Q After jogging, I always get a slightly swollen Achilles tendon in one ankle/foot, which lasts for a couple of days. It is painful if I squeeze either side of it - so I don't! Is it anything to worry about?

A I'm afraid it might be. It sounds as if you may have bruised, and even partially torn, your Achilles tendon. If that's the case, by continuing to jog and put stress on it, it could suddenly tear completely. That will feel as if someone has taken an axe to your tendon and you won't be able to walk on it, far less jog. So please get the extent of your tendon damage assessed. In the meantime, don't jog. Hopefully physiotherapy and taking advice on which exercise you can and can't do will eventually lead to healing, but you may need surgery. Achilles tendon pain due to jogging can take many months, even a year or so, to heal on its own.


Q Does getting cold actually give you a cold?

A Many cultures believe it does. Professor Eccles at the Cold Research Centre in Cardiff asked people to put their feet in cold water to get a chill, then exposed them to a cold virus. Those who were chilled developed more cold symptoms than those who weren't. It seems that the immune system works better if our bodies are at a higher temperature and that some viruses survive better if we are chilled when they alight on your nose and throat surfaces. And in many cultures people believe that keeping vulnerable people wrapped up well prevents them getting a cold. Whether they are right or not needs a lot of difficult research - so I'm greatly indebted to Anna Cronin-de Chavez, of Durham University, for her information on the subject. She is hoping to unravel all the aspects of this question, and you will reading more about it in the future.