Ask Dr Mel: Heart attacks and clicking jaw

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Every week we bring you expert advice from Woman's Weekly's health expert Dr Melanie Wynne-Jones, a GP from Stockport with 26 years' experience. This week she answers questions on early heart attacks and a clicking jaw.

Q My uncle and brother both died of heart attacks in their 20s, many years ago - could my son be at risk?

A As coronary artery disease normally takes several decades to develop, it's very unusual to die so young, so it's possible they both had an inherited heart condition (IHC).

Three young people a week in the UK die of IHCs, which usually strike without warning, and are often caused by abnormal heart muscle, electrical pathways or rhythms, which can be hard to detect after death.

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) is leading research into ways of detecting IHCs, using specialised ECG tracings, scans and other tests. Many can now be successfully treated with drugs, lifestyle changes or internal defibrillators that detect and correct abnormal rhythms.

I suggest your son visits his GP, who can check his blood pressure and cholesterol levels and/or refer him to a specialist IHC clinic.

The BHF's Genetic Information Service has also launched a helpline for bereaved families. It provides support and advice on specialist centres that can test other family members if someone has died young and unexpectedly from heart disease. Call 0300 456 8383.

Q My jaw clicks and sometimes hurts when I'm chewing - should I be worried?

A Clicks are sometimes due to cartilage moving inside your jaw joint - you'll hear them easily because the joint is just in front of your ear. Muscles and ligaments can also make small noises, while wear and tear can roughen bony surfaces, producing a grating noise or sensation.

Noises by themselves don't really matter, but if you're getting headaches, earache, or can't open your mouth fully, you may have temporomandibular joint dysfunction syndrome (TMJDS), which can be caused by an imbalance in the ligaments or muscles or a "misfit" in the joint and can also put pressure on teeth and damage them.

Simple things, such as avoiding chewy foods or yawning widely, will allow your muscles to rest. Try not to clench teeth when you're concentrating or stressed (although it may still happen inadvertently when you're asleep), and deliberately relax jaw muscles when they feel tense.

Use painkillers such as paracetamol or warmth to relieve pain when necessary. If you use a heat pad or hot-water bottle, wrap them in a towel first.

If these don't help, your dentist may make you a plastic splint to wear over your teeth at night to relieve pressure, or suggest dental work to correct your "bite". Some people find physiotherapy and/or acupuncture helpful.

Advice given here is for general information only and is correct on date of publication. Please seek help from your own GP if you have a medical problem.

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By Dr Melanie Wynne-Jones

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