DEAR DR. DONOHUE: When I was 22, I rode a motorcycle all the time. I got into a bad accident on an interstate highway and was taken to a hospital. Soon after arriving, I found myself in an operating room to have my spleen removed. It was bleeding. I am now 35 and no longer ride a bike. When I was discharged, the doctor told me to be sure to get all my vaccinations up to date, especially one for pneumonia. I put it off. Should I get them now? Why? — B.N.

ANSWER: The spleen has a number of important functions. One is the removal of worn-out red blood cells. Another is defense against bacteria and viruses. It produces antibodies that take them out of commission.

Without a spleen, a person is susceptible to infections, especially infections from a bacterium called pneumococcus. It’s a common cause of pneumonia. Without a spleen for defense, people can succumb to serious infections from this germ, especially pneumonia. You do need to be immunized with the pneumococcal (pneumonia) vaccine. Under normal circumstances, this vaccine is given later in life. For you, it should be given now. When a person is scheduled for spleen removal, the vaccine is given before surgery. For those for whom emergency removal of the spleen has been done, they still need the vaccine, and it’s usually given 14 days postoperatively. Such people have to have a booster shot five years after the vaccine is administered.

You ought to talk to your doctor about receiving other vaccines. You should be protected against the meningococcus bacterium, the bacterium that causes meningitis. You should be getting the yearly flu shot. And a third vaccine is one for protection against a bacterium with the name H. influenzae, another potential enemy of those without a spleen. (Don’t let the “influenzae” confuse you; this germ has nothing to do with the flu.)

TO READERS: Electrolytes — sodium, potassium, bicarbonate and chloride — are a source of confusion for people. The booklet on these minerals explains their function and how people react to too little or too much of them. Write to Dr. Donohue — No. 202, Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.50 U.S./$6 Can. with the recipient’s printed name and address. Please allow four weeks for delivery.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I’ve been after my husband to stop smoking since we were married. That’s 15 years ago. He has stopped cigarettes, but has taken up cigars. Is this any better? It’s not better for me. Everything now reeks of cigar smoke. — A.D.

ANSWER: If a cigar smoker doesn’t inhale, he’s sparing his lungs. However, former cigarette smokers are used to inhaling, so, when they make the switch to cigars, they often continue to inhale cigar smoke.

Even if he doesn’t inhale, cigar smoke can lead to cancers of the mouth and throat. He also absorbs nicotine from the linings of the mouth. He needs to abandon all nicotine products.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My doctor says I’m anemic but don’t need iron. Isn’t iron the usual treatment? — R.J.

ANSWER: The definition of “anemia” is a lower-than-normal number of red blood cells. It doesn’t indicate the cause of anemia. There are many causes, and iron deficiency is only one. A lack of vitamin B-12, an immune attack on red blood cells and a decreased production of red blood cells by the bone marrow are some of the other reasons why a person becomes anemic. Iron doesn’t do a thing for these people.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: How many calories are in beer?

I am trying to lose weight, and my wife insists I could lose a lot by not drinking beer. I’m not an excessive beer drinker, maybe two cans a day. — S.A.

ANSWER: A 12-ounce can of beer has around 150 calories. Light beer has 100. If you’re drinking regular beer, you’re taking in 300 calories a day, 2,100 a week. That’s not an amount to be ignored. You definitely would lose some weight by eliminating beer calories.

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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