The Doc Replies

I drink a glass of wine most evenings but have recently been troubled with acid indigestion. Is it the wine?

There are several things that can increase indigestion symptoms and alcohol is one of these. Other common factors can be stress, caffeine, spicy food and being overweight. The other common cause can be the use of anti inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen. I would suggest cutting down your alcohol intake initially and the use of over the counter indigestion remedies. If these measures don’t resolve your symptoms it might be best to see your GP.

What is leukoplakia? I have a lump in my mouth a friend said it could be this.

Leukoplakia is a condition where white patches appear on a mucus membrane such as the gum, but it can also appear on the tongue. Generally the lesions are not painful. They are usually slightly raised and have a faint red appearance. It will not be possible to remove the patches by either scraping or brushing. There are a number of other causes of white patches on the tongue and if anything has been present for more than two weeks then it would be sensible to see your dentist.

I had flu recently and since them have lost my sense of taste. Is this normal?

It can be quite common to lose your sense of taste after illnesses that affect your nose and upper respiratory tract. This can include flu, sinusitis and the common cold. For a sense of taste to function normally you require your sense of smell. It is actually the interruption to your sense of smell that causes the problem. This normally recovers within a few weeks.

Unfortunately the Doc can’t directly respond to each query, or guarantee a reply.