Muscle cramps? Try pickles

DEAR DR. GOTT: On an almost daily basis, I have muscle cramps in my hands, fingers, legs, feet and toes. They occur during the day and night.

I take 25 milligrams of HydroDiuril and two 595-milligram doses of over-the-counter potassium gluconate. I drink several glasses of water a day plus water with my meals. Is there anything else that I can do to relieve these cramps?

DEAR READER: HydroDiuril is simply hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), a common medication used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure). It can cause muscle and joint pain and a reduction of potassium, which can cause cramping, but you are on supplements to avoid the common side effects.

HCTZ can also cause a reduction in the amount of magnesium in your body. While studies suggest that most people may be deficient already, symptoms are not common. If your low levels are further reduced by your medication, this can lead to symptoms of deficiency, which include cramping.

Try adding a magnesium supplement to determine whether the cramping lessens. Speak to your doctor to determine how much you should take. If this doesn’t help, perhaps a change in medication is in order.

Other possible options include calcium supplements, eating pickles or drinking the juice, consuming electrolyte or sports drinks (pickles, pickle juice and sports drinks can be high in sodium, so be sure to read labels), or rubbing marjoram oil (one part marjoram to one part castor or olive oil to prevent skin irritation) over the affected areas.

To provide related information, I am sending you copies of my Health Reports, “Dr. Gott’s Compelling Home Remedies†and “More Compelling Home Remedies.†Other readers who would like copies should send a self-addressed stamped No. 10 envelope and a $2 check or money order per report payable to Newsletter and mailed to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title(s) or print an order form off my website at AskDrGottMD.com.

DEAR DR. GOTT: My 4-and-a-half-year-old son is developmentally delayed and was diagnosed as having low muscle tone. With the help of therapy, he sat up at 1 year and walked at 2-and-a-half. He is also in speech therapy and isn’t completely potty trained. My concern now is that he often has “oniony†breath and body odor, even when he hasn’t eaten any onions. Could this be a symptom of something that his doctors missed? Your feedback would be greatly welcomed. Thank you.

DEAR READER: The simple answer is yes, it could be a symptom of an underlying condition; however, I don’t know whether it is likely. Certain medications can cause changes in the smell of body odor, breath, urine and even stool. Most often other, more definitive symptoms are present, too.

There are several forums online of parents discussing the various odors their children emit. Most seem to say the children outgrow it, or that their pediatricians say the malady is caused by early glandular development and is otherwise harmless. Some have determined it is caused by diet. Rarely, some were told it is the result of thyroid malfunctioning.

Your son’s onion-smelling breath and body odor are probably not a sign of illness; however, to be on the safe side, take your son to his pediatrician for a complete exam and blood work. Perhaps a referral to an endocrinologist will be helpful. In the interim, try to manage the situation as best you can.

Peter Gott practiced medicine in Lakeville for 40 years.

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