Recently, I read a report in which doctors expressed concern that while analgesics may nuke headaches, they also have the capacity for collateral damage in various parts of the body, including the liver, kidneys and the lining of the gut. Also, it is well known that painkiller use has the potential to convert occasional headaches into a much more regular occurrence.
Those looking for safer and more effective ways of remedying their brain-ache might do well to look to their diet. My experience in practice tells me that a common but generally unrecognised cause of headache is dehydration. Some believe that a lack of fluid in the body can cause the membranes around the brain to contract, causing feelings of pressure or pain. Many individuals prone to headaches find they can banish them or reduce their frequency by drinking more water (drink enough to keep the urine pale yellow in colour).
Another common nutritional factor in headache is caffeine. This stimulant is well recognised as a cause of one-sided headaches known as migraine. However, in common-or-garden headaches, it is actually withdrawal from caffeine that is often the problem. In my experience, this mechanism is often at play in individuals who wake with a headache, or find they are prone to headaches at the weekend when a Monday to Friday coffee or tea habit wanes. Children, too, may be at risk of caffeine withdrawal headaches, in which case the problem is usually induced through the consumption of caffeinated soft drinks. A half-litre bottle of cola contains about 50mg of caffeine (similar to the amount found in half a small coffee, or a mug of tea). Red Bull has about three times this concentration of caffeine.
It is interesting to note that many over-the-counter headache remedies contain a fair whack of caffeine. Caffeine is not believed to have explicit painkilling properties of its own, so you might wonder what it is doing in a headache remedy. Could it be that the manufacturers of these products know that caffeine can relieve headaches by reversing caffeine withdrawal? If they do, then they surely know that the use of such products has the potential to induce headaches, and may lead to a degree of dependency, too.
For those who habitually use such medication, I recommend weaning from these and from caffeine-containing drinks over several weeks. At the same time, I advise an increased intake of water, perhaps supplemented with decaffeinated drinks or naturally caffeine-free teas and coffee substitutes.
Nutrition news
Most kidney stones are composed of a compound known as calcium oxalate. Because of this, individuals who have a history of such stones may be advised to restrict their intake of calcium-containing foods, including milk and cheese.
However, a recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine has challenged this wisdom. In the research, women with the highest intake of calcium were found to have a 27 per cent reduced risk of kidney stones compared to those with the lowest intakes of this nutrient. One theory for this apparently paradoxical association is that calcium can bind oxalate in the gut, and because of this may help prevent its absorption into the body (and subsequent transformation into oxalate-containing stones).
This evidence suggests that individuals with a history of calcium oxalate-type stones need not restrict calcium in their diets. Studies show that one of the most effective ways to prevent kidney stones is to ensure regular flushing of the kidneys and bladder, and relatively dilute urine through a good intake of water.
Dear John
For the last year or so, I've suffered with a condition called costochondritis. Can you suggest something that may give me relief from this problem?
GK, Tiverton, Devon
Most of the ribs which make up the chest wall are attached to the spine at one end and the breastbone (sternum) at the other. Ribs attach to the sternum via some cartilage tissue. Costochondritis is the medical term for a condition characterised by inflammation where one or more ribs attach to the cartilage at the front of the chest. Costochondritis gives rise to pain which is usually felt slightly to one side of the sternum. The pain is generally aggravated by moving, particularly twisting and turning. In my experience, costochondritis is usually related to some misalignment in the bones that make up the spine (the vertebrae). If one or more vertebrae are out of position, this can put stress on the front part of one or more ribs, leading to pain and inflammation. Often, the back itself does not hurt, and this makes it easy for the problem to go undiagnosed. I recommend you seek the advice of a chiropractor or osteopath.
· If you have any issues you would like Dr Briffa to address in his column, please email him on john.briffa@observer.co.uk. Please note that Dr Briffa cannot enter into any correspondence. You can also visit www.drbriffa.com. Before following any recommendations in this column, you should consult your own medical adviser about any medical problems or special health conditions.
