Category Archives: Other Neurological Conditions

New York Times Diagnosis

Did you know that sinus headaches are the number 1 misdiagnosis in migraine? There are many other headache disorders as well that can mimic a sinus infection. The trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias (TACs) are a group of headache disorders in which sinus type symptoms and allergy type symptoms are characteristic.  In the New York Times article written by Lisa Sanders, seen below, an example of this is explored.

By: Audrey L. Halpern, M.D.

Her Allergies Were Getting Better, So Why Were Her Sinus Headaches Getting Worse?

– By Lisa Sanders, M.D.

“It was the pain that woke her that night — the worst pain the 60-year-old woman had ever felt. It was as if a C-clamp were tightened around her head and face, punctuated with pulsations of what seemed like an electrical current.

The feeling eased after 20 excruciating minutes. All that was left was a dull ache. And exhaustion: Her husband found her in a fetal position on the floor of their home in a suburb of Baltimore. He helped her into bed. She had to go to the E.R., he said. “What am I going to tell them?” she answered. “That I had a headache?”

The pain returned many times over the next two weeks, usually when she was asleep. Her eyes would water, her nose would run and then she would get this intense pressure behind her cheekbones and eyes. It felt like the worst sinus headache she’d ever had — and she’d had many since her bout with cancer 30 years before.”

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Brain activity increases with cell phone use

A study recently published revealed that cell phone signals increased brain activity.  It was actually a very interesting study, in which participants held a cell phone to each ear, unaware if turned on or off.  After 50 minutes, brain activity was increased in the area of the brain in closest proximity to the antenna. 

So, do cell phones cause cancer?  It’s way to early to say that, in fact, and it’s not clear how increasing the brain’s activity would effect one’s health.  It may be, for instance, that increases in brain activity would be helpful in certain conditions in the right area of the brain.  It could also be that the increase in activity for sustained periods over many years, could have a detrimental effect.  It’s just too early to say.  We also don’t know how these signals may affect the brains of developing children and teens, who can expect to be exposed for prolonged periods over decades.

Many studies have looked for correlations between cell phone use and brain cancer, and long story short, the evidence in it’s entirety does not support that claim.  Of course, all studies have their problems, but despite looking, the connection has not been found in any convincing way.

This study is very interesting, that radio signals affect brain function, but what it means no one really knows.  There is also a small amount of evidence that using cell phones, especially within a couple of hours of bedtime, impairs sleep, and may cause headaches.  Hmmmm.

 So… what to do with your cell phone?  If you’re an average adult user, and don’t spend prolonged periods of time on the phone, there’s probably nothing to worry about.  If you use your phone more often, or for prolonged periods, you can wear a wired earpiece that transmits the sound with out adding any electromagnetic waves and keep the antenna further from your brain.  As for you kids?  Well, they don’t really need cell phones, do they?

 

Vertigo and dizziness are common problems in migraine sufferers.  In general, as a neurologist, I see a lot of patients with dizziness.  The problem tends to be more prominent in migraineurs.  There are several different potential causes of vertigo, and even more in migraineurs.

Vertigo can be present as a part of migraine, is very common after concussion, and can be caused by a host of middle and inner ear disorders, as well as brain disorders.  In some cases, dizziness can be related to dehydration, blood pressure drops, or heart problems.
 
Vertigo can be an associated symptom of migraine (like nausea and sensitivity to light), it can be an aura-type symptom (preceding the migraine in a very distinct episode), it can be the only manifestation of migraine (migrainous vertigo, a variant of migraine) or it can be a symptom in the general life, intermittently and not associated with actual migraine attacks, of a migraineur, but related to the migraine by the genetic underlying sensitivities.
 
Of course, migraineurs can also get vertigo from the more typical and non-migraine related causes, such as inner ear infections, labyrinthitis, benign positional vertigo, menierie’s disease, other ear problems, and even strokes.
 
It is an interesting and common problem.  It, unfortunately, is very difficult to treat.  Keep yourself well hydrated and ask your doctor if any of your medications can be adding to the problem.  Often times it will go away on it’s own, if it is from a benign cause.  In severe chronic cases of vertigo, a special type of rehabilitation can be useful.