I am 64 years old and have suffered from urinary tract infections (UTIs) since my teens. My daughter now also suffers, as does my niece. Is this genetic? And I’ve read that eliminating sweeteners could help. That’s right?
Recurrent UTIs are very common, especially in older women. Doctors typically diagnose them in someone who experiences the problem at least three times a year.
We know that women are at greater risk if their mother had the same problem and if they contracted many infections during childhood.
We see more urinary tract infections in women with incontinence and bladder problems that arise after menopause. Those who frequently use catheters are also at higher risk. Constipation can also increase your chances of getting a UTI. This is because it puts pressure on the bladder, preventing it from emptying completely, and the more urine left in the bladder for long periods, the greater the risk of infection.
Recurrent UTIs are very common, especially in older women. Doctors typically diagnose them in someone who experiences the problem at least three times a year.
It is important to stay well hydrated and always go to the bathroom when you feel the need. However, certain intimate cleanliness habits and wearing tight underwear can make things worse.
Some women will benefit from taking a preventative antibiotic. This can be used every night or when there is a known trigger, for example after sex.
Lifestyle changes can also help. It’s true that sweeteners in foods and drinks can irritate the bladder and worsen symptoms. This is also the case with caffeinated and carbonated drinks. It may be worth doing without them for a while to see if it makes a difference.
A supplement called D-mannose is often used to prevent urinary tract infections, but there is limited scientific data to show that it works. Another that could help is Hiprex, which can be prescribed by a GP.
I contacted my primary care doctor to help me with my swollen and painful creaking knees. The nurse said it was osteoarthritis and prescribed ibuprofen gel. A physical therapist said there was nothing that could be done to help because, at 74, I am “too old.” I had a joint scraped once, which helped. Don’t doctors do this anymore?
If a patient is not satisfied with the treatment they receive, one option is to ask for a second opinion. Many GP surgeries have a range of healthcare professionals, such as physiotherapists and nurses, who may see a patient before a doctor. They are highly trained and specialist, but patients still have the right to speak to a GP and ask if there is an alternative course of action.
More from Dr Ellie Cannon for The Mail on Sunday…
Osteoarthritis is age-related degeneration of the joints. It tends to cause pain related to movement, as well as noisy joints and stiffness that can interfere with daily activities.
Knee osteoarthritis often improves without treatment, but it can worsen. In fact, this condition is the most common cause of knee replacements in the UK.
Guidelines for doctors state that a patient’s age is not a reason to refuse a referral for treatment, which would be a knee replacement or arthroscopy, where a small camera is inserted into the joint to help scrape away loose tissue or bone. .
Both are performed by an orthopedic surgeon.
The latter would be suitable for someone who has significant pain or stiffness that affects their quality of life. Experts agree that these referrals should be made before symptoms get much worse.
It may be overwhelming, but exercising is important for people with knee arthritis. Physical activity keeps your joints moving and strengthens the muscles that support them.
It hurts a lot when I go to the bathroom to defecate. I try hard not to strain, but I end up with a burning, stabbing pain that lasts for hours and makes it difficult to sit up. Is there any cream I can use? I am very embarrassed to talk to a pharmacist.
Yo I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to talk to a pharmacist or doctor, no matter how embarrassing something may seem.
Talking about symptoms related to the anus or genitals can be very uncomfortable, especially for people of a certain age. But it is important to seek medical help to avoid missing a serious diagnosis.
Pain when defecating can be due to a number of underlying problems: hemorrhoids, a fissure, an abscess or infections, for example. There may be a problem that affects the anatomy of the area or an internal problem in the lowest part of the intestine, called the rectum.
A fissure is a common cause of pain when opening the intestines. It is a tear in the tissue of the anus. The pain is usually intense and can last for hours.
There is not always an obvious cause, but fissures can be related to constipation, an underlying intestinal disease such as Crohn’s disease, as well as infections such as herpes. In some cases, the injury resolves on its own within a couple of weeks, but it may take longer.
Making sure stools are soft is vital to healing. This can be achieved by drinking plenty of water, eating plenty of fiber, and using laxatives if necessary. Pain relievers, such as ibuprofen, can help relieve pain, as can sitting in a warm, shallow bath after using the bathroom.
Doctors may also prescribe a numbing cream that can be used on the area, called GTN, which is applied twice a day for up to two months to help the fissure heal.
Don’t follow the crazy sun-gazing trend on TikTok
Some health tips are so obvious that they are not worth saying. For example, don’t look directly at the sun. But, believe it or not, some TikTok users seem to recommend the exact opposite, claiming that it can improve vision.
The trend even has a name: looking at the sun. And these videos are getting hundreds of thousands of views.
I suspect that if you need to be told not to do this, it might be the least of your worries. But if you have any doubts, in the short term you will end up with retinal damage and, in the longer term, cataracts. Just don’t do it.
Some health tips are so obvious that they are not worth saying. Don’t look directly at the sun, for example.
It’s this kind of absurdity that led me to turn off all social media for 24 hours last week.
I would recommend it to anyone who is feeling stressed or needs a break. Unsurprisingly, I found that I felt less anxious, less stressed, and tangibly happier. Staying informed doesn’t mean having to be online all day.
I also had time to check on some friends on the phone, which is much healthier than commuting.
You have a cold? Don’t go to the emergency room
Emergency departments are seeing an increase in the number of patients presenting with sore throats, coughs, earaches and even insomnia. There are also people who go to the hospital with hiccups, back pain and stomach problems.
Miriam Deakin, a senior figure at NHS Providers, said these cases were “piling pressure on an already stretched emergency service”.
I can’t say I’m surprised by the situation. There are not enough dentists or GPs, so when people can’t get an appointment there is nowhere else to go but the hospital.
But there also seems to be some very basic knowledge missing on how to manage minor ailments at home.
Would you feel the need to go to the doctor, much less the ER, with a sore throat? And what would you do to solve this problem?
Email me at the address on the right and let me know.
