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

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

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?

Good plan, Ana.

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!

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 .

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!

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

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

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!

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!

I thought she answered my question well.

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

hi Rosemary. I have a question about vitamins and how effective they are. Are tbere any really important ones that you recommend i take over others? or is it better to just take a simple multivitamin? or none at all!!

mrsp

Disagreement with my husband about what is best to take for a bad cold. I say paracetamol. He says ibuprofen. Who is right?

There is no best treatment, both paracetamol and ibuprofen are excellent painkillers and can help reduce a fever but what works well for one person won't necessarily work well for another. Generally, ibuprofen has more side-effects and is not suitable for people who have problems with indigestion. It's also not a good idea for older people to take ibuprofen on a regular basis as it can cause fluid retention and make heart problems worse.

homeandaway

Hello Dr Rosemary

I find that I always put on weight during the winter months. I get that I am less likely to be out and about when the weather is bad and that "traditional" winter food is higher in calories than salads etc but would welcome some suggestions for keeping the extra pounds off this year.

Also - can I ask a question about BMI? Is it true that it's less important that we are constantly told? I was told this by a GP who told me not to lose any more weight when I dieted last year. I had lost two stone and was a size 12 and quite fit and things - but technically my BMI was very slightly over and so this surprised me.

Many people find they put on weight in the winter months simply because they are less active- it's much harder to go out for a brisk walk if it's cold and rainy. And only the brave play tennis in the UK in the winter!

It's also true that traditional winter food tends to be higher in calories than salads. However there are ways around this- last night we had venison casserole, but it contained more vegetables than meat and I served it with broccoli and green beans and no potatoes. The main things to avoid are puddings and cheese!

Exercise really does make a huge difference to weight control when you get older. So it's important to try and make sure you do something that makes you puffed for at least 20 minutes every day. This could be just walking faster to the next bus stop and not using the car when you nip out to the shops to get some milk.

Regarding BMI (body mass index), this is a measurement based on height and weight. 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. This can be particularly tough to keep it below this after the menopause, as lack of oestrogen, means you are more likely to gain weight in the abdominal area. Not only that, but your metabolism falls as you get older, making weight control even more difficult. So yet again, exercise is all-important.

Thank you for your reply.

rlak

I have quite dry skin and in the winter it gets so much worse - central heating to blame I presume. What do you recommend that doesn't cost a fortune?

Many people find that their skin becomes much more dry during the winter due to a combination of cold wind outside and central heating inside. In my opinion there is never any need to pay a fortune for skin creams unless it makes you feel good! I always recommend cheap basic brands that are suitable for sensitive skin. I personally use the Olay range, I slap on loads in the morning and evening. If I am not wearing makeup at the weekends, I put more on in the middle of the day!

cathymcd

From this time of year until spring I live in dread of norovirus aka winter vomiting bug

I would like to know

- best ways to protect yourself from getting it
- best ways to get over it if you do get it
- best ways to stop it spreading throughout the household
- best way to clean up vomit safely

Thank you!

Norovirus is the 'winter vomiting virus' which can cause sudden onset of persistent vomiting and diarrhoea. It's truly horrible and you feel absolutely dreadful but most people do get over it in 24-48 hours. The best way to protect yourself is to have scrupulous hand hygiene, washing your hands- especially before cooking and also keeping your hands away from your face. Chewing your cuticles after you have been using a shared computer at work, is an excellent way of giving yourself norovirus. Cleaning shared keyboards with alcohol wipes. Likewise if an infected grandchild has been playing on your iPad!

Both vomit and diarrhoea from an affected person is full of the virus so it does need to be cleaned up safely, wearing rubber gloves and then disinfecting the area afterwards.

jinglbellsfrocks

Many people experience SAD during the winter months and, of course, antidepressants are often prescribed for this. I have recently heard that all antidepressants are cardio-toxic to some degree. I find this very scary as I have been taking fluoxetine for several years now. Should I stop please?

Thank you.

Anti-depressants are generally extremely safe. The main ones that are prescribed are SSRIs, and in a large overdose there can be heart side-effects. However, in normal dosages, the commonly used ones such as fluoxetine, citalopram and sertraline are not cardio-toxic. They can make life much more bearable for a lot of people in the winter months, but obviously every individual needs to discuss their own situation with their GP.

how imortant is what you eat in terms of staying healthy? I don't mean junk food v non junk food - I mean specific foods offering specific benefits. At the moment i put kale in everything and try to include lots of spinach and quinoa in my diet. i'm vegetarian, so i do sometimes worry about getting enough iron as well