Winter health - webchat with Dr Rosemary Leonard (Mon 17 Nov)

joshjack

When I was young we were always encouraged to "sweat things out". Is this still advised? Since having my grandsons I have read so many things about stopping young children from overheating that it has made me wonder if it's advisable or not.

A fever is nature's way of killing off bacteria and viruses, and there is a theoretical argument for 'sweating things out'. The only reason for taking either paracetamol or ibuprofen for a fever, is to make yourself feel better and there is nothing wrong in doing that. The advice for young children now has changed and while it always used to be recommended to give paracetamol or ibuprofen immediately to stop a fever and prevent febrile convulsions, it is now only recommended if a child is clearly distressed, on the basis that the fever will help fight the infection.

Temperature control when you have a fever can be incredibly difficult, one moment you're boiling and the next you are freezing. The answer is to to try and be comfortable, so take covers on and off as required.

Brendawymms

A question if I may.
I cough each year from October to May. It's a dry cough from a tickle in my throat, lungs clear. I have had several asthma tests all negative. Told it's likely an allergy and prescribed anti histamines. Any other suggestions for those that get winter coughs.

In the summer months allergies from tree and grass pollens are very common, but in the winter month fungi are often to blame. Problems from fungi tend to be worse in mild, wet winters. Just what we are having at the moment! Anti-histamines should help and some people also benefit from inhaled steroids for this type of problem. That said, dry, tickly coughs can also be caused by acid reflux from the stomach. So if you ever suffer from heartburn please go back and see your GP.

Grannyfive

Does your TV fame mean that everywhere you go people ask you about their health? Does it drive you mad?!

Sitting here in the lovely Gransnet offices I am being bombarded with health questions! The other problem I have, is people come up to me in my local supermarket and I often don't know if they are my patients or not. I always try to be polite but my sons comment, 'You didn't have a clue who that was did you mum!'.

If I am in a hurry, I just can't answer people's questions and I also have to be extremely careful not to give specific advice as clearly I don't know as I am not allowed to do this and anyway it could be dangerous when you don't know someone's individual medical history.

Time for me to go, thanks so much for having me. It has been a pleasure answering all of your questions.

Best wishes,

Dr Rosemary

well sorry, but that wasn't very informative. All information that we could have got online.

Having just read through this I found the answers very well balanced and sensible.

I thought she answered my question well.

Now it's just a question of following the sensible advice.

I agree, sensible advice all round.

Except...

However I reckon a better measurement of health risk is your waist size and for women, it should be less than 31.5 inches measured around your tummy button.

I don't know about other GNetters, but my tummy button is definitely below my waist! If I measure round my waist, i.e. where I go in, it measures 29" - good. If I measure round my tummy button it's 34.5" - bad!

You still go in? Lucky you! My ribs have lowered themselves and now practically rest on my sticky-out belly. I don't think I can find my waist anymore.

Sexy eh!

Oh crikey; I hadn't picked up on that one. I'm doomed, doomed....

Hands up any GNrs who can reach the 31.5 goal without breaking the tape measure?

Not me.
I have seen that measurement somewhere else before.
Went and got my tape measure that time.
Not going to measure again, I dont thinks things will have changed that much from last time!

I'm 29 round my waist but 35 where my tummy button is and that's only an inch or so further down. Given that I'm quite short and small boned I doubt if there's any hope for anyone taller. I think we'd better ignore that one .

I'm quite tall and not overweight, and my measurements are very similar to yours, Tegan, so I reckon we should definitely ignore the tummy button guide advice!

Good plan, Ana.

Tegan I have puzzled over exactly what you have posted and my measurements are almost the same as yours so should we be worried or not?

Given that there's not an awful lot we can do about it, best to not worry methinks ...!