THE spring clock change is approaching this Sunday, so it’s the perfect time to have a health reset.
Where would you like to be in three months’ time, in the full swing of summer?
You may want to readdress the goals that you set yourself at the start of the year.
If a new habit fell by the wayside, got boring or was too tough, make tweaks so it sticks.
As the days get longer, could you use it as an opportunity to exercise outdoors more often?
Cycle to work, walk home from the station or go for a light jog twice a week.
These things can all boost heart and lung health without being too taxing on the joints.
Just ensure you warm up and stretch afterwards. Ditch any comfort eating you did over winter and dip into fresh salads with lots of vegetables, or maybe you could commit to going booze-free for a few weeks.
There are so many ways to use the “spring in your step” to your health advantage.
Here’s a selection of readers’ questions this week . . .
CAN I TAKE TURMERIC?
Q) IN 2022, I had a new right hip.
Everything went well and I took Naproxen to help me manage the discomfort.
Two years ago, I had to have a diseased kidney removed.
Now my left hip is worsening, but I can’t take naproxen, which is bad for my remaining kidney.
I have been told that turmeric tablets can help with inflammation and manage pain for arthritis.
Would you recommend them?
I am 79, with type 2 diabetes, for which I take metformin, and I have controlled high blood pressure.
A) It sounds as though you’ve had quite a journey with your health.
You’re right that regular use of naproxen and similar anti-inflammatory tablets (NSAIDs) is usually avoided in people with a single kidney or reduced kidney function, as they can strain the kidneys and affect blood pressure.
Turmeric – more specifically its active component curcumin – has attracted interest because it has antiinflammatory properties.
Some studies suggest curcumin supplements can help reduce osteoarthritis pain and improve joint function in some people.
Arthritis charities also acknowledge that some patients report the benefit, although the research overall is still relatively small and varied in quality.
In other words, it isn’t a cure for arthritis, but it may help some people with symptom control.
As you have type 2 diabetes and a single kidney, I would advise you to check with your GP or pharmacist before starting any new supplement.
Curcumin is generally considered safe for most people, but supplements can sometimes interact with medicines or affect blood sugar levels.
If you decide to try it, look for a standardised curcumin supplement, often combined with black pepper extract (piperine), which helps the body absorb it more effectively.
Benefits, if they occur, usually develop gradually over a few weeks rather than immediately.
Other measures that can help manage hip osteoarthritis are strengthening exercises around the hip, physiotherapy, maintaining a healthy weight, supportive footwear and using heat, such as warm baths or heat packs.
Topical anti-inflammatory gels may also sometimes be used, as much less medication enters the bloodstream.
Q I’M 67 and have had pain in my right side for a couple of years. The discomfort can be severe.
I’ve had several tests, X-rays and scans, but still the cause has not been found.
I had my gallbladder removed ages ago, I pee a lot during the night and, two years ago, I had DVT in my left leg and stomach, which has since improved.
I’m on blood thinners, am type 2 diabetic and suffer from chest infections.
A) Ongoing pain without a clear answer can be particularly frustrating and worrying.
Pain on the right side that sometimes spreads to the back can have a number of causes.
Even without a gallbladder, people can still experience bile duct or digestive discomfort.
More commonly, this type of pain can come from the muscles and joints of the back or ribs, or sometimes from the spine itself.
These can cause persistent or intermittent pain that is difficult to pinpoint and a clear cause may not show up on X-rays.
Passing of urine frequently overnight (nocturia) may be a separate issue.
It’s common with type 2 diabetes, particularly if your blood sugar levels are high, but it can also be linked to bladder changes, sleep patterns or medications.
It’s reassuring that several investigations haven’t shown up anything serious for you.
Given your history of DVT, blood thinners and diabetes, it would certainly be reasonable to ask your GP for a review that looks at the whole picture, not just symptoms in isolation, now that all test results are available and certain things have been ruled out.
Keeping a pain diary can provide helpful clues – as can noting what tends to help alleviate symptoms.
Sometimes, a musculoskeletal cause will become clearer with a focused examination, and physiotherapy or targeted exercises can be of help.
Do seek a review sooner if the pain becomes constant, significantly
worse or is associated with weight loss, fever or changes in bowel or
bladder function.
While it’s frustrating not to have a clear diagnosis, many long-standing pains like this are ultimately manageable once the underlying pattern is better understood.
Will vitamins help after cancner?
Q) I’M 62 and had my whole thyroid removed in 2023 due to papillary cancer. I take 125mg levothyroxine.
Would I benefit from taking vitamins? And if so, which ones should I look at? My doctors never mentioned it.
After surgery, my calcium levels were OK.
A) It sounds as though you’ve been through a lot, and it’s good to hear your calcium levels have remained stable after your surgery, which is an important part of recovery after thyroid removal.
When the thyroid is removed, levothyroxine, which replaces the hormone it produces, is enough for most people.
If your blood tests are in range and you are feeling well, there isn’t usually a need for routine vitamin supplementation purely because of thyroid surgery.
But as we get older, there are a few nutrients worth considering.
Vitamin D is one of the most important, particularly in the UK, where sunlight levels are limited for much of the year.
It supports bone health and immune function.
Calcium is only usually needed if levels are low, and is best obtained through diet unless advised otherwise.
The best calcium-rich foods include dairy products (milk, cheese, yoghurt), sardines with bones, tofu and leafy greens.
If your diet is varied and balanced, you should get most other vitamins, but if you are vegan, vegetarian or don’t eat any fish, some should be considered.
Standard multivitamins aren’t essential for everyone, but can be considered.
One practical point is that supplements containing calcium or iron can interfere with how levothyroxine is absorbed.
If you do take them, they should be taken at least four hours apart from your thyroid medication.
If you’re feeling well and your thyroid levels are stable, you’re likely already doing the right things.
If you have concerns about energy levels, bone health or diet, a discussion with your GP will help.
