Dear Doctors: My boyfriend and I started a landscaping business. It means we lug around plants and trees and sacks of soil. He’s strong and doesn’t pay much attention to technique, but I worry it’s going to catch up with him. Can you please talk about how to be safe when lifting heavy stuff?

Dear Reader: When lifting heavy or bulky objects, it’s all too easy to rely just on your back to handle the bulk of the load. But because of the somewhat fragile architecture of the spine, this leaves you prone to injury. Although this is particularly true when heavy lifting is a part of your daily routine, even a one-time lift, when done with poor form, can end badly.

The most common injury sustained in heavy lifting is muscle strain in the lumbar region, which is the lower back. More serious injuries, such as strained or torn ligaments, or herniated discs in the spine, are also possible. Symptoms of a back injury include sudden pain, muscle cramps or spasms and a compromised range of motion. Even a mild spinal injury can put you out of commission for several days. More serious injuries can take weeks to heal. And while less common than lumbar injuries, damage is possible to the middle and upper back, and also the neck, during heavy lifting.

The good news is that proper technique reduces the risk of getting hurt. For that, we turn to the field of ergonomics. The first -- and often ignored -- step is to plan ahead. Assess the shape and weight of the object, and know the specific path to its final destination. Next, position the object so it is centered in front of you. To keep from twisting as you lift a heavy weight, which you should never do, plant your feet on either side of it, shoulder width apart. Crouch down, keeping the spine upright and the core muscles engaged. You’re going to use your arms and hands to secure the load and let the powerful leg and butt muscles do the bulk of the lifting. Engaging your core as you lift reduces the stress on the spine.

Avoid carrying a heavy load on one side of the body. If necessary, as when a parent carries a child, be sure to regularly switch sides. The ideal position when carrying a heavy load is to keep it between your thighs and shoulders. When something is too heavy for this, keep it suspended between your bent knees, with your back upright, as you walk. But in this case, you may want to break up the journey into increments. Bulky objects can make these precautions difficult to follow. In those cases, get another person to help. If possible, alternate light and heavy loads.

Using a back belt can aid stability and add a measure of protection. However, these can also cause a false sense of security. If you do use a back belt, be sure to always follow ergonomic procedures. It takes just an instant to injure your back, but days, or even weeks, to recover.

(Send your questions to askthedoctors@mednet.ucla.edu, or write: Ask the Doctors, c/o UCLA Health Sciences Media Relations, 10960 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1955, Los Angeles, CA, 90024. Owing to the volume of mail, personal replies cannot be provided.)

Dear Doctors: My roommates are vegetarians, and they eat a lot of those plant-based burgers that look like real beef. I have read the labels, and they have tons of ingredients, some that I can’t pronounce. Isn’t this an ultra-processed food? Are any of them actually good for you?

Dear Reader: Your questions about the newest generation of plant-based beef substitutes put you in the midst of a debate that sprang up with the products’ debut. They are vastly different from the veggie burgers that came before them, which looked and tasted like the soy, beans and legumes from which they were made. The new “burgers” are the result of an approach known as biomimicry, in which both natural and chemical ingredients are manipulated to create a realistic copy.

Variously known as meatless meats or meat analogs, they mimic the taste, look and texture of real meat to an almost uncanny degree. The “beef” patties even release juices when cut or bitten into, just like a real burger. In terms of calories and protein content, analog meats are similar to real beef.

Depending on the type of oil used in their production -- some use coconut oil -- the products are either somewhat or much lower in saturated fat than real beef. They also contain dietary fiber, an important nutritional component that is absent from real meat. But meat also contains a range of micronutrients that are not always added to meatless meats. These include iron, zinc, potassium, selenium and B vitamins, including niacin and B12.

The products, whose manufacturing requires less land and water and also produces fewer greenhouse gases than meat from cattle, are seen as an environmentally friendly choice. However, the plant-based starting ingredients undergo intense manipulation to reach their meatlike state. This includes industrial processes such as food-grade electrospinning, high-moisture extrusion, shearing and even 3D printing. Each has a specific role in making the vegetable proteins look, taste and behave like real meat. Add in a range of food additives, such as conditioners, binders, colorings and flavorings, along with a hefty dose of sodium, and meatless meats fall firmly into the category of ultra-processed food.

When it comes to whether analog meats are healthier than real meat, the answer is that no one knows yet. The products are still relatively new and, although rapidly growing in popularity, are not yet widely used. More time, data and research are needed to get a clear picture of their effects on health and well-being.

When talking with our own patients about adding analog meat to their diets, we start out by pinpointing their goals. If their wish is to move away from animal products and switch to a plant-forward diet, our suggestion is to first choose the whole, minimally processed foods that research continues to highlight as the most healthful choice. This includes the more traditional vegetarian proteins like grains, lentils, peas, chickpeas, peanuts, beans and quinoa, and also soy-based products, such as tofu and edamame. And for would-be vegetarians who still enjoy the occasional juicy burger, meatless meats are just a shopping trip away.

(Send your questions to askthedoctors@mednet.ucla.edu, or write: Ask the Doctors, c/o UCLA Health Sciences Media Relations, 10960 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1955, Los Angeles, CA, 90024. Owing to the volume of mail, personal replies cannot be provided.)

Dear Doctors: I recently experienced severe vertigo due to fluid in my inner ear from a sinus infection. It affected not only my balance, but also my blood pressure and anxiety. Are there any precautions to take to avoid the recurrence of inner ear problems?

Dear Reader: A buildup of fluid in either the middle or inner ear can cause the dizzy, spinning feeling of vertigo. This can range from merely uncomfortable to severe enough to affect balance. The stress of these episodes can increase anxiety and even affect blood pressure.

When excess fluid builds up in the middle ear, it is known as otitis media with effusion, or OME. It is most common in young children, but it can also occur in adults. The most common cause of OME is a viral pathogen that has led to a sore throat, cold or upper respiratory infection. Allergies can also cause inflammation that leads to a buildup of fluid.

An accumulation of fluid in the inner ear is a somewhat rare disorder known as Meniere's disease. It is estimated to affect about 615,000 adults in the United States, with 45,000 new cases diagnosed each year. The disorder typically affects just one ear. In addition to vertigo, symptoms can include tinnitus, which is the presence of a ringing, buzzing or whooshing sound that has no external source. People with Meniere's disease also often report a feeling of fullness or congestion inside of the ear. The disorder can develop at any age, but it is seen more often in adults between 40 and 60 years old.

Unlike OME, which often clears up on its own, Meniere's is a chronic disorder. That means it is persistent and can require ongoing management. It often takes the form of recurrent episodes in which symptoms manifest, are present for a period of time and then go away. Episodes can be as brief as a few moments, or they can last all day. Over time, people with Meniere’s often experience an increasing degree of hearing loss in the affected ear.

The symptoms of Meniere’s disease are caused by a buildup of fluid within a delicate region of the inner ear known as the labyrinth. It consists of the cochlea, which is the snail-shaped hair-lined organ central to our ability to hear, and organs of balance. These include structures known as the semicircular canals and otolithic organs. The cause of the disorder is not yet understood. One theory focuses on the constriction of blood vessels serving the inner ear. Viral infection, autoimmune disease and allergy may also play a role. The condition runs in families, so a genetic link is suspected.

Diagnosis is via a medical history, the presence of specific symptoms and repeated episodes of vertigo. Unfortunately, there is no known way to prevent this disorder, and there is no cure at this time. Treatment focuses on managing symptoms with medication, cognitive therapy and behavioral and dietary changes. Because the symptoms of Meniere’s disease can be caused by a middle ear infection, it would be wise to see an otolaryngologist for a definitive diagnosis. If this proves to be Meniere’s, they can help you with long-term management of the disorder.

(Send your questions to askthedoctors@mednet.ucla.edu, or write: Ask the Doctors, c/o UCLA Health Sciences Media Relations, 10960 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1955, Los Angeles, CA, 90024. Owing to the volume of mail, personal replies cannot be provided.)