Dr James Le Fanu: 1 March
The world moves in mysterious ways. Viagra, that wonder drug of our age, has turned out to have several benefits other than that for which it is commonly prescribed – including making greyhounds run faster and reviving drooping flowers. The same mechanism is involved in each case: Viagra acts on the chemical nitric oxide, found respectively in blood vessels, heart muscle and the stems of plants, and increases the blood flow to the generative organs (in men); boosts the efficiency of the heart muscle (in greyhounds), and promotes the upward flow of minerals and nutrients (in flowers).
Viagra is also a potentially highly effective remedy for two very different, but serious medical conditions. The first is Intrauterine Growth Restriction, where, in about one in 200 pregnancies, the baby in the womb fails to thrive due to impaired blood flow to the placenta. This is difficult to correct and until recently it required bed rest for the mother, along with a variety of therapies to improve the blood flow, such as aspirin, oxygen and zinc.
Then, a couple of years ago, Dr Van Daneldszen, at the University of Columbia, speculated that Viagra might improve the blood flow through the placenta, by dilating the blood vessels. In a preliminary study published in the British Journal Of Obstetrics And Gynaecology, he found that Viagra improved foetal growth rates in nine out of 10 affected pregnancies, and suggests it ‘offers a new opportunity to improve perinatal outcome’.
The further medicinal use of Viagra is for those with potentially life-threatening heart failure caused by the constriction of blood vessels in the lungs, the condition known as pulmonary hypertension. Here again, Viagra dilates the blood vessels, reducing the pressure with which the heart must pump blood to the lungs, thus alleviating heart failure. It is, observes Dr Christopher Barnett of the National Institutes of Health, ‘a safe and effective treatment’.
THIS WEEK’S MEDICAL QUERY comes courtesy of a lady from Dorset who experiences a sharp electric-shock-type pain in both hands when passing urine. This sensation in the hands is most commonly associated with the bladder infection cystitis. It is very difficult to explain, as there are no nervous connections linking the bladder with the hands.
The most plausible possibility is that it is related to pressure on the nerves in the spine caused by looking downwards when passing urine and is thus preventable by keeping the neck straight.
This theory is, however, disputed. ‘I find it hard to believe this is anything to do with neck posture,’ observes a retired physician from Oxford. ‘When I was a student my neck was in better shape than it is today. I have noticed the sensation on and off over the years and would describe it as a slightly painful tingling in the palms of the hands. It lasts a couple of seconds and ceases as soon as the urine flows.’
drjames@lady.co.uk
A year ago, after noticing that chocolate seemed to irritate her mouth ulcers, she decided to stop eating it altogether. Since then, and to her great relief, no more ulcers have appeared.’
Viagra is also a potentially highly effective remedy for two very different, but serious medical conditions. The first is Intrauterine Growth Restriction, where, in about one in 200 pregnancies, the baby in the womb fails to thrive due to impaired blood flow to the placenta. This is difficult to correct and until recently it required bed rest for the mother, along with a variety of therapies to improve the blood flow, such as aspirin, oxygen and zinc.
Then, a couple of years ago, Dr Van Daneldszen, at the University of Columbia, speculated that Viagra might improve the blood flow through the placenta, by dilating the blood vessels. In a preliminary study published in the British Journal Of Obstetrics And Gynaecology, he found that Viagra improved foetal growth rates in nine out of 10 affected pregnancies, and suggests it ‘offers a new opportunity to improve perinatal outcome’.
The further medicinal use of Viagra is for those with potentially life-threatening heart failure caused by the constriction of blood vessels in the lungs, the condition known as pulmonary hypertension. Here again, Viagra dilates the blood vessels, reducing the pressure with which the heart must pump blood to the lungs, thus alleviating heart failure. It is, observes Dr Christopher Barnett of the National Institutes of Health, ‘a safe and effective treatment’.
THIS WEEK’S MEDICAL QUERY comes courtesy of a lady from Dorset who experiences a sharp electric-shock-type pain in both hands when passing urine. This sensation in the hands is most commonly associated with the bladder infection cystitis. It is very difficult to explain, as there are no nervous connections linking the bladder with the hands.
The most plausible possibility is that it is related to pressure on the nerves in the spine caused by looking downwards when passing urine and is thus preventable by keeping the neck straight.
This theory is, however, disputed. ‘I find it hard to believe this is anything to do with neck posture,’ observes a retired physician from Oxford. ‘When I was a student my neck was in better shape than it is today. I have noticed the sensation on and off over the years and would describe it as a slightly painful tingling in the palms of the hands. It lasts a couple of seconds and ceases as soon as the urine flows.’
drjames@lady.co.uk
Mouth ulcer relief
The cause of mouth (or aphthous) ulcers is not known, though they may be a symptom of coeliac disease caused by sensitivity to the gluten component of wheat. It is possible that avoiding other foods may also be helpful, as suggested by a reader whose 25-year-old granddaughter had been troubled by mouth ulcers since childhood. ‘She had a great liking for chocolate and admitted that once she had starting eating it she found it difficult to resist finishing the bar or box.A year ago, after noticing that chocolate seemed to irritate her mouth ulcers, she decided to stop eating it altogether. Since then, and to her great relief, no more ulcers have appeared.’