A few years ago my lips, tongue, throat and esophagus felt like they were on fire. I saw a consultant who was very inattentive and immediately said that I had burning mouth syndrome, that older women suffer from it and that nothing could be done about it. But when I eliminated soy products from my diet—I dramatically increased my intake to reduce hot flashes—everything returned to normal. Now if I accidentally eat soy, my mouth will flare up within minutes.
Angela Donnelly, Cambridge.
Her experience points to a trap that medical professionals can fall into: They have to arrive at a diagnosis that seems to fit and not take a step back to reconsider the conclusion. We are so in love with our own genius!
You were soon diagnosed with burning mouth syndrome, which causes symptoms similar to yours and, as you’ve been told, is most common in middle-aged women.
I suspect that your negative experience (in your longer letter you write that you had to ask the consultant to examine your mouth, which he reluctantly did) left you quite rightly skeptical.
Soy products are a popular remedy for menopausal hot flashes because they contain plant estrogens (file image)
When people exclude a certain food to determine the cause of unexplained symptoms, nothing is often revealed.
But luckily, it resulted in relief from your burning mouth sensation. Then you noticed that your symptoms quickly returned when you started eating soy-containing foods again.
Soy products are a popular remedy for menopausal hot flashes because they contain plant estrogens, although evidence for their benefits is mixed.
Soybeans and products such as soy sauce and tofu are among the most common causes of food allergies in babies and children, although they are less common in adults (who tend to be more allergic to milk, fish and eggs).
Why this allergy occurs later in life is not clear, but essentially the mucous membranes in your mouth have reacted to the soy molecules by producing an immune protein (or antibody) called IgE, which in turn causes the release of histamine and other substances caused. Chemicals, which cause a burning sensation. The only treatment is to avoid all foods containing soy products.
Most of my contemporaries – I’m 83 – have had a shingles vaccination. When I asked during my surgery if I should have it, they said no because I didn’t have chicken pox.
Lee Janogly, North London.
Even if you say you didn’t have chicken pox as a child, it’s not uncommon for it to be overlooked. I have seen children with only seven spots where the mother thought they were a few insect bites, but they were unmistakably chicken bites. Smallpox.
Despite saying you didn’t have chicken pox as a child, it’s not uncommon for it to be overlooked, writes Dr. Martin Scurr (file image)
Infection provides lifelong immunity, although the virus remains in the body and is intercepted by the immune system near the spinal cord. Later in life, factors such as age or poor health weaken the immune system, allowing the virus to escape and spread along a nerve, causing herpes zoster (also called shingles) and a blistering and very painful rash and acute illness.
The only way to be sure you haven’t had chicken pox earlier in life is for your doctor to send a blood sample to a lab to check for antibodies. If you’ve never been infected, getting chickenpox at your age (from someone who has the virus or from shingles) will be very serious. In adults, viral pneumonia is a common and potentially fatal complication.
One in four people over 50 get shingles, and vaccination offers a high level of protection. There are two vaccines: Zostavax, which works against the chicken pox virus and shingles, and a newer vaccine, Shingrix, which is more effective against shingles and is now standard practice.
The question of whether you should receive Zostavax is controversial because it is a live virus and could theoretically cause shingles, although it is highly unlikely. This is a question you should ask your doctor when you request a blood test. You should know this and isolate yourself from anyone affected by shingles until then, at least until the rash has completely healed.
In my opinion, GP practices need better funding
The NHS “is the closest thing to a religion the English have,” Tory chancellor Nigel Lawson said, “and those who practice it consider themselves a priesthood.” So where does that leave the herd?
Back in 1984, a well-known health economist, Alain Enthoven, recognized that the NHS relied on the commitment and idealism of its employees, but noted that somehow the interests of patients were being lost. I think this is all too true for many people who want to make an appointment with their GP.
This loss is measurable; The Institute for Public Policy Research calculated that if the UK’s death rates matched those of other comparable European countries, there would have been 240,000 fewer deaths between 2010 and 2020 (pre-pandemic).
An important factor is probably that people cannot access health care in a timely manner.
The answer is to better fund primary care than hospitals, where up to 90 percent of health care is provided.
Write to Dr. Claim us at Good Health, Scottish Daily Mail, 20 Waterloo Street, Glasgow G2 6DB or email: drmartin@dailymail.co.uk. DR Scurr cannot enter into personal correspondence. The answers should be considered in a general context. If you have any health problems, consult your own doctor.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
