I am 30 years old and have a lot of white hair. Why am I going prematurely grey? Will it turn black again?

The age at which hair greys is genet- ic and depends on the age at which parents greyed. In Indians, unless it occurs before the age of 25, it cannot really be called “premature greying”. Once the hair has lost its pigment or melanin cells, it is unlikely to get the colour back. Vitamin B12 deficiency and hypothyroidism are associated with premature greying, so you can get yourself checked for both.

No sweat

My son does not sweat. His temperature rises for no reason at all. So I took him for some tests. We were told that he lacks sweat glands.

You are describing a condition called an- hidrosis, when thereis a relative lack or total absence of sweat glands. Sweating helps reduce body temperature. Ambient temperature and activity can cause the body temperature to rise to dangerous levels and can even be fatal. It can be genetic or secondary — due to damage to the sweat glands, diabetes, psoriasis or autoimmune diseases.

There is no treatment. You have to try to keep him cool by using fans and air conditioning. He should wear loose-fitting clothing made out of natural material and carry a water bottle everywhere. It will help to keep him hydrated; he can also pour the water on himself to cool off in an emergency.

Tight slippers

My slippers are tight in the evening. I find it difficult to put them on.

This can happen because you sit all day. Blood pools in your legs, causing swelling. You could try getting up every hour and stretching. It could also be one of the first signs of heart failure. If you also feel breathless and have a wheezy cough, this could be the case. Please consult a physician.

Injured wrist

My right wrist suddenly started to pain. It is very irritating as I am unable to dress, comb my hair or eat.

Try to remember if you did anything to injure the joint. Place an ice pack on the joint intermittently for 10-15 minutes. Alternate this with the application of a hot towel. Take parac- etemol or ibuprofen. If the pain does not subside in three days, you may require blood tests and an X-ray.

Breast pain

My breasts are tender, lumpy and painful. I am50 years old.

At 50, you may have either hit menopause or are nearing it. The body’s hormonal balance gets affected at this time. The falling estrogen levels can cause these changes. Try applying a hot water bottle to the breast and wearing a bra with good support. Do pectoral muscle exercises with dumbbells and planks.

Please do a mammogram as you are 50. If it is normal, you need to repeat it every two years.

Lost words

I sometimes struggle to find the right word when I speak.

If this occurs regularly and is transient, it may be a TIA (transient ischemic attack), also called a mini- stroke. The blood supply to that area of the brain is temporarily affected. It may also be associated with drooping of one side of the mouth or weakness of one half of the body. Check for diabetes, high blood pressure, and lipid profile and take appropriate treatment.

The writer has a family practice at Vellore and is the author of Staying Healthy in Modern India. If you have any questions on health issues please write to yourhealthgm@yahoo.co.in