GOUT – DIET AND OTHER TREATMENT

An excess of uric acid in the urine, especially if the volume is reduced, may lead to the formation of uric acid kidney stones. Apart from the severe pain produced by passing a stone, these can lead to obstruction and kidney damage.

Diet has always been a controversial factor in studying gout. Purines are the chemicals which readily break down to form uric acid, so food high in purine should be avoided. These include anchovies, liver, tongue, kidneys and sweetbreads.

Alcohol also has been controversial. It is now established that beer tends to precipitate an acute attack, as does red wine — but whisky appears to be free of blame.

An injury to the joint or the stress of an operation or acute infection may bring on an attack. Penicillin, aspirin, some diuretics (used for blood pressure or heart trouble and which remove fluid from the body) may all raise the uric acid levels.

In psoriasis, or some blood disorders like leukaemia where there is a rapid breakdown of cells, an excess of uric acid may result.

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Tags: General health

HYSTERECTOMY – DEPRESSION AND FATIGUE

Many times the depression and fatigue seen after hysterectomy were there before it and remain after removal of the womb has cured the other physical symptoms.

What is required to prevent the upsets in a woman’s emotional and sexual function following hysterectomy is better pre-operative preparation.

Every woman is entitled to a full explanation of what is wrong with her and what the doctor intends to do about it.

Following hysterectomy, the ovaries may not continue functioning beyond six months or so and so many women experience the symptoms associated with the menopause, including depression, hot flushes, headaches, tiredness, a dry vagina and often pain on intercourse.

There is no doubt that giving oestrogen to a menopausal woman will relieve most of these symptoms.

The big difficulty has been that prolonged treatment with oestrogen carries a considerable risk of causing cancer of the body of the womb. This risk is increased some five to seven times in those taking oestrogen beyond six months.

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Posted in General health
Tags: General health