My daughter has been told her really heavy periods are just normal – surely there’s something that can help her?

HAVE you had your shingles vaccine?

It is a that causes a painful rash.

is mainly offered to older people who are at greater risk of serious problems from shingles, such as long-lasting pain, hearing loss or blindness.

It’s recommended for all people turning 65, those in their seventies and those 50 and over with a severely weakened immune system.

Only people with a severely weakened immune system can get the jab on the NHS after 80.

You have two doses of – Shingrix, six to12 months apart.

It could lower the risk of developing , too, a new study suggests.

Analysis of 280,000 people showed those who received the jab at 79 were a fifth less likely to have dementia seven years later than those who did not.

The study involved an older version of the jab, Zostavax, so a study is under way to see if Shingrix has the same effect.

Ask your GP about the vaccine if you are eligible but have not been contacted to get the jab.

Heavy menstruation is not ‘normal’

Q: MY daughter has had such heavy periods since having her daughter – they are so bad that she has to take days off work.

She has been told that it’s normal, but surely there is something that can be done to help?

Do you have any advice I can pass onto her?

A: Heavy menstrual bleeding, or , is not normal, but it is very common, affecting roughly a third of women at some point.

There are certain times in life when this becomes more likely, for example when periods first start, after having a baby and during perimenopause.

There are a number of ways that heavy bleeding can be managed, so women should not feel that they have to just “put up with it”;.

I would advise your daughter to do a little research about the condition beforehand.

Menorrhagia is classed as a medical condition and can lead to anaemia, fatigue and reduced quality of life.

It can be caused by a variety of factors, so this needs to be determined before treatment or management can be offered.

I recently worked with the pharmaceutical company Bayer on an online questionnaire that your daughter could complete – it asks about the bleeding and also how it affects the person’s quality of life.

She can download the results afterwards and share them with her GP, either in person or attached to an online e-consult.

She may feel more comfortable with a GP or nurse who has a special interest in women’s health, if the practice has one.

But the bottom line is that periods which have a negative effect on a person’s life – be that due to heaviness, pain or the length of the period – should not be considered as normal.

COULD SPASMS BE DUE TO ARTHRITIS?

Q) I SOMETIMES experience my left thumb and first finger going into spasm and I can’t hold my fork to cut food.

It is quite painful at times and I have to put down whatever I am holding and rub the area.

It happens in the left hand, and as I am left-handed, I find it difficult to carry on using my right hand.

I always think of , and how to arthritis – should I see anyone about it?

I am 82 years old and take medication for type 2 diabetes, an underactive thyroid and high blood pressure.

A) Spasms or cramps are involuntary contractions of muscles which can be painful.

You’re describing getting these in the thumb and first finger of your dominant hand.

There are a number of potential reasons why you could be getting this including dehydration or an imbalance of electrolytes in the blood such as calcium, sodium, potassium or magnesium.

Vitamin D deficiency can also contribute towards cramps.

Another common reason would be overuse of the hand which used to be nicknamed “writer’s cramp”; but nowadays mobile phone usage may be a more common cause.

of the hands can also cause muscle spasms (especially rheumatoid arthritis) but I’d expect there to be other signs and symptoms such as swelling and pain in the joints that are affected.

Mary Berry has shared publicly that her left hand appears as it does not because of arthritis, but due to her contracting polio as a child – a disease that has been eradicated in the UK because of vaccination.

Other causes include carpal tunnel syndrome and thyroid disease.

In your case, I’d advise checking with your GP as it may be wise to check your bloods to look at electrolytes, thyroid function and vitamin D, especially as you’re taking multiple medications.

In the meantime hydrate well and starting some gentle hand exercises could help alleviate symptoms.

FAT JABS ‘CUT ALZ RISK’

FAT jabs may lower the risk of dementia, according to a study of almost 400,000 adults with type 2 diabetes.

Experts examined two kinds of drugs – GLP-1 receptor agonists, which include popular weight loss meds such as and , and SGLT2 inhibitors.

Findings, published in JAMA Neurology, showed people taking GLP-1RAs had a 33 per cent lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s, while SGLT2i users had a 43 per cent lower risk compared to those on other diabetes drugs.

There were no significant difference in effectiveness between the two drug types.

However, another study in the journal found GLP-1RAs trumped other diabetes medication when assessing dementia risk.

Dr Leah Mursaleen, head of clinical research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “We don’t know yet why these medicines may be offering a protective effect, and will need more research to understand how they are affecting the brain.”;

She said clinical trials are already investigating semaglutide (the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy) as a potential treatment for early Alzheimer’s. GLP-1RAs mimic hormone glucagon-like peptide-1, which is naturally released after eating.

They control appetite and blood sugar but new research suggests they may offer additional benefits for brain health.

Semaglutide is approved in the UK for diabetes management in Ozempic, and weight loss through Wegovy.

Q: WHAT is the best way to travel long-term when (thyroid meds)?

A: The NHS typically covers medication for up to three months while you are abroad, after which you’ll need to find alternative supplies at your destination.

It’s also a good idea to check with your destination country how long a supply they will allow you to take.

Here in the UK, foreign travellers are only allowed to bring a three-month supply of medication into the country with them.

It’s a good idea to take a screenshot of your medical history and medication list from the NHS app.

Or ask for a summary printout from your GP surgery so you can use this to show to a prescribing doctor abroad or if you get questioned about the medication you are carrying.

For anyone carrying controlled drugs, you will need a letter from your GP or specialist explaining that you are prescribed these meds, and always inform the airline and the country you are visiting.

Depending on where you are going, it may be necessary to see a doctor privately in your country of travel and the price of this can vary vastly depending on where you are, as can the price of the medication.

Fortunately for you, thyroid medications are relatively inexpensive compared to some other drugs, but it is absolutely imperative that you do not stop taking them.

So it is good that you are considering this now in plenty of time.

A couple of other tips – keep your medication in its original labelled packaging and carry most of it with you in your hand luggage, but put a month’s supply in your checked bag as a back-up.

If carrying liquid medication in your hand luggage that is more than 100ml, also inform the airline ahead of time and carry a doctor’s letter.