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I was shocked to find that my wife and I have been subjected to ‘frailty indexing’ by our GP. This has been done without our knowledge or any explanation as to what it means. Could it also indicate hidden end-of-life planning? I am 78 and healthy.
Peter Bradley, Burgess Hill, W. Sussex.
Not long after the Covid-19 pandemic commenced, like several million other Britons, I received a letter from my GP saying that I was clinically extremely vulnerable and should shield.
This decision had been based on my medical history as I have written about before,
I have sarcoidosis, an inflammatory disorder affecting my lungs. I welcomed the letter, as it was clearly sent in the best interests of my health.
John Grint MBE, Stoke-on-Trent.
Pain on eating can’t be much fun and it’s important to get to the root of the issue.
The symptoms you describe are characteristic of temporomandibular disorder. The temporomandibular joint connects the lower jaw bone with the upper jaw and the rest of the head it acts like a hinge, angling up and down. The joint can also slide forwards, allowing the mouth to open wider.
It is controlled by the masseter and pterygoid muscles, and the nerves that control these muscles are also connected to the muscles of the middle ear.
This link means that when the joint dysfunctions, it can be felt as earache. Some patients may also experience tinnitus (a ringing noise in the ears), limited ability to move the jaw, and clicking or locking in the joint.
Is my numb big toe a sign of something sinister? DR MARTIN SCURR answers your health questions dailymail.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from dailymail.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
For a number of years, I have experienced profuse night sweats every day. I sleep on a towel and by the morning it’s wet and smells unpleasant.
I have type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. I stopped drinking for five weeks to see if it helped. I am 73. Can you aid me with a diagnosis?
Name and address supplied.
Sweating is a common reason why people seek a GP’s help. The causes can vary, but if there is no immediately obvious trigger, the patient undergoes tests.
One of the most obvious causes of night-time sweating is a fever. You should take your temperature during and after sweating, using an electronic clinical thermometer (available cheaply from a chemist).