Astraphobia can be successfully treated

Q: My sister has always been quite fearful of thunder and lightning. During a lightning storm, she thinks the lightning is looking for her, so she ducks into the basement to hide. She’s married with a young child now. Is there anything we can do? — Brooke F., Chicago

A: It sounds like your sister has an anxiety disorder called astraphobia (“astrape” is Greek for “lightning,” and “phobos” is Greek for “fear”). Yes, there are effective cognitive behavioral treatments that can help her get over her condition. The process going forward is to have her talk to a trained therapist and find out more about her fears.

A good therapist might suggest keeping an anxiety journal and then reviewing it after a storm or storms pass through the area. He or she might also suggest your sister turn off her weather app and try mindful meditation.

The next part of the therapeutic process is a bit more complicated and must be implemented with guidance on a case-by-case basis. It involves learning to replace anxiety-driven, negative thoughts with fact- and evidence-based, positive thoughts.

Heading indoors or to a car during a lightning storm are good precautions. But having an overblown anxiety response to lightning and thunder is something that can be successfully treated.

Q: I heard that taking calcium supplements is a waste of time because they aren’t absorbed well. Is that true? — Matilda, Z., Clearwater, Florida

A: Your body needs calcium for strong teeth, proper blood clotting and heart, muscle and nerve health and strong bones. Unfortunately, only 50 percent to 60 percent of adults and 10 percent to 25 percent of adolescents in the U.S. get the recommended amount of calcium: 1,000 mg to 1,300 mg daily with 600 IU of vitamin D daily. That’s why it’s smart to get a blood test to check your blood level of the mineral and a bone mineral density scan.

Growing kids and pregnant and nursing moms can absorb 60 percent of dietary calcium, but folks over 50 absorb only around 30 percent, decreasing to 15 percent at older ages.

To preserve strong bones as you get older, you should exercise regularly and make sure to eat calcium-rich foods. We recommend you get your dietary calcium from low- and no-fat dairy products fortified with extra calcium and vitamin D. Take supplements only on your doc’s recommendation.

Email questions for Mehmet Oz and Mike Roizen to youdocsdaily@sharecare. com.