Q-Whenever I travel, whether it`s by car or plane or boat, I worry that I`m going to get sick. I really think one reason I get sick is that I think about it so much. Aside from not thinking about it, what else can I do to lessen the chance I`ll be sick? I`m not referring to the use of medication for motion sickness, which I have used.
A-Before and during your trip, avoid foods that have strong odors or are spicy or greasy. While traveling, do not read; and if you`re on a train, make sure you`re facing forward.
In a car, sit in the front seat if possible, and keep your eyes on the distant scenery. If you`re on a ship, concentrate on the horizon. And if you`re on a plane, sit near a window so you can look outside.
One more common-sense bit of advice: Avoid any other traveler who is being bothered with motion sickness. Although you can`t catch the motion sickness from anyone, it can still be ”contagious.”
Q-I`ve heard of sinus headaches, but I`ve never understood what they were. Will you please explain?
A-A sinus headache is caused by a sinus infection. A sinus headache may occur when a person has a cold, and it is felt around the forehead or face. A tension headache may also be felt around the forehead, but these headaches generally disappear within a day or so, with or without treatment. Sinusitis, on the other hand, may cause a headache that will last for days or longer unless the person is treated with antibiotics.
Q-I would like to know the difference, if any, between dizziness and vertigo.
A-Both may be traced to an inner-ear problem. Dizziness usually refers to a feeling of imbalance, but one that is not associated with a sensation of spinning. Vertigo, on the other hand, does involve the sensation of spinning or turning, whether this refers to the patient or the surroundings.
Q-I started using a mouthwash after a dental hygienist recommended it. But it burned my mouth so much that I soon stopped using it. Can something that burns as much as that mouthwash actually be good for you?
A-Check the mouthwash for its alcohol content. The results of a study indicate that the regular use of a mouthwash with a high alcohol content may increase the risk of oral and pharyngeal cancer. These findings are in keeping with the known increased risk of oral cancer in people who abuse alcohol.
In this study, the increased risk of cancer was associated with the use of a mouthwash whose alcohol content was at least 25 percent. The risk was stronger among women than among men. I assume your dentist is familiar with this study, but you might want to mention it.
Q-Are tumors on the skin always treated by surgery, or are there other methods of removing them?
A-Skin tumors are usually treated surgically under local anesthesia, but cryotherapy (freezing) and radiation are also used.
Q-I recently heard a statement to the effect that osteoporosis, or bone loss, begins in childhood. This seems like a radical point of view.
A-The statement you cite is probably based on the fact that many children do not have the kind of diet needed to build a sturdy skeleton. As a result, in later years they become susceptible to osteoporosis, which occurs with aging. Specifically, the diets of these children lack sufficient calcium.
The relationship between osteoporosis and an inadequate diet has been demonstrated in the results of studies of middle-age women. Those who drank milk when they were younger had much denser bones than women of the same age who did not drink milk.
The peak of bone density occurs in the early 30s. The greater the bone mass achieved at that time, the less the possibility of suffering a broken bone later.
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Dr. Solomon`s column appears in Tempo on Mondays and Fridays. If you have a medical question, write to him at P.O. Box 36184, Baltimore, Md. 21285-6184. Dr. Solomon cannot give personal replies, but will answer as many questions as possible in his column.
