GalleryHow Serious Could Chicken Pox Be For Angelina Jolie?
Angelina Jolie’s chicken pox diagnosis is more than an inconvenience. Dr. Roshini Raj tells INSIDE EDITION how chickenpox can affect adults.
GalleryAre You Actually Allergic to Your Office? Maybe
By Dr. Roshini Raj
Ever since I started my new job, I’ve been suffering from headaches and rashes. Could I be allergic to my office?
It’s possible, especially if your symptoms happen only at work. In fact, doctors have a term for this phenomenon—occupational allergies. This is more commonly a problem for, say, nurses who are sensitive to latex or builders who are exposed to a lot of sawdust. But plenty of things found in a typical office could bring on symptoms: the carpet, the cleaning materials the maintenance staff uses or plain old dust, especially if the building is old. Some people’s allergies may be aggravated by compounds that off-gas from furniture or paint.
Your doctor can do some basic testing to help pinpoint a trigger, but the real trouble is that many office-related allergens are unavoidable: You probably won’t convince your employer to install new carpeting throughout your workplace, for example. Buying an air purifier with a HEPA filter for your desk can help. You can also open windows and let in fresh air, or take a daily nondrowsy antihistamine to stay ahead of reactions.
If that doesn’t help, take a look at your diet since you changed jobs—are you using a different coffee creamer, perhaps? Eating at a new food truck? Cut out any additions to see if you feel better.
Stress can also bring on headaches and rashes; if you‘re feeling overwhelmed, discuss priorities with your boss. Even a quick check-in may be enough to ease your mind—and soothe your symptoms.
Health‘s medical editor, Roshini Rajapaska, MD, is assistant professor of medicine at the NYU School of Medicine.
Originally published on Health.com
GalleryFlu Vaccine Effectiveness Questioned. What You Need To Know To Stay Healthy
The flu season is here and there is troubling news. The CDC says the flu vaccine millions of Americas are getting may not be as effective as last year’s flu shot.
ABC News Chief Health and Medical Editor Dr. Richard Besser told INSIDE EDITION, “The CDC has looked at about a thousand stains of flu that are causing disease in the community and the bad news is about half of those strains are not in the vaccine that people got. So, if you got the flu vaccine, even in a good year you are at risk. This year, you may be at more risk of getting the flu.”
Experts say there are things you can do to ward off the flu, starting with groceries. Eating garlic is a good start, said Dr. Roshini Raj. She told INSIDE EDITION, “Garlic is a powerful anti-oxidant. It can really help boost your immune system.”
Shitaki mushrooms are also a proven super food. Just a pinch a day of herbs can give your body the edge in warding off the flu as she told Manhattan mom Lyss Stern.
Dr. Raj said, “Put a little sage, thyme, oregano, which tastes amazing.’
A daily glass of coconut water could be a big immune booster.
“Coconut water has lauric acid. This ingredient is a natural antimicrobial, which means it fights off bacteria, viruses, which means it can be very useful when we are in the middle of flu season,” said Dr. Raj.
You also need to be careful with your daily routines, starting with your tooth brush. A big no-no? Storing brushes in the same glass.
Dr. Raj said, “This is definitely a recipe for disaster. As you can see, everyone in the family has put their toothbrush in […]
GalleryShaky Hands? What That Could Mean for Your Health
By Dr. Roshini Raj
I noticed my hands have been shaky lately. Is something wrong?
Most likely, no. Everyone has a slight unsteadiness in the hands, which is called physiologic tremor. These normal vibrations can sometimes worsen, however, if you‘re downing too much coffee or are extra stressed (blame adrenaline). Skipping meals and taking certain types of medication may also exacerbate the shakes.
It’s also possible you have essential tremor, a harmless (but frustrating) condition that can show up in your 40s and 50s. About half of the people with this problem—linked to miscommunications in the brain—have a family member who has it. Prescription medications can help, but many people do fine without them.
Rarely, tremor can be the first sign of a neurological disorder, like Parkinson’s or multiple sclerosis. If you‘re jittery when your hand is at rest and you notice balance or coordination problems, see your doctor for a neurological exam. Barring a serious issue, your only Rx will be to get a grip on stress and cut back on your java intake.
Originally published on Health.com
GalleryWhat to Do When Allergies Cause a Sore Throat
By Dr. Roshini Raj
When I get allergies, my symptoms are in the back of my throat, not my nose. Is that weird?
Normal! Allergic reactions are different for everyone. Your nose and throat are lined with glands that continually produce mucus—an amazing 1 to 2 quarts per day. This mucus keeps your upper respiratory tract moist and clean, protecting you from infection. Usually you swallow it without noticing, but when you encounter an allergen, like dust or pollen, your body releases chemicals that amp up mucus production, leading to excessive (and annoying) secretions. In some people, this causes a runny nose. In others, the extra mucus drains down the throat—a symptom called postnasal drip, which can cause tickling, coughing or soreness.
If it’s allergies, you’ll likely also have itchy, watery eyes and sneezing. Try taking an antihistamine. If you’re really congested or feverish, it could be a sinus infection or strep throat. Problems such as acid reflux cause symptoms akin to postnasal drip, so see your doctor if allergen avoidance and drugs don’t do the trick.
Health‘s medical editor, Roshini Rajapaska, MD, is assistant professor of medicine at the NYU School of Medicine.
Originally published on Health.com
GalleryStress-Proof Your Body
Tension can go straight to your head – and your back and your belly and… everywhere. Why panic? Dr. Roshini Raj joined TODAY to talk about the simple strategies that keep crazy days from wreaking havoc on your system.
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GalleryEverything You Need to Know About Eyelid Bumps
By Dr. Roshini Raj
I have a weird bump on my eyelid. What is it?
Eyelid bumps are nothing to blink at! Fortunately, they often go away on their own. The most common type is a stye, a pimplelike bump on your lash line. The inside of your eyelids are lined with special oil glands that keep your eyes lubricated. Styes form when bacteria get into these glands, giving you a painful, sometimes pus-filled bump. They may also arise from an infection of a hair follicle. The best move is to wait it out, but you can speed up the draining process by doing warm compresses with a washcloth for 10 minutes four times a day. Styes that stick around for longer than several days may need to be drained by a doc. Just don’t try to squeeze it yourself, which could spread the infection.
If the bump is more like a hard lump under the skin, it’s probably a chalazion, which develops when the oil gland gets blocked with thicker than normal oil secretions or by a stye that wouldn’t heal. Chalazia are often painless but can persist for months. Warm compresses are a good remedy here, too, but if it doesn’t go away or if it becomes painful (a sign it’s infected), your ophthalmologist can drain it.
Another culprit: milia, or small white bumps caused by trapped keratin (a protein produced by the skin) under your eyelid. These can appear anywhere but often show up around your eyes. Milia typically clear up on their own, but your doctor can scrape them away if they’re bothersome.
A lump that bleeds or doesn’t go away with treatment could be a skin cancer. Removing eyelid skin cancers can be tricky, but your derm can refer you to a surgeon trained in Mohs micrographic […]
GalleryWhy Your Boobs Hurt and What to Do About It
By Dr. Roshini Raj
My boobs hurt all the time. Could something be wrong?
Up to 70% of women have breast pain, called mastalgia, at some point in their lives, and there are many causes. The most common one is normal hormonal changes; if this were the root of your aches, though, they would most likely arrive only around your period. Consistent breast pain happens more often after 30 and can feel like swelling or tenderness in both breasts or a sharp burning sensation in one spot. Relieving it sometimes takes trial and error. Rarely, pain is a sign of breast cancer.
Allover pain could signify water retention, which can be diet-related. Some women find relief by taking vitamin B6 and vitamin E supplements with evening primrose oil (which is rich in a certain fat that seems to help). Others feel better when they limit caffeine or salt. But diet changes don’t always work on their own. In that case, try over-the-counter pain relievers like aspirin, or talk to your doc about topical meds. The pain should go away within a few months.
Stabbing pain suggests a cyst or fibroadenoma (a benign tumor) in the breast. Either one can feel like a lump, but it might be too deep to notice via touch. Though they’re mostly harmless, fibroadenomas can raise breast cancer risk. After diagnosis via ultrasound or mammogram, cysts can be drained with a fine needle, while fibroadenomas may require surgery.
Roshini Rajapaksa, MD is assistant professor of medicine at the New York University School of Medicine and Health’s contributing medical editor.
Originally published on Health.com
GalleryThe Gross Reason You Should Choose Your Exercise Undies Wisely
By Dr. Roshini Raj
Is it a bad idea to wear thong underwear when I work out?
Honestly, it’s not great. Thongs can create a lot of friction and irritate the delicate skin in your nether regions as you‘re running, biking or doing any other repetitive movement. This can mean extra discomfort if you‘ve got hemorrhoids, which are swollen veins that can cause severe anal pain and itching (they’re common post-childbirth).
Thongs also make it easier for bacteria to travel from your backside to your front, increasing your risk of urinary tract infections; this is especially a problem when you‘re sweating because the added moisture provides a perfect environment for bacterial growth. It doesn’t help that these undies are often made from nonbreathable fabrics like spandex, which can trap moisture and make other issues, such as yeast infections, more likely.
This is not to say you should go commando whenever you‘re at the gym in less than ideal underpants—it’s good to have some fabric between you and your running shorts. But the smartest advice is to pack a pair of full-back cotton underwear in your gym bag, or invest in shorts or workout pants with built-in moisture-absorbing panties.
Originally published on Health.com
GalleryBill Cosby Scandal: A Date-Rape Drug
Dr. Roshini Raj joins Access Hollywood to talk about a date-rape drug following Bill Cosby’s sexual assault allegations.