From sweating too much to chronic lethargy – Dr Zoe Williams answers your health problems
WE all sweat – especially during the recent hot weather – and we all have days when we feel exhausted.
But how do you know when your body is sweating too much, or isn’t a “normal” level of tired?
If you’re beginning to worry about an aspect of your health, it’s a sign it might be wise to talk to someone about it.
Drop me a line with your questions, big and small, like this week’s readers have done.
Q) : I SWEAT excessively and my four-year-old is the same. Is there anything we can do to help, other than wearing natural fabric clothes?
A) Excessive sweating, or hyperhidrosis as it is called in the medical world, can be an embarrassing and disabling condition that affects at least one per cent of people.
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It’s interesting that you mention your daughter sweats excessively too, as true hyperhidrosis does tend to run in families, with about a third of patients being aware of a family history.
Hyperhidrosis is not an illness, but the extreme end of the spectrum of “normal” sweating.
It’s bilateral and symmetrical, involving the hands, feet, armpits or face. Other areas are less commonly affected.
The symptoms are prominent in daytime, on most days, but absent at night.
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More rarely there can be an underlying cause, or disease causing the sweating, but this would normally be obvious as there would be other symptoms, or an unusual pattern of sweating more at night.
While not dangerous to health, hyperhidrosis can impact terribly on a person’s life.
There are some treatments, and the right treatment to try depends on the problem area.
Aluminium chloride antiperspirants are available from the pharmacy, which can be tried for armpit sweating but they can cause irritation, in which case a product called SweatStop may be better.
Iontophoresis, which uses a low-voltage electric current to calm the sweat glands, is suitable for sweating of the hands and feet.
If the problematic sweating is the face, or all over, then there are some medications that can be used.
Botox and surgery are sometimes used too.
People can find out more at Hyperhidrosis UK () and even join support groups there.
Q) OTHER than visiting a GP, what can I do at home for chronic lethargy?
A) There are so many potential causes of chronic fatigue, ranging from anaemia to mental health, menopause to cancer.
Even the recent heatwaves combining energy zapping heat, dehydration and poor sleep, can leave us feeling drained.
If lethargy is persistent and lasting more than a few weeks — and especially if it’s progressively getting worse over time — then it is important to see your GP.
They will take a more in-depth assessment, including any other symptoms, and likely will want to do some blood tests.
These will rule out a number of biological causes including anaemia, diabetes, and abnormal thyroid, liver and kidney function.
Depending on what other symptoms you’ve had, they may do additional tests too, such as a chest X-ray if you’ve had a chronic cough, or stool sample for bowel symptoms.
If biological causes have been ruled out, and you’re still feeling extreme and disabling fatigue for no obvious reason, and it’s persisted more than three months, you may have chronic fatigue syndrome and you should see your GP again for this to be considered.
If you are found to have chronic fatigue syndrome, you may be referred to a specialist for help through psychological therapy or medication.
Q) I exercise and eat a calorie-controlled diet but don’t seem to be losing weight. What am I doing wrong?
How many times have you heard “eat less and move more”? It’s just not that simple though.
More than 100 factors influence weight, including genes, environment and mental health.
We often see examples of rapid weight loss among celebrities and on social media, but keeping the weight off long term is the real challenge.
Losing weight more gradually, by making sustainable changes, is a more sensible approach that’s likely to last longer too.
There are many ways to improve our health beyond losing weight, so it’s not all about the number between your feet.
People who are struggling shouldn’t feel disheartened.
Sometimes taking the focus off weight for a while and focusing on other ways to improve health and happiness, is the right thing to do.
This can include being more active, not for weight loss but because it makes you feel good and has many health benefits.
Look at improving the nutritional value of the food you eat; are you drinking enough water and eating your five a day?
Try focusing on healthy, nourishing foods. Try to reduce stress and improve sleep.
It’s not just diet and exercise that are the key to losing weight, concentrating on your wellbeing can help you identify habits and adjust them for long term health.
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It’s worth noting too that muscle weighs more than fat, so if you’ve been exercising and doing something that builds muscle, the number on your scales might not have changed but you’ll be healthier for it.
Please don’t get disheartened and don’t give up, it sounds like you’re making the right lifestyle changes so try to bring your health and wellbeing into focus as well as your weight or size
'Are my moles normal or not?'
Q) I DON’T want to waste my GP’s time, but some of my moles catch on clothes and I want reassurance they’re OK
A) You can get moles checked in private skin clinics, where they use a process called mole mapping.
Mole mapping uses advanced digital technology to map moles on the body from head to toe. Any moles that appear unusual or require further examination are photographed close up using specialist technology called a digital photo-dermatoscope.
Mole mapping isn’t routinely available on the NHS, but if you have any suspicious moles then you should definitely make an appointment to see your GP straight away.
You can also send in photographs with an explanation via an e-consult form, and your GP will respond within a few days.
It’s important to check your skin regularly, so that you’re familiar with what’s normal. This gives you the best chance of spotting any changes.
You’re looking for new moles, or changes in the size, colour or shape of an existing mole.
There’s a useful way of remembering what to look for – the ABCDE. It stands for:
A Asymmetry. Do both halves of the mole look the same?
B Border. Is the edge of the mole uneven or blurred?
C Colour. Is the mole a mix of different shades or colours?
D Diameter. Is it bigger than 6mm from side to side? (As a tip, the end of a pencil is about 5mm across)
E Evolution. Has the mole changed?
There are a few other important things to look out for: itching and bleeding or crusting. If a mole starts to bleed and you haven’t injured it then you should get it checked as soon as you can.