Dr. Ellie Cannon, a General Practitioner, has provided guidance on several common health issues, including hair loss, taste alteration, and foot pain. The advice, published in the Daily Mail, addresses concerns ranging from medication side effects to recovery from neurological conditions.
Hair Loss in Women
A woman in her 60s experiencing hair loss was advised by Dr. Cannon that this could be a side effect of discontinuing hormone replacement therapy (HRT). She explained that hormone levels can dip when HRT is halted, leading to temporary hair thinning. For most women, hair growth should resume within a few months. Other potential causes for hair loss include low ferritin levels, which can be treated with iron supplements.
Checking thyroid function is also recommended, as an underactive thyroid can trigger hair loss and is typically managed with levothyroxine. Falling estrogen levels after menopause can also contribute to thinning hair, with HRT sometimes being a helpful intervention. Significant weight loss, including crash diets and weight-loss injections, is another increasingly recognized factor.
If no underlying medical cause is identified, Dr. Cannon suggests trying a broad supplement formulated for women's hair, containing vitamins B, iron, and zinc. Antifungal shampoos are also a consideration for less obvious, but treatable, fungal scalp infections.
Taste Deterioration After Bell's Palsy
For individuals experiencing deteriorating taste following Bell's palsy, Dr. Cannon noted that while steroid tablets can help acutely, nerve damage to taste may not always fully recover. A referral to a dietetics service can offer practical advice on enhancing food enjoyment through flavor combinations, using strong cheeses, spices, condiments, and sharp flavors like citrus. Cookbooks designed for individuals undergoing cancer treatment, which can also affect taste, may be beneficial. Hot meals are generally found to be more flavorful than cold ones. For specific diagnoses and advice, two NHS taste clinics exist in the UK, though they are unlikely to fully reverse long-standing nerve damage.
Foot Pain from Misshapen Toes
A misshapen toe, such as a hammer toe, which can result from repeated injury and cause discomfort when wearing shoes, warrants a consultation with an orthopaedic surgeon. Hammer toe occurs when toes become fixed in a bent position, no longer lying flat.
Surgical options often involve straightening the toe by removing a small section of bone, sometimes with the aid of a pin or implant. Post-operative reduced sensation is a possibility, which could affect balance. Before surgery, Dr. Cannon suggests trying wide-fitting shoes to reduce pressure, along with padded insoles and toe splints or straps available from a podiatrist to help realign the toe and ease discomfort.