Keeping yourself fit and healthy
Dear Dr. Donya,
I am a male, 36 years of age, 5 feet 7 inches, overweight (102 kilos in Nov. 2000 and 91 kilos in Nov. 2001, presently weighing 90 kilos), and a casual smoker.
I used to have triglycerides as high as 370 and was prescribed Lopid which was I took on and off for three years. I stopped taking it six months ago when levels hit 205 in Oct. 2001. The cholesterol level has since remained steady at around 165-190.
I exercise twice a week and play golf once a week. But lately, I have been having some problems like:
1. Bleeding through the nostrils on and off for more than a month.
2. A very stiff upper back, which may be a cramp but feels like a concrete slab which may crack or split. It is impossible for me to get up, push-up style. If I try to get up normally the pain is acute and causes the whole body to freeze.
3. Too many sleepless nights. Every night I will think about the ball game and how the game would turn out or some work creeps into the mind. This goes on long into the night and sleep comes by 1 a.m. or 2 a.m. and I get up almost every day by 6 a.m. Funny thing about these thoughts is that they don't come to mind in the evenings or at work or at any other time, just when I am about to doze off.
Any remedies/suggestions to help will be much appreciated and I thank you.
-- Vincent
Dear Vincent,
Congratulation for keeping yourself fit.
1. For nose bleeding, it can be local cause like inflammation or ulceration of the mucous membranes of the nose or a coagulation problem due to a deficiency of fibrin in the blood. When this element is deficient, the blood loses its power to coagulate. Such cases as this make bleeding very dangerous. The less the blood the higher the blood pressure, which is one of the causative symptoms. If relief from the excessive blood pressure in the head is not dealt with in some way, a blood vessel is liable to rupture. I would recommend to check with your doctor, he or she will exam your nose and may be check your blood coagulation levels.
2. It could be attributed to muscle strain from your exercise so during this pain period you need good rest and anti- inflammatory medication until the pain recedes. Remember, warming up before exercising and cooling down after finishing is recommended.
3. About your sleepless night and unnecessary thoughts, a warm shower or reading might help.
-- Dr. Donya