Question: In my last blood test, I was diagnosed as having high potassium. What can I do about it? Does this occur often or infrequently? And why?
- D.E.Answer: If we are talking about an incidental test finding among many others, I suggest you have your blood rechecked. Often a high potassium level turns out to be nothing more than a glitch in the way the blood was collected in the tube. I say this at the outset because I don't want what follows to send you into a panic.
High blood potassium occurs when kidneys fail. The kidneys cannot get rid of the potassium as they normally would.
Or, it can mean failure of the adrenal gland.
Sometimes an injury can damage cells and release their potassium that way.
But of the many causes of a high potassium reading, lab error ranks highest in frequency. Sometimes, if blood is jostled around in its tube, cells will bump against the side, become damaged and release their potassium.
Potassium is an important body chemical. Too much of it causes an erratic heart, fouled-up nerve signals and muscle weakness.
You really should set your mind at ease by asking your doctor about the test.
Question: My husband has always been a fast eater. As a result, he has upset stomach all the time. Now it is getting worse for him, and he has heartburn at night. Is this an acid problem? Wouldn't he improve if he made an effort to eat more slowly?
- C.P.
Answer: Indeed, you are on the right track.
Saliva is a misunderstood product. The mouth is actually an important part of the digestive tract. Its saliva is a natural neutralizer of stomach acid.
Eating food quickly, without complete mastication, can lead to acid stomach and heartburn. Hasty eaters are skipping an important part of digestion.
Nighttime is the prime heartburn time because of the person's bed posture, which encourages migration of stomach juices up into the lower esophagus - where it doesn't belong.
Your husband should slow down. Let me send him a copy of my heartburn booklet, which might help him. Others can order a copy by writing: Dr. Donohue - No. 18, Box 5539, Riverton, NJ 08077-5539. Enclose $3 and a self-addressed, stamped (52 cents) No. 10 envelope.
Question: I am six months pregnant. I want to breast-feed my baby, but I don't even know how often you feed a baby. I worry a lot about such things.
- Mrs. E.O.
Answer: Having a first baby can cause apprehension, even among the most stoical parents to be.
You feed a baby approximately every three hours during the day and every four hours at night. Babies pretty much let you know when they're hungry, especially in the early morning. Most babies make their own preferred meal schedule.
You need not lack for good information on such basics. There are hundreds of relevant books on library shelves. And there is the La Leche Society, a group with chapters in most communities.