Dr Gareth: Could My Asthma Make Me Sterile?

Q I HAVE had asthma for many years and I recently read somewhere that asthmatics have a higher chance of being sterile. Can you tell me if this is true?

AIT is unusual for an asthma sufferer to have issues with sterility because of their condition.

But in some severe cases, where treatment with high doses of steroids has been necessary over a long time, this can affect the signal that tells the brain to produce testosterone, which could lead to a lowering in sperm count.

There are many causes of decreased fertility, of which asthma is a rare one.

Q MY husband and I are thinking of starting a family. I have heard I should take folic acid. Can you tell me when I should start?

A FOLIC ACID – a type of vitamin B – helps prevent spina bifida and other defects in the baby’s neural tube, which affects development of the brain and spinal cord.

You can buy folic acid tablets in the chemists. Ideally, you should start taking them three months before conception but the most important time is during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

After that you can stop as the baby’s spine will be fully formed. Why don’t you ask your GP or family planning clinic for more advice about preparing for pregnancy?

Q I AM 53 and I am going through the menopause. I have been having muscle soreness which my doctor says is the muscle deteriorating. I thought this sounded quite severe but was too scared to ask any more. What is happening and is the pain related to themenopause?

A THERE is no conclusive evidence to suggest the two are directly linked. I think there may have been a misunderstanding between yourself and the GP. This is why it is important to ask questions so your doctor can clear up any worries.

Aches and pains are common symptoms of the menopause but this is not your muscle deteriorating.

It could simply be a completely separate sign of the ageing process and I would advise some light exercise to ensure your muscles and joints remain healthy. Go back and speak to your GP. I am sure he or she will clear up any confusion.

Q A FRIEND told me that you could lower your blood pressure by learning to breathe slower. Is she right? I am following a healthy diet and taking tablets to control my blood pressure but it would be nice to have a more natural method of lowering it.

A THERE is a link between high blood pressure and breathing rates and I think it is great that you are taking such an active approach to dealing with your condition.

However, I would recommend this in conjunction with your current treatment regime. Never stop taking prescribed medicines without consulting your GP.

Normal respiration rate is between 14 to 19 breaths per minute and slowing that rate has proven to be effective in helping to lower blood pressure. This is because it sends messages to the brain that relax the small muscles in the walls of arteries andallows the blood to flow more freely.

I wouldn’t start trying to do this by yourself. Speak to your doctor about seeing a trained physiotherapist.

Q FOR some time I have been bothered with dry eyes. I have been using Hypromellose drops, then my GP prescribed Visco tears but I don’t like these because I find they make my eyes gritty. Is there is an alternative to these?

A THERE are other drops you can try. While Visco tears is a well known and effective medication, not every person has the same reaction to using all prescribed medications.

I would also make sure that you rule out any other factors that could be making your eyes gritty – for example, if you wear contact lenses or if you are exposed to an environment that could be causing this.

But if you are experiencing discomfort you need to make an appointment and have a chat with your doc about your options.