Dr. Guiteras wrote a medical advice column for the Chapel Hill Herald from 1980 to 2000. He is now reviving the column for the CHFM website. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author, not necessarily those of the management of CHFM; even so, you can trust what you read here. ARTICLE ARCHIVES I’ve noticed that my balance is going bad. I feel unsteady when I walk down stairs and I feel like a toddler when walking in the dark. My golf swing has gone to pot – I’m easy prey for guys I used to mop the floor with. I can’t quite figure it out. Is it just my age? I’m 70 and in pretty good health. What’s going on? My husband is forever drinking from a garden hose, which I hate. It is not only redneck, but also unhealthy. The nozzle lies around in the dirt and water sits in the hose for weeks at a time. No telling what he might pick up. He laughs when I tell him to stop it, but says he’ll go along with what you say. What do you have to say about this awful habit? I wheeze in the night and snore like a poorly-tuned Harley Davidson. I do not stop breathing, according to my wife, though methinks she wishes I would. Any ideas what has become of me and what will become of me? I recently pulled two ticks from my midsection. The warm weather has them active already this year. I have not been in the woods, just in my yard, puttering in the garden. Is there cause for increased concern about ticks this year? What can I do to avoid them? I have heard that whooping cough has become a threat again and that adults should be immunized. What’s the story? Should I take this shot? TOP Chapel Hill Family Medicine, PA · 120 Conner Drive · Suite 200 · Chapel Hill, NC 27514 Phone 919-967-8291 · Fax 919-967-3627