THE DOC REPLIES

I often read about superfoods. Is this a fancy name or is there something in these foods which make them “super” compared with ordinary grub?

“Superfood” is a fancy name created by marketing agencies to relabel and repackage types of food which have been known for centuries to be healthy. Typically, such foods are found in the Mediterranean diet and are rich in antioxidants, vitamins and nutrients. They typically include naturally-grown tomatoes, olives and most fresh fruit and veg. These are all “super” and I’d encouraged everyone to eat them.

I lost a testicle as a younger man due to cancer. Is it possible to have an implant?

An implant would have no functional activity in terms of producing higher sperm or testosterone. The remaining testicle usually takes over both functions adequately. So it really is a personal choice for the man whether to have one fitted. Any “gain” in feeling whole again can be offset by a dragging sensation and the risk of infection from the implant procedure.

MY eyelid has begun to droop. The rest of my face seems fine. I’m 70 and otherwise feel OK.

You should go to your GP in case a nerve supplying the eyelid has been damaged and to rule out any possibility of a stroke. Your doctor can also check for a condition called myasthenia gravis whereby the muscles become weak, starting with the eyelids.

I’M scheduled to go for dialysis soon. How will it affect my daily activities? Will I be able to play bowls, for instance?

Starting renal dialysis is life-changing. You will have access to counselling and support from the dialysis team. Haemodyialysis involves making a shunt – usually on the wrist – so that dialysis needles can be inserted. If you are right-handed this would be fashioned in your left arm so that you could still play bowls. For peritoneal dialysis, a special tube is inserted into the abdomen. This might impair crouching down but generally most activities are still possible.

MY 20-year-old nephew has been told he has arthritis in his knee. Can this be correct? He seems very young for arthritis.

Wear-and-tear arthritis can happen even in 20-year-olds if subjected to repeated strain, including high-impact sports such as rugby. It can be a result of certain jobs, too. Infective causes of knee arthritis are rare but possible.

DOES Viagra have side effects? I believe it gives me migraines. Are there any alternatives?

Sildenafil, the name of the drug in Viagra, diverts blood from the central circulation out to the periphery, especially the sexual organs in response to stimulation. It frequently causes facial flushing and headaches – including migraine. There are several alternative drugs but all work in a similar way. One with a more gradual onset, such as Tadalafil, might be an option.

HOW do I know if I have something called Addison’s Disease? A friend says I have the symptoms.

We all feel fatigued at some point in our lives. Googling these symptoms will return Addison’s Disease, or a deficiency of the renal hormones, as a possible cause. A blood test can be used to check for this. However, common sense tells most patients and GPs to look for other, more plausible explanations for symptoms.

ONE of my fingernails recently became painful and fell off. I didn’t hit it off anything. Any ideas what this could be?

Injury is the most common reason why a single fingernail would fall off. Often a foreign body or a splinter becomes trapped under the nail. If there are any dark or pigmented areas under the nail then you should have these checked. A melanoma is a possibility, although it’s a very remote one.