Q What is a panic attack?

A panic attack is a sudden onset of intense fear or apprehension without any known cause. A panic attack comes suddenly lasts for few minutes and may disappear of its own without any medicine. Sometimes, panic attacks can be very frightening. Some of the symptoms you may experience during the panic attack include - palpitations, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, a choking sensation, chest pain and feeling sick etc. If the attack is recurrent, it is advised to consult the physician to get the best possible treatment.

Q Do men suffer from menopause like women?

The phase of life similar to menopause is called as andropause in men. It is marked by lethargy, sadness, weariness, lack of drive, irritability, poor concentration and sometimes loss of sexual desire in middle-aged men. This leads to boredom, lack of fitness, heavy drinking and lack of self-esteem.n Though, male menopause is controversial, as there isn~t any calculable fall in the levels of male hormones in middle age like females have fall in sex hormones drastically, yet it is advised that men experiencing the symptoms should exercise regularly and eat healthy, nurture a hobby, and have a peaceful mind and renew interest in life.

Q Is non-vegetarian food safe during pregnancy?

There is no harm in consuming non-vegetarian food during pregnancy. Infact eggs, chicken, fish etc are packed with nutrients which are beneficial for you as well as your baby. But care should be taken to maintain the highest standards of hygiene because non-vegetarian food is liable to become contaminated easily. Make sure you eat only well cooked non-veg food. Avoid anything that is raw or under cooked. Avoid fish which are high in mercury such as mackerel, swordfish, tuna, etc. As long as you follow these guidelines, you can safely consume non-vegetarian food.

Q What is the golden hour in treatment of heart attack?

The available oppurtunity (first 60 minutes to 120 minutes) after the onset of a heart attack is considered as the golden hour. In this time period, maximum fatality and damage to the heart muscles occur. Thus, an available oppurtunity in offering a logical treatment reduces the after-effects and impact of heart attack, increases the survival rate and lessens complications to an individual. Thrombolysis with clot buster " medications" during this hour when the patient is able to recieve emergency care give excellent results. Nowadays it has been substitued with PAMI i.e., Primary Angioplasty Myocardial Infaction after heart attack in a cardiac care centre. Thus immediate hospitalisation of the patient in a cardiac health care centre is important for his chances of recovery are very high.

Q Sir, I am tested HIV positive, for almost 3 years i was in a relationship with a boy, but now we broke up and hes getting married to someoneelse. He wants to be sure that hes not HIV positive.... I have asked him to do the CDcount, but is there any other test which can give accurate result... Pls advice.... Also is it possible that after being in relationship with an HIV person one can still result as Negative???

Sexual relationship between HIV positive and HIV negative partners is called as "mixed status" relationship. For mixed-status couples, the possibility of HIV infection is a constant reality. There is always a risk, but it can be minimized. Antiretroviral therapy can lower the viral load and may decrease chance of HIV positive partner transmitting it to the HIV negative partner, but does not prevent it. Safe sex practices and use of condom may lower the risk of transmission. Do not share syringes, water, drug preparation equipment with others. In your case, the boy needs to do HIV test ( it is diagnosed by presence of antibodies to the HIV virus in blood) and also visit a good HIV consultant to get investigated and counseled thoroughly. HIV testing is carried out on voluntary basis with appropriate pre-test and post-test counseling.

Q How soon can I use tampons after giving birth?

You should not be using tampons for at least 6 weeks after childbirth. The uterus sheds lochia during this period for which you must stick to a sanitary napkin. Tampons can easily introduce infection since the tissues of the vagina have not yet healed completely. Once the discharge of lochia has stopped and your vaginal musculature has returned back to normal, you can start using tampons.

Q I am 24 year old. My foreskin is still attached to my penis. Will it get detached and bleed and will I have problems while having sex for the first time?

Foreskin is always attached to the penis. It will not be detached even after the intercourse. There are no chances of bleeding or any other trouble if the foreskin slides up and down freely. If it does not slide freely, move the skin backwards regularly till it hurts. Slide back your foreskin, apply cream and then move up and down.

Q Will my hernia come back after Ive had an operation to repair it?

It might. All hernias carry a risk of recurrence even after surgical repair. Surgery performed by an experienced surgeon can reduce the risk of recurrence.

Q How to deal with acute stress?

Relaxing or chilling out as they say is the easy and excellent way to deal with acute stress. The aim is to do something which would help you reorient yourself away from stress and get back to the normal state, similar to what you were before the stress hormones kicked in. You can do this by taking in some deep breaths and breathing the stress out. A quick warm bath can do the trick. Brisk walk or a small jog drains the stress. Speak the stress out to a friend. Count backwards from 10 to 1.This not only works in case of anger but also dissolves stress well. Figure out the acute stressors and incorporate meditation or yoga into routine to keep your calm through any stressful situation.

Q My underarms have become dark. I wax regularly and don~t use any hair removal creams. Can you please suggest something?

Excessive sweating is the main cause of dark underarms. Make sure not to keep the underarm hair too long. Wax your underarms every 15 days. Tight clothes may cause excess sweating and affect the area. Friction can darken the underarm skin too. So, avoid wearing tight clothes as far as possible.n Gently exfoliate the underarm skin every week to remove the top layer of dead skin cells, which can cause darkening. To reduce darkening, scrub underarms daily with pumice stone while taking shower. Waxing removes hair from the roots and dead cells from armpits. Thus usually it does not darken underarms.