Q: I am going crazy looking for nits. My 8-year-old daughter caught lice at school, and we are having an awful time getting rid of them. The school has a no-nit policy, which means I have to search my daughter’s fine blond hair to comb out every single one. They are very hard to see.

Is there any way to get rid of these nits more easily? This entire situation has been very stressful for our family. I can’t afford to leave work, drive to school and take her home because of nits.

A: To fight lice successfully, the live lice eggs (nits) must be removed. This can be a real chore. Just distinguishing between nits and flakes of dandruff is difficult, especially on blond hair.

There is a new product designed to make it easier to spot nits and comb them out. It is called Neon Nits and is a spray that dyes the eggs bright pink. Order information is available on the Web at www.neonnits.com or by calling (877) 809-0156.

An alternate way to locate live nits is with a black light. These ultraviolet lamps make nits glow in the dark. Specialty lighting stores carry black lights, or you can locate one by searching the Web.

There are products to loosen the “cement” attaching nits to hair shafts. Vibrating electronic nit combs also can make nit removal easier.

Q: I have enjoyed excellent health all my life, but last year my doctor diagnosed high blood pressure (170/90). He prescribed triamterene/HCTZ and atenolol. I also take vitamins and a half aspirin daily.

The medicine has brought my blood pressure down to around 130/63, but I feel extremely fatigued. My doctor also has informed me that a test shows I’m getting very close to diabetes. I can’t help wondering if my medicine is contributing to the trouble I now face.

A: Your medicines seem to be controlling your blood pressure, but they could be causing your current problems. Atenolol might cause fatigue and “beta blocker blahs,” while hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) has been associated with elevated blood sugar.

Blood pressure control is essential, but you need to ask your doctor if some other medication would be appropriate. There are many options for lowering blood pressure, and some are less likely to cause the side effects you are experiencing.

Q: I have been taking Cholestene (red yeast rice) capsules for nine months. My cholesterol dropped from 281 to 168: My HDL is now 40, LDL 99 and triglycerides 143. This is remarkable, but is my cholesterol too low? I know cholesterol should be under 200, but is there a lower limit beyond which one should not go?

A: Red yeast rice has been used in traditional Chinese cooking as far back as 800 AD. It is made by fermenting cooked rice with red yeast. During the Ming Dynasty, healers used this flavoring to treat indigestion and cardiovascular problems.

More recently, researchers at the UCLA School of Medicine tested red yeast rice scientifically and found that it could lower bad LDL cholesterol more than 20 percent. Despite this research, the Food and Drug Administration has not approved any red yeast rice product. Nevertheless, several are available.

Red yeast rice might affect the liver, so blood tests are advisable. Anyone who experiences muscle pain or weakness should stop this supplement immediately and consult a physician.

Whether cholesterol can be too low is controversial, but low levels have been linked to a higher risk of stroke and depression.