Q My 11 years old girl used to get sick 5-6 times a year, most probably its flu or cold or sore throat with a high fever although she is a swimmer, she swims 2-3 kilos daily, shall I think about reducing her swimming or how can I improve immunity?

I would recommend that she should continue swimming because it will help her to build immunity. Ask her to avoid swimming on the days when she is ill. Apart from this make sure she has a well balanced diet, adequate hydration and regular sleep for 7-9 hours. Also if the incidence of her falling ill has started after she started to swim than you should consider changing the place where she swims and see if there is any difference in her frequency of falling ill.

Q I have notice white substance attached to my tonsils, I am suffering from tonsillitis and fever, can you please explain what is this?

Exact diagnosis cannot be made without examining your throat. However probable cause for your complaint can be bacterial infection of the tonsils or tonsilolith also known as tonsil stones. I would recommend that you consult an ENT specialist, who after an examination can tell you the exact cause and start you with appropriate treatment.rnrn 

Q What can you tell me about Borderline Personality Disorder?

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a Mental Health disorder that generates significant emotional instability. This can lead to a variety of other stressful mental and behavioral problems. When you have borderline personality disorder, you often have an insecure sense of who you are. Your self-image, self-identity or sense of self often rapidly changes. You may view yourself as evil or bad, and sometimes you may feel as if you dont exist at all. An unstable self-image often leads to frequent changes in jobs, friendships, goals and values. This is because people with borderline personality disorder often have difficulty accepting gray areas; things seem to be either black or white. The common symptom of borderline personality disorder are overwhelming feelings of distress, anxiety, worthlessness or anger, difficulty managing such feelings without self-harming, for example by abusing drugs and alcohol or taking overdoses, difficulty maintaining stable and close relationships, sometimes, periods of loss of contact with reality, in some cases, threats of harm to others. Treatment may involve a range of individual and group psychological therapies (psychotherapy) carried out by trained professionals.

Q I am 15-year-old boy and I often think about sex. Is it normal, or am I a pervert?

It is absolutely normal to think about sex often. Thinking about sex once in a while or over and over again at this age is not attributed to any abnormality and does not make you a pervert. Hormonal fluctuations and changes in body that take place at teenage increase the curiosity about sexuality and your own body. You will start noticing and appreciating opposite gender, will be attracted to someone you like, daydream, and think about sex inevitably in dreams, while studying, or even when talking with friends. All this curiosity and sexual thoughts are natural.

Q How to decrease fat over stomach?

Concentrate on loosing overall weight which in turn will help you reduce excess fat from your belly region also. You can do certain exercise like leg raises, crunches which will help you in losing fat over lower abdomen. Avoid outside food, junk food and deep fried foods. Increase your intake of green leafy vegetables. Drink a glass of warm water with 1tsp lemon juice and honey in it every morning on empty stomach. Healthy diet and regular exercise go hand in hand as far as weight loss is considered. Consult a dietitian to formulate a diet plan which is healthy for you.

Q What can cause orgasm problems in men?

Orgasm is release of sexual tension characterised by sense of sexual pleasure. The length of a mans orgasm is estimated to be in between 10-15 seconds on an average although they may last upto 30 seconds. In men it is denoted by ejaculaton of semen. However problems associated with ejaculation can affect a mans ability to achieve orgasm. They include : Anejaculation, premature ejaculation, retrograde ejaculation, delayed ejaculation and erectile dysfunction.

Q How can I tell when Im ovulating?

Ovulation usually occurs 12-15 days before your period starts. So if your periods are regular, you can easily determine your ovulation period by subtracting 14 days from the expected date of the next menstrual cycle. One in 5 women experience mild abdominal cramps when they are ovulating. You can also use a basal body thermometer to check your basal body temperature which shows the lowest reading followed by a sudden rise when you ovulate. During ovulation, your cervix becomes softer and gives out more discharge (mucus) than normal. You can also buy ovulation kit available in chemist to determine your ovulation.

Q I get angry very often. How can I control my anger?

Getting angry is normal. One needs to concentrate not on "not feeling angry" or "controlling anger" but on how to manage that anger correctly. First of all try to identify the things, people, or situations that trigger anger. You can even keep a dairy. Note the ways in which you react to these situations. Then look for alternative ways of responding to the same situations. Practice this alternative adaptive response till it becomes a part of your nature. Recognizing anger and triggers, practicing alternatives and doing this persistently with positive attitude is the key.

Q I am 69 year old, my hands start trembling whenever I am writing any thing which medicine should I take? what is parkinsons disease?

Trembling or shaking of hands is called as tremors. There are variety of tremors found and so variety of causes are there for its occurance. If you are suufering from tremors only when you write something, then these can be: Intentional tremors that occur at the end of any purposeful movements, Cerebellar tremors represented as intetional tremors, postural tremor that occur in particular posture of hand or leg against gravity, benign essential tremors occuring at older age and are inherited from family, tremors due to increased thyroid functioning, tremors due to reduced blood sugar levels, tremors as a result of alohol withdrawal or due to alcohol consumption, it can be a side effect of certain medicines, or it can be a task specific tremors. To prescribe you any medicines, it is necessary to evaluate your symptoms in more detailed way including evaluation by physical examination, which will be best achieved if you see your physician or a neurologist. Perkinsons disease is a degenerative disorder of central nervous system, where brain cells and nervous tissue undergo degeneration, resulting in dopamine deficiency in a patient. If you are trying to link your tremors with parkinsons, then the main differentiating point is parkinsons tremors are observed at rest and not at the time of movements. Further evaluation is needed for proper management.

Q Can dark circles be treated completely with laser?

There are very effective modern laser and light treatments that can permanently remove the dark circles under your eyes.However, these dark circle treatments must be directed at the underlying medical cause of the dark circles for removal to be effective. Always consult a good doctor and ensure that he knows what he is doing. Since the skin under the eyes is delicate, a wrong laser treatment may cause serious damage to the eyes. You may also consult a dermatologist to recover from dark circles.