DR. ELLIE CANNON: Is the painful patchy skin on my thighs and groin a sign of a serious problem?

A while back I noticed patches of blotchy skin on my thighs. I called my GP who said not to worry. In the last two weeks they have spread to my groin and I have also developed pain in that area. I spoke to the nurse who said there were signs of reduced blood flow to the legs. What could be causing the problem?

In some cases, patchy skin is normal and not harmful. For example, it may appear in the legs of babies and teenagers during cold weather, but will disappear as soon as they move to a warmer environment.

However, it is not normal for it to appear on the abdomen or around the genitals in someone who has never had it. This requires further examination by a doctor.

If the rash is there all the time and does not go away in warmer temperatures, there is probably a potentially serious cause.

Doctors often associate this rash with an autoimmune disease that affects the blood vessels and system. These conditions include lupus, or more commonly, a disease called antiphospholipid syndrome.

Both diseases cause small blood clots to form in the blood vessels under the skin, causing a red pattern that appears as a rash.

General practitioners can use blood tests to detect these conditions, as well as more common autoimmune problems such as rheumatoid arthritis. Doctors will also likely check for abnormalities in blood clotting.

Many GPs send photos of rash to the local dermatology service for quick, expert advice. It might be worth asking to move things forward.

I have a severe vitamin D deficiency and my GP prescribed me a six week course of cholecalciferol two weeks ago. But I’ve noticed my left ankle is a bit slower later in the day – are these problems related? I am 83 years old and have a heart condition so I suffer from age related ailments.

Vitamin D has a number of important functions. One of its most important tasks is to help bones absorb calcium properly, make them strong and hard, and to strengthen muscles and teeth.

Studies show that many older people in the UK are vitamin D deficient. Our main source for this is sunshine. So if people don’t come out often because of their vulnerability, they risk not getting enough.

We get some vitamin D through our diet, but only a small amount from foods like egg yolks and oily fish.

If you take more vitamin D than you need, too much calcium can build up in the body. It can damage bones, kidneys and heart.

However, an overdose will only occur if you have been taking vitamin D for a long time. I suspect that six weeks is too short for that.

A stiff or sluggish ankle is more often caused by other health problems. The ankle, like all joints, can be affected by osteoarthritis and other forms of arthritis such as gout. But vitamin D deficiency can worsen bone and joint pain. Swollen ankles can also cause the joint to move slowly.

Swelling in this area is common in older people for many reasons – from heart problems to a lack of exercise, which can lead to fluid retention. Ankle swelling can also be a common side effect of medications such as the blood pressure medication amlodipine.

I have had a bad headache for several months. They usually appear at the end of the day, but the pain lasts up to a week. I am nearsighted and wear glasses most days. I recently moved my office to a room that is airy and stuffy, but could the headache be caused by something more serious?

Headaches are very common and are rarely a sign of anything serious. However, it is always important to be on the lookout for other symptoms associated with a headache.

If a headache occurs at the end of the day – after a full day in the office – it may indicate that the problem is environmental. Another sign of this is when you don’t have headaches on weekends or holidays.

There are ways to reduce eye strain, e.g. B. by wearing regular screen breaks and special lenses.

It is not uncommon for people to experience certain symptoms when they are in one place but not elsewhere. Experts call this phenomenon “sick building syndrome”. A combination of lack of ventilation, uncomfortable temperatures and stress would be the reason.

This is especially common in open office spaces with poor ventilation, bright lights and lots of dust. This type of health issue is your employer’s responsibility – and you should talk to a manager about it.

Sick building syndrome is usually associated with a tension headache, which feels like a constant pain on both sides and can be suffered by anyone who is stressed, dehydrated, eats irregularly or has poor posture when sitting at a desk.

The Archbishop’s honesty about depression is a blessing

Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, at the service at Canterbury Cathedral on Thursday

In a Good Friday sermon, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, pictured above, spoke about his mental health and revealed that taking antidepressants helps him feel “like an average person”.

Referring to the acid bag in AA Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh, he added that the pills “bring me back to Eeyore’s status of something much worse.”

I know from public statements about my own use of antidepressants – which I take out of fear – that people are surprised that doctors are confronted with such common problems. Likewise, some may assume that an archbishop is immune to these daily challenges. Of course we are not.

Some people say that no one needs to take antidepressants and that such mental illnesses can be addressed through lifestyle improvements. But fortunately, a confession like the archbishop’s – from someone so skilled in prayer and philosophy, and whose life is devoted to higher forms of thought – shatters that illusion.

Get bowel tests… and stay awake

Last month I wrote about the importance of colon cancer screening and reminding you all to get tested if you’ve had one.

I was asked to do this after reading that a third of people have no concerns. The tests are sent out to 56-74-year-olds every two years in England, but readers have written stories of loved ones being diagnosed with colon cancer despite testing negative.

Although the tests are very accurate, they are not 100 percent foolproof. Screening is only part of the early detection of colon cancer. The other monitors changes in bowel movements and seeks help if something is wrong.

If you have blood in the toilet, gas or a change in toilet activity, see your doctor. Don’t assume that everything is fine after a negative screening test.