Real-life plus trends, info and advice
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QI’m absolutely freezing no matter how many blankets I sleep with at night, but my hubby is always boiling. Why do I take so long to warm up?
AFeeling the cold is not uncommon, but it can be a sign of an underlying problem. Simple things like being dehydrated or trying to lose weight and not eating enough food can make you feel cold.
It’s important to eat a healthy and balanced diet containing enough vitamins and minerals including iron, B12 and folate. Take plenty of exercise to stimulate your blood circulation. Stress and lack of sleep can also make you feel cold.
Medical conditions such as anaemia, hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid) and diabetes can also be to blame. They all cause tiredness and fatigue.
Anaemia can make you feel breathless. Hypothyroidism causes weight gain and constipation whereas Type 2 diabetes can make you feel thirsty, increase the urge to urinate and have frequent minor infections.
But sometimes these conditions are picked up on a blood test with no other symptoms. It’s best to see your GP for a check-up in this case.
Speechless
QI’ve lost my voice due to a winter cold. How can I get it back?
ALaryngitis is the medical term for inflammation of the larynx (voice box). Most commonly, this occurs due to a viral upper respiratory tract infection, which causes the vocal cords to swell.
This means that when you try to speak, only a whisper or a squeak is produced instead.
Most laryngitis is short-lived and will disappear within three weeks. You can treat laryngitis by taking the following steps:
• Keep well hydrated – drink plenty of fluids. Avoid caffeine as this dries out the throat.
• Gargle salt water in your throat regularly.
• Breathe in moisturised air – use a humidifier.
• Have some menthol vapour inhalations.
• Suck throat lozenges – eucalyptus or mint flavours will help.
• Don’t smoke or vape.
• Stay away from dusty or smoky environments.
• Try not to speak and rest your voice.
See your GP for more treatment options.
Feeling blue
QMy veins are looking scarily blue under my pale skin lately. Why is this?
ABlood is red because the haemoglobin (iron-containing protein) in it reflects red light. When blood leaves the lungs full of oxygen, it is bright cherry red, but as the oxygen is used up it becomes a darker red colour.
Blood is never blue, but veins can look blue or green because of how the skin reflects wavelengths of light.
Sometimes your veins may look bluer than normal due to ageing, hot weather, weight gain or loss and exercise.
