Q: MY husband and I have tried for the last 10 years to have a child without success. We've given up and are about to adopt a child from China. We have been told that we need thorough physical examinations and medical interviews. What exactly are they looking for? Even though both of us are healthy, we are anxious about this coming appointment.
Dr Rose writes: The medical requirements for adoptive parents vary from country to country. Adoption agencies are interested in ensuring both of you are in good general physical and mental health, free of chronic illnesses and infectious diseases.
In China, it appears authorities are specifically interested in potential adoptive parents being free of psychosis, leprosy, TB and AIDS. This should reassure them you are healthy and able to care for the child in the long term.
Q: I am a male in my early 30s who has no history of health problems. I have been travelling to China almost weekly and been experiencing severe chest pains in the middle of my breast bone for several weeks now.
They are sharp, stabbing, pains which usually last for about 10 minutes, and are sometimes associated with nausea, vomiting and shortness of breath. They go away by themselves. One episode occurred while I was having sex. Can this be stress related? Dr Rose writes: There are many different diagnostic possibilities for chest pains in a young healthy male - the main ones being cardiac, musculo-skeletal and gastro-intestinal.
The cardiac causes may indicate potentially serious disease and will require a thorough medical examination. However, because of your age, this would be an unlikely cause. People at a high-risk for cardiac problems include those with a history of high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and/or a family history of heart problems. The only way to be sure is to consult a physician. The majority of chest pains in young men are due to other, non-cardiac causes. Musculo-skeletal etiology includes inflammation of the breast bone cartilage or chest muscles and strained or pulled muscles.