dorling kindersley books

FAMILY HEALTH ADVICE
Dr Miriam Says...

I suffer from terrible migraines but I can't pinpoint what's causing them. Can you shed any light on this?

Migraine can be triggered by a number of factors and it's important to recognise what might be triggering your attacks so that you can avoid them. The most common triggers include:

• Certain foods and drinks. Chocolate, caffeine, cheese and fortified wines such as sherry and port may trigger an attack.
• Missing or delaying meals may also bring on a migraine.
• Stress and anxiety. Any period of stress or anxiety is often followed by a migraine. It often begins just as you're beginning to relax and all your pent-up energy is released. If you have a busy lifestyle it's not unusual to have migraines at the weekend or when you go on holiday.
• Lack of sleep or too much sleep can precipitate an attack.
• Loud noises, changes in the weather, strong smells, bright lights and flickering VDUs are common environmental triggers.
• Monthly hormonal changes in women can bring migraine on at certain times.

If you're unclear about what triggers your migraines (and you may not have any trigger factors), keep a diary for a few months to try and pinpoint what sets them off.

Last week I noticed that one of the moles under my arm looks sore and inflamed. What should I do?

Most freckles and moles are of no consequence. Those that you should examine regularly are the ones that may be subject to regular friction: for instance, under your bra strap or on the side of your foot where your shoe rubs. Every two weeks you should look to see if any of the following have happened:

• If your mole has changed in shape, size or thickness
• If your mole has changed in colour
• If there are any signs of redness around your mole
• If there is any inflammation around your mole.

If you do spot any of these changes, go and see your doctor as soon as possible