Q What are the symptoms of kidney failure?

Symptoms may vary form person to person. Usually kidney failure is asymptomatic in early stage but as disease progresses symptoms become prominent. Sign and symptoms include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, fatigue, weakness, changes in urine output, fluid retention, swelling over ankles and feet, shortness of breath, persistent itching, hiccups, high blood pressure, difficult concentration, abnormal heart rhythms, sleep problems. If left untreated life threatening circumstances may develop.

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 Reason for pain in uterus

The pain in uterus has many causes like- an infection or inflammation, trauma, an ovarian cyst, any menstrual pain, pain due to intercourse, sexually transmitted diseases (STD), infection of any other organ leading to referred pain, any cancerous condition, pain as a result of adverse effect of some medication. Detailed medical history along with physical examination will help to find out the exact cause. Consult your gynecologist.

Q Does dietary fiber reduce the risk of cancer?

A few studies have shown that a high intake of dietary fibre reduces the risk of colon cancer and breast cancer.

Q Though it takes lots of courage to commit suicide why suicidal people are called coward?

Committing suicide is considered wrong and unjustifiable. Suicide gives up all your future, everything you could have done, because you cant put up with the past or the present. People usually commit suicide when they lack the courage to go on. Its like giving up on the hope that things will ever get better. Under the influence of emotional despair, a suicidal person kills himself in total disregard for those who care for him, those who would have helped him. However at the same time, it is not right to call suicidal people cowards. In fact, they need maximum help and support from those around them. One should lend them a helping hand until they start feeling better about themselves and the situations in their life. There is light at the end of the tunnel. It is important for suicidal people to remember, "this too, shall pass."

Q What is "Selective Mutism"?

Selective mutism is a condition in which a person who is normally capable of speech is unable to speak in given situations or to specific people. Selective mutism usually begins in childhood. It usually co-exists with shyness or social anxiety. Its important to understand that when the mutism happens, the child is not voluntarily refusing to speak but is literally unable to speak, feeling frozen. In time, they learn to anticipate the situations that provoke mutism and do all they can to avoid them. Example: selective mutism while interacting with the opposite sex. Other attributes of children or adults with selective mutism are nervousness, socially awkward, clingy, excessively shy or withdrawn, stubborn or aggressive. Behavioral therapy forms the mainstay of treatment with medications used in a few older patients. Most children will work their way through SM with sympathetic support, although they may remain reserved and anxious in social situations.

Q If unwanted-72 is taken 12 days before the expected menses, will menses be regular and on time and it is taken within 72 hours of sex?

In some females the pill can cause menses to be delayed or early or it can even come on time. Some people might even get spotting which may even continue till next normal period.

Q My two year daughter fell from the slide this morning. In evening she passed white stool with bad smell.

Episode of fall and the white stool does not seem to be connected. But at the same time white coloured stool can not be ignored. Stool gets its normal yellow- brown colour due to bile. White colour stool indicate that either the bile is not produced or it is obstructed. Hence it should be evaluated by the doctor. Consult your family physician at the earliest.

Q Hairfall after delivery is it common how can i deal with it?

A hair cycle consists of 3 phases: anagen (growing), catogen (stoppage of growth and blood supply) and telogen(resting) phases. Normally upto 90% of hair are in the growing phase, 10-14% in the resting phase and 1-2% in the falling phase. Pregnancy and childbirth are stressful events for the body which pushes a lot of hair prematurely in the resting phase (telogen effluvium). This results in a large quantity of sudden hairfall. However, dont worry, this condition is temporary. In six months, the hair reverts back to its normal growth cycle. In the meanwhile, make sure you eat a healthy, well-balanced diet and remain stress free.

Q How do drugs affect driving?

Driving requires skills, such as information processing and psychomotor skills, which may be impaired by the use of drugs. The effect of drugs vary according to the individual, drug type, dosage, the length of time the drugs stays in your body, or if the drug has been taken with other drugs or alcohol. Drugs affect your ability to drive in different ways like - poor concentration and coordination, blurred vision, nausea, hallucinations, decrease the reaction time etc. A driver who is impaired through any drug is at risk of having an accident which may be life threatening in rare cases. And note that, driving under the influence of a drug is illegal.