logo
Dr Zoe shares the red-flag warning signs your headache is serious – and needs medical attention

Dr Zoe shares the red-flag warning signs your headache is serious – and needs medical attention

The Irish Sun3 days ago
WITH the holidays upon us, it can be a challenging time for parents to juggle the stresses of work and childcare while trying to keep the family active and healthy.
Physical activity is essential for children, not just for their health but for their development, happiness and self-esteem.
Advertisement
4
Sun columnist Dr Zoe answers your health concerns
Credit: Olivia West
Recent data shows that 53 per cent of
It's called 'Activate' and it is a fun, accessible new animated series, backed by the Government, to help address childhood inactivity.
Each five-minute episode offers bursts of energy, fun and movement that can be enjoyed at home or on the go.
Advertisement
READ MORE FROM DR ZOE
View it free on YouTube Kids.
One of the best ways to inspire children to be active, now and in the future, is to be active yourself.
We are children's most important role models.
Here is a selection of what readers have asked this week . . .
Advertisement
Most read in Health
Exclusive
Mum dies after going to A&E with a 'sudden headache'
IS HEAD PAIN CANCER?
Q: I HAVE been getting severe headaches for a few months now.
My doctor prescribed codeine, but even that does not help.
If l press the back of my neck and my temples, it alleviates the pain for a while.
Please can you advise me what to do as l am very worried?
Advertisement
A:
Tension headaches, the most common
Applying pressure to these areas can sometimes help and the best painkillers for
Activities to help you relax, such as exercise, yoga and massage, can be beneficial.
Stress, dehydration, lack of sleep, poor posture and eye strain can cause tension headaches, too.
Advertisement
Another possible cause that can be alleviated with pressure is cervicogenic headaches, which originate from issues in the cervical spine (neck), such as arthritis or muscle tension.
Pain starts in the neck and spreads to the head, often worsening with certain neck movements.
It could be that you are performing 'acupressure' while pressing your neck and temples.
Acupressure works by applying pressure to specific points on the body, to relieve pain, muscle tension and promote wellbeing.
Advertisement
It's a manual therapy technique rooted in Chinese medicine, similar to acupuncture but without needles.
So even if the pain in your head isn't directly linked to these sites, pressing can help, as you have found.
In people over the age of 50 who develop severe headaches, pain or tenderness at the temples, sometimes with scalp tenderness or jaw pain when chewing, we must rule out an inflammatory condition called temporal arteritis, which can lead to vision loss or stroke if untreated.
Another red flag is
Advertisement
Other symptoms that cause concern include headaches accompanied by fever, stiff neck or confusion (suggesting meningitis); headaches with neurological symptoms like vision changes or weakness; headaches after head trauma; and headaches that progressively worsen or don't respond to treatment.
Sick of feeling always off balance
Q: ABOUT two years ago I suffered a bout of blurred vision and sickness.
I was diagnosed with
4
Dr Zoe helps a reader who has vestibular neuritis
Credit: Getty
Advertisement
I've been told I would have this for life.
Is there any way I could be cured of this and be able to walk without fear of falling over?
It is ruining my life.
A:
I'm sorry to hear how much this diagnosis has impacted your quality of life.
Advertisement
Long-term dizziness and instability from vestibular neuritis can be deeply distressing but it's important to know there are still options that may help you regain stability – many people see significant improvement even if the condition is described as 'incurable'.
Vestibular neuritis means inflammation of the vestibular nerve.
This is the nerve that takes messages from the balance organ within the inner ear to the brain.
It's most commonly caused by a viral infection of the nerve.
Advertisement
It tends to cause sudden and severe dizziness, nausea and issues with balance for a week or two. In most cases, things resolve fully after two to three months, but in a small number of cases, such as yours, symptoms persist.
There's currently no way to reverse permanent nerve damage in the vestibular system.
However, it's not inevitable for symptoms to persist for life.
Many people achieve substantial recovery of their balance and reduction of dizziness through specialised therapies even years after their initial illness.
Advertisement
You could ask to be referred for vestibular rehabilitation therapy.
This treatment uses physical and occupational therapy techniques to treat vertigo and balance disorders, designed to help your brain 'recalibrate' to the changed signals from your balance system.
Chronic dizziness can also take a toll on your mental health, so seeking talking therapy might also help your recovery.
TIP OF THE WEEK
WHEN lifting something, particularly if it is big, heavy or from floor level, always remember the mantra: 'Legs, not back'.
Bend your knees and keep your back straight while you use your leg muscles to raise the weight.
This may help to prevent back injury.
WEEKEND WARRIOR WIN
4
Exercising only at the weekend can be enough to slash your risk of dying young
Credit: Getty
Advertisement
EXERCISING only at the weekend can be enough to slash your risk of dying young, a study found.
Researchers at Harvard University, USA, said 'weekend warriors' with diabetes get as much benefit as people who work out every day.
Cramming physical activity into Saturday and Sunday is common as many of us struggle to make time in our daily lives.
It might seem like less exercise but a study showed the heart benefits can be just as great.
Advertisement
Data from 52,000 Americans with diabetes showed that weekend warriors had a 21 per cent lower risk of dying young compared to those who didn't exercise.
Their risk of dying from heart disease was 33 per cent lower, study authors wrote in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine.
The key was simply to hit the NHS target of at least two and a half hours of moderate activity over the two days.
Commenting on the study, Professor Ronald Sigal of the University of Calgary, said: 'Regular physical activity is recommended for most people with or without diabetes.
Advertisement
'On the whole, these findings are encouraging.
'They provide evidence that protective effects of physical activity against cardiovascular and overall mortality could be achieved through one or two weekly physical activity sessions.'
Sport England figures show adults trying to get fit is on the rise, with 30million people – 64 per cent of adults – hitting the NHS exercise target last year.
CALL TO HAVE HPV JAB
HUNDREDS of thousands of young adults will be contacted by the NHS in an HPV vaccine catch-up campaign.
Advertisement
The jab is given at schools and is targeting the elimination of cervical cancer in the UK in the next 15 years.
More than 418,000 people have left school unvaccinated in the past three years and many more people under the age of 26 are unprotected.
NHS England is contacting young adults who have not had the vaccine to prevent infection with the sexually transmitted HPV virus.
Many strains are harmless but a few cause cervical cancer, and cancers of the mouth, throat, penis, vagina and anus.
Advertisement
The NHS wants to use the one-dose vaccine to wipe out cervical cancer in England by 2040.
Dr Amanda Doyle at NHS England said: 'This vaccine is hugely important but it isn't just for girls and women.
"It's also vital for boys and men to get vaccinated to protect themselves against cancers of the mouth, throat or genitals, while preventing spreading the HPV infection to partners.
'Encouraging progress has been made but we know there is much more to do.'
Advertisement
Public health minister Ashley Dalton added: 'If you missed your vaccination at school, it's not too late to get vaccinated.
'Don't hesitate to make an appointment with your GP – one jab could save your life.'
Eligible patients should get a letter, email, text or NHS app notification.
Patients can call their GP practice if they think they need any vaccinations.
Advertisement
Q: I AM a pensioner and I need an RSV [respiratory syncytial virus] vaccine.
I have had this illness twice, last time I lost 2st.
I have begged my doctor for the jab but they say I can't have it because they have a limit on the people they can give it to – and at 83 years old, I am outside their limit.
4
Dr Zoe helps a reader who needs the RSV [respiratory syncytial virus] vaccine
Credit: Getty
Advertisement
I was born with cysts on my lungs, I have COPD, asthma, bronchiectasis and am having tests for a lump on my lung.
I asked the lung specialist for help but my GP still refuses.
A
: Thank you for writing in and I hear your frustrations.
Unfortunately, I cannot give you the news that you want to hear but I can at least explain why your GP is not allowed to give you the RSV vaccine.
Advertisement
In September 2024, the NHS introduced an RSV vaccine programme, which is currently only offered to people aged 75 to 79 (or for those who turned 80 after September 1, 2024, who are eligible until August 31, 2025).
So you are not eligible to receive the RSV vaccine on the NHS and it is not down to your GP's choice or discretion, unfortunately.
Your NHS respiratory doctor cannot override this either, as the age-based rules do not currently allow for clinical discretion or prioritisation based on chronic illness alone.
Advertisement
The decision to limit the programme to those under 80 comes from clinical trial evidence and national guidelines, as studies did not provide enough data on vaccine effectiveness and safety in the 80+ age group.
The eligibility criteria may change in the future, depending on new evidence or updates to UK vaccination policy.
If you still wish to be vaccinated, it may be possible to access the vaccine privately.
Or, you can discuss other RSV preventive measures with your GP.
Advertisement
I'm sorry it's not the answer you wanted, but hopefully understanding that it is out of your GP's hands will alleviate some of your frustration, and help you to maintain a good, trusted, doctor-patient relationship.
Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme -
Sun Club.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Serious problems remain in Irish prisons, report finds
Serious problems remain in Irish prisons, report finds

RTÉ News​

time11 hours ago

  • RTÉ News​

Serious problems remain in Irish prisons, report finds

Serious problems remain in Irish prisons, according to a new report. The Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture found that while certain reforms have been implemented, there continues to be pervasive overcrowding, worsening safety levels in men's prisons and inadequate mental healthcare in Irish prisons. The Committee for the Prevention of Torture visited five prisons, as well as at the Central Mental Hospital, the Oberstown Children Detention Campus and the Ballydowd Special Care Unit, last year. They noted a number of positive developments since their previous visit in 2019, including improvements to prison infrastructure, less use of segregation, greater scope for temporary release and the virtual eradication of "slopping out" practices. However, the committee called on the Irish authorities to take concrete actions to address a number of critical issues. They found that physical safety in male prisons had deteriorated sharply. The report found that violence between prisoners was widespread and allegations of prisoner abuse by staff had increased since 2019, particularly in Cloverhill and Limerick Prisons. The committee said it received several allegations of excessive force being used by staff during operations to control, restrain and relocate prisoners. The report said what was equally concerning was a pattern of preventable deaths in custody, notably among prisoners suspected of concealing drugs inside their bodies, and a lack of reviews to prevent such tragedies from recurring. Overcrowding also remains a chronic issue, with many single or double cells packed with three or four inmates, "sometimes in squalid conditions". The report found that prisoners held in restricted segregation for protection reasons were often spending up to 23 hours a day locked in their cells, which the CPT said may amount to inhuman and degrading treatment. The committee also found that the provision of mental healthcare in prison remains critically deficient and underlined that prisons are fundamentally inappropriate places for people with severe mental illness. Regarding children and young adults, the report found that Ireland lacks sufficient capacity in special care units, resulting in prolonged detention for young persons awaiting appropriate placement. It found that reintegration efforts for young offenders were undermined by the absence of step-down or temporary release programs. Responding to the report, the Government welcomed the acknowledgement of progress on operational reforms but acknowledged that the country was experiencing significant challenges with regard to prison capacity. It said a number of steps were taken to address the issue, including legislation to increase the use of Community Service Orders and Restorative Justice referrals. It said 134 new prison spaces had been delivered since last year and a further 100 would be added this year, with the programme for Government promising to increase capacity by 1,500 in total. The Government said the Irish Prison Service would take steps to address the issues raised by the report and seek to implement its recommendations where possible. "Irish authorities have provided a detailed response outlining how they intend to address the recommendations made by the Committee in each of the areas covered by the report, including prisons, children's establishments and the Central Mental Hospital. "The Committee will be engaging in constructive dialogue with the Irish authorities on these matters going forward," the Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture said.

Call for private water supplies to be registered amid growing health concerns
Call for private water supplies to be registered amid growing health concerns

Extra.ie​

timea day ago

  • Extra.ie​

Call for private water supplies to be registered amid growing health concerns

The Environmental Protection Agency says there is an urgent need for all private drinking water supplies to be registered amid growing health concerns. It comes as the EPA revealed that the number of private group schemes failing to meet the E. coli standard almost doubled last year compared to two years previously. The environmental watchdog said that the total number of small private supplies remains unknown as there is no legal obligation to register, and unregistered supplies are not monitored by local authorities. Pic: Getty Images The EPA's survey of drinking water in Ireland – due to be released today – found that the water quality in private water supplies is not as good as in public supplies. Currently, more than 370 private group schemes supply drinking water to 193,000 people across rural communities in Ireland. Many businesses and public facilities across the country also supply water from their own private wells. There are almost 1,700 small, private supplies registered with local authorities – but many more are not registered. These unregistered supplies may include those serving schools, nursing homes, sports clubs and self-catering accommodations, the EPA said. Pic: Getty Images Micheál Lehane, EPA director, said: 'The lack of a mandatory requirement to register a private supply serving water to the public is a serious legislative gap that must be addressed. 'Without registration and subsequent monitoring by local authorities, consumers are unaware of the potential health risk they may be exposed to. Everyone has the right to safe drinking water.' He added: 'We want to see mandatory registration, but in the interim we strongly encourage private suppliers to register with local authorities so that all proper safety checks can be carried out on their supply.' Pic: Sasko Lazarov/ The EPA said meeting E. coli standards is a minimum requirement in the provision of safe drinking water. It said failures indicate a lack of proper disinfection, which must be addressed by water suppliers. In total, 24 private group schemes failed to meet the E. coli standard in 2024 – up from 13 in 2022. Six schemes had repeat failures over two consecutive years, and five of these are on long-term boil-water notices. E. coli failures were recorded in 51 small private supplies monitored by local authorities, posing a risk to consumers who use them. Noel Byrne, EPA programme manager, said: 'E. coli contamination of a drinking water supply can cause serious public health impacts. E. coli compliance has declined, with almost double the number of private supplies failing in 2024 compared to 2022. 'This needs to be addressed as every community deserves access to safe, clean drinking water. Suppliers must take action to upgrade their systems and meet standards. 'Local authorities, as the regulator of private group schemes, need to take the necessary enforcement action to ensure public health is protected.' A group of chemical compounds known as trihalomethanes (THMs) can form when natural material such as leaves or other organic matter in the water source reacts with chlorine used to disinfect the drinking water. The EPA said that while disinfection is essential, THM levels should be kept as low as possible and must be in compliance with drinking water standards. In 2024, 19 private group schemes, which supply 21,800 people nationwide, failed to meet the standard for THMs – a similar figure to 2023. The EPA's report on Drinking Water Quality In Private Group Schemes And Small Private Supplies In 2024 is available on its website.

E. Coli breaches found in private water schemes
E. Coli breaches found in private water schemes

RTÉ News​

time2 days ago

  • RTÉ News​

E. Coli breaches found in private water schemes

A new report from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has found that there have been a number of breaches in E. Coli standards in private group schemes. The Drinking Water Quality in Private Group Schemes and Small Private Supplies 2024 report has found that 24 private groups failed to meet E. Coli standards in 2024. This is an increase of 13 from 2022. Currently, over 370 private group schemes supply drinking water to 193,000 people across rural communities in Ireland. In addition, many businesses and public facilities supply water from their own private wells. There are almost 1,700 small private supplies registered with local authorities. However, many more are not registered. A gap in current drinking water legislation means the regulations do not require private suppliers to register, meaning the total number of small private supplies in the country remains unknown. These include supplies serving schools, nursing homes, sports clubs and self-catering accommodations. The quality of water in unregistered supplies is not monitored by local authorities. "The lack of a mandatory requirement to register a private supply serving water to the public is a serious legislative gap that must be addressed," said EPA Director Micheál Lehane. "Without registration and subsequent monitoring by local authorities, consumers are unaware of the potential health risk they may be exposed to. "Everyone has the right to safe drinking water. We want to see mandatory registration, but in the interim, we strongly encourage private suppliers to register with local authorities so that all proper safety checks can be carried out on their supply." E. Coli compliance Meeting E. Coli standards is a minimum requirement in the provision of safe drinking water and failures indicate a lack of proper disinfection which must be addressed by water suppliers. While 24 private group schemes failed to meet the E. coli standard in 2024, six schemes had repeat failures over two consecutive years. Five of these are on long-term boil water notices. E. Coli failures were also recorded in 51 small private supplies that were monitored by local authorities, posing a risk to consumers that use these supplies. Noel Byrne, Programme Manager of the EPA's Office of Radiation Protection and Environmental Monitoring said: "E. Coli contamination of a drinking water supply can cause serious public health impacts. "E. Coli compliance has declined with almost double the number of private supplies failing in 2024 compared to 2022. "This needs to be addressed as every community deserves access to safe, clean drinking water. Suppliers must take action to upgrade their systems and meet standards. "Local authorities, as the regulator of private group schemes, need to take the necessary enforcement action to ensure public health is protected," he added.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store