The doc replies

I’m a woman of 60 who has started getting hair on my lip and chin. It’s quite embarrassing.

This is a common problem and there are various ways of dealing with it. Methods such as plucking or waxing are often used but are not permanent. Seeking the help of a beauty therapist if you need to have something more permanent might be preferable for you. They can advise on electrolysis or laser treatment.

After scans it was revealed I have an enlarged heart. What does this mean?

Enlarged hearts can sometimes be related to problems with the heart such as heart attacks or, more commonly, high blood pressure. In many cases patients do not have any symptoms but if it is more severe the heart may not be pumping efficiently. It is important to have a healthy lifestyle, to eat a healthy diet and take regular exercise as able – and to control your blood pressure with the right medication.

I had an op to remove kidney stones last year. I use a lot of salt – could this be to blame?

Kidney stones are usually caused by a build up of certain chemicals in the body such as calcium or uric acid. They can sometimes occur in people who have recurrent kidney or urinary infections. Certain medications can make you more prone and having a high-protein low-fibre diet can also cause problems. If you become dehydrated then you can be at a higher risk. It is unlikely that salt has caused it – but it’s not generally good for your health anyway. It is always a good idea to minimise your salt intake and to cut down adding additional salt to your food.