Q:Are cream biscuits and pastries bad for children?
A:They are high calorie foods made with refined flour, with a high sugar content. They are laden with trans fats and spiked with food colours. All these are unhealthy for both adults and children. With a little effort and the purchase of an oven, it is possible to make pastries, cakes and biscuits at home. That way you can use healthy ingredients and control the type and amount of calories and fat.
Going grey
Q:I am only 38 but my hair is already turning grey. Worse, my eyebrows are going white too. I recently used an expensive hair dye but it lead to the loss of a great deal of hair. The skin near the eyebrows started to itch too.
A:Many people turn prematurely grey. It may be genetic. The greying is probably aggravated by the chemicals we use on our hair.
If hair dyes disagree with you, apply a mixture of natural henna and indigo powder. A couple of hours later, wash your hair with a mild, “colour fast” shampoo. Zinc and calcium supplements may also help.
Taking a hit
Q:My cousin hit me on the back of the head four days ago. At that time I felt dizzy and was forced to sit down. I think I briefly lost consciousness.
A:If it really was a mild tap, you should have recovered within a few minutes. Since the symptoms have persisted for more than 24 hours, you might have suffered a mild concussion. Please consult a neurologist. He or she will test to see if there are other neurological malfunctions and then probably evaluate you further with a CT scan. Most people recover spontaneously in a few days from mild concussion and no treatment is required.
Losing hair
Q:I am a 35-year-old female who has suddenly started losing hair. So much so that parts of my scalp are now visible.
A:Normally, you lose around a 100 hairs a day. This loss does not cause the scalp to become visible. Increased hair loss can occur because of stress or illness. Rapid hair loss after a certain age may be hereditary. In this case, many members of the family, both male and female, have hair loss. It may be due to poor nutrition because of fad diets or illness. It may be due to diabetes, thyroid malfunction or hormonal imbalance. It may be because of medication taken for other diseases. There may be an infection in the scalp. Sometimes the body itself attacks the hair follicles and destroys them. As you can see, there are many reasons for this occurrence, all of which need to be evaluated. So go see a doctor.
Breathless
Q:I have had asthma for years. My parents are always telling me to rest and not exercise. I feel I am fat and unfit. My requirement of inhalors and medications has increased. I feel breathless all the time.
A:Recent studies published in the Thorax Journal have confirmed that aerobic exercise (walking, jogging, running, swimming) combined with breathing exercises increase lung capacity and reduce dependence on inhaled medication and tablets in asthmatic and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) patients. Forty minutes of activity and 20 minutes of breathing and flexion exercises daily is ideal. You also need to avoid tobacco smoke and other pollutants such as vapourising mosquito repellents.
Dr Gita Mathai is a paediatrician with a family practice at Vellore. Questions on health issues may be emailed to her at yourhealthgm@yahoo.co.in