I am 65 years old, and I feel faint on and off. So I checked my heart rate and it was only 56 beats per min.

A slow heart rate is diagnosed if the pulse rate is less than 60 beats per min. It can occur if there was a previous heart attack, blocks in the heart vessels or conduction defects in ageing heart muscles. It can also be due to electrolyte imbalances like a high potassium level or diseases like hypothyroidism. The heart does not pump blood properly if the heartbeat is very slow. This can result in brain damage, strokes and heart attacks. You need to go to a physician to get checked for these causes and ungergo treatment.

Losing balance

I lose my balance when walking forward suddenly. It is not associated with any loss of consciousness or giddiness. Are there any exercises for this?

Sometimes sudden loss of balance can occur because of a condition called cervical spondylosis (in the neck bones) or because you have an ear problem. If neither of these is present, then you can try exercises to see if you can improve your balance. Simple exercises consist of the heel-to-toe walking forwards and backwards for a distance of around 10 metres 10 times. Also, stand on one leg with the other leg and arms stretched out. Try to hold that position without falling. Please check to see if there is any other medical condition responsible for your loss of balance that requires specific treatment. Exercise is an adjuvant.

Leg pains

My whole leg hurts after I go for a walk in the morning. The pain lasts the entire day.

After returning from your walk, lie on the floor with your hips against the wall and your legs raised straight up so your body is angled like the letter L with the knees straight. Maintain this position for five minutes. You will soon find that the aches and pains in your legs have disappeared.

Night sweats

I am a 50-year-old woman who often wakes at night drenched in sweat. Because of that, I am unable to sleep well.

It may be due to hormonal changes associated with menopause. In that case, it will subside in a few months. However, it may also be due to some other causes. If you have diabetes, your blood sugar may drop at night, causing sweating. It may be due to a hyperactive thyroid gland. Tuberculosis and some other infections also cause this. Even constant stress can be a factor. It would help if you were evaluated physically and with blood tests.

Meanwhile, You may find it more comfortable to sleep in an air-conditioned room, keeping the temperature low. Also, use only cotton sheets and coverings, not synthetic ones. Finally, try to get the cause treated so that you get a permanent cure.

Abdominal obesity

I want to lose weight around my abdomen. How can I do this?

Abdominal fat is dangerous because it is visceral fat. It tends to get deposited around the pancreas, the kidneys and other internal organs in the abdomen. It is impossible to just reduce abdominal fat without losing overall weight. Try to bring your BMI down to 23-25. (BMI is weight divided by height in metres square). Increase the total amount of daily exercise so that there is a minimum of 40 minutes of aerobic activity. Try to insert a few minutes of high-intensity workouts in between to increase the metabolic rate. Do weight (dumbbell) workouts at least twice a week. Be careful about what and how much you eat. Try to fill up on vegetables and fruits.

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