Q. How dangerous is it to drink wine if you are at risk of breast cancer? My mother died of breast cancer so I know I am at higher than average risk.
I have heard that moderate drinking may not be a problem, and I hope that’s true. My husband and I drink a glass of wine with dinner most nights, but I rarely have more than one.
A. Women who drink three glasses of wine daily increase their risk of breast cancer by over 40 percent (British Journal of Cancer, Nov. 18, 2002). Women who drink alcohol and get little folic acid in their diet (200 micrograms or less) may double their chance of developing this disease.
New research suggests that women who consume ample folic acid (more than 400 micrograms daily) have no increased risk of breast cancer, even if they drink a couple of alcoholic beverages daily (British Medical Journal, Oct. 8, 2005).
Q. My father has high blood pressure and high cholesterol. He takes atenolol, Zocor, aspirin, Norvasc and lisinopril.
He used to be healthy, happy and energetic. Now his pulse is very slow and he has almost no energy. He complains of dizziness and seems depressed much of the time. He gets short of breath just walking up the driveway.
I worry that he might be taking too much medicine, but now his doctor wants to prescribe even more–Zoloft for depression and albuterol for asthma. Could all these pills be contributing to his symptoms?
A. Beta blockers like atenolol, metoprolol and propranolol can all slow the pulse. Some people also develop fatigue, depression and asthma on such medicine. A new review of atenolol and similar drugs (The Lancet Oct. 18, 2005) suggests that they may not be as helpful as different blood pressure medicine.
Before adding more drugs, the doctor needs to determine whether your father’s blood pressure pills are causing his dizziness and other symptoms.
We are sending you our Guides to Blood Pressure Treatment and Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs with much more information on the medicines your Dad is taking. Anyone who would like copies, please send $2 in check or money order with a long (no. 10) stamped (60 cents), self-addressed envelope: Graedons’ The People’s Pharmacy®, No. BL-677, P. O. Box 52027, Durham, NC 27717-2027.
Q. I have suffered with sleep problems for years. Although I usually fall asleep without too much trouble I frequently wake up at 1:00 or 2:00 am and have a terrible time getting back to sleep. I hate to wake my spouse so I usually lie there trying not to toss and turn. I get up exhausted. What can I do?
A. You may wish to discuss the drug Sonata with your physician. Although this short-acting prescription sleeping pill can help people fall asleep, it is especially beneficial against early-morning wakefulness. If you have at least four hours before rising, Sonata should allow you to get additional sleep without morning grogginess.
Q. I’ve had a terrible coughing spell for weeks. The over-the-counter cough remedies my doctor suggested have not worked. Is there anything you can recommend?
A. Some people report success from rubbing Vicks VapoRub on the bottoms of their feet. (Socks keep it from soiling the sheets.)
A more standard approach is codeine-containing cough medicine (Cheracol Cough Syrup, Guiatuss AC Syrup, Romilar AC Liquid, Tussi-Organidin NR). Many states require a prescription before codeine can be dispensed.
The People's Perspective on Medicine