What the GP says

Colds and flu

With symptoms such as a blocked or runny nose, sore throat and coughing. Dr Collins says he usually treats the virus symptomatically. However, if there's a secondary infection, such as bronchitis and sinusitis, antibiotics may be needed. He also usually advises his patients to take something to boost their immune system, such as Echinacea.

Urinary tract infection (UTI)

This is an inflammation of the bladder most often due to a bacterial infection. Symptoms usually include burning when urinating and wanting to go to the toilet frequently even though your bladder may be relatively empty.

Treatment

"I usually advise drinking lots of fluids and taking something like Citro Soda (which alkalises the urine and makes it hospitable to the bacteria), and I usually also prescribe an antibiotic."

He says that if a patient gets an UTI more than three times a year, he usually refers them to a urologist.

When it comes to prevention, he advises, "Go to the loo when you need to, don't hold it in; go to the loo after intercourse; always use white toilet paper (the perfume or colouring in coloured paper could cause inflammation); and when you go to the loo, always wipe from the front to the back."

Headaches

These often accompany stress, so it's not surprising that the most common headaches Dr Collins deals with are tension headaches.

He says it's important not only to define what type of headache the patient is experiencing but also to pinpoint the cause.

Treatment

"If a person is getting a tension headache every day, then although I can prescribe something to help with the pain, we have to identify the cause and try to do something about it, otherwise the headaches won't improve in the long run."

He says if a patient gets recurrent migraines then it's important to identify what causes them.

Foodstuffs such as chocolate, coffee, cheese and red wine, as well as factors such as the Pill can precipitate a migraine.

Tension headache or migraine?

A tension headache typically starts at the back of the head, moves to the front and is a dull, steady pain.

It's often a daily occurrence.

A migraine doesn't usually occur daily and tends to be a spectacular event, not just a nagging pain, and will probably incapacitate you.

It may be associated with visual symptoms such as flashing lights that occur usually before but sometimes during the headache.

You may experience other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light.

To find out more about headaches, go to www.mymigraine.co.za

Image: Neville Lockhart from Woman's Value.