Dr. Zoe, a Sun columnist, reflects on a year of answering readers’ health questions, expressing gratitude for the positive feedback and life-changing impacts her advice has had. One reader, for example, received a crucial double heart valve bypass after Dr. Zoe urged her to seek immediate medical attention for exertion-related chest pain. While most queries involve manageable ailments, Dr. Zoe emphasizes the importance of seeking professional reassurance when needed, encouraging readers to continue submitting their health concerns in the new year.
This week’s selection of reader questions begins with an 80-year-old man experiencing persistent calf pain since August. Initially, a nurse practitioner ruled out a blood clot using a Doppler test. However, five months later, the pain persists, affecting his mobility and impacting his quality of life. Dr. Zoe explains that sudden calf pain often raises concerns about Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) due to its potential life-threatening nature if left untreated. While the absence of a DVT is reassuring, other potential causes include issues with the calf muscle, Achilles tendon, knee, or sciatica, where lower back problems manifest as calf pain. Dr. Zoe recommends a thorough assessment by a physiotherapist, potentially through a specialized multidisciplinary clinic (MCATs), to pinpoint the cause and determine the necessity of further imaging.
Another reader describes experiencing essential tremor, a neurological condition characterized by uncontrollable shaking, primarily in the hands. This individual, aged 76 and maintaining an active lifestyle, feels shaking in their stomach as well and expresses increased anxiety. While taking beta blockers, a common treatment for essential tremor, they seek further relief and have heard about focused ultrasound therapy. Dr. Zoe differentiates essential tremor from Parkinson’s disease, noting that the former worsens with hand use (action tremor) while the latter is more pronounced at rest (resting tremor). She explains that essential tremor can affect other body parts, including the trunk, potentially explaining the abdominal shaking sensation. While beta blockers and primidone are first-line treatments, other options include sedatives, Botox injections, and focused ultrasound, a surgical procedure that ablates specific brain cells. Dr. Zoe recommends consulting a neurologist to explore suitable treatment options and also suggests an assessment for anxiety, as co-existing anxiety can exacerbate tremor symptoms.
A third reader seeks clarification about their constrictive pericarditis surgery and its long-term implications. The pericardium, a protective sac around the heart, had become constricted, hindering heart function. The surgeon removed as much of the pericardium as possible, but some remained at the back of the heart. The reader expresses concern about the remaining pericardium and future life expectancy, having encountered unsettling information online. Dr. Zoe explains that the pericardium functions similarly to a balloon encasing the heart, and constrictive pericarditis restricts its flexibility. She analogizes the surgery to removing portions of this balloon, explaining that even if some remains at the back, the heart can likely compensate. Echocardiograms, which assess heart pumping function, provide reassuring information in this case. Dr. Zoe advises seeking a personalized explanation from the specialist team but hopes her analogy provides some clarity.
Dr. Zoe concludes her column with a timely tip for readers, encouraging them to prioritize moments of peace and fresh air during the busy and often overwhelming Christmas period to maintain their well-being. She acknowledges the potential stress and busyness associated with the holidays and reminds readers to carve out time for self-care amidst the festivities. This concluding message underscores the importance of balancing celebration with mindful attention to one’s physical and mental health.
