The Doc Replies
Our expert answers your medical questions
I am prone to daydreaming and find it hard to concentrate at work or even in social situations. I have heard this could be a result of a condition like ADHD – should I be worried?
To be diagnosed with ADHD you would have to be assessed by an expert. If someone looks at a questionnaire or symptom list, and sees that it causes an inability to concentrate or focus at work, they might think they have it. But the criteria for having ADHD are strict, and there might be other reasons why you feel the way you do.
Other mental health disorders have to be ruled out. For example, if someone is stressed and anxious they may have trouble sitting still or concentrating. You can still seek and get help for those things, be it counselling or meditations or even anti-anxiety or anti-depression medication. If someone is assessed and it is found they do have ADHD, there is possible medication but these are amphetamine-type drugs and the patient has to be closely monitored while on them – it is not something to undertake lightly.
I enjoy a glass of red wine every night because I read it was good for me. Now I hear that it is bad for me – what is the truth?
The risks probably outweigh the benefits. Red wine does contain some antioxidants but so do other foods without the negative drawbacks of alcohol. The recommended weekly alcohol limit is 14 units, which is around six medium glasses of wine. So if you do drink a glass of wine every night you are exceeding the limit.
I want to become a vegetarian but I am afraid I will no longer get all the nutrients I need. What do I need to think about before transitioning to a vegetarian diet?
Plant-based diets can reduce risks of high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. However, it’s worth doing a bit of research. Most people in Scotland should take vitamin D supplements in the winter, unless they eat a lot of oily fish. Iron can also be an issue for vegetarians, as the body can absorb iron from animal food better than from plant food. Vegans will need to supplement vitamin B12.