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Doc 24/7 App Q&A Feb 2016

We have received the following question via our Doc 24/7 – Ask a Question” a free service via Android App and from www.healthsana.comweb portal.  

I am 35 years old and been having low back pain for the last six months. I have not consulted any doctor as on date.  Could you please suggest some precautions and measures to reduce the pain?­                                                                                 -Karunakaran, Pondicherry 
Low back pain is a common complaint in young adults.  It can be due to various reasons like an injury, muscle strain, sudden twist while lifting object, bad posture, overuse of muscle or any internal disease like spondylitis, infection etc., Looking at your age, I can recommend you few precautions:
1. Avoid forward bending, if required then bend your knees first and then bend forward.
2. Avoid lifting heavy objects.
3. Sit in chairs or car seats with proper back support.
4. Try to sleep in a position that helps you maintain the curve in your back.
5. Get enough Vitamin D from sunlight as Vitamin D keeps bones strong including spine.
6. Avoid standing in the same position for a long time.If the symptom persists, please visit a spine specialist for evaluation and treatment.

I have pink eyes for the past two days with severe irritation and discomfort.  Is it contagious?  How do I treat this?                       Atul Midha, New Delhi 
Bacterial and viral pink eye are contagious. To prevent contracting pink eye or spreading it to other people, follow these preventive measures:·        

• Wash hands thoroughly and often, especially if you touch your eye or the area around it.
• Keep hands away from the infected eye. Infection can also enter the body through the nose and mouth.
• Do not share wash cloths, towels, pillowcases, or handkerchiefs with others, including family members.        
• Change the above items after each use and wash them thoroughly.·         
• Do not use other people's eye drops or cosmetics, particularly eyeliner pencils and mascara. 

My husband, who is 40 years, snores loud while sleeping.  Does snoring indicate any health issues?                                                     Lakshmi Kamalakanan, Velacherry
Majority of doctors are considering snoring to be a significant health problem. This is because snoring may be a sign of a health condition called obstructive sleep apnoea (referred to as OSA). Obstructive sleep apnoea occurs when the back of the throat relaxes and closes during sleep. This causes an obstruction between your mouth and your lungs preventing air from getting in. It is almost as if the throat is choking itself. When air does get through, it causes a vibration within the throat that causes the sound you hear when someone snores. While almost all people with obstructive sleep apnoea snore, not everyone that snores has obstructive sleep apnoea. Thus, one cannot diagnose your husband with this disease on the basis of snoring alone. However, this symptom means that he should be tested. I suggest that your husband to schedule an appointment with an ENT consultation.

I am a 30 year old male, obese and overweight.  What food should I eat to lose weight fast?  Please advice.                 Mr. Mahesh Raj, Mumbai
Weight loss is a complex process. As you know, obesity is a major problem facing millions of people worldwide. Firstly, congratulations on recognizing your need to lose weight. This is the first and important step.  Unfortunately there is not "fast" way to lose weight.  We know that people who drop weight fast from the bad diets are nearly 100% likely to put the weight back on.  What you need is a steady, fundamental change to your lifestyle as this is the only proven way to drop the weight and keep you fit.  Ultimately, weight loss is about energy balance.  You need to spend more calories (energy) than you consume. It means you must maintain a proper balance between food intake and exercise.  

My 14 year old son suffered from dengue fever three weeks ago. His current platelet count is 1,95,000. We are going for a family function to our home town which is about 9 hours by train. He does not have fever or any other symptoms. Is he fit to travel?   Vibha Chakraborty, Kolkota

• Please get him examined thoroughly from the doctor before proceeding with the journey.
• Make sure you carry all the important and necessary medications with you while travelling.   Do not give him any outside food.   
• Protect and prevent him from cross infections/dust etc.
• Make him wear full sleeved protective clothing.      
• Use mosquito repellent repeatedly to avoid contact with mosquitoes. 

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