band on head
I am a 40-year-old sales manager. My job causes a lot of stress. I have a headache which acts like an imaginary headband. It even disturbs my sleep. Is it curable?
You may be suffering from a tension-induced headache. This type of headache can be either episodic or chronic. It may be associated with tenderness of the pericranial muscles. Relaxation almost always relieves this headache. You have to choose the mode of relaxation such as bed rest, massage or engaging in a hobby. In episodic tension-induced headache simple analgesics may be of help. In chronic headache, prophylactic drugs (mostly antidepressants in low dose ) may be effective.
one-sided attack
I am a 22-year-old woman. I have been suffering from bouts of a throbbing ache on one side of the head five to six times every month for the last three years. A typical episode is accompanied by nausea, vomiting and flashes of light in the eyes. Is it something serious? Please suggest a remedy.
It seems you have been suffering from a typical case of migraine. It is accompanied with aura ? a visual symptom showing up as bright light. Migraine is a primary headache disorder which may or may not be accompanied with aura. It is a neurological phenomenon with a pronounced activity of the blood vessels. It is generally aggravated by exposure to light or sound. There also may be a history of the disease in your family. Although there is no curative treatment of migraine, it may subside with age. Adequate sleep, taking food in time and control of stress can help a lot in prevention of a migraine attack. Also, remember that migraine is triggered in some people after eating cheese, chocolate, Chinese food (the enhancer monosodium glutamate or MSG is the probable cause). However, there are certain drugs which can be taken daily to prevent an attack of migraine. If one still has an attack of head-ache, one may use nasal spray of a triptan, some oral preparation of ergots or analgesics. But they should be taken very early to terminate the attack because once the attack of severe headache sets in, drugs are seldom effective. Nowadays botulinum toxin injections in the muscles on the forehead is also being used as a treatment of migraine.
periodic bouts
I am a 30-year-old man. I have been suffering from a strange headache which starts suddenly. The pain is usually around my eyes. It makes the eyes and nose on the same side red, swollen and runny. Although it usually lasts for about half an hour it’s quite severe and unbearable. Surprisingly, bouts of such a headache persists over a month and disappears all of a sudden. Then they reappear within a few months. Please help.
You are probably suffering from cluster headache ? a rare type of headache which occurs at the same time each day for several weeks, until the so-called ‘cluster period’ is over. It is more common in men between 20 and 50. Sometimes the pain is so severe that it may interrupt sleep. Since drinking alcohol may provoke an attack, avoid drinks altogether during a cluster period. Several treatments are available. Since oral medicines work too slowly to relieve the abrupt bouts, you may have to apply a drug called sumatriptan on the skin of your forehead. For some people rapidly breathing pure oxygen through a mask may be helpful. In some cases steroids may be effective. Some preventive drugs are also available in the market.
sinusitis
I have been suffering from sinusitis for quite some time. For the last couple of months I have bouts of headache. Is it due to sinusitis?
You’re right. The headache can occur due to sinusitis. But a similar type of headache can be caused by brain tumour, head trauma, meningitis etc also. These headaches are classified as secondary headache disorder. In such cases the primary cause has to be identified through proper history, examination and investigations. Only then can a remedial action be suggested. See a neurologist.
YOUR HEALTH
We invite readers’ queries on health problems. Eminent doctors will respond to them in this column every week. Mail your letters to:
KnowHOW, The Telegraph, 6, Prafulla Sarkar Street, Calcutta 700 001
email: knowhow@abpmail.com
