Everybody has experienced headaches at some time or other in their lives. It is the most common pain which one suffers from and usually goes away on its own without any treatment. In rare cases, this pain may be a sign of a serious medical condition and you need to see a specialist for headaches. Normally headaches which are moderate or severe in nature and are not responsive to over-the-counter pain relievers are a cause of concern.

However, here are some signs that can be warnings that should not be ignored:

It occurs more than three times per month
Headache with nausea and vomiting
Headache with fever
Headache with pain in the eye or ear
Headache accompanied by other neurological symptoms such as seizures or change in vision, numbness, and difficulty with speech or weakness
It awakens you from sleep
A sudden headache that feels like explosion or thunderclap
It causes confusion or loss of consciousness
Headache after head injury
Headaches beginning after the age of 50
The reason why you need to see a specialist in such cases is first to identify the cause of headache and then to get a pain management plan accordingly. The pain management specialist doctors have completed additional training and have additional certification in treating headaches. They may also work in a clinic dedicated to treating headaches. This empowers them to identify the cause of headache accurately. You might be surprised that headaches can be caused due to simple reason like dehydration or in some cases be an early sign of a life threatening brain tumor.

Pain management plans offered by the specialist
Depending on the signs and symptoms of your headache the pain management specialist will guide you if you have tension headaches, migraine headaches, or cluster headaches and treat it appropriately.

Tension headache   These are the most common headaches caused due to the stress of day to day living and the specialist will mostly treat it with a prescription of over the counter pain medication and sometimes meditation too.
Migraine headache - A person with a migraine headache has a more severe headache pain and may also experience sensitivity to light and sound, nausea and vomiting. Hence along with medication the specialist will guide you to keep a journal of the possible triggers and help you eliminate them.
Cluster headache - Cluster headaches typically occur on one side of the head and are quite rare. They are more painful and usually will not respond to over-the-counter medication. People with cluster headaches usually have to take medication every day to prevent their headaches, because they are difficult to stop once they have started and they are utterly incapacitating.
What the specialist will actually do for your headache depends not just on the type of headache but also its cause and severity. So reach out to a specialist if you have any of the above mentioned signs and symptoms for an accurate diagnosis and to recover sooner.

When To See A Specialist For Headache?

When you run your hands over the soles of your feet, the surface should be smooth to touch. However, sometimes, the surface may not be so smooth. Piezogenic pedal papules are papules on the medial, posterior or lateral aspects of both heels and result from herniation of fat. These papules are usually asymptomatic and can range from a size of 2mm to 10mm. In some cases, they can be a little painful. This is seen commonly in large lesions. They become apparent when the patient stands with his full weight on his feet and disappear or shrink when the weight is removed. Piezogenic papules can also occur on the wrists. This is a fairly common condition that affects women more than men. Piezogenic pedal papules can occur at any age including infancy.

There is no known cause for the herniation of fat that causes this condition. However, there are a few factors that could increase your risk of suffering from this condition. These factors are:

Obesity
Orthopedic problems
Flat feet
Collagen disorders such as EDS
Jobs which entail standing for long hours
Excessive weight bearing
This condition can also affect newborn babies with no predisposition. The diagnosis of this condition is often confused with infantile pedal papules, xanthoma and tophi. Since they are prominently visible only when pressure is applied, it is essential for a doctor to physically examine the patient while he or she is standing. This condition does not affect the health of a person and is largely only a cosmetic issue. Thus treatment is not usually necessary but some of the things you could do to relieve the discomfort are:

In cases where Ehlers-Danlos syndrome triggers the condition, patients may be recommended betamethasone and bupivacaine injections. These injections need to be administered repeatedly for complete pain relief.
Orthotic soles or custom made inserts for shoes can help relieve the pain and distribute pressure equally.
Heel taping
Compression stockings
Avoid excessive or prolonged weight bearing
Avoid standing for extended periods and try not to run too much
Rest the feet and keep them elevated to help alleviate the symptoms
Lose weight if you are on the heavier side
Electro acupuncture
Piezogenic pedal papules are benign and are no reason to worry. If they begin to affect the quality of your life, you could consult a podiatrist. 

What are Piezogenic Pedal Papules?

A headache can be a hindrance to any person at any time. It can either occur on left or right side in case of a migraine, be isolated to a point or radiate across the entire head. The pain can be sharp, throbbing or dull. It can either develop gradually or suddenly and can last for few hours to several days. Headaches need not arise due to a factor or condition of or in the head alone, they can be triggered because of other disorders or diseases in the body.

What are the different causes of a headache?
There are different kinds of headaches. Based on the symptoms, a doctor can diagnose the causes and the best treatment option for it. Not all headaches indicate serious illness. On the other hand, some headaches can be life-threatening as well. Primarily headaches can be divided into two broad categories- a primary headache and secondary headaches.

Primary headaches: A primary headache is caused due to conditions or factors associated with the pain-sensitive structures of the head. These types of headaches do not result from underlying illness. Muscles of the neck and head, blood vessels and chemical activity in and around the skull are the reason for primary headaches. Even certain genes could be responsible for triggering the pain. Some of the types of primary headaches include a cluster headache, tension headache, migraine, paroxysmal hemicrania etc. There could be primary headaches that last for a very long time such as sex headaches, cough headaches, chronic migraine, hemicranias continua etc. Typically, primary headaches are often triggered by poor posture, alcohol, lack of sleep, irregular food timings, processed meats etc.
Secondary headaches: Secondary headaches are the symptoms of a disease that can activate the pain-sensitive nerves of the head. The severity of the pain varies greatly. Some of the possible causes of secondary headaches include arterial tears, acute sinusitis, brain aneurysm, brain tumour, dehydration, ear infection, carbon monoxide poisoning, dental problems, glaucoma, hangovers, flu, hypertension, stroke, panic attacks, toxoplasmosis, post-concussion syndrome, trigeminal neuralgia, monosodium glutamate, meningitis, giant cell arteritis etc. Some of the common triggers of secondary headaches include ice cream headaches, compression headaches, thunderclap headaches, sinus headaches, rebound headaches, spinal headaches etc.
When to seek emergency care for headaches?
Headaches could indicate serious disorders such as encephalitis, stroke or meningitis. It is advisable to seek immediate medical care for an unbearable headache which also includes the inability to understand speech, stiff neck, trouble in vision, vomiting accompanied with nausea, trouble in speaking, high body temperature, greater than 104 F. A doctor should be consulted if the pain occurs multiple times in a short duration, keeps one from working or performing daily activities, the pain doesn t improve even after the consumption of over the counter medicine and disturbs sleeping.


Headache - Why You Must Consult For It?

There is no fixed definition for the best diet. It solely depends on the health condition, requirement, and restrictions of a patient that a diet can be planned that can help deal with or prevent a particular health threat while ensuring overall good health.

Cholesterol is becoming a widely known threat responsible for inflammation and forming blood clots which may lead to strokes and heart attacks. Since it is a growing concern, it is recommended the patient follows a proper diet that can help in keeping the cholesterol level in the blood under control. To make such a best diet, below are few necessary and practical tips.

Opt For Healthier Fats
One must remember that the saturated fat found in the dairy products and red meat raise the level of the bad cholesterol or LDL, instead of reducing it. Receiving around 7 percent of the regular calorie need of the body is necessary from saturated fats. Therefore, one needs to opt for healthier saturated fats, such as canola or olive oils, monounsaturated fat products, low-fat dairy products, etc.

Increase the Intake of Fiber
The more the sources of fiber will be there in one s diet, especially the soluble ones, the more health benefits one can have from that diet regarding the cholesterol reduction. Fresh fruits, oat bran, oats, beans, vegetables, and lentil are excellent sources of fiber and must be there in one's diet to make it the best.

Avoid having Trans Fats
Trans fats are known to increase the bad cholesterol(LDL) and reduce the good cholesterol (HDL). Therefore, eliminating sources of trans fats from one's diet will automatically contribute to keeping the cholesterol levels under control. Usually, it is the fried foods, various commercial products such as snack cakes, crackers or cakes, junk foods that are filled with trans fats and must be avoided.

Include Whey Protein
Whey protein has found to be a good source of reducing LDL or low-density lipoprotein and maintaining a balance in the overall cholesterol production inside the body. Therefore, including foods like ricotta cheese, yogurt, cereals, oatmeal, etc., each of them being rich in whey, can be a smart way of making one's diet more heart-friendly.

Add Omega 3 Fatty Acid Rich Foods
To make your diet a cholesterol reducer, try eating foods that are rich in omega 3 fatty acid. Though this particular fat is not associated with affecting the LDL cholesterol, it helps in the good cholesterol or HDL level in the blood, reducing both the triglycerides in the blood and blood pressure. Walnuts, ground flaxseeds, almonds, fishes like salmon, herring and mackerel are a few good sources of omega 3 fatty acid.

Apart from making the diet healthier and heart friendly, one should consider making some lifestyle changes such as to exercise regularly, to quit smoking, etc., to make the diet more effective and its results long-lasting.

Diet That Can Keep Cholesterol Under Control!

Dandruff is a typical scalp condition, which happens when the bacteria on your skin congest because of stress, hormonal imbalance or changes in your eating routine. As they shed off, they leave small white chips or flakes in your hair and on your shoulders, which in turn causes more anxiety and irritation.

Dandruff can decrease in winter since the flakes or pieces are not really brought on by frosty, dry air. The main cause is an excess of malassezia bacteria. Dandruff is not a serious health condition, but sufferers make a special effort to keep the flakes from falling. Managing dandruff in winters can be tough. However, here are a few methods to cure dandruff.

Tips to help you manage it

Get into a warm shower. Apply a quarter of the special dandruff cleanser or shampoo to your palm. Smudge the cleanser through your hair, concentrating on the scalp region. Give the cleanser a chance to sit for five minutes so that it works properly and after that, flush it out. Wash your hair once every day with the dandruff cleanser.
Wet your hair once you are in the shower and pour three tablespoons of heated baking soda onto your hand. Rub the heated baking soda on your scalp using delicate and gentle movements to get rid of the dead skin and sleek flakes. Wash your hair with warm water.
Pour two tablespoons of lemon juice onto your scalp and rub it using your fingers. Rinse your hair with warm water. Mix one teaspoon of lemon juice with some water and pour it over your head. Try not to wash out the last lemon-juice application.
Pour one to two tablespoons of table salt in your hand and back the salt delicately into your scalp to remove up the dead skin. Rinse your hair with water to expel the salt, and then wash your hair well with warm water, using a quarter of the cleanser. Apply conditioner if needed.
Walk or sit outside in the sun for 20 to 30 minutes every day. A few people find that the ultra-violet beams from the sun lessen dandruff in the winter months. Keep in mind to wear sunscreen.
Exfoliate your scalp. You swamp off dead skin cells with body scours. A similar idea can be used on your scalp. Once every week, apply a special exfoliating scalp cover on your head before applying the cleanser. It targets the bacteria and tenderly lifts away the dead cells, while calming your scalp in the meantime.
Switch up your shower schedule. Consistency is key when you are attempting to battle dandruff. Do not hope to get rid of your dandruff by using the cleanser once. In spite of the fact that you will see a prompt change after using it once, you need to utilize it twice every week to see longlasting results.

Dandruff In Winters - 7 Quick Ways You Can Manage It!

Female condoms are generally pouches made of latex and polyurethane, which are used by women during sex in order to prevent pregnancy and thereby reduce the chances of infection by sexually transmitted diseases. Each end of these pouches are made of rings that are flexible. They should be inserted deep inside the vagina before sex is initiated and held in the position by utilizing the rings available at the closed end while the rings which are at the open end remain outside the vagina during sex.

Even though it can be safely used by most people, some women would find female condoms to be an inappropriate form of contraception and would not feel comfortable with their genital areas being touched. Thus, it is very important that the appropriate form of contraception be considered for you and your partner. Condoms should be used correctly. In case of need for extra protection, other options of contraception should be considered.

Pros of female condoms
1. Since the exchange of bodily fluids, such as semen and vaginal fluid is prevented, female condoms aid in offering protection against many sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV.

2. Condoms can prove to be reliable pregnancy averting methods if they are properly and consistently used.

3. Female condoms are only needed during the time of sex. Any form of advance preparation is not required, hence making them suitable for unplanned sex.

4. Prescriptions are not needed

5. The condoms are usually small in size, disposable as well as easy to carry

6. Usually, using condoms does not show any medical side effects.

7. Insertion of female condoms can be done up to a duration of eight hours before sex. The responsibility for utilizing condoms properly should be shared by the woman as well as the partner.

Cons of female condoms
1. Even though condoms are generally very strong, they are prone to splitting or tearing in case of improper use.

2. Availability of female condoms pales in comparison to the male counterparts and they are usually more expensive.

3. The outer ring might produce a cumbersome feeling.

Pros and Cons of Female Condoms

Don't wait any longer, manage your Naturopathic Physician online with a Lybrate doctor today

Consult for Naturopathic Physician - Online and Easy!

FilterClear All

COMMON SPECIALITIES

COMMON ISSUES