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From spring to autumn, millions of weeds bloom along ditches, agricultural fields and neglected gardens and begin releasing their pollen. Many people react sensitively when they come into contact with these. This is hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis. Many different pollens can trigger it, such as hazel, poplar, ragweed or wild hemp. Its symptoms include nasal congestion, itchy eyes and endless sneezing.

Dear Doctor! My mother recently began complaining of sudden, very severe back pain. I took her to the emergency clinic, where several vertebrae in her back were found to be collapsed. Further examinations revealed a large tumor in her left breast that had metastasized to the lymph nodes, the spine, the lungs and the liver. They said it is inoperable… She was given a morphine patch for the severe pain.

I present Gréta Hepp in the series about professionals; she represents the young, well-traveled generation. With her degree and experience from abroad, she wants to make a living in Hungary. Her favourite area is the rehabilitation of athletes — she helps them recover from various injuries and surgeries as quickly as possible and regain their pre-injury condition. She uses several methods, including the most modern muscle stimulation. I asked her about her work and goals.

We met Misi Bodócs in our childhood. He was a member of the team from the neighboring town and we often competed against each other at pioneer Olympics. Life then took us in different directions and 35 years later we bumped into each other by chance. We ran into each other while cycling in the Buda hills (for lack of a better phrase). At Normafa we even stopped for a refreshment and a slice of homemade strudel at the little kiosk. After the usual “how are you” and “what are you doing” questions, however, our conversation took an unexpected turn…

Plantar fascia inflammation (or medically fasciitis plantaris) is one of the most common causes of sole and heel pain. Beneath the skin of your sole runs a thick connective tissue sheet (formerly called fascia) from the toes to the heel bone. Its inflammation mainly occurs where it meets the bone, that is, at the heel bone or in front at the bases of the toes. The first symptom is a stabbing pain during the first steps in the morning. After a few steps it "warms up", but over time the pain lasts for increasingly long periods. It is very hard to "get rid" of. It can be treated at home, but be prepared for weeks — and more often months — of regular treatment to achieve full resolution.

Anyone who has seen a blood pressure measurement might think nothing could be simpler. That's not always the case, and knowing a few basic rules can protect you from incorrect measurement results that could lead to a wrong diagnosis or unnecessary or inappropriate treatment.

In the series about professionals, I now introduce physiotherapy specialist, personal trainer and spinal expert Angi Nimród, who after a severe car accident — having been declared disabled — worked on her own rehabilitation for five years. That experience inspired her to help others as well. She has earned respect in the profession and is a member of the board of the Massage Therapists Association. She mainly treats spinal patients, but because of her reputation athletes also line up with various complaints.

Strengthening the thigh muscles may be necessary for many reasons. Reversing muscle mass loss after a prolonged illness or fracture, treating muscle atrophy, and increasing the stability of the knee and hip joints are the most common reasons. In this article you'll find a generally applicable, 3-month program that helps strengthen your thigh muscles without increasing pain or risking surgery. I explained in earlier articles why this is effective, so here I will focus only on outlining the treatment steps.

Gábor Czene lost his right leg in a road motorcycle accident at the age of 25. For years he believed that was the limit of his mobility and sport. But things turned out differently....

Kalamász “Raszika” Zsanett recently successfully completed her first marathon (Sri Chinmoy Marathon Lázbérc, 4 hours 51 minutes). Raszika is a yoga instructor and, besides yoga, running is her “second love.” She began preparing roughly two years ago, running 50–70 km per week. So far it sounds straightforward, but about a year ago she developed foot pain while running that did not go away — by spring it had worsened so much that she underwent manual therapy and received softlaser, cryo and shockwave treatments, yet her complaints persisted. That’s when she started using a Runner Pro electrotherapy device regularly.

Dear Doctor! I read your articles. I turn to you as my last hope. My vertebrae are coming apart, I can hardly move and no one helps. The rheumatologist won’t even examine me anymore and didn’t give me any pain relief. My GP talks about surgery, which I’m terrified of on the one hand, and on the other hand I can’t afford. Please, if you could help me so I could walk down the street once more without a walker, I would be extremely grateful.