THE DOC REPLIES

I’VE been taking quinine for increased risk of suffering cramp. A friend said I might osteoporosis, a condition have potassium deficiency – which weakens bones. would bananas help? Patients diagnosed with this

Quinine can be helpful for must ensure that they cramp but should not be maintain sufficient levels of taken long-term. If you are not calcium and vitamin D. Most on any other medication and patients take omeprazole to have a healthy, balanced treat heartburn, stomach diet then your potassium level ulcers and the effects of is unlikely to be abnormal. gastric acid and it is a fairly Anaemia can sometimes effective medication in cause cramp, so it may be controlling the symptoms in worth having your bloods these cases. checked anyway.

I’VE been feeling a persistent MY son is taking tablets for itch deep in my left ear canal. high blood pressure, but he’s I can’t seem to itch it with a only 32. Is it unusual to have cotton bud. Any ideas what it this problem at such a young could be? age? This may a type of eczema

Although high blood affecting the ear canal. It is pressure becomes more important not to try to MY cardiologist told me common as we age, younger itch it with a cotton one of the valves in people do suffer from it, bud as it could make my heart was particularly if there is a family things worse and leaking, but not to history of the problem. If your you could end up worry about it. son has been seen by his damaging your ear What caused the doctor and found to have drum. You may also problem? high blood pressure, it is be feeling irritation Sometimes the important he receives due to wax, and valves in the heart effective treatment as, using a cotton bud can be a little leaky, uncontrolled, it can cause would simply cause causing blood to leak health problems in the future further problems. Your doctor backwards through the such as heart disease, stroke can check this out. Ear drops valve. Often there are no and kidney disease. may help. associated symptoms – many

healthy people have a leaky ARE there any side-effects to THE whites of my eyes have

heart valve without even long-term omeprazole use? recently started looking quite

knowing there’s anything yellow. What could this be, I’ve been taking it for acid wrong. As for the cause, it

and should I ask my doc to reflux but have started could be the result of a slightly

have a look? developing headaches. enlarged heart, high blood

I would definitely make an Omeprazole and other

appointment with your doctor pressure or coronary artery similar drugs, called proton to be checked over. It could disease. If you have not pump inhibitors, are fairly safe. be a sign of jaundice. shown any symptoms and However, the medication your cardiologist has told you carries potential side effects, IS there a drug I can take to not to worry then it sounds as headaches included. People stop me blushing? I’m quite if your case is mild. Leading a using omeprazole over the nervous in social situations healthy lifestyle will help to long term may have a slightly and go red any time I have to keep it under control.

Unfortunately The Doc can’t directly reply to individual letters. When in doubt speak to your GP