Dr Thomas Stuttaford, the Times medical expert, answers questions on a variety of common or topical health issues:

Read Dr Tom's latest forum:

July 23: problems of stress and how to treat it

The doctor has also answered questions on:

July 16: sleep and snoring problems and related article Why you can't sleep

July 9: holiday health problems and related article How to beat traveller's tummy

July 2: emphysema, asthma and breathing problems. Related link Amy Winehouse diagnosed with emphysema

June 25: diagnosis and treatment of dementia

Dementia: related links Terry Pratchett: Alzheimer's disease is now affecting my work | Letter to the editor: Dementia research needs more funding | Science editor: Our genes offer the best insurance and latest news and information from Help the Aged | and a new national campaign, Right care, Right deal. Plus Alzheimer's Society and Alzheimer's Research Trust

June 18: diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer (part 2)

June 11: diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer (part 1)

June 4: cancer and nutrition?. Related article, Fruit and veg keep cancer at bay

May 28: hay fever: what's the best treatment?

May 14: how to cope with weight loss problems? Related article, Surgical procedures for obesity.

May 7: eyesight and other problems: how can gene therapy and injections help?

April 30: getting pregnant: how can I influence the gender of my baby?. Related story Recipe for a son starts with cereal

April 23: vitamins - are they safe?

April 16: breast cancer worries and second opinions?

April 9: the benefits of an MOT

April 2: anger management and related article, What's the true cause of anger?

March 26: insomnia and how to deal with it and related article, Why you can't sleep

March 19: gout prevention and treatment

March 12: stroke prevention and treatment

March 5: joint problems and osteoporosis and related article, Glucosamine: a remedy for wear and tear

February 20: moles and skin cancer and related article, New way to check for skin cancer

February 13: contraception and related article, Choosing the right type of contraception

February 6: how to cope with food allergies and intolerance

January 30: how to live with diabetes? and related article, Sweetness and blight

January 23: is compulsory organ donation right? and related article, Playing the donor card

January 16: is screening right for me? and related article, Take a screen test

January 9: maximising fertility for men and women and related article, Too old to conceive?

January 2: stress and depression

December 19-26: the effects of Christmas drinking

December 12: taking statins - related article, Festive forgetfulness

December 5: when to take antibiotics - related article, The silver lining

November 28: the benefits of omega3 - related article, Fish oil on troubled waters

November 21: obesity and type 2 diabetes

November 14: stent and angioplasty concerns - related article, The heart saver

November 7: dementia - related article, Dementia: a distant memory

October 31: breast cancer - related article, Surviving the hype

October 24: preventing flu and colds - related article, Stock up or suffer

October 17: irritable bowel syndrome - related article, Gut reaction

October 10: arthritis and rheumatism - related article, One tackle too many?

October 3: food poisoning

September 19: failing sight and macular degeneration - related article, Failing sight is no cause for alarm in the elderly

September 12: appendicitis - related article, The signs of appendicitis

August 29: heart problems - related article, Keeping up the pace

August 22: anaemia - related article Iron brew for anaemia

August 15: probiotics and antibiotics - related article Probiotic benefits

August 1: kidney problems

July 25: how to tell if your child is taking drugs

July 18: sleep problems

July 11: diabetes

July 4: health and hot weather

June 20: chicken pox

June 13: smoking and health

May 30: depression and therapy

May 23: Prozac and antidepressants

May 16: prostate cancer

May 9: under- and over-active thyroids

April 25: safe-taking of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

April 18: home births

April 11: sex addiction and promiscuity

April 4: breast cancer

March 28: menopause

March 21: MRSA and hygiene in hospitals

March 14: pros and cons of having a hysterectomy

March 7: dry eyes and impaired vision

February 28: nutrition, including Lenten fasting

February 21: Caesarean section

February 14: problems of ageing, Alzheimer's disease and memory loss

February 7, 2007: dysmorphophobia (problems of body self image)

Please note that Dr Tom isn't familiar with all the circumstances in individual cases and can only deal with the points raised in general terms. Patients should always discuss any specific problems they have with their own doctors.

Readers' questions are answered as examples of general problems commonly met in practice. It is a good rule in medicine that only their own doctors know the patient well enough to pontificate on the case as there are often other factors unknown to strangers.