Every day, your body sends out signals to let you know if it is doing well or should it need some extra attention.

Sometimes, our body reacts in a way that we are too embarrassed to talk about. Like the boil that appeared on your armpit and you’re painfully trying to hide it or the fact that your private part feels so itchy and you’re squeezing your inner thighs so tight because you don’t want to show it but yet, despite feeling so uncomfortable, you’re still embarrassed to ask an expert about it.

1. I’m A Male, 60 Years Old, And I Have Been Going To The Toilet More Frequently. What’s Wrong With Me?

Frequent urination can be caused by lifestyle habits such as drinking a lot of fluids, especially if they contain caffeine, alcohol or if you’re taking medications such as diuretics. However, few underlying medical conditions can also cause frequent urination and early identification of the problem is important for effective treatment and complications preventions. This includes urinary tract infection (UTI), diabetes mellitus, a change in kidney function, benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) (men), etc. Therefore, it’s important to undergo diagnostic tests to determine the cause of the frequent urination before starting treatment.

2. I Have A Yeast Infection Almost Every Two Months. What Can I Do To Stop It?

Recurrent yeast infections may be caused by several factors. The most common cause is the overuse of antibiotics. Frequent antibiotic use decreases the microorganisms protecting the vagina and allows the colonisation of yeast and the risk of a yeast infection increases with the duration of antibiotic use.

Secondly, the use of contraceptive pills, spermicidal jellies and creams has also shown to increase the risk of recurrent yeast infection. Diabetes mellitus is also often considered a predisposing factor and therefore, you are recommended to get tested for diabetes.

Thirdly, perspiration associated with tightly fitted clothes or poorly ventilated underwear increases local temperature and moisture, which creates a favorable environment for yeast colonisation. You can talk to your doctor to put you on a prophylaxis treatment with anti-fungal against yeast infection. Besides that, you can try natural remedies such as probiotic supplements and taking preventive steps such as by wearing the right clothes and practice good hygiene.

3. It’s Burning Every Time I Pee! What Can I Do About It?

Burning urination is commonly due to bacterial infection of the urinary tract affecting the bladder and this condition is known as lower urinary tract infection (UTI). It can be accompanied by other symptoms such as weak urine stream or incomplete urination, cloudy or dark urine etc. Mild cases can be treated taking urine alkalisers or supplements such as cranberries.

It’s also important to drink plenty of water (1.5 to 2 litres) as it helps with flushing the bacteria out of your system. In the event your symptoms persist, it’s advisable to pay a visit to a doctor for a detailed examination and a course of antibiotics if needed.

4. What Is Polypharmacy? Who’s At Risk Of This?

Polypharmacy is the use of multiple medications, usually five or more concurrently. Sometimes more than one drug is prescribed for one condition, which is also known as polypharmacy. This includes prescribed medications, over the counter (OTC) medications and complementary medicines. Polypharmacy is more common among elderly patients because they usually have several medical conditions and therefore are often prescribed with a number of medications.

5. I Have A Painful Boil Under My Armpit. Is It Because I’m Dirty?

A boil or also known as furuncle in medical terms is a skin infection caused by Staphylococcus Aureus and it usually starts in a hair follicle or oil gland. It develops more commonly on areas where there’s a combination of hair, sweat and friction, such as the neck, armpits, face or thighs.  Everyone has Staphylococcus Aureus on their skin as a normal occurrence and it is not because you’re dirty.

Staphylococcus Aureus will enter your bloodstream thru an open wound such as a scratch or a cut and causes infection which is presented as boil. Most of the time, boils do not need treatment unless it remains large, unruptured, or very painful for more than two weeks. One of the best ways to speed up the healing process is to apply a clean warm cloth to the boil for 10 minutes, three or four times a day. When the boil bursts, cover it with sterile gauze to prevent the spread of infection. You can also visit a nearby pharmacy to obtain painkillers to help relieve any pain caused by the boil.

6. I’m Taking A New Supplement And I’m Feeling Constipated. Is This A Side Effect Or Just A Coincidence?

Some supplements do make you constipated. For example, constipation is very common with high doses of iron supplement, which is used to treat iron deficient anemia. If you experience constipation with iron supplements, you might consider taking liquid form of iron supplement. To avoid constipation, you might want to increase the amount of fiber in your diet. Another supplement commonly associated with constipation is calcium. You can avoid this by taking calcium in divided doses with meals.

7. I’ve Heard People Say That Drugs (Medicines) Are Dangerous And We Should Opt To Treat Ourselves Naturally Such As Consuming Just Supplements And Herbs. Is This True?

Drugs or better still, medicines are generally safe when used as prescribed or as directed by your doctor or pharmacist. However, you can still take natural supplements but please do consult your pharmacist before consuming such supplements. A pharmacist will advise you on what supplements are suitable according to your health condition.

Besides that, a pharmacist will also need to look at your medical and medication history to ensure that there are no interactions between the supplements and the medications that you have been already taking.

8. I See The Word ’Superfood’ A Lot In Advertisements And On Product Labels. What Are These ‘Superfoods’?

Though there is no legal or medical definition, ‘superfoods’ are nutrient powerhouses that pack large doses of antioxidants, polyphenols, vitamins, and minerals. There are no standard criteria or approved list of ‘superfoods’. These so-called ‘superfood’ usually consist of whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds, fatty fish, fruits and veggies.