Q Are growing pains real?

Growing pains are seen in children of the age group 5 to 12 years. Thses always concentrate in the muscles, rather than the joints. Most kids have pains in the front of their thighs, in the calves, or behind the knees. The children with growing pains can be helped by massaging the area, stretching or by placing a heating pad on the area.

Q Is ensure a safe drink to have while on both chemo and radiation for metastasized stomach cancer? I have read articles stating that ensure is filled with sugar, which can actually be counterproductive in cancer patients

Ensure drink can be had as a supplement to regular meals but not as a replacement. It is best to stick to actual food in order to get energy and necessary nutrition. As long as you have a small quantity (1 serving a day), you shouldnt face any problems. However, there is a possibility of Ensure interacting with certain medications, so it is imminent to discuss this issue with your treating physician.

Q Please guide me proper veg diet chart for gain weight

In order to make a proper vegetarian diet chart more details are required such as your age, gender, height, current weight and physical activity level. Following is a general vegetarian diet chart to gain weight: Meal 1-8 am: Whole wheat bread and paneer sandwich and 1 cup milk. Meal 2-11 am: 1 Banana. Meal 3-2 pm: Roti, sabji and curd. Meal 4- 5 pm: Handful of roasted nuts and 1 cup milk. Meal 5- 8 pm: Roti, Sabji and dal or Rice, Sabji and dal.

Q Can local honey cure seasonal allergies?

Honey contains powerful antioxidants, antiseptic and antibacterial propertise. It is said to cure some allergies particularly localised honey to that area can cure seasonal allergy as the bees feed on pollens of that area which finally form honey. At the same time there are studies showing that its effect is nothing more than a placebo.

Q What causes sudden diarrhea in infants?

Common causes for acute diarrhoea in infants are: any infection either viral, bacterial or parasitic etc, change in the babys diet or the breast-feeding mothers diet, any sensitivity to medicines, use of antibiotics by the baby or breast-feeding mother, food allergy or poisoning etc.

Q Is vitiligo curable with herbs?

No it is not curable by herbs. Vtiligo is auto immune or genetic disorder. There are a number of treatments for Vitiligo. Treatment options generally fall into several categories: natural and artificial light therapy, cover ups, and supplements; so consult skin specialist and do needful.

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 My aunty is suffering from abdominal pain since 4 days without any noticeable reason

Abdominal pain can arise due to several causes. It can range from something as simple as indigestion or menstrual cramp to something as serious as kidney stone or an internal injury. The best approach would be to get a USG done and visit a gastroenterologist for an examination and diagnosis.

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 What are the symptoms of an abscessed tooth?

An abscessed tooth is a painful infection at the root of a tooth or between the gum and a tooth. Its most commonly caused by severe tooth decay. Other causes of tooth abscess are trauma to the tooth, such as when it is broken or chipped, and gingivitis or gum disease. Sharp or shooting pain are common symptoms of an abscessed tooth. Symptoms include fever, pain when chewing, sensitivity of the teeth to hot or cold, bitter taste in the mouth, foul smell to the breath, swollen neck glands, general discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling, redness and swelling of the gums and swollen area of the upper or lower jaw.