notice blood on the toilet paper from the back passage it is related to a problem at the tail end rather than further up inside the bowel. In fact, if you bleed inside the bowel it is more likely to come out black than red. There are common and often simple problems that lead to this sort of bleeding, such as piles or a fissure. However, it is always important that you get bleeding of this sort checked out. Your doctor is likely to examine you and decide if further investigations are required.

CAN two parents with blue eyes have a child with brown eyes?

Although eye colour is genetic, the way in which it is passed on is complex. It is relatively unusual for two blue-eyed parents to have a brown-eyed child but it can certainly happen. Brown tends to be the more dominant colour.

A couple of friends shaved my eyebrows off when I was asleep – how long will it be until they grow back? Are my eyes at risk?

Oh dear! Your eyebrows are there, as are your eyelashes, to protect the eyes from dust and particles. They are certainly not essential. You will be aware that a lot of people, for medical and other reasons, do not have eyebrows – and they don’t come to any great harm. Your eyebrows will take a few weeks to grow in but not very long. I don’t think you have any risks or need to take any special precautions.

I’M a 50-year-old man and quite a few noticeable broken veins have appeared on my face over the past few years. Is this anything to worry about?

People get broken veins either because they are exposed to cold air a lot or because it is just part of who they are. Sometimes it is more noticeable in families. It is certainly nothing to worry about.

ARE artificial sweeteners as bad for the teeth as real sugars?

I am a doctor rather than a dentist so I think you should direct this question to your dentist. They are more likely to know about the effect on teeth.

I’M a 22-year-old woman and have large pores on my nose. I am often troubled by blackheads. Do you have any advice on how to deal with them?

We all have pores which are just openings for sweat and waste products. They are often larger on the nose and, if they get clogged with dirt, they form blackheads. A good cleaning regime and some simple over-the-counter treatments for blackheads are all that is necessary. It is not, as such, a medical problem.