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WITH THE RECENT OUTBREAKS OF HAND FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE (HFMD) AT CHILDCARE CENTRES, WHAT SIGNS SHOULD I LOOK OUT FOR IN MY 3-YEAROLD DAUGHTER?

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WELLNESS FOR ALL

My friend recently recommended a detox holiday where colonic irrigation is administered. She said that after a few treatments, she lost some weight and felt more energetic. Would you recommend colonic irrigation as a detox method? If so, what precautions should I take?

Colonic irrigation seems to be a drastic measure. No doubt this may prove to be psychologically gratifying in the first instance, but in the long-­‐run, the old adage “You are what you eat” still stands. It is certainly not what I would recommend as a quick-­‐fix solution.

Another thing to take note of is that this procedure can be associated with a risk of fatal intestinal perforation if not facilitated by a trained medical professional.

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The most common symptom of HFMD is a fever, without cough or runny nose. The fever is usually accompanied by small ulcers that develop right at the back of the throat, making it painful for the child to swallow.

Other signs to look out for are small “bubblelike” spots that appear on the palms of hands and soles of feet.

Parents should note that such spots that appear over the face and body are more indicative of chickenpox. In either case, a trip to the doctor and drinking plenty of water is advisable.

In the meantime, the affected child should stop attending school to lower the risk of possible transmissions to other young children, particularly infants.

Affected children should also avoid close contact with pregnant women.

My 55-year-old father was recently diagnosed with hypertension.

Are there any foods he should avoid eating? How about any activities he should avoid? The general advice for anyone with any medical condition is to maintain a balanced diet with an emphasis on cutting down on oily, sugary and salty foodstuffs. Hypertensive individuals should pay particular attention to this as their risk of developing high cholesterol and diabetes is increased.

There are some medications such as steroids which should be taken with caution in individuals with hypertension.

Assuming that the blood pressure is well-­‐controlled (with or without medication), normal activities may continue. Otherwise, it is best to avoid high-­‐intensity physical activities at work or during sports, such as lifting weights, doing bench presses, digging or any exercises that can cause chest pains or involve standing up quickly from the floor. If your father feels dizzy or experience discomfort in his chest, arms or throat while exercising, ask him to stop. In any case, it is a good idea to ask him to consult a doctor before he starts an exercise programme.

I recently turned vegetarian due to religious reasons. I’m a lacto-vegetarian and cannot eat garlic and onions. Do you have any advice on how I can transit from a normal diet to a vegetarian one without losing out on essential vitamins and minerals? As always, a balanced diet is neccessary. Protein is the essential component that is usually lacking in a strict vegetarian diet. Milk and soy products are good substitutes.

It is recommended that your intake of these foods is sufficient for as long as you are on a vegetarian diet. It may also be a good idea to take vitamin and mineral supplements on a daily basis.

If you adhere to the above advice, there is no need to transit slowly from one dietary type to another.

Will being deskbound for hours make me more at risk of developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or blood clots in my legs?

Will wearing compression tights at work help prevent this? If so, how do these tights help? Usually a person would have other predisposing medical conditions that increase the risk of DVT. These include having a pre-­‐existing blood disorder, various cancers, varicose veins or consumption of particular medications such as contraceptive pills.

The risk of DVT also increases when you are in a long-­‐haul flight because the environment on the plane is particularly dry, which results in passengers becoming dehydrated, which in turn thickens the blood. Also, on a long flight, there are fewer opportunities to move around which reduces blood circulation.

I would not recommend wearing compression tights at work unless you have existing varicose veins which are painful.

Tights can also be uncomfortable to wear for long stretches of time. I would recommend taking regular breaks at 60 or 90 minute intervals to get up from a seating position at the office.

At the same time, try to exercise regularly during your free time.

These simple measures will improve blood circulation in the legs.

Contributed by Dr Paul Tan Sze Hiang, MBBS, BSC Healthway Medical Group Healthway Medical Clinic, 443 Clementi Avenue 3 #01-63, Singapore 120443 Tel: 6872 2214 Fax: 6872 2216

Jul-Sep 43