I am an 80 year old man and I started having hot flashes.
This happens seemingly at random. It’s so bad that my face is covered in sweat and my shirt sticks to my back. They did a blood test but it didn’t show anything abnormal. What could be the problem?
Dr. Ellie Cannon responds: Sweating or redness should always be monitored by a doctor. Menopausal women are expected to experience hot flashes (due to a drop in the female hormone estrogen), but for everyone else it can be a worrying sign.
Excessive sweating can also be a sign of thyroid disease.
One possible cause is rosacea skin condition. This can cause an intense feeling of heat and redness, usually in the face, but it can also cause sweating.
Some people also sweat in response to certain foods, as well as alcohol and caffeine. Anyone who begins to experience this symptom may want to keep a food diary to see if any particular items trigger sweating.
Excessive sweating can also be a sign of thyroid disease, a problem in the butterfly-shaped gland in the neck that helps regulate the body’s metabolism.
Other symptoms may include tiredness, weight gain, depression, and muscle aches.
In rare cases, sweating can be a sign of cancer. Certain blood cancers are related to the symptom and are more common in people over 80 years of age. A GP can arrange blood tests to look for signs of cancer and can also look at other possible causes of the uncomfortable problem.
I am a woman in my 70s and recently my bowel movements have changed. Now I need to defecate every time I urinate and I also have some discharge. A colonoscopy shows I have a mild case of diverticulitis but I haven’t been advised what to do. What would you recommend?
Dr. Ellie answers: First of all, anyone who experiences a change in bowel habit should consult a doctor.
This is because it can be a sign of colorectal cancer. A GP would normally carry out a stool sample test to look for this. However, one of the most common causes is diverticulosis, a condition in which small pouches develop in the lining of the intestine. This can trap some of the waste inside the intestines, causing inflammation and even infections.
It usually occurs in older ages and is related to a low-fiber diet. Symptoms also typically include stomach pain, constipation, diarrhea, bloody stools, and bloating.
Passing mucus, also known as discharge, is another symptom, but it is usually a sign that the condition is serious, not mild.
Anyone experiencing this symptom should see their GP, even if they were recently diagnosed, because it could suggest that the intestines have become inflamed, which would require medical treatment.
However, one of the most important steps diverticulosis patients can take is to increase the amount of fiber in their diet.
This softens and bulks up the waste, making it less likely to get trapped in the bags. Foods rich in fiber include legumes, whole-grain bread, brown rice, whole-grain pasta, potatoes with skin, as well as vegetables and fruits.
GPs may also prescribe laxatives to help with constipation and diarrhea, as well as pain relievers for stomach cramps.
I recently returned from a seven-week cruise and since then I have felt a rocking sensation, as if I were still at sea. I’ve read that it’s called disembarkation syndrome, but most people apparently only have it for a week at most. How can I make it stop?
Dr. Ellie answers: Disembarkation syndrome is a rare problem that is usually related to spending a long period of time on a ship.
People experience rocking or swaying sensations even when they are still.
It can cause sufferers to feel unbalanced and even cause falls or accidents.
It is believed to be caused by changes in the inner ear, which helps balance the body.
When people spend a lot of time on a boat, the inner ear sends signals to the brain to help the body adapt to its irregular movement. After returning to dry land, the inner ear should readjust.
However, for a small number of people this does not happen, meaning that the body still believes that the ground is in constant motion.
Disembarkation syndrome is more common in women and those who suffer from migraines.
For most of those affected, it should go away within a few weeks, but it can also last up to a year. Unfortunately, there is no proven treatment for it and motion sickness pills don’t work.
There is some evidence that antidepressants can help, which a GP can prescribe.
There are also special exercises, called vestibular rehabilitation, that can help retrain the inner ear.
These can be provided by a physical therapist who specializes in treating neurological or balance problems.
Diet and exercise are better than fat hits
In the US there are huge billboards for private companies selling weight loss vaccines.
Last week I visited my family in the US and was surprised at how widespread the use of weight loss medications is there.
Revolutionary injections like Wegovy and Mounjaro help patients lose up to 15 percent of their body weight.
However, I have long doubted that these drugs are a panacea against obesity. Patients have to continue receiving the expensive injections to maintain weight.
A good diet and exercise are a much more sustainable solution.
Everywhere you go in the United States, there are now huge billboards advertising private companies selling the shots over the Internet.
There is even a television commercial about beating that is so prevalent that everyone in my family could recite the jingle by heart.
It’s not too surprising given that research shows that one in eight adults has tried one of these injections.
But despite this, most Americans still eat huge portions at every meal, regularly drink sugary soft drinks, and consume too much red meat.
There is an important lesson here for the UK. Yes, the NHS should offer these drugs, but it is crucial that the government takes other measures to tackle obesity alongside this approach, such as taxing fast food and ensuring all children participate in school sports.
It’s never too late for therapy
Have you ever considered therapy? For many people, especially those older, talking to a stranger about their problems can be a rather unpleasant idea.
However, I was struck by a recent conversation I had with an elderly patient who began talk therapy.
The man had ended up in the hospital with a serious illness and, for a time, it seemed that he would not survive.
While recovering from a long stay in intensive care, he was advised that therapy could help him overcome the traumatic experience.
I had never considered it as an option before and doubted it would be useful. But he told me that it changed his life.
Not only did it help him ease the mental trauma of his illness, it also helped him come to terms with the depression and anxiety he had been secretly dealing with for decades.
It made me wonder whether many GPs mistakenly believe that there is no point in suggesting that older people take part in therapy.
Have you received therapy at an older age? Did it help? Write to me and let me know.
Do you have any questions for Dr. Ellie Cannon? Email DrEllie@mailonsunday.co.uk
Dr. Cannon cannot engage in personal correspondence and her responses should be taken in a general context.
