THE MYTHS

• Migraine sufferers have long been cautioned to avoid certain foods believed to bring on attacks, especially chocolate, alcohol (red wine in particular) and aged cheese. But the evidence supporting this notion is meager. More common causes include stress (positive or negative), weather changes, estrogen withdrawal, fatigue and sleep disturbances (hence, perhaps, the association with alcohol, which can disrupt sleep), as well as overuse of over-the-counter pain medications.

MIGRAINE OR SINUS HEADACHE?

• Migraines are misclassified as sinus or tension headaches probably because they can cause nasal congestion, pressure or pain in the forehead or below the eyes, and discomfort on both sides of the face.

In one study by Dr Eric Eross of Scottsdale, Arizona, 90 of 100 people with self-diagnosed sinus headaches were found to have migraines. Neither the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, nor the American Academy of Otolaryngology recognises “sinus headache”. Headaches only sometimes occur with sinus infections. But call it sinus or migraine, one thrapy does work: Nasal irrigation, a traditional rinsing technique can be learnt easily, reports researchers from the University of Wisconsin. Used for thousands of years in the Ayurvedic and Yogic traditions, nasal irrigation involves rinsing the nasal cavity with a saline solution to get rid of mucus that may contain allergens or infectious agents. A six-month trial of nasal irrigation in patients with chronic stuffy nose (rhinitis) and sinusitis reduced symptoms and medication use and improved the quality of life.

JANE E BRODY