Aura heralds some migraines
DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My grandson has had severe migraine headaches since age 6. He is now 18. Two years ago, the doctor prescribed sumatriptan (Imitrex). My grandson knows a headache is about to start when he sees bright spots. He usually also throws up. Do you think a migraine condition should last for 12 years? Is sumatriptan safe? — J.S.
ANSWER: Close to 15 percent of the female population and 6 percent of the male population suffer from migraine headaches. They are severely painful, pulsating, one-sided headaches. Almost all migraine patients feel sick to their stomach when one comes on, and many throw up. Bright lights and loud sounds torment a person with a migraine. The headache lasts from four to 72 hours.
A few migraineurs, like your grandson, have an aura before the headache begins. One common kind of aura is an enlarging black spot with flashing edges. Other visual phenomena can occur.
Your grandson should look for migraine triggers. Alcohol (red wine in particular), luncheon meats like hot dogs, chocolate, aged cheeses, perfume and too little or too much sleep can bring on these headaches. Eliminating an identified trigger greatly lessens the frequency of these headaches.
Migraine treatment reached a milestone with the arrival of triptan medicines. Sumatriptan (Imitrex) was the first one of these wonder drugs to make it to the market. They are safe medicines that have been a boon for people whose lives have been devastated by migraine headaches. Long-term use is approved, but no headache medicine should be used on a daily basis. People with heart disease or a history of stroke cannot use them because they constrict blood vessels.
Twelve years sounds like a long time to have any condition, but many migraine patients have to contend with these headaches for life.
The headache booklet gives a bird’s-eye view of the common kinds of headaches and their treatment. Readers can order a copy by writing: Dr. Donohue — No. 901W, Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.50 U.S./$6.50 Canada with the recipient’s printed name and address. Please allow four weeks for delivery.
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DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Is it true that an egg eaten soon after it is laid has little cholesterol? While on this subject, how about telling me how many eggs a person can eat? I love them. — J.J.
ANSWER: As soon as it is laid, an egg has all the cholesterol it is ever going to have — 215 mg.
It’s advisable to keep the daily cholesterol limit at 300 mg. If a person is on a strict low-cholesterol diet, one or two eggs a week are enough. For most others, a daily egg doesn’t raise their cholesterol levels so very much and is permitted. Fatty foods raise blood cholesterol more than do cholesterol-rich foods like eggs.