 | Diseases And Conditions 331 Ask the Doc Q&A Why would someone crave and eat chalk? I have been eating large amounts of chalk (sidewalk chalk) since my pregnancy. My baby is now four months old and I am still craving it. Why would someone crave and eat chalk? I have been eating large amounts of chalk (sidewalk chalk) since my pregnancy. My baby is now four months old and I am still craving it. htmASKTHEDOCeatingchalkpregnancy The craving for chalk is most likely related to iron deficiency. The general medical term for craving certain items is "pica." With iron deficiency, you can have cravings other than chalk, including ice, paper, coffee grains and seeds. Its not known why iron deficiency causes pica. But once a person has replenished his or her iron stores, the craving disappears. 1440997 InteliHealth 2012-05-15 t Howard LeWine, M.D. 2015-05-15
| | Ask The Expert |  | | | | | | | | | Archive By Date: Ask the Doc Q&A | Page 1 of 4 | | Answered questions from the past 2 years: | | y 13-year-old daughter has been diagnosed with a hemangioma. It looks like a wart, and about the size of a pencil eraser. Its just above her left armpit on her shoulder. What would cause this to happen? Is there anything we should be concerned with? Should it be removed or will it go away on its own? | My six-month-old daughter started to have seizures. She had 3 on Thursday, 20-30 on Friday, 2 on Saturday and none since then. All she does is stop, roll her eyes to the back of her head and then cry. We are waiting on the results of an EEG. But can you give us more information on what could be happening and why? | I recently had a severe reaction to amoxicillin. I had to go to the hospital, where I was given Benadryl and cortisone through an IV. My doctor tells me that I now have "serum sickness." I have joint pain, fatigue and headaches. What exactly is serum sickness? | When youve have a cold or the flu, how do you know when it's safe to continue a routine exercise program? | Recently Ive been staying up until 3 or 4 in the morning to work on my oil paintings. I know I should feel tired, but I dont. One of my friends said that I might be hypomanic. What is that? | I was not able to pass urine after having a pacemaker put in. I was sent home with catheter attached to a bag. I have a follow-up appointment with the urologist. What if I still cant pass urine after the catheter is removed? Id prefer not to have surgery. What are my options? | Do adult women that is, not just teenagers have problems with eating disorders? | I have a couple of broken ribs. The pain is so bad that I can hardly move. I cant sleep at night and I cant take a deep breath. Is there anything I can do to help my ribs heal quickly or ease the pain? Ive been told that there isnt really anything that can be done for this. | What exercises are considered 'low impact?' Are there different guidelines for low impact exercises for teens than for adults? | I am a 66-year-old woman. I walk three miles five or six times a week. And I swim for half an hour every day. My HDL cholesterol level is usually over 100, but it was up to 127 in my most recent cholesterol test. My total cholesterol was 215 and my LDL was 68. Should I be celebrating or worried about an unusually high HDL? |
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