Q: I’ve been taking a statin and a blood-pressure tablet for a number of years now. On the other hand, at a contemporary check-up I used to be knowledgeable that I had evolved continual kidney illness, which got here as a complete surprise. I’m 80 and feature at all times loved just right well being. May just my drugs have brought about this kidney downside?Dr Ellie replies: Statins and blood strain drugs are a very powerful medicine to cut back the danger of center illness – however, in some instances, those drugs may cause different issues.Statins scale back ldl cholesterol, which is likely one of the fat within the bloodstream that may give a contribution to fatal center illness or having a stroke.Statins aren’t identified to reason continual kidney illness, then again in uncommon instances the drugs can cause a situation known as rhabdomyolysis which is able to harm the kidneys.One of the not unusual forms of blood-pressure drugs are angiotensin receptor blockers, or ARBs, and frequently affect the kidneys. 
Statins aren’t identified to reason continual kidney illness, then again in uncommon instances the drugs can cause a situation known as rhabdomyolysis which is able to harm the kidneysThese ARB drugs loosen up the blood vessels by means of blockading the manufacturing of positive hormones within the kidney, which is helping decrease blood strain. On the other hand, this may additionally restrict kidney serve as, which is able to occasionally result in continual kidney illness, the place the organs slowly forestall operating.On the other hand, it is very important indicate that the advantages of taking those medicine nearly at all times outweigh the dangers.Hypertension is likely one of the maximum not unusual reasons of continual kidney illness. Because of this no longer taking ARB medicine is much more likely to result in kidney illness than taking them.The drugs are even deemed secure sufficient to be incessantly prescribed to sufferers who have already got kidney issues, albeit at a decrease dose.What’s extra, continual kidney illness is an exceedingly not unusual situation, which impacts round one in 5 other folks over the age of 80.Regardless of the reason, it’s a very powerful that you just in finding out the severity of your continual kidney illness.Within the intervening time, don’t forestall taking your different common prescriptions until your physician says in a different way.Q: After lately struggling a stroke, I evolved critical ache and used to be prescribed day-to-day morphine. On the other hand, it makes me really feel like a zombie for hours afterwards. My GP says slow-release morphine drugs aren’t recently to be had in the United Kingdom – is there anything I will be able to take as an alternative?Dr Ellie replies: Sadly GPs and pharmacists are spending numerous time in this day and age coping with drugs shortages.For someone with continual ache, the location is especially dire. Ache control is an entire speciality of drugs in itself, and it could actually take months and even years of checking out other regimes and non-pharmaceutical choices to assist someone via.So it’s extremely irritating and debilitating to discover a regime and it no longer be to be had right here.The use of common opioid medicines might also no longer be the most suitable option to alleviate ache.A ache control staff or ache health center can have a look at the entire choices to assist deal with any person with continual ache holistically and safely.This may contain drugs but additionally mental treatment and workout therapies as smartly.Imagine taking a look past the opioid medicines to anti-inflammatories and topical therapies, in addition to nerve painkillers. A GP will have to have the ability to prescribe the sort of choices in addition to refer you to a ache specialist.Q: I’m a 67-year-old girl and feature at all times had a gradual bowel device. Ultimate 12 months I used to be recognized with diverticulitis. I’ve began exercising extra and consuming numerous fibre, however I nonetheless battle with the indicators. What will have to I do?Dr Ellie replies: Diverticular illness is a bowel situation that reasons other folks to endure on-and-off ache within the decrease a part of the stomach. It occurs when little pouches shape within the decrease portions of the bowels known as the colon.It could possibly reason bloating, constipation, diarrhoea and, maximum repeatedly, tummy ache, specifically at the left facet. It could possibly additionally reason mucus or blood within the stool.Expanding the quantity of fibre you eat is likely one of the maximum essential and efficient way of preventing this.It will have to at all times be carried out slowly, to steer clear of triggering conceivable bloating and wind.Adults want about 30 grams of fibre an afternoon, and maximum folks in the United Kingdom don’t devour sufficient, consistent with Executive figures.Fibre in breakfast cereals or porridge is a great get started, along fruit and greens with their skins, rye crackers, oatcakes and nuts or seeds.Along this, to ensure that the fibre to do its process, you wish to have to drink two to 3 litres of fluid an afternoon to assist with the bowel actions. Workout additionally is helping. Explicit laxatives, known as bulk-forming laxatives that include numerous fibre, are extensively utilized, which is able to assist ease the constipation or diarrhoea that many victims enjoy.A GP too can be offering prescriptions for anti-cramping medicines, to assist with ache.The charity Guts UK has very good recommendation to be had on diverticular illness, together with simple techniques to extend fibre in foods. You’ll be able to in finding out extra by means of visiting gutscharity.org.united kingdom.What do you do to stay the gray at bay? Going gray has at all times been thought to be a truth of existence – a destiny waiting for nearly all folks, some quicker than others.And in all my years as a GP, I’ve by no means had a affected person ask if anything else may also be carried out to banish their silver locks. It has at all times been considered as an inevitability – even for stars like George Clooney, under with spouse Amal. 
However whilst the method is in large part dictated by means of your genes, it turns available in the market is also issues you’ll do to sluggish the encroaching gray hairs.In recent times, analysis has discovered easy steps comparable to tackling pressure and dressed in a hat within the solar can stay the gray at bay – a minimum of for some time. So have you ever controlled to stay your personal hair color into later existence and, if this is the case, what’s your secret? Please write me on the e mail deal with under and let me know.There’s nonetheless quilt if you happen to’re unwell out of the country One among my large shuttle worries after Britain left the Eu Union used to be the possibility of getting to fork out for clinical remedy if any of the circle of relatives were given unwell on vacation.However I’ve simplest lately came upon that whilst the Eu Well being Insurance coverage Card (EHIC) – which entitled all UK electorate to unfastened emergency care anyplace in Europe – used to be scrapped after Brexit, it’s been changed by means of one thing known as the United Kingdom International Well being Insurance coverage Card (GHIC) which provides nearly similar advantages within the EU and a few different international locations.In case your previous EHIC card has but to run out you’ll elevate on the use of it till it does, then change it with a GHIC, which is unassuming to acquire by way of the NHS website online.You’ll nonetheless want shuttle insurance coverage, regardless that, since the GHIC card won’t quilt the price of clinical repatriation – the place you might be flown house below the care of a health care provider – nor non-urgent therapies, comparable to prescriptions.Do you have got a query for Dr Ellie Cannon? E mail DrEllie@mailonsunday.co.ukDr Cannon can’t input into private correspondence and her replies will have to be taken in a normal context.
