DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Where does the body’s energy come from? All my life, until three years ago, I had so much energy that I could labor 12 to 16 hours without getting tired. Now that’s gone. After spending a few hours in the garden, I have no energy left for the next six days. Does energy come from the heart? Muscles? Lungs? — S.K.
A: The energy that makes muscles move comes from stored sugar (glycogen) and from fat. They are the fuel for muscle action.
However, there are many body processes involved in combating fatigue. A thyroid gland operating at low levels leaves a person without any pep. Adrenal-gland failure is another cause of energy loss. Anemia makes physical labor difficult. A failing heart is another cause for being burned out. Lungs that can’t provide enough oxygen make work impossible.
Unless your diet has changed radically, you probably have enough stored glycogen and fat to supply your muscles. You really should investigate some of these other causes of stamina loss.
DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Please explain the difference between bright-red and dark-red blood in the stool. Does a colonoscopy help determine where the blood originates? — R.R.
A: Bright-red blood in the stool indicates the source of bleeding is near the anus — hemorrhoids, fissures or rectal cancer. Dark-red blood indicates the problem is farther up in the colon. The color change occurs because of the time lapse involved in the stool’s passage from a more distant site.
Tarry black stools are a sign that bleeding occurs high in the digestive tract. Examples are a stomach or duodenal ulcer.
A colonoscopy is one of the best ways of finding where bleeding comes from.
DEAR DR. DONOHUE: After 42 years of smoking, I quit even though I didn’t have any noticeable ill effects from it. Since quitting, I have tried to do more cardio exercise and have cut back on calories. My weight has soared from 211 to 237 pounds, and my waist has gone from 34 inches to 40. My doctor has performed many tests, including a thyroid test, and all indicate I am fine. I fall asleep when driving and have heartburn, something I never had when smoking. What do you suggest? — L.K.
A: I assure you that you’ve done yourself a world of good by giving up cigarettes. Some people gain from five to 10 pounds when they stop. A few, like you, gain much more. Perhaps the nicotine stimulates a person’s metabolism. Smoking also decreases the urge to snack. I don’t have an easy answer. You have to increase your exercise time and decrease your calories.
Nicotine gum might rev up your metabolism. Don’t make chewing it a lifetime habit. The gum is only a stopgap measure.
TO READERS: Many have written for information on macular degeneration, the common eye condition that affects so many older people. The booklet on that topic explains it and its treatments. To obtain a copy, write: Dr. Donohue — No. 701, Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.75 with the recipient’s printed name and address. Please allow four weeks for delivery.
Dr. Donohue regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but he will incorporate them in his column whenever possible. Readers may write him or request an order form of available health newsletters at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Readers also may order health newsletters from www.rbmamall.com.
c. North America Syndicate
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