The Doc Replies

Our expert answers your medical questions

My right nipple has been very sore to touch but no redness or swelling. I’m an 84-year-old man. Should I get this checked out?

The most common cause for sore nipples in men is chaffing, particularly caused by coarse fabrics, like wool sweaters, worn without a t-shirt underneath. It could be an infection but that is less likely if there is no redness. It’s important to check for underlying lumps. You can get benign lumps, sometimes caused by gynaecomastia, which is additional growth of the breast tissue.

You can also get eczema on the nipple but that would generally be itchy with a rash. In both men and women, a rash solely on the nipple can be a sign of Paget disease, which is a rare form of cancer, but that does not sound likely in this case. Most sensitivity around the nipple is innocuous but if it does not get better, you should see your GP.

Why do I feel tired after working at my desk all day?

You feel exhausted after overstimulating your brain, so it can be to do with chronic stress. Using your brain a lot, obviously, will make you tired. We’re now finding that mental fatigue or ‘brain fog’ is becoming much more common, probably due to the baseline stress that everybody is experiencing. Chronically stressed people can start to become overwhelmed and burnt out. If you work in a high stress environment, it can be worth thinking about if you need to change jobs.

Important ways to combat mental fatigue are exercise, healthy diet, getting enough sleep, and generally looking after your mental fitness. Mindfulness, being present, trying to stay positive, expressing gratitude and meditation, should help as well.

Why does my knee sometimes pop when I sit or move a certain way?

This could be the patella subluxing, which is a partial dislocation where the joint is slightly unstable and moves out of place. It might pop or click as it moves and feel a little uncomfortable when walking. This could be because the joint is generally loose or you’ve had an injury. It tends to get less painful over time but can damage the knee, so you should see a doctor to access the need for further investigation.

The Doc Replies

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