I have a lot of chest hair
Jan 16, 2007
Dear Doctor,<br>I am a woman, but I have hair on my chest and chin which disturbs me a lot. I can’t expose myself in public because my friends make fun of me that I was supposed to be a man. I can’t even get a boyfriend because everyone is scared of my hair. Please help.
I have a lot of chest hair
Dear Doctor,
I am a woman, but I have hair on my chest and chin which disturbs me a lot. I can’t expose myself in public because my friends make fun of me that I was supposed to be a man. I can’t even get a boyfriend because everyone is scared of my hair. Please help.
JM
Dear JM,
Hair growth to the typical male or female patterns is influenced by hormones. A woman may develop a typical ‘male’ pattern of hair due to an excess of the male hormones. This common condition is called ‘hirsutism’. It may be a symptom of a medical problem needing treatment. It may also not be medically significant, but causes a lot of social stress.
You need to see a doctor or physician (specialist in adult medicine) to rule out any other problem. You can also consult a dermatologist (skin specialist) to advise you on how the hair can be removed, temporarily or permanently so that you feel more comfortable.
What are good eating habits?
Dear Doctor,
I read in The New Vision that people suffer and die from stroke because of bad eating habits that result into diabetes, hypertension and stroke. What eating habits should we follow?
A J, Fort Portal
Dear AJ,
It is true that many diseases are brought about by bad eating habits. The cause of such conditions as stroke, diabetes, hypertension, kidney and heart problems is blood vessel disease. This is caused by deposits of fat in the blood vessel. The vessels get blocked and the organs cannot receive enough oxygen.
A stroke occurs in the brain when a blood vessel gets blocked suddenly. But in most instances, the blockages grow over years.
To decrease these problems, we need to have good eating habits.
Decrease the amounts of fats and oils in your diet.
Avoid high cholesterol foods (most animal fat). Use low cholesterol cooking oil.
Don’t add excess salt to your food.
Eat a well balanced diet, with fruits and vegetables.
It is important not to smoke, control your body weight and get adequate treatment for diabetes and high blood pressure. A dietician or a doctor can give you good advice on how to plan your eating.
Am I becoming impotent?
Dear Doctor,
I am a 54-year-old happily married man with five children. I have never had any venereal disease. I jog and walk twice a week. I do not suffer any ailment except some high blood pressure that was discovered three weeks back. For two weeks, I have suffered something that has never occurred to me before. I have lost strength in my manhood. Even when my penis erects, it is for seconds and it is not strong enough. What exercise do I need to do to regain my strength?
Michael
Dear Michael,
I notice that you say the problem started two weeks ago, a week after being diagnosed with high blood pressure. Were you started on any drugs for pressure?
Impotence can be a side effect of many drugs, including some for high blood pressure.
If this is so, you need to tell your doctor. The offending drug will be changed and that will solve the problem. Impotence is a symptom whose cause has to be determined.
Dr. Paul Semugoma
semugoma@hotmail.com
Write to Ask The Doctor,
Box 9815, Kampala
or health@newvision.co.ug
Dear Doctor,
I am a woman, but I have hair on my chest and chin which disturbs me a lot. I can’t expose myself in public because my friends make fun of me that I was supposed to be a man. I can’t even get a boyfriend because everyone is scared of my hair. Please help.
JM
Dear JM,
Hair growth to the typical male or female patterns is influenced by hormones. A woman may develop a typical ‘male’ pattern of hair due to an excess of the male hormones. This common condition is called ‘hirsutism’. It may be a symptom of a medical problem needing treatment. It may also not be medically significant, but causes a lot of social stress.
You need to see a doctor or physician (specialist in adult medicine) to rule out any other problem. You can also consult a dermatologist (skin specialist) to advise you on how the hair can be removed, temporarily or permanently so that you feel more comfortable.
What are good eating habits?
Dear Doctor,
I read in The New Vision that people suffer and die from stroke because of bad eating habits that result into diabetes, hypertension and stroke. What eating habits should we follow?
A J, Fort Portal
Dear AJ,
It is true that many diseases are brought about by bad eating habits. The cause of such conditions as stroke, diabetes, hypertension, kidney and heart problems is blood vessel disease. This is caused by deposits of fat in the blood vessel. The vessels get blocked and the organs cannot receive enough oxygen.
A stroke occurs in the brain when a blood vessel gets blocked suddenly. But in most instances, the blockages grow over years.
To decrease these problems, we need to have good eating habits.
Decrease the amounts of fats and oils in your diet.
Avoid high cholesterol foods (most animal fat). Use low cholesterol cooking oil.
Don’t add excess salt to your food.
Eat a well balanced diet, with fruits and vegetables.
It is important not to smoke, control your body weight and get adequate treatment for diabetes and high blood pressure. A dietician or a doctor can give you good advice on how to plan your eating.
Am I becoming impotent?
Dear Doctor,
I am a 54-year-old happily married man with five children. I have never had any venereal disease. I jog and walk twice a week. I do not suffer any ailment except some high blood pressure that was discovered three weeks back. For two weeks, I have suffered something that has never occurred to me before. I have lost strength in my manhood. Even when my penis erects, it is for seconds and it is not strong enough. What exercise do I need to do to regain my strength?
Michael
Dear Michael,
I notice that you say the problem started two weeks ago, a week after being diagnosed with high blood pressure. Were you started on any drugs for pressure?
Impotence can be a side effect of many drugs, including some for high blood pressure.
If this is so, you need to tell your doctor. The offending drug will be changed and that will solve the problem. Impotence is a symptom whose cause has to be determined.
Dr. Paul Semugoma
semugoma@hotmail.com
Write to Ask The Doctor,
Box 9815, Kampala
or health@newvision.co.ug