Q Im a 30 yr old male, i been travelling a lot of late and this caused me severe pain in the back and numbness in the leg.I consulted a neurologist who suggested an MRI scan.The report is 1.L3-L4 mild circumferential disc bulge with mild indentation over thecal sac with moderate sparing of CSF column with sparing or bilateral lateral recess & neural foramina. 2.L4-L5 mild circumferential disc bulge with moderate indentation over thecal sac with mild sparing of CSF column with sparing or bilateral lateral recess &neural foramina. 3.L5-S1 diffuse disc dessication changes with broad based posterior disc extrusion causing thecal sac indentation & loss of CSF column with narrowing of bilateral neural foramina(left>right). My height is 6.2 and weight is 80. Please help me with the answer soon. Is it something serious and what treatment would be done and how long would it take for the recovery and what are the things that i need to be careful from here on. Thank you.

Based on your MRI report the condition is mild to moderate at this stage. But if ignored can turn into something serious. Your symptoms are due to the pressure on the nerves due to disc bulges form L3-L5 and disc dessication at L5-S1. Treatment options for such condition includes use of pain killer to manage pain, physiotherapy to strengthen your back muscle and surgery as last resort. Avoid lifting any weight, sitting in abnormal posture or anything that can put pressure over your back. Use of lumbar belts. The changes that has taken place in your spinal column can not be reversed but with proper care they can be prevented from progressing further.

Q Can stress cause weigh gain? How is stress related to weight gain? How to prevent it?

Yes stress is the major cause for weight gain! People turn to food for comfort whenever they feel stressed and tend to overeat. To make it worse, often we choose junk food. So, one, we eat unnecessarily without being hungry and two, junk food means much more added calories than needed.n Over a period, the caloric imbalance leads to weight gain and eventually elevates risk of diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease.n Now that you know, choose healthy alternatives like an apple or roasted almonds next time you feel stressed and are tempted to eat!n Moreover, try alternate ways like going for a walk or dancing to the tunes of some soothing music. This will not only relieve stress but will give bonus benefit by burning excess calories.

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 Does sperm die when it touches water?

Yes. The sperm will die in the water after sometime and not instantly as it touches it. This is due to change in the environment of the sperm in the body and outside the body like change in the temperature, pH etc.

Q Whats causing my palpitations and how can I get rid of them?

The causes for palpitations are - strong emotions such as anxiety, fear, or stress; palpitations often occur during panic attacks; caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, or illegal street drugs such as cocaine; some medical conditions, including thyroid disease, a low blood sugar level, anemia, low blood pressure, fever, and dehydration; hormone changes associated with menstruation, pregnancy or menopause etc. In most cases, palpitations are found to be harmless and often go away on their own. Treatment depends on the cause of your palpitations. Some lifestyle changes like exercise and yoga and quitting smoking and alcohol help a lot.

Q What Psychological Factors Contribute to Mental Illness?

The reasons which cause mental illness- Significant interpersonal loss and family instability, such as death of loved one, misfortune, poor relationship with family, domestic partner violence, separation, and divorce, emotional detachment have all been identified as risk factors. Financial stress, unemployment, and a drop in socioeconomic status can also be triggers for mental illness. This is also the case for a range of acute and chronic health problems, such as pain syndromes, or diagnoses of conditions like HIV or cancer. Some mental illnesses have been linked to an abnormal balance of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters help nerve cells in the brain communicate with each other. If these chemicals are out of balance or are not working properly, messages may not make it through the brain correctly, leading to symptoms of mental illness. In addition, defects in or injury to certain areas of the brain also have been linked to some mental conditions.

Q My face gets too many pimples what shall i do to get rid of it?

some tips for acne treatment:-n1. Do not wash your face frequently it can make your face dry. Wash it twice a day .n2. Acne does tend to get worse just before a period. Its because there is a surge in hormone levels at this time.n3. Its important to keep spot-prone areas clean. n4. The skin needs a certain amount of oil to maintain its natural condition, so its best to use gentle soaps and not to scrub your skin too hard when washing.n5. Lifestyle changes that you can make are to apply hot compresses to pustules and cysts, to get facials, and never to pick or squeeze pimples. n6. Eat more fruit and fresh veggies. n7. Avoid overly processed and spicy food.n8. Drink plenty of water. Steam your face so as to open your pores and cleanse them - then rinse with cold water to close your pores and prevent further bacteria getting in there.

Q What tips do you have for someone with Social Anxiety?

At first, being social when youre feeling anxious is challenging. As difficult or painful as it may seem initially, dont avoid situations that trigger your symptoms. By regularly facing these kinds of situations, youll continue to build and reinforce your coping skills. The following techniques can help you begin to face situations that make you nervous: Prepare for conversation. For instance, read the newspaper to identify an interesting story you can talk about. 1. Focus on personal qualities you like about yourself. 2. Practice relaxation exercises. 3. Adopt stress management techniques. 4. Set realistic goals. 5. Pay attention to how often the embarrassing situations youre afraid of actually take place. You may notice that the scenarios you fear usually dont come to pass. 6. When embarrassing situations do happen, remind yourself that your feelings will pass, and you can handle them until they do. 7. Develop coping skills- Hang out with people whom with you feel comfortable, Joining a group that offers opportunities to improve communication and public speaking skills, remind yourself that you can get through anxious moments, that your anxiety is short-lived. 8. Take good sleep and healthy diet. Psychiatric counselling and medicine helps to deal with anxiety. Finally positive thinking and building self-confidence is the key to fight against your anxiety. Be confident. All the best.

Q i m 32 years serving army officer ..had a brain stroke 1 and a half year back..have recoverd a lot..started breathing on my own started eating,i do walk but with support..i remember everythng i write i can do calculations and my speech is slur.will i be alright

Being patient is the key word. Follow your routine and exercise schedule. Take medicine on time. You will definitely recover from this. You can take help of speech therapy for your slurred speech.

Q Do children outgrow headaches?

Yes. Strawberries apart from being one of the good source of antioxidants, antineurodegenrative, antiinflammatory is also one of the most common allergens. Symptoms of strawbwrry allergies include: burning of cheeks, lips, gums and tongue; swelling, itching, tightness of throat, runny nose, sneezing etc. Antihistamines are used to tackle the symptoms.