What you wanted to ask your doctor but were too shy to ask…

Whenever I am at a gathering with strangers, invariably someone will ask what I do for work. If I answer truthfully that I am a doctor, it is not uncommon for it to be immediately followed up with a barrage of health questions – for example, being asked to inspect their skin mole if it looks cancerous, or for an explanation as to the cause of their chronic abdominal pains!

WORDS: DR CARL WONG

Interestingly, the questions I am asked by patients at my medical practice are quite different to the ones I get asked by strangers in other social situations. These everyday health questions I find are very fulfilling to answer. Maybe one of these below questions has been on your mind:

Can I catch a cold from being caught in the wet or in Contrary to popular belief, you can’t. Common colds are caused by viruses. We catch them when our immune system is run down (not enough sleep, unhealthy lifestyle). Common colds, influenza, COVID - all are easily passed onto other persons. Winter is more common to get these infections –not because of the cold weather itself, but because more people are in enclosed spaces together to avoid the cold weather, and thus pass on their infections to unsuspecting others.

Does cranberry juice cure a urine tract infection (UTIs)?

There is no strong evidence that this significantly prevents UTIs to warrant long term use of.

Does sugar really make my child hyperactive?

As much as we would like to blame the confectionary makers on this one, the likely reason is that kids tend to eat sugary foods at times where they are likely to be excitable anyway (birthday parties, holidays, movie theatres).

Why do I cry when I cut onions?

Cutting onions releases chemicals into the air which irritates our eyes. Prevention options include: refrigerating onions beforehand, wearing goggles when cutting, or just ordering takeaway food.

Is drinking a daily glass of wine good for my health?

This is a tricky one to answer. There is inconsistent evidence that low levels of alcohol consumption can help your heart health, but the proof is not strong enough to be part of standard health guidelines. We do know more certainly that high levels can lead to an increased risk of strokes, dementia and many cancers. Always drink in moderation and per recommended consumption guidelines.

On TV or in the movies, why does the Heart Monitor always show a ‘flat-line’ before the hero doctor uses the defibrillator to save the patient?

My favourite groan-at-the-medical-show moment. In real-life, a flat line (called asystole) means that a defibrillator will NOT work for that person. The flat-line just looks more impressive for the soap opera drama.

Is staring at an eclipse bad for my eyes?

Staring at the sun and also at an eclipse can lead to solar burns to the back of the eye (retina) which can lead to temporary or permanent vision loss. The same risk is looking through a camera/smartphone lens. Best to use specialised solar eclipse glasses or watch it later on TV.

Is taking fish oil good for me?

Fish oil is recommended for conditions including heart disease (heart failure, high triglycerides cholesterol, and joint disease like rheumatoid arthritis). The doses needed varies and high doses may be needed. The downside: you might develop a fishy breath!

Does doing crosswords ward off dementia?

Mental stimulation and learning new pursuits has been shown to help (eg reading, crossword puzzles, painting, learning a musical instrument). A healthy lifestyle and diet, plenty of sleep and avoiding head injuries are also very important.

How much sleep do I need?

Adults need on average 7-9 hours a night. This is compared to 14-17 hours for a newborn baby. Older adults’ (>65 years) sleep requirements are similar to when they are younger, but often spend more time in bed. This increased bed-time is