Q: I have been taking statins and blood pressure medications for the past few years. However, I was shocked when I was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease during a medical checkup the other day. I’m 80 years old, but I’ve always been healthy. Could my medication cause this kidney problem?
Dr. Ellie replies: Statins and blood pressure medications are important medications for reducing the risk of heart disease, but in some cases these medications can cause other problems.
Statins reduce cholesterol, a type of fat in the bloodstream that can lead to fatal heart disease and stroke.
Statins are not known to cause chronic kidney disease, but in rare cases, the pills can cause a condition called rhabdomyolysis, which damages the kidneys.
One of the most common types of blood pressure drugs are angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), which often affect the kidneys.
Statins are not known to cause chronic kidney disease, but in rare cases, the pills can cause a condition called rhabdomyolysis, which damages the kidneys.
These ARB drugs help relax blood vessels and lower blood pressure by blocking the production of certain hormones in the kidneys. However, this can limit kidney function and can lead to chronic kidney disease, where the organ slowly stops working.
However, it is important to point out that the benefits of taking these drugs almost always outweigh the risks.
High blood pressure is one of the most common causes of chronic kidney disease. This means that not taking ARB drugs is more likely to cause kidney disease than taking them.
The drug is even considered safe enough to be routinely prescribed to patients who already have kidney problems, albeit in low doses.
Additionally, chronic kidney disease is extremely common, affecting approximately one in five people over the age of 80.
Whatever the cause, it is important to know the severity of chronic kidney disease.
During this time, do not stop taking any other regular prescriptions unless directed by your doctor.
Q: After a recent stroke, I was in severe pain and was prescribed morphine daily. But for the next few hours you feel like a zombie. My doctor says that extended release morphine tablets are not currently available in the UK, is there anything else I can take instead?
Dr. Ellie replies: Unfortunately, GPs and pharmacists currently spend much of their time responding to drug shortages.
The situation is especially dire for people with chronic pain. Pain management is a medical specialty in itself, and trying different treatments and non-pharmaceutical options to help a patient can take months or even years.
So finding a regime not available here is incredibly frustrating and debilitating.
Using opioid medications on a regular basis may also not be the best option for pain relief.
A pain management team or pain clinic can explore all options for comprehensively and safely treating patients with chronic pain.
This includes not only drug therapy, but also psychotherapy and exercise therapy.
In addition to opioid medications, consider looking at anti-inflammatory medications, topical treatments, and neuroanalgesics. Your general practitioner should be able to prescribe one of these alternative treatments and refer you to a pain specialist.
Q: I am a 67-year-old woman and have always had problems with my bowels. Last year she was diagnosed with diverticulitis. She has started exercising more and eating more fiber, but she is still battling her symptoms. What should I do?
Dr. Ellie replies: Diverticular disease is an intestinal disease that causes intermittent pain in the lower abdomen. This occurs when a small pouch forms in the lower part of the intestine called the colon.
It can cause bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and most commonly abdominal pain, especially on the left side. There may also be mucus or blood in the stool.
Increasing your fiber intake is one of the most important and effective ways to combat this.
It should always be done slowly to avoid possible bloating and wind.
According to government statistics, adults need around 30g of fiber a day, but most of us living in the UK don’t eat enough.
A good start is to get the fiber found in breakfast cereals and porridge, along with fruits and vegetables with skin, rye crackers, oatcakes, nuts and seeds.
In addition to this, for dietary fiber to do its job, you need to drink 2-3 liters of water a day to help with bowel movements. Exercise also helps. Certain laxatives called bulking laxatives, which contain large amounts of fiber, are also used to help reduce the constipation and diarrhea that many patients experience.
Your general practitioner may also prescribe pain medication to relieve the pain.
The charity Guts UK has great advice on diverticular disease, including simple ways to increase fiber in your diet. For more information, visit gutscharity.org.uk.
What do you do to prevent gray color?
Going gray has always been considered a fact of life. This means that almost everyone has a destiny that happens sooner than others.
And in all my years as a general practitioner, I’ve never had a patient ask me, “Is there anything I can do to get rid of my silver hair?” It’s always been seen as inevitable, even for stars like George Clooney. Below is his wife Amal.
But while this process is largely determined by genes, it turns out there may be things you can do to slow down the onset of gray hair.
Recent studies have found that simple steps like managing stress and wearing a hat in the sun can prevent gray hair, at least for a while. So, were you able to keep your hair color until later in life? If so, what’s your secret? Let us know by writing to the email address below.
You will be compensated even if you become ill while abroad.
One of my big travel concerns after the UK left the European Union was that if someone in my family got sick while on holiday, I would have to leave for treatment.
However, I only recently discovered that the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which gave all British citizens the right to free emergency care anywhere in Europe, was abolished after Brexit. It has been replaced by something called the UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), which offers broadly similar benefits in the EU and some other countries.
If your old EHIC card has not yet expired, you can continue to use it until it expires. The GHIC is easily available from the NHS website.
However, travel insurance is still required, as the GHIC card does not cover non-emergency medical expenses such as doctor’s appointments and flights home, or prescriptions.
Have a question for Dr Ellie Cannon? Email [email protected]
Dr. Cannon is not available for personal correspondence. Her response must be taken in its general context.
