You know what we mean - those health worries we find it difficult to talk about, the ones that leave us feeling isolated, embarrassed and unsure of where to go for help. But, as Anne Montague discovers, there's no need to suffer in silence...

‘We don’t know why some people are vulnerable to blushing, but it can cause great distress,’ says Alan Cameron, consultant vascular surgeon at Nuffield Hospital Ipswich. ‘Sufferers may start to avoid social situations, which can lead to a downward spiral of anxiety.’ Alcohol, spicy foods and certain drugs can cause flushing, although it’s also a common symptom of the menopause and can be a sign of rosacea.

What can you do?

For menopausal flushing, avoid coffee, alcohol and spicy foods, take regular exercise and increase your intake of foods rich in phyto-oestrogens, such as soya products, chickpeas and lentils. HRT is also effective in reducing or stopping hot flushes, although it can have side effects.

Talk to your doctor if you think your flushing might be rosacea. There will normally be other symptoms, too, such as thread veins, bumps and pimples.

Gum disease is the main culprit, but bacteria on the back part of the tongue is another common cause. How can you tell if you have a problem? Ask your nearest and dearest, or use the lick test: lick the inside of your wrist with the back of your tongue from base to tip. Leave for 10 seconds, then sniff.

What can you do?

See your dentist/hygienist regularly. Brush and floss well, and brush your tongue as well as your teeth. You could also invest in a tongue scraper (ask your hygienist to show you the technique).

Use a mouthwash, but make sure you choose one that’s non-acidic and alcohol free. Acid can damage teeth, while alcohol will make your mouth dry.

Stress incontinence affects one in three women at some point, according to Dr Judith Wardle, director of the Continence Foundation. ‘This is a conservative estimate – there are probably many more women who are too embarrassed to seek help,’ she says. Leakage happens when the sphincter muscle that supports the bladder or the valve at the neck of the bladder becomes weak or damaged. 

What can you do? Get help. Without treatment, stress incontinence won’t improve, and may get worse. If you don’t want to talk to your GP or practice nurse, you can go to a continence clinic without a referral. Call 0845 345 0165 or visit www.continence-foundation.org.uk to find one near you.

Drink less tea, coffee and alcohol – they are diuretics and can irritate the bladder. And avoid using the loo ‘just in case’ – if you empty your bladder too frequently, it will work less effectively.

Do pelvic floor exercises. Research shows 80% of women find symptoms improve or disappear after regular exercising. A continence specialist can show you how to do them correctly. If exercises don’t help, surgery is an option. It has an 80% success rate.

A new drug, duloxetine (Yentreve), works for half the women taking it, reducing symptoms by 50%, but it has unpleasant side effects.

We all need to sweat – it keeps our skin moist and helps regulate body temperature. But it becomes a problem when you literally drip with sweat (a condition known as hyperhidrosis). ‘Hands, feet and armpits are the problem areas because they have the highest concentration of sweat glands,’ says Alan Cameron. ‘The problem often starts in puberty or childhood and about 40% of sufferers have a family history of hyperhidrosis.’

What can you do?

● Strong over-the-counter antiperspirants, such as Driclor, Odaban or Perspirex, may keep underarm sweating under control, but you can’t use them on hands or feet, as they irritate the skin.

● Botox injections switch off the nerves that trigger sweat gland activity and can be extremely successful for armpits. The effects last six to 18 months.

● Iontophoresis (immersing your hands or feet in a bath of water with a small electric current running through it) can help reduce sweating for four to six weeks. Talk to your doctor about this option.

● Other options include surgery to the armpits, to remove the skin containing the sweat glands, and an endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy – an operation that destroys the nerves that control sweating in the hands.

● For further information and support, contact the Hyperhidrosis Support Group (www.hyperhidrosisuk.org).

Extreme hair growth can be devastating, especially when it appears on your face, nipples, shoulders or lower abdomen. So why does it happen? ‘It may be simply a matter of genes, but it can also be caused by hormonal imbalances,’ says Dr Catti Moss of the Royal College of General Practitioners. ‘In some cases, hairiness is a symptom of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), though this is usually seen in combination with other symptoms, such as irregular periods, acne, obesity and fertility problems.’

What can you do?

● Try a direct treatment to remove excess hair. Electrolysis removes the hair long-term, but it is a slow, expensive process. Laser treatment is quicker and less painful, but it only removes hair temporarily. There is very limited availability of laser and electrolysis treatment on the NHS.

● Hormonal treatments can help. If you have PCOS, your doctor will probably refer you to an endocrinologist. Losing weight and taking the pill can help PCOS, but stronger hormonal treatments, surgery and medication may also be effective.

‘Wind is a perfectly normal occurrence, caused mainly by the action of bacteria on undigested food,’ says Professor Alastair Forbes of the digestive disorders charity CORE (www.corecharity.org.uk). And, while wind may be embarrassing, it’s not serious unless you have other major symptoms, such as a change in bowel habits or bleeding.

What can you do?

● Avoid ‘gassy’ foods such as beans, peas, broccoli, Jerusalem artichokes, raisins, prunes and slimming foods that contain sorbitol or fructose.

● Eat and drink slowly. Chew your food properly and cut down on fizzy drinks.

● Avoid tight clothing, which can increase pressure on the abdomen and make it more difficult for wind to pass normally.

Anal itching is usually caused by sensitivity to perfumes and chemicals in soaps and bubble baths, although it may also be caused by threadworms, which tend to cause itching at night. 

What can you do?

● Cut down on irritants. ‘Stop using dry toilet paper and anything medicated and use unperfumed baby wipes instead,’ advises Professor Forbes.

● Don’t scratch. It damages the skin, makes itching worse and, if threadworms are the problem, causes eggs to lodge under your fingernails – making it easy for you to reinfect yourself.

● If the problem persists, have a word with your GP. A simple drug treatment will banish threadworms. 

‘Although many people worry that tics are a sign of a more serious problem, they’re usually just an irritation caused by the spontaneous firing of nerve cells,’ says Dr Moss. In some cases, people suffer from uncontrollable blinking – a condition known as blepharospasm – which usually starts with eye irritation, sensitivity to light and increased blinking.

What can you do?

● Get plenty of sleep and control your stress levels – being tired or stressed makes tics worse.

● If you’re finding it difficult to cope with the tic, go to see your doctor. Treatment with tricyclic anti-depressants can help some people.

● Consider Botox injections – they can help treat the symptoms of blepharospasm.

● For further information and support, contact the Dystonia Society on 0845 458 6322 or visit their website at www.dystonia.org.uk.