Beware of rapid gains in waist size

Dear Dr. Roach: I am a 60-year-old female. My belly has blown up like a balloon. I have tried numerous exercises, and they all put a strain on my lower back and cause pain. Could you recommend an effective exercise? — G.B.

There is no exercise regimen that can specifically remove fat from one part of the body. It takes patience and lots of time, a healthy diet with appropriate portion sizes and regular exercise.

I am concerned to hear your belly has “blown up.” Very rapid gain in inches around the middle in a woman always makes me concerned about conditions that deposit fluid in the abdomen. Ovarian cancer is the most concerning, and although it isn’t very likely, it should be at least considered.

You should ask your doctor about an ultrasound or CT scan.

Dear Dr. Roach: I’m a healthy 70-year-old woman. I have been treated for high blood pressure with losartan and amlodipine. I noticed my blood pressure creeping up and a twitching in my thumbs. I was reading that amlodipine could cause muscle spasms. I had been taking it for years.

My doctor switched me to nifedipine. Now I have spasms all over. — S.D.T.

Muscle twitching or spasms can be caused by many different conditions. 70% of people will have episodes where certain muscles twitch. Small muscles seem to be common areas. The medical term is “fasciculation” and when it is not accompanied by other neurological issues, it rarely turns out to be a cause for concern.

There isn’t much information about calcium blockers causing fasciculations. Nifedipine is a very close cousin of amlodipine, so if one caused it, there’s a likelihood that the other one will.

If your doctor has performed a neurological exam and found nothing, you probably have little to worry about.