I’ve noticed that the skin on my shins has gone shiny. It doesn’t hurt but it looks odd – should I be worried?
Dr Ellie Cannon replies: Shiny skin on the shins may be a sign of a condition called peripheral arterial disease.
Also known as peripheral vascular disease, the condition occurs when blood circulation in the legs becomes poor, usually due to a build-up of fatty deposits in the leg arteries.
Patients often also experience a loss of leg hair, changes to the toenails and paler skin. Some report leg pain, though this tends to occur during exercise.
The condition is more common in people with heart problems as well as smokers. There is no cure, but the symptoms can be reduced through lifestyle changes such as exercise and quitting smoking.
Left untreated, peripheral vascular disease can lead to life-threatening complications like stroke and heart attack. A GP can arrange tests of the leg arteries.
Shiny skin can sometimes be a sign of a skin disease, such as scleroderma, which causes it to tighten and harden. Overuse of steroid creams, usually for problems such as psoriasis, can also lead to thin and shiny skin.
Peripheral arterial disease or peripheral vascular disease occurs when blood circulation in the legs becomes poor, usually due to a build-up of fatty deposits in the leg arteries
I’m 82 and I’ve developed an embarrassing constant need to pass wind. It’s got to the point where I’m ashamed to leave the house. I haven’t made any changes to my diet. What should I do?
Dr Ellie Cannon: Any unexplained changes in bowel movements, including increased flatulence, merits an urgent appointment with a GP.
This is because the symptoms can indicate something as serious as bowel cancer.
A GP would likely carry out an examination for signs of lumps in the abdomen, and usually order a faecal immunochemical test (FIT) – an at-home test that involves collecting a small sample of poo to look for tiny traces of blood that may be invisible to the naked eye.
If it comes back positive, the next step is a colonoscopy, a test where a thin tube with a camera is inserted into the bottom to look for signs of cancer in the bowels.
However, there are other causes for flatulence. The control of the bowels is governed by the sphincter, the tight ring of muscle that controls the clenching and unclenching of the anus. If this becomes damaged, then flatulence can get worse.
This might happen as a result of radiotherapy for prostate cancer or after surgery to remove piles.
Ulcerative colitis, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease, can also cause flatulence. However, this would usually also trigger tummy pain and diarrhoea.
It can also be caused by a very common stomach infection called helicobacter pylori, which a GP can test for and provide treatment if necessary.
Although changes in diet can trigger excess wind, so too can consuming fizzy drinks and chewing gum. Strangely, loose-fitting dentures can lead to the problem – this is because people who wear them tend to swallow more air and also don’t chew their food as well.
It can sometimes be a side effect of medicines, including anti-fungal treatments, statins and even over-the-counter painkillers such as ibuprofen.
Some studies have shown that patients who regularly consume extra virgin olive oil have lower levels of pain
I have rheumatoid arthritis and I’ve heard that extra virgin olive oil could help relieve some of the symptoms. Is this true?
Dr Ellie Cannon replies: There is some evidence that taking a few tablespoons of olive oil each day may help patients with rheumatoid arthritis – but the effect is, at best, minor.
Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when the immune system mistakenly begins attacking healthy joint tissue. It is incurable, but there are drugs that are effective at reducing the painful symptoms.
Some studies have shown that patients who regularly consume extra virgin olive oil have lower levels of pain. Some proponents claim this is because olive oil contains high levels of polyphenols, a compound thought to have anti-inflammatory properties. They also argue that this is the reason why the Mediterranean diet – which is linked to numerous health benefits – seems to also help improve arthritis symptoms.
However, the evidence is nowhere near strong enough for the NHS to recommend olive oil as a treatment. And it’s possible the reason this diet appears to help is that it is also high in other healthy ingredients, such as fruit, vegetables and oily fish, and low in unhealthy produce such as red meat.
However, there is no harm in consuming a daily spoonful of extra virgin olive oil, although it’s important to remember that it is a fat and is high in calories, so patient should limit how much they consume.
Along with medication, the NHS recommends that rheumatoid arthritis patients regularly exercise – typically low-impact sport activities such as swimming, cycling, walking or aqua aerobics. Eating healthily is also recommended – this might involve following the Mediterranean diet.
Maybe magnesium is a marvel after all..
I used to be sceptical of the supplement magnesium, but a recent experience of its effects has changed my opinion.
It seems to be the supplement of the moment. It’s all over my social media and there are countless magnesium products on sale in pharmacies. Usually taken as a tablet or spray, magnesium is often promoted as a sleep aid, but there is very little evidence to prove this.
However, my husband recently started taking it. He has periodic limb movement disorder – where the arms and legs move around in the night. He doesn’t realise he’s doing it, but, as you can imagine, I find it annoying. But since he began taking a magnesium tablet before bed, the limb movement has stopped. It makes me wonder whether there may be more benefits to magnesium than doctors realise.
Have you seen your sleep – or health more generally – improve since taking magnesium? Write and let me know.
How do you control UTI pain?
I worry that many women who suffer from regular bladder infections do not realise that certain food and drink can make the painful problem worse.
Also known as a urinary tract infection (UTI), the problem affects millions – the majority of whom are women. It can also become chronic, meaning infections repeatedly return.
UTIs are caused by bacteria, but there is now research that shows certain products can irritate the bladder, making the infections more excruciating.
These include spicy foods, artificial sweeteners, processed foods and alcohol. Equally, there are items that appear to soothe the bladder. These include cranberry juice, but also water-rich fruits such as pears, herbal teas and foods rich in good bacteria, such as kefir.
Have you found that certain food and drinks affect your UTI symptoms? Please contact me using the email to the right.
