DR GARETH: Is Tattoo Too Risky for Me

By DR GARETH SMITH

QI RECENTLY had a DVT after flying and the doctor has put me on warfarin tablets to thin my blood. I want to get a tattoo for my 30th birthday in a few weeks. Will it be safe to do this while I am still on the tablets?

ATHE risk would be bleeding into the skin, which is not dangerous but could cause the tattoo to smudge. A respectable tattoo artist would probably not agree to do the work while a person is taking a “blood thinner”. Ask your doctor if it is safe for youto stop taking the medicine for a few days before. Never make the decision to stop your “blood thinner” without medical advice. My advice would be to wait a while until you stop your tablets.

Better safe than sorry.

QI AM a 17-year-old male. I have to make frequent visits to the bathroom to pee, usually at night. I feel like I have to go every five or 10 minutes but when I do very little urine comes out.

AWHILE it’s common for older men to need to urinate frequently, your symptoms are unusual for a man under 50. Common causes for frequent urination in young men include prostate infection (prostatitis), urinary tract infection or sexually transmitteddisease. It could also be caused by a medical condition that causes increased amounts of urine, such as diabetes or a side effect from a prescription or non-prescription medication. Your GP can sort out your problem by examining your genitals andprostate gland and taking urine and blood tests.

QMY husband is 23. The doctor told him his liver enzymes were high. He takes over-the-counter Tagamet daily. Could this be the cause?

ATAGAMET (also known as cimetidine) is available by prescription and over-the-counter and is commonly used to treat the symptoms of reflux oesosophigitis (heartburn). Tagamet can cause an increase in some liver enzymes, especially if taken in largeamounts for a long period of time. Ask your husband to speak to his GP about the results.

QCAN a toddler receive adequate calcium when drinking soy milk in place of cow’s milk?

ACALCIUM is an important part of a healthy diet, necessary for optimal growth and lifelong strong bones. While dairy products, such as cow’s milk, yogurt and cheese, are excellent sources of calcium, toddlers can get enough calcium from non-dairy sourcessuch as soy milk. Experts recommend children aged one to three years get 500 milligrams each day and those aged four to eight years get 800 milligrams each day. Toddlers generally get enough calcium when they drink at least two glasses of cow’s milk aday.

Some soy milk contains as much calcium as cows’ milk, along with other important nutrients such as protein, vitamin D and vitamin B12. Your toddler can get enough calcium by drinking at least two glasses of calcium-fortified soy milk each day; olderchildren will need at least three glasses