Q: I read several articles that say that you should eat only when you are hungry.

A: It may not be practical to "eat only when hungry", especially if you are a student or working. Constant changes in the time when you eat may not be good for efficient functioning of your digestive system.

There have been studies to show that the old adage "Breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dine like a pauper", appears to be true. You are more likely to convert the food into sugar and fat deposits if you eat a "good meal" late at night or consume high calorie snacks after dinner. People who fasted for 12 hours between meals are likely to be slimmer and healthier.

Right dose

Q: How much paracetemol (acetaminophen) is it safe to take? When I have mild fever the doctor gives me 500mg tablets, and when I have high fever I take 650mg pills.

A: If your weight is 50kg or more, and you do not have any diseases (particularly liver problems), you can safely take up to four grams, or eight 500mg pills, in 24 hours. It is safer though to take just two grams, or four pills of 500mg each. If your fever does not respond, the cause of the fever (infection, inflammation) needs to be identified. Once specific antibiotics are added, the fever is more likely to respond. Children need 10-15 mg per kg per dose of paracetemol every 4-6 hours. Do not exceed five doses in 24 hours.

Parched

Q: My mouth is frequently dry and I find it difficult to speak.

A: A dry mouth may occur naturally as you grow older. This can make speech and swallowing difficult. It can also cause bad breath.

It may also be part of the spectrum of diabetes or an autoimmune disease (Sjögren's syndrome) where the body's white blood cells attack the salivary glands that keep the mouth moist. Smoking also aggravates a dry mouth. Carry a water bottle and take frequent sips. It will also help if you avoid tea, coffee and sugary juices.

No sweet surprise

Q: My friend went for a tooth extraction and found that her blood sugar was 465!

A: Diabetes can creep up on you without warning. The symptoms can be very subtle, like gain or loss of weight, thirst, increased appetite, frequent urinary tract infections and itching, particularly in the groin region.

Size matters

Q: What is the ideal waist size?

A: The chance of heart disease increases if the waist measures more than 35 inches in women and 40 in men. You can also calculate your BMI (body metabolic index). This is weight divided by height in metre squared. It should ideally be 23 and not more than 25.

Not too old

Q: I am a 50-year-old woman. When can I stop using contraception?

A: You can become pregnant at 50 (and it has happened to unwary women), and until you reach menopause. That is defined as 12 months without menstruating.

 

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