Q Sir, My dad has HIV positive..What is the treatment for me? What are the precautions should be taken for family members to be free from HIV?

Just because your father is HIV positive, it doesnt mean that you too are. Yet, you must get tested once to confirm. The only precaution to be taken by you and your family members is to avoid sharing razors with him. The biggest risk is to your mother due to sexual intercourse. It can be prevented if they always use condoms. The rule of thumb is that there should be blood to blood contact with him. All other activities such as sharing food, hugging, kissing, sleeping or any other family activity with your father is absolutely safe.

Q What kind of diet is not advisable for when you have pain in neck and shoulder?

Unhealthy diet and lifestyle are on second rank when it come to pain in body like neck and shoulder pains. Modern food habits are actually producing harmful effect on body by promoting accumulation of toxins in body. These type of food include: chocolates, ice-creams, food containing caffeine, highly processed food, canned or preserved food specifically with MSG, junk food or fast food, food high in sodium and sugar, high fat dairy products, meat, cigarette, wine, beer or any other alcoholic drink etc. These type of food in diet put your body under constant metabolic stress and promote production and accumulation of unhealthy chemicals or toxins in your body. This combined stresses, irritate and spasms nerves and skeletal muscles resulting in pain. So, healthy way to avoid or reduce neck and shoulder pain is to eat healthy, well cooked, preferably home made and fresh food including lots of veges and fruits.

Q I got ulcer and swelling on inner cheek. I quit chewing tobacco few weeks before. I started eating 8 months before, it happened one time before as well when i quit before. please help?

Tobacco contains nicotine which is added in blood through chewing. It acts as a stimulant,so the person feels good under the effect. But the effect does not last for longer time. Hence it is consumed again. The mucosal area inside the cheek is sensitive; produces ulceration on continuous contact with harsh & dry substance like tobacco. The ulceration is not due to quitting but due to the chewed tobacco. Kindly consult a physician for further treatment.

Q Hello doctor, my grandfather was diagnosed with an alzheimers dementia; could u give me more info about this disease? What is the cause? Is it hereditary? Any treatment for the same?

Alzheimers disease is the most common form of dementia, a serious brain disorder that impacts daily living through memory loss and cognitive changes. Alzheimers is a degenerative disease, progressing from mild forgetfulness to widespread neurological impairment and ultimately death. nAlthough a direct cause of Alzheimers is not known certain common factors are found in the clinical picture of sufferers. These include; prior personality organisation of the individual and stressfulness of their life situation. You are at higher risk, if family history of this disease is there.nAlthough there is no cure for Alzheimers, and various psychotherapies appear to be ineffective, there are ways to treat some of the symptoms of the disease: Use of medications to treat cognitive decline and memory loss. Also appropriate activities such as exercise, recreation, and adult day care services appear to assist in the management of the patient.

Q Is there any relation between obesity and headache?

There are studies which suggests that obese people are at increased risk of developing migraine. Hence it is advisable that you maintain a healthy weight.

Q Why do women experience post-delivery depression?

Depression in first few months after childbirth is called postpartum depression. It is due to hormonal changes that take place after pregnancy. The risk factors for postpartum depression can be history of depression, stress in life, poor support from the partner and family, and physical health of both baby and mother. In some cases, there are more disturbances with regards to thoughts, fears and behavior; this is termed as postpartum psychosis.

Q What are monounsaturated fats? Are they healthy?

Monounsaturated fats are the fats present in vegetable oils, nuts, fruits, legumes, and seeds. They are heart-healthy and help in lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol and increasing HDL (good) cholesterol.

Q High lymphocytes means what.

An increase in lymphocyte concentration is usually a sign of a viral infection (in some rare case, leukemias are found through an abnormally raised lymphocyte count in an otherwise normal person).

Q What causes a rash on babies elbow?

While most rashes are not serious, a few need close attention as blisters can indicate a serious infection, like a bacterial infection or herpes. Small red or purplish dots can be caused by a viral or bacterial infection. In the first few months of a babys life, any rash associated with other symptoms (such as fever, poor feeding, lethargy, or cough) needs to be evaluated by a doctor as soon as possible. Acne or pink pimples can be caused due to blocked pores on babies elbow. The moisture on elbow creates fungal infections as candidiasis. Dry, sensitive skin, and sometimes allergies may create red, itchy patches as in eczema. Other rashes like erythema toxicum-red blotches on skin, salmon patches-nest of blood vessels, mongolian spots-melanin deficiency are commonly seen in children and most of the times needs no treatment and get cured by the age.

Q What about soy and thyroid health?

The available research suggests that soy may not affect thyroid function, especially in those who have a normal thyroid. Those who have an existing thyroid problem and take medications for their thyroid must avoid it or consume after an interval. The reason being, soy may affects the absorption rate of the medicine is the GI tract.