AchooTR Asked :
After 18 years of smoking, I decided to quit cigarettes and started using nicotine chewing gum about 2 months ago. I gained a few pounds and was worried about gaining more weight during this time so I also started on a diet and a weight loss pill. After this, I noticed that sometimes while chewing the gum, I get palpitations. They are very mild but I can feel it and I am worried that the gum may be causing nicotine toxicity or it could be the weight loss pill.

I read the side effects of both the gum and weight loss pill and palpitations are listed in the side effects. I don’t want to stop on the weight loss pill because I have heard horror stories about getting fat after quitting smoking. But at the same time, I am unsure if I am ready to give up on the gum at this point. Is there a way to use both the gum and the weight loss pill and avoid these side effects or should I stop the gum? I was planning to start gyming but I am a bit concerned about these palpitations.

continue reading Nicotine Gum, Weight Loss Pill Causing Heart Palpitations

ConcernedDad Asked :

My wife is 14 weeks pregnant from our estimation, and she went for her first pregnancy ultrasound last week. I know it is a bit late but due to personal beliefs, we did it at this time. The gynecologist estimated that she is in her 16th week of pregnancy after doing the ultrasound. We are almost dead sure that she was 14 weeks pregnant because of her last period and the first positive result we got on a home pregnancy test.

When we saw our doctor in the first 4 weeks, he had also requested some blood tests and had confirmed the stage of pregnancy which matched our estimate. I am now confused. What is going on? Are these pregnancy dates accurate? My wife is a smoker and she has assured me that she quit smoking. Could smoking have affected the pregnancy date assessment?

continue reading Ultrasound, Date My Pregnancy, Smoking Effect

Costochondritis is the inflammation of the costal cartilage between the ribs and sternum. It is a self-limiting condition meaning that it does not usually progress to a stage where it can result in complications. In most cases, it will resolve over time with no treatment. However, in severe cases of costochondritis, the pain can be so intense that it will prompt a visit to the emergency room with the complaint of excruciating chest pain.

The costal cartilages of the first seven ribs run through to the sternum, while the costal cartilages of the other ribs connect to the costal cartilage of the seventh rib. Costochondritis more commonly affects the cartilages of the fourth to sixth ribs but any of the costal cartilages may be involved. Inflammation of the cartilage can affect the articulation of the cartilage with the rib and sternum. In some cases, there may actually be a slight tear of the costal cartilage.

continue reading Severe Costochondritis – Causes, Symptoms, Treatment

Costochondritis is the inflammation of the costal cartilage that connects the rib to the sternum (breastbone). While the costal cartilage is seen as an extension of the rib, it actually articulates with both the rib and sternum at two joints – sternocostal joint which is between the sternum and costal cartilage and the costochondral joint which is between the rib and costal cartilage. In costochondritis, the inflammation may also affect the movement at these joints.

continue reading What is Costochondritis? Pain in Rib, Sternum Area

Larr6T Asked :
I am a 53 year old man, diagnosed with diabetes 2 years back and currently on metformin. My sugar levels are quite stable and I always have weekly checks at the pharmacy. For the past 3 months, all readings were at a normal level and I am on a very strict diet. I even lost significant amounts of weight which I know is good for diabetics. I started noticing white spots and patches on my tongue about 2 to 3 weeks ago. They may have been there longer but I did not notice. These patches are whitish-yellow in some areas and very white at other spots.

They are not big – about the size of a pin head to a patch that is about the size of 2 to 3 matchstick heads. It started at the back of my tongue, as far as I could see and now have come more towards the front. It has not yet reached the tip of my tongue but I can now see some spots on the sides of my tongue. My pharmacist said that this may be an yeast infection and has advised me to see my doctor.

continue reading White Spots on Tongue