Q I've heard that alcohol affects men and women differently. Is this true?

A Yes, men and women metabolize alcohol at different rates, which causes women to be intoxicated faster and longer.

There are three factors that account for this difference:

The average total body weight of a man has more water in it than a woman; consequently alcohol becomes more diluted in men than in women;

Women have less alcohol dehydrogenase, a stomach enzyme, that helps metabolize alcohol.

Hormonal changes in women can affect their blood alcohol levels.

Women are likely to stay intoxicated for a longer time when they are one week prior to menstruating.

Q I have had a sore throat off and on for a couple of days. It feels like a burning sensation and I have to constantly drink something for relief.

Should I go see a doctor or is it just a sore throat that will go away soon?

A Viruses cause some sore throats, while others are caused by bacteria. Viral infections and some bacterial infections generally improve on their own in about a week.

However, bacterial infections caused by a strep bacteria can worsen over three to four days. Fever, white patches on tonsils, and/or swollen tender lymph nodes in the neck usually accompany a strep bacteria infection.

Serious complications can develop from untreated strep bacterial infections, so it's best to be seen by a health care professional if your symptoms are getting worse, are accompanied by a fever or are not better in three to four days.

In the meantime, gargling with warm salt water, using throat lozenges, and taking Tylenol or Advil may help decrease your discomfort.

Please note: Antibiotics have no effect on viral infections; they will not cure the viral infection, will not help you feel better faster, and will not keep the illness from spreading.

In fact, taking antibiotics when they are not necessary can increase your risk of getting a resistant infection.