The Doc Replies

Are supplements like iron or Vitamin C tablets effective?

It depends. Vitamin C is used by many people to either prevent colds or help with symptoms. This has been studied a lot over the years and findings have been quite inconsistent. My advice would be to have a balanced, healthy diet with plenty of Vitamin C-rich foods. Iron supplements are often used to treat iron deficiency anaemia but I would always like to find out any cause of something like that. Some people take a multivitamin with iron and often feel they have more energy. I often have a stuffy nose and regularly use a nasal spray. Is there anything I can do to help it?

I’d need to know what type of spray it is. A stuffy nose can be part of a cold, but it can also be a result of sinus problems, or due to abnormalities within the lining of the nose such as polyps, or allergies. In the case of allergies or chronic allergic rhinitis, steroid sprays can be useful. However, decongestant sprays are not recommended for regular use as they tend to worsen symptoms if they are used for too long. What’s the best way to treat a dry scalp?

If your scalp is simply dry but there are no other abnormalities then a tar-based shampoo – which can be bought in the chemist – will be useful. They tend to have to be used for a while before they resolve the problem. You can, of course, get a scaly scalp from other medical conditions – most commonly either dermatitis or psoriasis. Occasionally fungal infections will also cause scaliness. If changing shampoos is ineffective I would suggest speaking to your GP.