THE DOC REPLIES

IS it good for you to drink a you need to have a full glass of red wine every day? If assessment by an optician so, why? first.

The amount and the quality of what we should eat and I HAVE been told I have nasal drink is talked about in polyps. What are they? medical literature and in the Nasal polyps are lumpy press every day – and often areas within the passages of the advice seems to be the nose. They are often conflicting. In general, a small associated with allergy. The amount of alcohol is not bad symptoms are a blockage in for you and may actually be the nose which can include good for some aspects of discomfort, snoring, and poor your health. A small amount is sleep. Thankfully, polyps can usually the equivalent of one be treated with small drink taken on not more steroid-related medications or than five days per week. As surgery. well as being a relaxant, a COULD the beta blockers I’m little alcohol may be good for on be responsible for a your circulation. regular, annoying tingle I’m MY eyesight is beginning to feeling in my feet?

Beta blockers slow the degenerate. It’s fine at the

heart and lower the edges but I struggle to see

blood pressure, but things if I look directly at them.

they can also have What could it be?

an effect on the Your first stop is an

blood vessels appointment with an

especially in the optician. If it is a sudden

hands and feet. The change from usual then you

result can be that should seek urgent medical

the blood supply in attention, but if it is a gradual

the little blood vessels is deterioration you should see

not getting to the your optician. It may be

peripheral areas, such as the cataracts, which is a feet, as well as it should. This thickening of the lens and is can sometimes give cold I TAKE two vitamin C tablets a usually quite easily sorted. It extremities or even white, day but am beginning to may be glaucoma, which is slightly sore extremities. wonder if they have any pressure in the eye which effect. needs to be treated to I HAVE a forthcoming There is no need to take prevent deterioration. It could operation for my cataracts. vitamin C supplements if you be macular degeneration, What does it entail? have a good diet. We get which is a degeneration of A cataract is a cloudiness vitamin C in many products, the main visualising area of or a thickening in the lens of fruit and veg in particular. the retina. Sadly, the the eye. The light has to get in There is some evidence that treatments are not terribly through the front of the eye vitamin C tablets can reduce useful yet for this condition. If through the lens and into the the chance of catching colds you are a bit older, then your retina for our brain to or even possibly reduce the description would suggest perceive light and colour. If symptoms slightly. It certainly macular degeneration, but then lens becomes cloudy is not necessary, though.

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