Q I am 43 year old man and my wife 41 year we have 4 year and 6 month daughter. We are very confused whether to go for second child as my only daughter feels very lonely. Can you advice?

First, determine whether you and your wife are physically, mentally and financially ready to have a second child. It is definitely possible to conceive at this age; however there are many factors that you should take into account before arriving at a decision. A womans fertility decreases drastically in her forties so there is a major possibility that your wife may have to use donor eggs to achieve pregnancy. The risk of complications during pregnancy such as diabetes and high blood pressure increases. Moreover, there are higher chances of premature and still births. You may need to use assisted reproductive techniques thus escalating costs. I am not trying to discourage you, but giving you the facts. On the other hand, some women do get pregnant well into their 40s, and many of them have complication-free pregnancies and healthy babies. Both of you should make an informed decision after knowing all the pros and cons. For any further clarification, visit a gynaecologist who will brief you about all available options. Do consider the possibility of adoption too.

Q Are cigars less detrimental to health than cigarettes?

"No. Cigars arent less harmful than cigarettes in any way. Rather they contain more carcinogenic tars, which make them worse than cigarettes. Moreover, when one smokes stogy, excess nicotine and carcinogens are inhaled through the mouth, which could cause dental problems,lung diseases, and cancers.
The reason behind the false repute of cigar being less harmul might be that generally cigar smokers are "occasional" users, and while puffing, most of them don~t inhale the smoke into their lungs. Stay away from cigarettes, cigars, pipes etc if you want to live healthy."

Q What is undifferentiated schizophrenia?

Undifferentiated-type schizophrenia is characterized by some symptoms seen in other types but not enough of any one of them to define it as a particular type of schizophrenia. It can be described as a mixed clinical syndrome.

Q After my break-up with my girlfriend, i started losing my hair and i am becoming bald day by day is this the reason or some other major problem with me. Please guide me & suggest me some remedy or therapy.

There are many factors that can cause hair loss. Stress, anxiety, and depression are surprisingly common causes of thinning scalp hair, and can be especially difficult to recognize and treat. But apart from these there can be several other causes like hereditary, infection, nutritional deficiency, thyroid imbalance etc.. Once you have noticed that you are losing your hair, the first step is to get a medical evaluation to determine the cause. Either your primary care or a dermatologist is a good place to start. Treatment can then be directed to any of the above underlying causes that are present. But meanwhile you can follow these advices: eat plenty of salads including green leafy vegetables like spinach lettuce, plateful of fruits, buttermilk, milk, curd, fish,egg, increase intake of peanuts and almond and walnut, have proper and sound sleep daily. Concentrating on future rather than dwelling on past can work.

Q How do I grow height? Im 14 from Canada and my height is 4 10"

Growth of height is determined by following factors : your genetic background , your overall nutrition level, tendency to fall repeatedly ill, etc. In males maximum height can be achieved by the age of 18-20 and in females up-to the age of 15-16. So you have a good scope of improving your height. Take care of following things to boost your height : Increase dietary intake of proteins like groundnut, soya beans, milk and milk products, eggs, chicken and fish ( if you are non vegetarian ). Have calcium rich foods like milk, spinach, yogurt, cheese, green leafy vegetables. Do some kind of physical activity. Cycling and swimming are best to increase height. Take enough rest, Stay well hydrated.

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 My 22 months old boy still has anterior fontanelle open. Is it a concern

In most cases anterior fontanelle closes between the age of 7-19 months. Delay in closure can be due to causes like premature birth, intrauterine growth retardation, downs syndrome, etc. I would suggest that you get your child examined by a pediatrician to rule any abnormality.

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 Body too thin...some diet tips

Weight gain depends upon your diet and exercise pattern. Include calorie and protein rich foods in your diet such as eggs, chicken, fish, milk and milk products, nuts, pulses etc. Every morning have a glass of milk with honey and 2 bananas. Consume handful of mixed nuts everyday. Weight gain should be healthy and hence you should limit your intake of junk food. Instead of 3 large meals have 5-7 small meals. Join a gym and practice weight training under supervision.

Q What triggers hormonal migraines in women?

The hormonal migraines are also known as menstrual migraines in females. The cause of headache is due to sudden drop of estrogen levels. This may happen during menstrual period, in menopause, due to sudden stopping of oral contraceptive pills and in pregnancy during first few weeks.