My wife leans as she walks. Is this the cause of blood pressure? DR. ELLIE CANNON answers

Q: My wife, who is 70, has started to tilt to the right occasionally while walking. A head scan ruled out a stroke, but she is taking anti-anxiety tablets and will soon have a 24-hour monitor fitted to see if she has high blood pressure. Could that be to blame?

A: Being pulled over is not normally a sign of high blood pressure. But many older people suffer from balance or instability problems that cause walking problems, such as leaning to one side.

It is critical to investigate a symptom like this. Not only can it be a sign of an underlying condition, but it also increases the risk of falls – a major concern for people over 65, causing anxiety, pain and loss of confidence and independence.

A head scan is a good idea, but a stroke is more likely to cause an ongoing problem than an intermittent one.

However, instability can be caused by medications, including blood pressure medications called beta blockers and commonly used antidepressants known as SSRIs.

The balance in the body is regulated by the inner ear. There are many conditions that cause the area called the labyrinth to be affected, especially viral infections. But chronic conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease, are also known to cause balance problems and dizziness.

Leaning to one side may not be the result of balance or instability, but rather a nerve or muscle problem. Parkinson’s disease, or pain and arthritis – which cause weakness and affect the muscles – can also cause a person to lean while walking.

Q: After more than a decade of pain and three MRI scans, I have been diagnosed with spinal stenosis and osteoarthritis. My wrists, hands, elbows, neck and lower back are usually sore and I wonder if I actually have fibromyalgia. Is there a test for this? How is the diagnosis made?

A: It’s quite common to have pain that affects more than one joint at the same time – we call this polyarthritis. This is more common in women, people over 50 years of age and associated with obesity. It also affects arthritis sufferers and can also be a sign of the autoimmune disease lupus, which affects 50,000 Britons.

These conditions can be a factor in developing spinal stenosis. For example, in rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, blood tests will reveal not only inflammation in the body, but also specific autoimmune blood markers that diagnose the condition. Multiple joint pains usually warrant these tests.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain condition and not exclusively a joint disorder. It causes full-body pain and muscle stiffness, as well as fatigue, brain fog and headaches. It also results in increased sensitivity to touch and is often continuous.

There are no specific blood tests or markers on X-rays or other images to accurately diagnose fibromyalgia. Other conditions – such as arthritis – are often ruled out first as part of the diagnostic process. One cluster of symptoms that may indicate fibromyalgia is the way we conceptualize the condition. However, several GP appointments may be required to fully assess the situation.

Q: After a blood transfusion in 1995, I developed Guillain-Barre syndrome and autoimmune hemolytic anemia. I know that those infected with HIV and Hepititis C through transfusions are being compensated by the government after harmful NHS transfusions in the 1970s and 1980s, but where do I stand with the life-changing effects this has had on my life?

A: Anyone who thinks they have been infected with these viruses can register online with the England Infected Blood Support Scheme, or with the appropriate alternative in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Guillain-Barre syndrome is a rare nerve disorder. It is not an infection, but often occurs afterwards. Our immune system fights infections, but with Guillain-Barre it instead mistakenly attacks the body’s own nerves, damaging them and causing muscle weakness, numbness, pain and balance problems.

It is very serious and recovery can take up to a year. Some patients are left with walking difficulties, weakness and extreme fatigue and unfortunately one in twenty people die as a result.

are left with walking difficulties, weakness and extreme fatigue and unfortunately one in twenty people die as a result.

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia is also a rare disorder of the immune system that affects about one in 100,000 people. The body mistakenly attacks red blood cells, breaking them down and causing anemia. It can be fatal due to the destruction of cells, which are essential for transporting oxygen from the lungs to organs and tissues in the body. It may also be related to autoimmune problems such as lupus or thyroid disease. The condition can be caused by viruses, including hepatitis and HIV, as well as by antibiotics and anti-inflammatories.

It is possible to submit a request – in writing or by e-mail – to view your hospital data. This can show whether there is a connection between the transfusion and any developed conditions. You are entitled to hear from the hospital within one month.

All vitamin drops do is make you bleed dry

Then last week I came across a stall in a shopping center where NHS staff were offering vitamin IV drops at a discounted rate. The poster even had the NHS logo on it, as if these treatments were somehow medically approved.

Doctors do not recommend vitamin drops.

The ones I saw were offered to treat everything from hangovers to fatigue, but the science behind them is lacking to say the least.

Combined with a high price, this means that people are giving away a lot of money without any benefit coming from it.

And to be honest, it wasn’t the most medical situation. An IV involves inserting a needle under the skin and, even though it is small, there is a risk of infection.

Please don’t fall for the hype surrounding vitamin drops – especially when someone claims they are supported by the NHS.

Good news about antidepressants

Most weeks I hear from patients and readers who are concerned about starting antidepressants because they have read that they are having unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.

It is true that some patients who stop taking antidepressants experience dizziness, headaches, nausea and insomnia.

However, I have always maintained that these cases are rare, and that online fear stories have deterred many people who could really be helped by medication.

So it’s great news that a German study found that only one in 35 people taking antidepressants experience symptoms severe enough to affect their daily lives.

Anyone considering coming off antidepressants should talk to their doctor. There are strict instructions on how to slowly taper off the dose. But hopefully this study will make more people feel confident about using them in the first place.

Do you suffer from these withdrawal symptoms? Submit your message using the email address on the right and let me know.