The Doc Replies

I was given antibiotics for a chest infection last year but when I returned last week with a similar condition the same doctor was reluctant to give me another prescription. Why might this be?

In many cases these illnesses are due to a virus which will not respond to an antibiotic. Bacteria are becoming resistant which means people with genuine illnesses requiring antibiotics will be harder to treat. It is important then that antibiotics are only prescribed when they are absolutely necessary.

I’ve been given statins. How do they work?

Statins are drugs which are used to reduce cholesterol levels. They work by inhibiting an enzyme involved in cholesterol synthesis, mainly in the liver.

I recently had my gall bladder removed. What does it do?

The gall bladder is a small sac which sits just under the liver and stores bile. Bile is manufactured in the liver and is used to digest fats in the gut. Some people can be prone to developing stones which can become lodged in the neck of the gall bladder which may cause bouts of pain, especially after fatty meals. I would imagine that this is why you have had your gall bladder removed.

I know it’s recommended we eat five portions of fruit and veg, but do potatoes count? I enjoy eating spuds and wondered if, say, two portions of them would count as two of my five a day.

Sorry to disappoint you but unfortunately potatoes don’t count as one of your five portions of fruit and veg per day. They are instead classified as carbohydrate.