THE DOC REPLIES

I seem to have a problem swallowing pills. Do you have any tips?

Simple measures such as making sure you take the pills with a good drink of water or adding the pill to some yogurt or fruit puree can be helpful. Some people swear by leaning forward rather than tilting your head backwards. The pharmacist at your local chemist will be able to advise if other measures, such as crushing the tablet, dissolving it in water or opening the capsule are possible, but don’t do this without their advice.

I smoke a pipe but don’t inhale. Is this less harmful?

Smoking a pipe has an increased risk of cancer, heart disease and stroke. In relation to cancer, it is generally linked with an increased risk of bowel cancer, cancer of the gullet, cancer of the throat and mouth as well as cancer of the pancreas. However, if you do not inhale it is less likely to cause problems with the lungs, but you will still be exposed to harmful carcinogens.

I broke my big toe a couple of years ago. It seemed to heal fine but now the nail has become discoloured. Could it be related to the break?

It’s unlikely the discolouration of your toenail is related to a previous fracture a number of years ago. There are a number of other things that can cause discolouration of the toenails, including fungal nail infection –a topical treatment for this can be bought over the counter but can take up to a year to clear the problem. If you have concern that there is something other than a fungal nail infection, it may be worth seeking the advice of your GP.