Q I am 14 and suffer from lower back pain whenever I exercise. I play golf and think it may be related. Any ideas? TA from Cardiff

A Lower back pain is common among golfers. It is often attributed to twisting the torso during the swing, but the more usual reason is overarching your spine during the shot.

Your spine is still growing and although I would not suggest you stop playing golf, you should have a professional assessment to see whether you are overarching at the end of your swing and have this corrected if you are.

Your abdominal muscles help prevent overarching so exercise these regularly to strengthen them. If your back pain continues you should have a back x-ray and medical assessment.

Q I had a quadruple bypass operation in 2004 and I experience lethargy from time to time. Could it be diabetes? JL from Bexley

A You need some blood tests to make sure you aren’t anaemic or diabetic, and that your liver and kidneys are functioning normally.

If you have recently had your medication altered this could be another cause, especially if you take beta-blockers. These are very effective but can sometimes cause significant tiredness.

Many people who have had a heart bypass report intermittent fatigue, with no identifiable cause. If your lethargy is only occasional and you have no other symptoms, medical intervention should not be needed.

Q I keep noticing a mottled pattern of slightly raised white bumps on my hands. They itch slightly. Are they anything to be worried about? JD from Lincoln

A When mild like this, no. You are suffering from acute urticaria, sometimes called hives or nettle rash. In this problem, histamine is released by cells in the skin, causing your blood vessels to dilate and leak so that fluid seeps out into the skin.

Triggers include seafood, nuts, tomatoes and eggs. Some medicines contain colourings or preservatives that can trigger the condition. Other triggers include heat, cold and viral infections. If needed, antihistamine tablets usually clear the symptoms.

All questions are answered by a practising doctor. To consult Dr Know, e-mail your query together with your initials and the town you live in to drknow@sunday-times.co.uk. E-mails cannot be answered individually

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