I’m 25 and can’t stop peeing – I go every time I drink, help! Dr Zoe Williams answers your health concerns

NOVEMBER is Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month.

Many grow a mustache to raise money for the annual Movember charity, which promotes men’s health.

1

While the conversation around mental health is improving, some still find it difficult to have open conversations.

It is so important that we teach our children to talk about their feelings. If you notice a change in your friend, father or brother, speak up and ask how they are doing. Listen and remind them that you are always there to give them advice when they need it. If they have been out for more than two weeks, tell them to think about seeing a GP.

Here’s a selection of what readers asked me this week. . .

Q) Is there any chance of eliminating acid reflux in the stomach completely or at least reducing it?

A) Recurrent acid reflux can be difficult. Some foods and drinks can trigger or worsen heartburn. Common culprits include spicy foods, citrus fruits, tomatoes, chocolate, caffeine and carbonated drinks.

You can also try eating smaller, more frequent meals and avoiding eating within a few hours of bedtime.

Certain medications like aspirin and anti-inflammatory painkillers like ibuprofen, steroids, and some antidepressants can make reflux symptoms worse.

Your position in bed is also important. Try using an extra pillow or two to raise your head about 6 to 8 inches while you sleep.

Sometimes it can be helpful to chew sugar-free gum after meals.

Did you know that stress can worsen reflux symptoms?

Ultimately, you may need to see a doctor, especially if acid reflux doesn’t go away even after trying over-the-counter medications and making lifestyle changes for a few weeks.

Your doctor can better assess your acid reflux, prescribe medication, see if tests are needed, and make specific recommendations tailored to you.

In addition to reflux, warning signs include unexplained weight loss, difficulty swallowing, persistent vomiting or vomiting of blood, and persistent symptoms occurring in people over 55 years of age.

If any of these apply, you should speak to your GP as soon as possible.

I’m worried about my wife’s tinnitus

MY wife, who is 73 years old, has had trouble hearing music for several years.

When she got new hearing aids, she asked about them and was told she had musical tinnitus.

But for a few years now, she has noticed a sweet smell where she normally sits in our living room. Could this have something to do with her musical tinnitus?

I recommend that your wife see a family doctor. She may need to undergo some tests to investigate this further.

The most common cause of musical tinnitus is hearing loss.

When a person experiences significant hearing loss, the brain may respond by producing its own sounds.

But there are other possible causes.

In very rare cases, these can be problems that originate in the brain – for example problems with the blood vessels there or tumors.

The sweet smell could be a so-called phantom smell, which is not necessarily related to her musical tinnitus.

Phantom smells—that no one else can detect—are uncommon but can be due to a variety of factors, including neurological diseases, sinus problems, or even certain medications.

The fact that this has been going on for years is somewhat reassuring.

But I think this combined with the tinnitus is definitely worth further investigation to rule out anything serious.

Q) I need to use the toilet at least every half hour or even more often.

I followed the advice to reduce caffeine consumption but it didn’t make any difference. This only goes away if I hardly drink any fluids, but that leads to dehydration. I gave urine samples to check for UTIs as I have been prone to them for years, but the results were negative.

I was previously tested for diabetes as I’m admittedly thirsty all the time, but the result was fine.

Before I’ve had anything to drink, be it water, juice, lemonade or coffee, I need to go to the toilet. It’s a constant uncomfortable feeling and leaves me quite exhausted as I find I spend more time on the toilet than anywhere else. For reference: I am only 25 years old.

A) There are many reasons why people constantly need to go to the toilet, and you’ve covered the reasons that most GPs want to rule out straight away: urinary tract infections and type 1 and type 2 diabetes. It’s considered normal to go about six to eight times a day to go to the toilet. Therefore, it is worth spending a few days observing how far outside the normal range you are if you drink around two liters a day.

However, there are many other possible medical causes for the constant urge to urinate, and an overactive bladder is one of them.

You don’t mention whether you have to get up at night to urinate. But nocturia—that is, having to go to the bathroom multiple times during the night—could indicate that certain medical conditions are more or less likely. Of the drinks you mention, both carbonated drinks and coffee can irritate the bladder. So maybe try switching to water and herbal teas for a while and see if the problem persists.

People with an overactive bladder usually complain of an uncontrollable and sudden urge to urinate that they cannot hold back or postpone.

They also need to go to the toilet frequently and sometimes leaks occur if they don’t get there quickly enough.

It affects around 12 percent of the population and anxiety can worsen the condition. So if it’s something that’s worrying you – and the fact you’ve written suggests it is – you should definitely go back to your GP and have another discussion about it.

You may be referred for further testing and your GP may ask you to keep a bladder diary to record times and volumes, so you can get a head start by doing this now.

Since pelvic floor exercises are often helpful, you can get started right away.

There are many treatment options for overactive bladder. But as I mentioned before, there are also other possible causes for your symptoms, so it is necessary to go back to the GP for further assessment.

I’m worried about my wife’s tinnitus

MY wife, who is 73 years old, has had trouble hearing music for several years. When she got new hearing aids, she asked about them and was told she had musical tinnitus.

But for a few years now, she has noticed a sweet smell where she normally sits in our living room. Could this have something to do with her musical tinnitus?

I recommend that your wife see a family doctor. She may need to undergo some tests to investigate this further.

The most common cause of musical tinnitus is hearing loss.

When a person experiences significant hearing loss, the brain may respond by producing its own sounds.

But there are other possible causes.

In very rare cases, these can be problems that originate in the brain – for example problems with the blood vessels there or tumors.

The sweet smell could be a so-called phantom smell, which is not necessarily related to her musical tinnitus.

Phantom smells—that no one else can detect—are uncommon but can be due to a variety of factors, including neurological diseases, sinus problems, or even certain medications.

The fact that this has been going on for years is somewhat reassuring.

But I think this combined with the tinnitus is definitely worth further investigation to rule out anything serious.