Archive for July, 2009

Kate: I have MS, and I have a lot of bladder problems, and I was wondering if you had any suggestions for recurring urinary tract infections. Dr. Lynch: Well, certainly bladder problems are very common in people with MS. Recurrent infections can be a problem. ... Full story

Michelle: When I speak of intimacy and sexuality in women with MS, I first and foremost want you to think of intimacy. It is not equal to sex. Intimacy is a part of closeness. It's about relationships, commitment. It's about touching and feeling. So, when I think of intimacy, I think of all those issues, ... Full story

Nancy: When someone gets a diagnosis of asthma, they need to take a proactive approach from that moment on. It doesn't matter whether it was the first attack or the tenth attack. You must take a proactive approach from that point on, and proactive means you ask the doctor for an explanation of what happened. ... Full story

Andrew: Dr. Shapiro, there are some people with asthma who smoke. One of them sent us an e-mail, and wonders about smoking and asthma. Now I'm sure you have a lot to say about smoking. Dr. Shapiro: Yes. Well, of course you can smoke and have asthma, but it makes it harder to control your asthma, and it accentuates the likelihood of having ... Full story

Andrew: Ok, so this is a new medication that people may or may not know about - primarily because they don't report the side effects to their doctor. I would think that if I was shaky and nervous after using a medication I would complain to my doctor. ... Full story

Rick: We have an e-mail question from Charlotte in Georgia. "How does menopause affect MS?" We've talked about other hormonal issues and pregnancy. How about menopause? Dr. Lynch: There has not been a lot of study of ... Full story

Rick: We talked about how you actually take your medication and how simple the process is. How about using a peak-flow meter? Is it that difficult, Dr. Stempel? Dr. Stempel: Peak-flow meters are very simple to use. It's just taking in a deep breath and then blowing out very quickly, much like one would ... Full story

Andrew: I have a question about supplements. Anyone with a chronic condition always wonders about vitamins or herbal remedies, alternative medicines--where do they come into play? Dr. Shapiro: There isn't a lot known about any positive value of vitamins for asthma or allergic disease. People try all sorts of things. Unfortunately, the alternative medicine world hasn't done a lot of good controlled trials ... Full story

Andrew: Let's talk about treatment. Many people see commercials on TV or on radio, and head to over-the-counter medications. How far can those OTC medications go if you have a chronic condition, and how should proceed as far as seeing if they need something more like ... Full story

Erin: In terms of helping to prevent asthma, should people be screened for this gene, and, if so, should their test results be reported to their health insurance companies? Dr. Holgate: Again, a good question to ask because, in addition to ... Full story