Eye Irritation, Shingles and Thyroid: Top ASKs of the Week

This week we saw a wide variety of questions come into our community. Women asked about foggy memory, itchiness during pregnancy and eye irritation. Our moderators provided resources and answers to these health questions as well as many others. Do you have a health question you need an answer for? Post it to our community, and we promise to respond within 24 hours.

Here are some of our top ASKs in the EmpowHER community this week.

1. My eyes are always red and itchy. What can I do to get relief?

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A: You need to see a doctor first, to discover why this is happening to your eyes. You may have environmental allergies, food allergies or are using products that are causing this reaction. You could even be having a reaction to your laundry detergent and your bedding/pillow cases could be a cause. An eye exam and some testing may be needed.

2.Can I get relief from shingles pain by using apple cider vinegar?

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A:I'm very sorry you're dealing with shingles. From what I have heard they are just awful. They can heal anytime from 2-8 weeks, not always 2-4 weeks, although some may get lucky. I hope you do. Apple cider vinegar has been known to offer great relief - give it a try but do a small patch first to make sure you don't feel a burning sensation.

3. I have heavy itching around my breasts and belly. Is this normal during pregnancy?

Via Pixabay

A:I had the itchiest boobs when I was pregnant, it drove me mad! Belly itching is also common. A lot of moisturizer can help. Cholestasis is a term used for itchy palms and feet during pregnancy. It's caused by the poorer liver function in pregnancy and most often when the woman is in her third trimester. Cholestasis (if this is what you have) needs to be reported to your doctor straight away as while it won't affect the mother after pregnancy, there is some risk to the baby.

4. How long can I go without taking my thyroid medicine?

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A:You must take the prescribed medication as directed by your physician. Most likely it is a daily prescribed dose and you should not miss a dose. The thyroid gland is the gland that makes and stores hormones that help regulate the heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and the rate at which food is converted into energy. Thyroid hormones are essential for the function of every cell in the body. They help regulate growth and the rate of metabolism in the body.

5. My memory has recently become foggy. How can I improve my memory?

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A:Foggy memory or brain fog is not a medical term but is described as brain fatigue that includes symptoms of confusion, forgetfulness, lack of focus and mental clarity. There are a number of things you can do to improve your mental clarity like, improve your diet, get more or adequate sleep/rest, manage your stress better, practice meditation and determine if you have a b12 or D vitamin defienciency.