Chemically preserved grapes OK
Dear Doctors: I purchased a bag of green grapes. The bag stated that the grapes were treated with sulphur dioxide. Is this safe? — M.L.
Sulphur dioxide is used as a preservative, especially in dried fruits, but also in grapes (fresh and in winemaking). Sulphur dioxide is considered safe; however, some people are sensitive to it, and it may cause asthma symptoms in those who are predisposed. Washing the grapes in plain tap water is effective. Alternatively, you could buy organic grapes, which have much less pesticide residue than ones conventionally grown. But most people have no trouble with foods treated with sulphur dioxide. Dear Doctors: I take a 15-minute walk within a half-hour of rising, and more often than not, I experience intense lower-jaw pain, tooth pain and sometimes a headache in the back of my head. If I go to the gym, I can do 3045 minutes of non-stop aerobics with no pain! What’s going on? — A.
You might be experiencing pain in your temporomandibular joint. It’s in the jaw area. TMJ pain is very common and usually is worse on one side. The pain often is worst first thing in the morning because of its association with teeth clenching or grinding at night. Your dentist is your first stop to look for TMJ pain syndrome, and you also may need to see your internist or general practitioner. He or she should be able to diagnose why you have TMJ pain.
However, I also am concerned about the possibility of temporal arteritis, a much rarer condition caused by inflammation in the arteries in your head.
The fact that you can exercise more intensively without pain says this likely is not coming from your heart. Dear Doctors: I have seen “zigzags” in my eyes, and have been to the eye doctor three times and found nothing. I was stressed each time. — Anon
These sound like floaters. Floaters are bits of protein or cellular debris that seem to move around in the field of vision. They are common, and generally do not indicate that anything wrong. However, a sudden increase in the number of floaters, especially in the presence of visual changes such as flashing lights, can be a sign of a vitreous detachment or retinal detachment, which are eye emergencies.