From reoccurring thrush to hip problems, Dr Jeff answers your health questions

DR JEFF FOSTER is The Sun Sunday’s new GP and is here to help YOU.

dr Jeff, 43, divides his time between working as a GP in Leamington Spa, Warks, and running his H3 Health clinic, the first of its kind in the UK to deal with hormonal issues in both men and women.

See h3health.co.uk and email drjeff@the-sun.co.uk.

Q) I am a 46 year old married woman. I get thrush all the time and I don’t know why.

I have not taken antibiotics, I eat healthily and take supplements.

Every time I get rid of it, it’s back within a few weeks.

Lena Crally, Brighton

a) Thrush is caused by a fungus known as Candida albicans.

We all have it in small amounts, usually in the mouth and intestines and in women in the vagina.

Thrush is not sexually transmitted and cannot be passed from one person to another.

Vaginal thrush is a really common problem that most people can treat through their pharmacist, but if symptoms persist a visit to the GP may be necessary.

We often think antibiotics and diet are a cause, but most women develop vaginal thrush for less obvious reasons, such as: B. A change in your vagina’s natural bacteria, perhaps through new vaginal creams or products.

Pregnancy should also be considered, although less common at 46.

With those all ruled out, the next step would be a blood test by your doctor to assess your immune system, general health, and risk of diabetes.

It’s important that we screen patients with persistent thrush for these issues, but it’s not a common symptom of diabetes.

Some women just have persistent symptoms that require either a pill or longer treatment.

Q) MY father is 80 years old and had an accident which resulted in the need for a hip replacement.

He then developed heterotopic ossification so that he could no longer bend his leg at the hip.

He used to be very active, so that really pulls him down. Is there a treatment?

Laura Greenhalgh, Gerrards Cross, Bucks

a) Heterotopic ossification is the formation of new bone outside of where it should be.

It forms in the soft tissues close to the skeleton and can then lead to restricted movement as well as pain and swelling in the affected areas.

It can be very difficult to treat as the bone is solid.

Despite much research, we do not know exactly why heterotopic ossification occurs.

Almost one in three patients who have a hip replacement will have some degree of heterotopic ossification, although most will have no symptoms.

Generally, treatment involves radiation therapy to try to suppress or kill the abnormally growing tissue, but this must be done by your orthopedic surgeon, who is able to assess the severity of the condition and compare the risks of the treatment weigh for benefit