WILL I gain weight when I give up smoking?

You may not necessarily put on weight, but many people are worried about piling on the pounds when they stop smoking – but there are steps you can take to keep weight gain to a minimum.

Keep your metabolism high by taking regular exercise. Try walking rather than getting the bus or using a lift, start a gym class, or ask your local sports centre about the activities they offer.

Combat hunger pangs by keeping a stash of healthy treats to hand. Nuts, dried fruit, fresh fruit and vegetable sticks are ideal.

Eat smaller portions of food until your metabolism has stabilised.

Remember it takes 20 minutes for you to feel full after eating, so take a break, go for a walk after your main meal and see if you still feel hungry in half an hour.

If so, dip into your healthy treats. Just because food tastes better, it doesn’t mean you need to eat more of it. Remember to chew your food well and savour each mouthful rather than trying to finish it a quickly as possible.

If you are using nicotine replacement or taking medicine to help with cravings, make sure that you are using them as advised. The less you crave nicotine, the easier it will be to keep focused.

The important thing about stopping smoking is that you see it through. If you're concerned about weight gain but think that stopping smoking and dieting at the same time will be too much, stop smoking first and deal with any weight gain afterwards.

There's more advice on how to give up the cigarettes at: www.nhsinform.scot

I FAINTED in the supermarket a few weeks ago. I am concerned in case it means something more serious. My GP has told me not to worry. Is he right?

Your GP will know your medical history and isn't concerned that this could be a long-term issue for you so please do not worry. Fainting is very common.

Around 50% of women will faint during their lives, and around 25% of men. In most cases of fainting, the person who has fainted regains consciousness quickly.

To function properly, the brain relies on oxygen that is carried in the blood. Fainting can occur when the blood flow to the brain is reduced. It can be triggered by emotional stress, pain or prolonged standing.

Physical processes such as coughing, sneezing, or laughing, can also cause it. This kind of fainting is called a neurally mediated syncope and usually, no further treatment is needed.

If you know or suspect that you are going to faint, you should lie down, preferably in a position where your head is low and your legs are raised. This will encourage blood flow to the brain.

If it is not possible to lie down, sit down with your legs raised. If you suspect someone else is about to faint, you should help them to lie down or sit down in this way

If you do faint or lose consciousness it is important to see a health professional so they can exclude other causes.

WHAT is Pneumothorax?

Also known known as a collapsed lung, a pneumothorax is a condition where the lung has developed a leak and air is able to escape to the space between your chest wall and lung. Typically this results in pain and shortness of breath.

The most common symptoms associated with pneumothorax are chest pain that has a sudden onset, and it worse when breathing, shortness of breath, rapid heart rate and persistent cough.

A pneumothorax is normally diagnosed with a chest X-ray. Ocasscioanlly, a computerized tomography (CT) scan may be needed to provide images with greater detail.

In milder cases, your doctor might simply monitor your condition with a series of chest X-rays until the excess air is completely absorbed and the pneumothorax has healed by itself. In moderate cases, a chest tube or needle may be used like a syringe to extract excess air from you chest, and in more severe cases, surgery may be necessary to close the air leak.