SCOFFING blueberries may have benefits for mood, a recent study has found.
In a small study, adults aged over 65 consumed – equivalent to two cups of fresh berries – or a placebo daily for three months.
improved in both groups, but slightly more in the blueberry group.
Although larger studies are needed before we can say blueberries improve mood, researchers also found changes in markers of gut , raising interesting questions about the gut-brain connection.
Other foods that might help support a good gut, and potentially a happier mind, include green bananas, oats and Greek yoghurt.
It’s true that what you eat and your lifestyle habits have a big impact on your health, including that of your brain.
Here’s what readers have asked me this week . . .
PRESCRIBED STEROIDS FOR TEN MONTHS
Q) I AM a 62-year-old female. After a day of intense housework, followed by a ten-hour car journey, I experienced severe pain in my legs, groin, lower back and arms.
My doctor diagnosed polymyalgia rheumatica in August and prescribed steroids, which worked instantly and I am no longer in pain.
The doctor said I will be on them for around ten months, reducing the dose each month.
My blood tests have always shown no muscle inflammation.
Do you think the steroids are a good idea?
A) Being prescribed steroids for almost a year, particularly when you’ve previously enjoyed good health, can feel daunting.
Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is an inflammatory condition which typically causes pain and stiffness around the shoulders and hips, and particularly first thing in the morning.
Steroids, usually prednisolone, can make a dramatic improvement.
However, there’s something in your story I’d want to explore further – that your blood tests have never shown inflammation.
Although this can occasionally happen with PMR, it’s unusual.
Your symptoms also developed following intense physical activity and prolonged sitting.
So, while this does not rule out PMR, I would want to be confident about the diagnosis before then committing you to prolonged treatment.
Ask your GP whether a referral to a rheumatologist is appropriate.
Updated guidelines from the British Society for Rheumatology do emphasise individualised steroid treatment.
Some patients can “taper” faster – a process where doctors gradually lower the dose – but others require longer courses for the same reason, depending on symptoms in response to dose reduction and risk of side effects.
There are also other treatments that specialists can consider if reducing steroids proves difficult.
The new guidance recommends medication to protect bones for most people starting steroid treatment for PMR.
My advice isn’t to stop the steroids, but to confirm the diagnosis and agree to a treatment plan that controls your symptoms while minimising side effects.
MAKE HIMSELF SICK
Q) WHEN my husband eats anything, it gets stuck in his throat, even tuna and other soft foods.
He’s had four gastroscopies and everything has come back clear, so why is this happening?
It’s really frustrating and frightening. He has to make himself sick and then he is in pain afterwards.
A) I can understand why you’re both frightened and frustrated.
Your husband’s symptoms shouldn’t be dismissed simply because his camera tests have come back normal.
What you’re describing is called , the term for difficulty swallowing, and there are several possible causes.
A gastroscopy, where a camera is passed down into the stomach, is very useful for identifying problems such as inflammation, narrowing or growths in the oesophagus.
But a normal-looking oesophagus isn’t necess-arily a normally functioning one, as it doesn’t always identify problems with how the muscles of the oesophagus work.
Normally, they contract in a coordinated way to push food down into the stomach.
If this process isn’t working properly, food can become stuck, even when the oesophagus looks completely normal.
One condition worth considering is achalasia, where the muscles don’t move food down effectively and the valve at the bottom of the oesophagus fails to relax.
Other swallowing disorders can cause similar symptoms.
I’d recommend asking your GP for prompt gastroenterology review, specifically to investigate an oesophageal motility disorder.
Tests such as a barium swallow, where X-ray images are taken as you swallow a special liquid, or oesophageal manometry, which measures the pressure and coordination of oesophageal muscles, may help.
Also check whether biopsies were taken during his previous gastroscopies to exclude conditions such as eosinophilic oesophagitis (chronic, allergic inflammation of the oesophagus).
In the meantime, he should avoid foods that repeatedly become stuck rather than forcing them down.
If food becomes completely stuck, he cannot swallow his saliva, or develops breathing difficulties, seek emergency help.
Does odd blood count mean cancer?
Q) I HAVE just had a blood test which came back with an abnormal blood count.
During a follow-up appointment over the phone, the doctor mentioned white blood cells.
I have another blood test in six weeks. Should I be concerned about cancer? Or something else?
A) I can understand why hearing the words ‘abnormal blood count’ has left you worried about , particularly when you weren’t given a clear explanation of which result was affected.
The first thing I’d say is that an abnormal white blood cell count is common and doesn’t automatically mean cancer.
White blood cells are part of our immune system.
Their numbers can rise when we’re fighting an infection or experiencing inflammation, and certain medicines can affect them, too.
Sometimes a result is only slightly outside the laboratory’s normal range and returns to normal on its own.
A low white cell count can also occur after viral infections or because of medication, among other causes.
What’s important is knowing whether your count was high or low, which type of white cell was affected, and by how much.
It’s also useful to know whether your red blood cells and platelets were normal.
Your doctor has arranged a repeat test in six weeks, which often means they feel it’s reasonable to monitor the result and see whether it settles, although I can’t judge its significance without the actual numbers.
I’d suggest contacting the practice and asking for a copy of your results, along with an explanation of what was abnormal and why six weeks was chosen. You can often view blood results through the .
If the abnormality persists, your can decide whether further tests are needed.
Seek earlier advice if you develop unexplained fevers, drenching night sweats, unintentional weight loss, unusual bruising, swollen glands or repeated infections.
If you’re acutely unwell, don’t wait for the repeat test. It’s entirely reasonable to ask for clarity now, for reassurance, rather than spending six weeks fearing the worst.
TIP OF THE WEEK
DURING , try adding to your meals.
Both contain plant compounds that may have health benefits, although there’s limited evidence they prevent viral infections.
Herbal teas, such as chamomile, may help too, while keeping you hydrated and soothing sore throats.
