Ask Dr. Mallika
WBZ Medical Reporter Dr. Mallika Marshall will answer selected viewer e-mail questions during WBZ-TV News at 5pm and right here on this page of our web site.
Please try to keep your emails as brief and generic as possible. Bear in mind for legal reasons, the type of medical advice Dr. Marshall can offer is limited, and she cannot recommend individual physicians or diagnose specific conditions without seeing a patient in person. Be sure to include your name and hometown.
Dr. Mallika's advice should only be used as a guideline. Always talk to your doctor first before making any decisions about your own personal healthcare.
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Alcohol And Red Faces
J.B.:
What makes a person turn red when they drink?
Dr. Mallika:
Have you ever noticed when some people drink even a small amount of alcohol, their face turns red? That's because some people lack the enzyme needed to break down alcohol's main byproduct which causes tiny blood vessels in the skin to dilate…and that makes the skin flush. It's genetic and it's particularly common among Asians.
Pizza, Tomato Sauce And Salmonella
Maria:
Is it safe to eat pizza with tomato sauce from their local pizza shop given the salmonella outbreak?
Dr. Mallika:
According to the CDC, vegetables being investigated in the salmonella outbreak include raw round, red plum, and red roma tomatoes, raw jalapeno and serrano peppers, and possibly fresh cilantro. Keep in mind that these raw ingredients are often used in fresh salsa, fresh guacamole and many other dishes, so you're right to be careful about what you eat. But as far as I'm aware, canned and jarred tomatoes and tomato products, like tomato sauce and salsa are considered safe to eat. If you have any questions, ask your local pizza joint where their sauce comes from to make sure it isn't made fresh on the premises with questionable produce.
Gestational Diabetes
Helaine:
My 25 year old daughter was diagnosed with gestational diabetes but even after the baby was born the diabetes never went away. How come?
Dr. Mallika:
Gestational diabetes, which is elevated blood sugar during pregnancy in someone who previously had normal blood sugars, usually goes away within six weeks of the baby being born…as the body's hormone levels return to normal. However, if you've had gestational diabetes, you're at higher risk of becoming diabetic later in life. In fact, fifteen to twenty percent of women who developed diabetes during pregnancy become diabetic again within the first year after delivery. Helaine, perhaps your daughter had undiagnosed diabetes even before she got pregnant. Either way, with weight loss, exercise, and proper diet, she may be able to get off medication.
HPV Vaccine For Men?
D:
What about working on an HPV vaccine for men since they are responsible for spreading the virus?
Dr. Mallika:
HPV is the human papilloma virus which accounts for the majority of cervical cancers in American women. It is spread through sexual contact and men are often carriers. In fact, about fifty percent of adults are infected with HPV.
A year ago, the cervical cancer vaccine, Gardasil, won FDA approval. It protects women against strains of HPV which can cause cervical cancer. It is currently offered to females nine to twenty-six years old. But many experts believe the vaccine could also help prevent males from getting infected and spreading it to their female sexual partners. So the drug company that makes the vaccine, Merck, is planning to seek approval for use of the vaccine in males by the end of the year.
Leg Cramps
Astrid:
My husband has Factor V and has leg cramps at night. Is a DVT a possibility?
Dr. Mallika:
Factor V Leiden is an inherited genetic mutation that increases a person's risk of blood clots, including DVT's or blood clots in the deep veins of the legs. There are many people who suffer from nighttime leg cramps which are annoying but don't usually pose a serious threat. But if your husband is having calf pain, especially if he has it day and night, and only on one side with swelling and redness, there is a good chance that he has a blood clot in his leg…which could be life threatening. And since he has a risk factor for developing blood clots, he should definitely check in with his doctor.
Morning Headaches
Connie, North Reading:
I have been waking up with headaches in the morning for more than 10 years. Should I be concerned?
Dr. Mallika:
The fact that you've been having headaches for more than a decade without any serious problems is reassuring but that doesn't mean that you don't deserve a work-up to see what may be causing your headaches and how to manage them so you're not suffering on a daily basis. You should ask your doctor whether you should be taking a preventative medication to reduce the frequency of your headaches and whether you might benefit from seeing a neurologist.
Itchy Skin
Very Confused, Boston:
My mother has intensely itchy skin. What could be causing it?
Dr. Mallika:
Another name for itching is pruritus and it can be caused by a whole host of conditions including dry skin, pregnancy, infection, parasites, eczema, medications, liver disease, occasionally cancer, and the elderly are also more susceptible to having itchy skin.
Obviously, finding the underlying cause is the first step to treating itchy skin but there are some things you can try in the meantime. You want to take good care of your skin. Avoid using hot water when bathing which can make your skin too dry. Then to lock in the moisture, apply a thick moisturizing lotion to prevent dryness. Use mild soaps and detergents that won't irritate your skin. Don't wear wool or synthetic fabrics which can make your skin itch. And use a humidifier at night to help your skin stay moist. If these measures don't work, call your doctor so they can try to figure out why you're itching and recommend appropriate treatment.
Getting My Lab Results
Linda, Sudbury:
I have a doctor who seems reluctant to give me my lab results in writing. Isn't it my right as a patient to see my own lab results?
Dr. Mallika:
Yes, it is absolutely your right. Now, doctors' offices have different practices when it comes to notifying patients about their lab results. Some doctors send the written report in the mail with little written notations about what is normal and what is abnormal and needs follow-up. Some doctors send letters simply telling a patient that their results were normal. Some doctors' offices call their patients with results. And some practices only call if there are particular concerns. Either way, if you want a written report of your labs and you're not getting a response from your doctor's office, speak to your doctor directly on the phone or in person or call the medical records department and sign a release for your records.
Surgery Through The Belly Button?
Donna:
Why don't surgeons go through the belly button when performing surgery?
Dr. Mallika:
Surgeons actually do use the belly button area sometimes when performing surgery. Particularly when performing laparoscopic surgery of the abdomen which involves using small incisions to insert a tiny camera and instruments which allow the surgeon to see inside the belly and perform procedures without making a large incision. The belly button is usually where the surgeon inserts the lighted scope.