Help, I’m a woman, 41, and I often forget what I’m talking about mid-sentence…Dr Jeff answers your health questions

DR Jeff Foster is The Sun on Sunday’s resident doctor and is here to help YOU.

Dr Jeff, 43, splits his time between working as a GP in Leamington Spa, Warks, and running his clinic, H3 Health, which is the first of its kind in the UK to look at hormonal issues for both men and women.

See  and email at drjeff@the-sun.co.uk.

Q: I’M lactose intolerant so I drink oat milk in my coffee.

It’s the only non-dairy alternative I like the taste of but I have read that it’s very calorific and seen videos online saying there are lots of health negatives that come from oat milk.

Would you recommend I stop using it?

Geoff Palmer, Barnsley

A: There have been recent claims, specifically on social media, that oat milk is in some way either unsafe or bad for you.

Claims suggest that the way the oats are processed can result in spikes of insulin, that certain pesticides are used that make the crops unsafe, and even that oil additives can have a damaging effect on our health.

This is part of the danger associated with following the false claims of social media influencers, many of whom have no training or qualifications to justify such health related statements.

Provided there is no added sugar, oat milk remains a safe and viable option for those who are lactose intolerant.

Ignore the unqualified influencers as clickbait clips aren’t proper medical advice.

Q: I’M a 41-year-old woman and I keep finding myself forgetting words.

On lots of occasions I even forget what I’m talking about mid-sentence.

I can also be mid-flow and the word I need just won’t come to my mind.

It can be a really simple word and if I get slightly sidetracked I will forget what I was talking about.

What could cause this?

Jenny Kember, Aberdeen

A: There is a big difference between memory and concentration.

I have had many patients who come to see me with concerns that they have early dementia or other neurological conditions when, in fact, it is their inability to focus and concentrate that is the problem.

How many times do we forget where we put our phone or our keys, but we can remember important dates or events?

The key is to look at other symptoms.

If you are otherwise completely well and have no other side-effects at all, then you need to look at why you might not be concentrating or focusing on things as much as normal.

Consider things like whether you are stressed, anxious or have a very hectic lifestyle.

If you have any other symptoms, then you should see your doctor, as conditions such as perimenopause/early menopause, thyroid disease, vitamin deficiencies, anaemia and many other medical problems can also affect your memory.