Ask the doctor: Vegetarian pregnancy and sprains

Dear doctor, my father drinks laxatives. However, I don’t think this is a good thing. What do you recommend he use to regulate his system?

The best way to regulate his system is to eat a diet high in fibre with vegetables and fruit. He must also drink water regularly. You are right, being constantly on laxatives is not good. It can cause electrolyte abnormalities.

Dear doctor, is it completely healthy to cut out meat while I’m pregnant? The smell bothers me.

It is not completely healthy. You need to make sure you replace the meat with other high-protein and iron foods like nuts and grains. You will also need to take regular blood tests to make sure there are no deficiencies like iron.

You might also need to be on supplements as the diet might not be adequate because of the pressure of pregnancy. Please consult a dietician.

Dear doctor, what is the difference between a fracture and a sprain?

A fracture involves the bone. It means the bone is broken. It is usually associated with limited motion, swelling and even bleeding. A sprain or strain will involve soft tissues like muscles and ligaments from twisting or anything that places undue pressure on them.

The best way to diagnose is to do an X-ray to see if a bone is broken or not. If not then the issue will be a sprain or strain.

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