Yittz's Clinic!!

[Han Solo]

Well, there is actually a scientific rationale but it's not clinically significant. Drinking with a meal dilutes the gastric juices potentially causing indigestion. It may cause excessive acid secretion in those who are predisposed, but most people don't have a problem with it.

Just as a sidenote, tea and coffee are diuretics, in addition to containing caffeine which can result headaches during withdrawal. I wouldn't be so quick to say that it's not harmful in the long run. Then again I'm a root beer addict so my case isn't strong ...

2 quick statements:-

1) How much do you need to dilute the pH of the food+gastric juices significantly to impair food absorbtion? Lot's more than a cup of water or a bowl of soup.

2) Headache in cofee withdrawal is not simply due to the diuretic effect.

[Aphraeleiss]

Look, I'm not arguing the validity of what you said. I'm just saying there is a scientific explanation for some common myths - I don't think it's significant anyhow. The volume of a fully stretched stomach is usually 2L in a 70kg white male, and the average volume of a meal is much less than that. If pH is defined as the negative log of the concentration of protons, then a cup of fluid averaging 250ml will significantly alter pH, especially since hydrochloric is a strong acid. However, since the amount of acid in the stomach regulates itself, most healthy people will not have a problem with it. Moreover, the stomach absorbs some drugs, alcohol and some minerals but the majority for food absorption occurs in the small intestine. The stomach is more a physical grinder and storage bin. So I'm totally in agreement that the indigestion talk is merely myth. But to complete the story, in people who are prone to excessive acid secretion (like my mother), the lack of negative feedback may in fact cause rebound acid secretion. I'm just basing it from a combination of basic sciences and personal experience. However, my mother also insists on drinking with or after a meal simply out of habit. Again, not challenging your opinion.

I did not state that it was the diuretic effect of coffee that causes headaches - it's the vasodilation leading to vasospasm of the vessels from withdrawal of caffeine, if in fact it is a form of vascular headache, the mechanism of which is unclear. Doses less than 250mg (2-3 cups coffee, 5 cups tea) will have little to no effect on hydration status. However, since you mention it, diuresis causing dehydration can be an indirect cause of headache. But why pursue it? If you reread my statements you will notice that these were two distinct points - one effect is due to the presence of the invoking agent, the other due to withdrawal. I merely wished to point out that drinks containing caffeine as not as benign as imagined.

[drfarook]

hi,

in your opinion,

how does the blood brain barrier reacts upon excessive amount of peroxides produced in the brain?

thanks

[999roses]

Over the last couple of years, I keep growing white hair (ok that was an exaggeration, but I find about 2-3 hairs a month which I think is way too much for someone my age ~ almost 20!!!). People keep telling me that it's stress, but I mean, they are still there in the summer as well so I highly doubt that. Oh also, is the myth that if you rip them off (which I do), then they grow faster? Thanks!

[xcutie]

i'm no doctor but it's probably stress or genetic? my cousin had white hair when he was 10, and his dad also had white hair when he was that age. maybe you should dye ur hair.. plucking wouldnt be a good idea. my uncle plucked so much that he's now almost bald.. LOL

[999roses]

It's probably genetic since my mom and grandmother have the same problem. I don't think I should dye it though since I'm starting to think that dying it was what might have caused the problem in the first place (I've only done it two or three times in my life though). It's not really noticeable...I have a LOT of hair (no matter how much I pluck..weirdness), but I just don't know what will happen to me if this trend keeps going...i.e. will I become the white-haired maiden in another 5 years?

[xcutie]

LOL, maybe the hair dye you used wasnt very good... i dunno. maybe go to the doctor or derm?

[susie]

what will happen when pulse rate is more than 160 pulse per minute? it happens to me almost every year, i didn't play any extreme sports, but it just happened suddenly like an attack...and it will get back to normal after few hours or the next day...what causes the increase of the heartbeat?

[xcutie]

what will happen when pulse rate is more than 160 pulse per minute? it happens to me almost every year, i didn't play any extreme sports, but it just happened suddenly like an attack...and it will get back to normal after few hours or the next day...what causes the increase of the heartbeat?

i'm interested in hearing the answer to that too.... once my cousin was at school and he had to go to the hospital cause his heart was like 200 something for no reason.. they did blood tests and things but still dont know the cost... where's Doc?

[Encaitar]

To Dr Solo,
Lately I am suffering from tiredness and fatigue, as well as a slight depression due to stress. I am also suffering from a slight back pain. Please be aware that my blood count is a little low and I am jut 18 years old. What can I do about it?

Beside's that, one of my relatives had recently been diagnosed positive for hepatitis B. Are there any cures for that?
Please advise.

[flyingfox2002]

Dr. Hans,

When people die, how much do the weigh of their bodies change post-mortem? What reason(s) account for such a weight change?

Gracias.

[Han Solo]

For all who asked me questions, i begged your indulgence as i was very busy at the current moment. Just swapped rotations from General Medicine to General Surgery and it is an experience. I do not have the opportunity to see the sun shine at all. and also in the process of trying to find a new job for next year.

[xcutie]

For all who asked me questions, i begged your indulgence as i was very busy at the current moment. Just swapped rotations from General Medicine to General Surgery and it is an experience. I do not have the opportunity to see the sun shine at all. and also in the process of trying to find a new job for next year.

awww, that's sad.. you do surgeries?? arghh, i'm so scared of blood that just thinking of it scares me.

[flyingfox2002]

Doctor, you must throw away your life and answer our questions first! Did Med School not teach you that a doctor must sacrifice his own well-being for those of his patients? We are your "patients" in a way too.

Anyway, to be serious, best of luck to you!

May the Force be with you, young Hans.

[wkeej]

Dr Han, good luck. btw, do let us know when you are less busy. so that we can throw you more questions.

[xcutie]

yes, we're wishing you the best! when you're not so busy, i have more questions!

[Radken]

No one else here is qualified to give advice? *Scratches his head.*

[Han Solo]

Live is still busy, but i'm adapting.

So fire your questions now.

Han Solo

[Radken]

Just when I was about to usurp your throne...

[Yon]

Doc!!! Long time No see!

I have been working like a dog! Thanks to that, my eyes are dry and itchy. I tend to take off my glasses and staring at the monitor because it hurts my eyes less.

Is there any suggestion to easy my eyes from working excessive amount of hours in front of computer?

Can you believe it? I even quit playing online games and I am rarely online at home.