By Keith Roach, M.D.
Q. What is your opinion about laser devices claiming to promote regrowth of "retired" hair follicles? Have you had experience with them?
A. I have had very little personal experience with them, but the medical literature is clear that there are benefits in both male-type and female-type hair loss, at least for one device, the HairMax laser comb.
This device, in two separate 26-week trials, showed improvement in hair count and subjective self-assessment, compared with a control group who used a device that appeared to use a laser but did not.
The absolute differences were not huge -- roughly 10 percent increase in hair follicles -- but it was enough that more than 80 percent of participants reported at least minimal improvement.
The devices are not cheap, at $300 to $500 on online shopping sites.
It is not clear from published studies how long the hair growth will last or what the optimum treatment dose is.
Q. I recently read your article about the use of Propecia for female hair loss. I am a healthy 59-year-old female, runner, yoga instructor, Pilates enthusiast and cyclist. I have noticed hair loss over the past two years, and the results of blood work showed low ferritin stores, healthy hemoglobin and possible low protein, which I am elevating with supplements and more awareness of my diet. Do you have other recommendations for my situation?
A. A low ferritin level worries me.
Although it can come from diet, it also can indicate poor absorption (such as celiac disease, especially with low protein) or iron loss (such as colon polyps).Before treating the hair loss, make sure your doctor has done a thorough workup, including colonoscopy if not done recently. If everything looks OK and your labs get better with careful diet, you certainly can try treatment for hair loss, such as the laser device mentioned above. Some experts in hair loss use both finasteride (Propecia) and the laser.
Q. Do you know any exercises I can do in the pool to strengthen my abdominal and back muscles?
A. Most exercises in the pool will work both abdominal and back muscles. However, if you really want a good experience, go to a water exercise class at your local pool and get a trained instructor to show you what exercises to do.
Q. Is there a name for when a person steals for no reason? Say, a person who is well-off and doesn't really want for anything in any way.
A. Kleptomania (from the Greek root "klepto" for "thief" and the Latin "mania" for "frenzy" or "madness") is a mental condition, a type of impulse control disorder, in which people cannot refrain from stealing items. It is not strictly shoplifting, because it is not done for personal use or for financial gain.
People report an uncontrollable urge, followed by a sense of relief and, often, inward revulsion at their actions. The stolen items usually are stowed in a secret place and never used, although sometimes they are given away or even returned to the place from which they were stolen.
The condition is underdiagnosed. In my career, I have never had a patient describe to me this condition, probably due to shame or to fear of legal repercussions. It's unfortunate, because there are effective treatments -- although, not a single treatment for everybody, since kleptomania is probably not just one condition. Both psychotherapeutic treatments and medication treatments are used, depending on the person.
If you are asking about a friend or loved one, I strongly urge you to get this person to see a mental-health professional soon. It is much better to get treatment before he or she gets into legal trouble.
Q. My daughter, age 68, mentioned she has started to have weakness in her right hand, to the point that she's unable to lift a medium-weight object. She dismissed the problem and doesn't want to see a physician. I am concerned that this might be the onset of a muscle-deteriorating disease. Should I be?
A. You are right to be concerned, and your daughter should see a doctor right away. There are many possibilities, ranging from a peripheral nerve disorder (like carpal tunnel syndrome) to a central nervous system problem (like stroke or multiple sclerosis) to a nerve/muscle problem (like myasthenia gravis). Carpal tunnel is probably the most likely cause that I see in my primary care practice. Early treatment is critical in order to preserve function.
Send questions to ToYourGood Health@med.cornell.edu.
Source: To Your Good Health: Surprisingly, laser hair devices show promise
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