DR ELLIE CANNON: I wake up with night sweats... could it be a sign of blood ... trends now
Most nights I wake up suffering terrible sweats. Sometimes my night clothes are damp and I have to put a towel down to protect the bedding. My doctor said it could be a sign of blood cancer and has ordered tests. Should I be worried?
It's important to see a GP if you’re suffering night sweats. They are a common symptom that a lot of people struggle with from time to time, such as during the summer or when you have an infection. But if there is no clear reason for the problem, a check-up is vital.
Night sweats can be a sign of something serious – including a type of blood cancer called myeloma. But most commonly, they are caused by something non-sinister, such as menopause, an infection, the side effects of medication or heavy alcohol use.
If the sweats come with weight loss, it is a cause for concern. Together, these symptoms can point to the cancers myeloma and lymphoma, or even the bacterial infection tuberculosis.
Patients will always undergo investigations, usually beginning with blood and urine tests and a chest X-ray. It is possible that more hospital-based tests, such as an MRI scan and/or a bone biopsy, may be needed.
Today's reader is seeking advice whether her mysterious night sweats could be a result of blood cancer
Myeloma is a cancer of one of the types of blood cells that affects the immune system, bones and kidneys. It may be more common in people with a family background of the disease, but the biggest risk factors are old age, black ethnicity and, in some cases, obesity.
Thankfully, the prognosis for myeloma is often very good. Treatments have also vastly improved in the past couple of decades. More than half of patients survive for at least five years after diagnosis, according to Cancer Research UK.
I'm very interested in your articles about depression and anxiety. My GP recently recommended that I start taking antidepressants. Can you tell me which of citalopram and escitalopram is better to take? She also thinks I should start therapy. I am 72 years old.
There are many different types of antidepressant medication. The family of drugs prescribed most often are called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs. They also treat anxiety, eating disorders, OCD and even irritable bowel syndrome.
Citalopram and escitalopram are two of the eight SSRIs available. These medications increase levels of the hormone serotonin in the brain, which is thought to have some effect on our emotions and mood.
But they are not effective for everyone. Some people find that they get greater benefits from therapy when they are taking medication.
Citalopram is recommended for use in depression and panic. Escitalopram, however, has a wider scope of use. It can also be prescribed for OCD, panic and social anxiety. They are slightly chemically different. This means you need higher doses of citalopram than you would escitalopram to treat depression.
Effectiveness and side effects may also be different. It is impossible to say if one antidepressant is better than another. Studies show it is very difficult to predict how a person will react to an antidepressant. It is worth remembering that a proportion of the population won’t find them helpful at all.
A GP should recommend you trial one type for about six weeks before considering switching to another or changing the dose.
Shortly after a Covid booster in December 2021, I developed a chesty cough that won’t shift. My lungs often feel sore and irritated and I produce mucus. Doctors have
