From dementia concerns to haemorrhoids – Dr Jeff answers your health questions

DR JEFF FOSTER is The Sun on Sunday’s new resident doctor and is here to help YOU.

Dr Jeff, 43, splits his time between working as a GP in Leamington Spa, Warks, and running his clinic, H3 Health, which is the first of its kind in the UK to look at hormonal issues for both men and women. See h3health.co.uk.

Q) MY 80-year-old father has always been fit and well but he has become forgetful over the last few months.

I’m worried about him and when I remind him that he has already told me something, he gets quite short with me and easily upset. Is this a sign of dementia?

Helen Dale, Cobham, Surrey

A) The fear of an elderly loved one getting dementia is a common problem and a worry for many elderly patients themselves.  

However, being forgetful over conservations or recent events may not be a sign of a decline in brain function.  

For example, a common differential diagnosis for memory problems is depression and/or anxiety, and the important distinction to make is between that of a degeneration in brain function, and our ability to concentrate.

When we are worried, anxious or low, we don’t listen and retain conversations well because our mind is elsewhere.

Changes in memory can be due to nutritional problems such as low vitamins and protein, or hormonal problems such as low testosterone or thyroid disease.

My best advice is to go to your GP. There is a big jump between forgetting a few conversations and being labelled with dementia.

Q) I HAVE a large, protruding haemorrhoid that is so painful that sitting on a chair is agony and going to the toilet is a nightmare.

I’m 35 and have been on a few dates with someone I want to have sex with but I can’t risk him seeing this hideous bulge.

Creams from the chemist have done nothing. What can I do to get rid of it?

Marie, Cardiff

A) Haemorrhoids (piles) are painful, unsightly and embarrassing.

They’re small outpouchings of rectal tissue that are caused by pushing too hard during toilet movement. They are extremely common.

You can get stronger steroid creams from your doctor, which will help to shrink them.

But what you eat is more important as straining on the toilet will increase intra-abdominal pressure and any shrinking pile will pop out again.

Improve your diet with more fibre and fluid so that motions are soft and easy to pass.

Your GP can also give stool softener medications.  You want the haemorrhoid to shrink and reabsorb itself.

A small number of patients will be referred to a general surgeon so they can remove the haemorrhoid surgically.