Archives for March 2023

Headache Relief: The Best Ways to Find Relief

Headaches can make you feel sick. Whether from stress, lack of sleep, or dehydration, headaches can be a major hindrance to productivity and overall well-being. Luckily, there are remedies available to help ease the pain. If you’re experiencing headaches often, don’t hesitate to see your trusted primary care provider.

Here are ways to find relief from headaches:

Cope With Stress Better

Most headaches are primary, meaning they occur independently of any other underlying disease.Headaches start when nerves and blood vessels around the head send pain signals to the brain. Stress, lack of sleep, anxiety, and weather changes can trigger this condition.

The key to prevention lies in identifying the source of stress. Different people get stressed by different things, so self-reflection is necessary.

Strategies to reduce stress include:

  • Taking a break when you feel stressed
  • Testing your assumptions (thinking about gloom-and-doom scenarios can spiral into panic if left unattended)
  • Paying attention to internal dialogue (replace negative thought patterns with positive ones)
  • Taking control (addressing problems head-on)
  • Seeking help if stress is interfering with life

Avoid Triggers

Some activities, foods, and drinks can trigger headaches for some people. For instance:

  • Pent-up anger
  • Poor posture
  • Perfume
  • Bad weather
  • Teeth grinding
  • Bright lights
  • Ice cream

Keeping a headache diary can help identify any triggers and allow you to avoid them as much as possible.

Various fixes include:

  • Avoiding sleeping in at weekends
  • Deep breathing when feeling angry
  • Avoiding certain smells
  • Using fragrance-free products
  • Wearing sunglasses and polarized lenses when in bright environments

Take Over-The-Counter Medications

Over-the-counter pain relievers include ibuprofen, aspirin, and acetaminophen. Though their safety and efficacy are proven, make sure to follow the recommended dosage.

Not all drugs are suitable for everyone. Some medications can affect your thinking or cause side effects such as drowsiness.

If you take OTC pain relievers for more than ten days a month, you may suffer from medication overuse headaches. Check with your family care provider, especially if you are pregnant or suffering from any other medical problems.

Stay Hydrated

Dehydration can cause headaches. Since dehydration can develop without a person knowing for quite some time, it is important to evaluate your water intake when you develop symptoms such as frequent headaches. It is important to drink enough water throughout the day to keep your body hydrated, so you can avoid discomfort and feel your best during the day.

Use Heat Or Cold Therapy

Using hot or cold pads on your head can help relieve headaches. Experiment with an ice pack, a heating pad, or a warm towel to see which works best for you. Finding the right combination for effective relief is key.

Massage Your Temples

Massaging your temples gently can help improve circulation. Doing this can also help reduce tension in the head, neck, and shoulders.

Get Adequate Sleep

Sleep deprivation is a common cause of headaches. Aim to get 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night to prevent headaches. If you feel a headache coming on and you know that you didn’t get enough sleep the night before, try to get a nap in before symptoms get worse.

Exercise Regularly

Regular physical activity has been shown to help reduce the frequency and intensity of headaches.This helps alleviate stress, a common trigger for migraines, and aids in improving sleep quality and enhancing mood.

However, be careful, because while regular exercise can help, overexertion has been linked with exercise headaches, as well. It’s crucial to consult a family care provider if you experience headaches during exercise.

Consider Essential Oils

Certain essential oils, like lavender and peppermint, have been shown to have a calming effect on the body and relieve headaches.Inhaling the scent or applying a few drops to your temples may provide relief.

Overall, it’s a good idea to keep track of what works for you when trying to relieve headaches. This also includes knowing and avoiding your triggers, such ascertain products, foods, stress, or environmental factors.

Types Of Headaches

Not all headaches are the same, and treatment differs depending on which one you have.

Migraines

Migraines can have sensory or visual elements, cause pulsating pain, and last from several hours to three days. Knowing and avoiding triggers can help prevent migraines. Avoiding loud and bright areas, getting some shut-eye, and taking medicine help alleviate migraines for most people.

Tension Headaches

This is usually triggered by stress and can be treated at home with the following:

  • Over-the-counter pain medications
  • Stress management
  • Relaxation techniques

Cluster Headaches

This is a severe and recurring headache that typically affects men more than women. It causes intense pain around the eye or temple and is accompanied by characteristic symptoms such as:

  • A red, watering eye (as if you’re crying in just one eye)
  • A runny or blocked nostril
  • A drooping eyelid

A cluster headache requires a prompt specialist referral, investigation, and treatment. Management includes fast-acting and preventive treatments prescribed by a family care provider.

Treatment For Headaches In Royal Palm Beach, FL

If your headaches are affecting your daily activities, don’t hesitate to seek medical attention. Turn to your primary care provider for a thorough evaluation of your symptoms. They can perform medical imaging tests and provide specialized care.

You can trust the best family practice in Wellington if you need treatment for headaches in Royal Palm Beach. At Advanced Medical, the husband-and-wife team of board-certified internist Dr. Ishan Gunawardene and nurse practitioner Shariffa Gunawardene can help you. We offer reliable and comprehensive treatment options for all urgent and non-urgent conditions, including headaches.

Don’t let your headaches hold you back from living the best life. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Gunawardene today by calling our clinic at (561) 434-1935 or using our online request form. Take the first step toward a headache-free life now, and visit the best primary care provider in Royal Palm Beach.

Vaccine Safety: What You Need to Know

Vaccines have garnered a lot of attention in recent years, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccines are essential tools for keeping the public healthy and halting the spread of infectious diseases. However, some people are apprehensive about receiving them. This could be due to misinformation or safety concerns about vaccines.

Here’s what you need to know about vaccine safety.

There are a Variety of Vaccines

Vaccines come in different types, and each works a little differently. A few of the most common varieties include the following:

1. Inactivated Vaccines

Inactivated vaccines are created by killing or inactivating viruses or bacteria. Although these vaccines cannot cause disease, they can stimulate an immune response.

2. Live Attenuated Vaccines

Live attenuated vaccines are made from weakened viruses or bacteria that can still replicate and cause a minor infection.Because the viruses or bacteria have been weakened, they are no longer capable of causing serious disease. However, they can still elicit a strong immune response.

3. Subunit, Recombinant, & Conjugate Vaccines

These vaccines are created using components of the virus or bacteria that are crucial for triggering an immune response. For example, take proteins or sugars.These vaccines are less likely to have side effects than vaccines that contain whole viruses or bacteria. That’s because they only contain specific parts of the virus or bacteria.

4. mRNA Vaccines

A more recent kind of vaccine called mRNA uses the genetic material from the virus to trigger an immune response.

5. Vector Vaccines

Vector vaccines use a harmless virus to deliver genetic material from the virus or bacteria that causes the disease.

This process triggers an immune response. It also prepares the body to fight the virus or bacteria if the body encounters it again.

Vaccines Undergo Extensive Testing

Before a vaccine can be approved for use, it must go through several phases of clinical trials. This extensive process is meant to test the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness.

Here are the different phases of clinical trials:

First Phase

A small group of healthy volunteers receives the vaccine to assess its safety and determine the proper dosage.

Second Phase

The vaccine is administered to a larger group of volunteers to assess its efficacy and keep track of its safety.

Third Phase

To verify the vaccine’s effectiveness and safety in a real-world setting, thousands of volunteers are given the shot.

Once a vaccine has passed these clinical trial stages and is approved for use, it is still monitored for safety.

Vaccines Are Generally Safe & Highly Effective

Because of extensive testing, vaccines are generally safe and effective. Side effects are possible, just like with any medication. However, serious adverse reactions to vaccinations are extremely uncommon.

The most common side effects include:

  • Redness, swelling, and soreness in the injection site for a few days
  • For babies or young children, feeling unwell or having a fever for one or two days
  • A sensation of heaviness at the injection site

The Benefits of Vaccines Far Outweigh the Risks

Vaccines are extremely effective in preventing diseases such as measles, polio, and hepatitis B, among others. They also protect entire communities through herd immunity. A community’s ability to prevent diseases from spreading is increased when a sufficient number of its members are immunized.

This herd immunity helps protect vulnerable populations that may not be able to receive vaccinations. This includes the following groups:

  • Newborns and young children
  • Those with weakened immune systems
  • People who cannot receive the vaccine due to other health conditions

Several Institutions Work Together to Ensure the Safety of Vaccines

After vaccines are approved for use by the general public, their safety is monitored using a variety of systems. These systems complement one another and aid researchers in observing the safety of vaccines.

For instance, healthcare professionals are critical in providing accurate vaccine information and addressing the concerns or questions of patients. Regulatory agencies, on the other hand, play a critical role in ensuring that vaccines are both safe and effective.

Finally, the general public bears the responsibility of learning about vaccines and making informed decisions.

Family Medicine Near You In Wellington & Palm Beach, FL

Vaccines have been proven to be both safe and highly effective in the fight against infectious diseases. Minor side effects are possible, but they are typically mild and temporary. Serious side effects are extremely rare. Everyone should continue to learn about vaccines to protect themselves and make informed health decisions. You can begin to learn or receive vaccines with the help of a family medicine practice near you.

Get in touch with us at Advanced Medical if you have any questions about vaccines! As the best family practice in Wellington, we offer top-notch healthcare services. You can book a visit with the best primary care physician in Wellington by calling(561) 434-1935 or by requesting an appointment online.