Doctor Dawn Harper answers all your questions
EARWAX MISERY
Q I regularly need to have my ears syringed as I get a terrible build-up of wax. Recently, I’ve noticed that it’s getting worse. The last time I had my ears syringed was eight months ago and I’ve had to go again this week. Is there anything I can do to prevent this build-up?
A This should work its way out naturally, but in some people the wax builds up. This is usually more common in men and in people who have lots of hair in the ear canal. Speak to your pharmacist about drops to soften the wax. If you use these twice a day, after a week or two the wax should fall out naturally – often at night when you’re lying down.
Why is his blood pressure high?
Q Earlier this year my husband had a stroke and was found to have very high blood pressure. He has turned his life around. He exercises four times a week, is virtually teetotal and eats so healthily. He’s lost 3st. We have a home blood pressure monitor and his blood pressure is still high. Why?
A High blood pressure is what we call a multifactorial disease. In other words, it is influenced by many factors including the lifestyle changes your husband has adopted. Unfortunately, there are some things which raise our blood pressure that we can’t affect with a healthy lifestyle, such as genetics and getting older. He may need medication. Ask him to see his GP and take his BP monitor readings with him.
ANXIETY MEDS SWAP
Q My GP prescribed me something called sertraline for my anxiety, which I started taking this week, but I’m finding it’s making me feel quite sick. A friend of mine has very similar symptoms and they take beta blockers. Do you think these would be a better option for me?
ASertraline is one of a family of drugs called serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
They are very effective a
