DEAR DR. DONOHUE: When exercising, I sometimes have itching. Will you comment on this? — W.M.

ANSWER: One possibility is something called cholinergic urticaria. It’s an outbreak of itchiness and tiny red dots, so tiny they can be hard to see. They’re a miniature version of hives. The cause is an increase in body temperature due to exercise.

Usually it happens after exercise and lasts for about 30 minutes.

Taking an antihistamine before exercising can prevent the outbreak.

A rare condition that brings on a body itch is aquagenic pruritus. “Pruritus” is “itching.” This outbreak comes from contact with water. One to 15 minutes after water hits the skin, itching begins, and it lasts from 10 minutes to two hours. It can happen after taking a shower. Water temperature has nothing to do with it. The water can be cold or hot. Antihistamines can prevent this phenomenon, too.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I do not have the time or inclination to exercise for one hour at a time. However, I do lift weights sporadically throughout the day, every day, usually lifting each weight at least eight to 10 times. I want to maintain some muscle mass.

I am not overweight, and I eat healthfully. I walk everywhere. Is this productive? — C.A.

ANSWER: Yes, it’s productive. Any exercise is better than no exercise.

A more structured program with a little more time would yield greater benefits. Weightlifting is the best way to preserve muscle mass and strength.

Aerobic exercise is the way to maintain and improve heart and artery health. That exercise requires the continuous movement of large muscles to raise the heart rate for at least a 10-minute stretch. What all that means is doing things like brisk walking, jogging, swimming, biking and on and on. Thirty minutes a day of aerobics is the goal, but that 30 minutes can be broken into three 10-minute sessions.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: A couple of weeks ago, I saw your response to an individual who had shoulder pain. I tore my left shoulder’s rotator cuff approximately three years ago, and then tore my right rotator cuff this year. They were both large tears that required surgery.

I am a 52-year-old man in fairly good shape, and I continue therapy by stretching and weightlifting to strengthen the shoulders.

I enjoy playing ice and roller hockey (nonchecking), and wonder if I should hang up the skates because of my age. — K.D.

ANSWER: Were your injuries the result of hockey playing? If the answer is yes, it might be wise to find different sports.

If the answer is no, stick with it. You can’t find a better conditioning sport than hockey. Professional hockey players are some of the fittest athletes in the world.

Fifty-two is not exactly ancient age. Gordie Howe, Mr. Hockey, was still playing professional hockey at your age. He played a period of professional hockey at age 70.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Do amino acids and other bodybuilding supplements actually benefit older bodybuilders? I am a man in good health, in my mid-70s. My muscle mass seems to be declining during the past several months, as well as my energy level and weight. The resident gym bodybuilders say I need supplements that include various amino acids like creatine, glutamine and alanine. Do I? Can they be dangerous? — W.O.

ANSWER: If you eat a well-balanced diet, you don’t need these supplements. However, if you want to try them as an experiment, they won’t hurt you.

Dr. Donohue regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but he will incorporate them in his column whenever possible. Readers may write him or request an order form of available health newsletters at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Readers may also order health newsletters from www.rbmamall.com.

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