Q: I've got a strange dull ache around my breasts, which starts under each armpit and continues beneath my boobs. It began a few weeks ago when I was stressed at work, and although it's not really painful, I'm very aware of it. I'm not premenstrual or wearing a tight bra. What could it be? Holly, 30

A: Whenever there's an unexplained discomfort or pain think about the anatomical structures that could be responsible. There's the breast itself - although your symptoms don't suggest this - then there are the pectoral muscles, the ribs and the intercostal muscles between the breasts, and the lungs below. So the pain could be caused by any of these. But your symptoms suggest you're experiencing referred pain from a trapped nerve in your back. A pinched nerve sends neuralgia-like pain around the outside of the chest to the front. Stretching, swimming and good posture at your desk will help and so would chiropractic treatment. But visit your GP to consider other possibilities - including pain caused by fluid retention in the breasts.

Q: I've got a mole by the side of my eye that I'd really like removed because I think it looks ugly. The skin around the area is very thin though, so do you think it could be cut out? Jenny, 38

A: Moles can be removed from anywhere on the body for cosmetic or medical reasons, but the operation can be more tricky in certain areas. The tissue around the eyes is particularly delicate, so if the mole is sizeable, stitching up the gap could then either distort the eyelids, prevent eye closure or interrupt the flow of tears. Ask your GP for a referral to an eye surgeon or skin specialist, who can help you decide whether surgery or camouflage make-up around the mole is best.

EAT TO BEAT... INSOMNIA

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Turkey: This lean meat is packed with tryptophan, an amino acid that boosts levels of serotonin, the chemical that regulates sleep.

Bananas: They contain potassium, which researchers at the University of Wisconsin in the US have found may be responsible for deep, slow-wave sleep. Plus, they're a great source of tryptophan, so they're doubly good for the land of nod.

Cherries: They're one of the few food sources of melatonin, an antioxidant that helps regulate sleep rhythms.

Women are 20% more likely to suffer from insomnia than men*

ASPIRIN OR A&E?

Sympton: Angry rash
You worry it's: Meningitis.
Don't panic: Bacterial meningitis, the most serious form of the disease, isn't that common, with only around four people in every 100,000 affected each year. The most likely cause of a rash is contact dermatitis (particularly if it itches) or a reaction to something you've eaten. But if you're concerned seek medical advice immediately.
Hit the hospital if: The rash doesn't fade when you press a glass against it, or if you have a severe headache, stiff neck or the light hurts your eyes. For more information on the symptoms to look out for, visit Meningitis.org.

Email your health questions to drhilary@fabulousmag.co.uk

WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE LIFE OF A GP IS REALLY LIKE?
My new book, What's Up Doc? (Transworld, £18.99) is out now!

COMPILED BY: SARAH-JANE CORFIELD SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY, SCOPE BEAUTY *ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL SLEEP FOUNDATION DO NOT TAKE ASPIRIN IF YOU'RE UNDER 16

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