Hypochondriac’s health guide

For some reason, when it comes to your health, something is always not right and most of the time you find yourself diagnosing your ‘serious’ illnesses with the help of Dr Google.

Due to our 24/7 stressful lifestyles anxiety is one of the most common mental conditions in Britain. Hypochondria, which is a form of health anxiety, makes you constantly worry about symptoms that you don’t really have.

To help you differentiate severe conditions from normal bodily functions, we asked our experts to put together The Hypochondriac’s Health Guide:

Is it a headache or a migraine?

It’s not uncommon to hear people complain of a migraine when they are actually suffering from a bad headache, however a migraine is a true organic neurological disease.

‘Tension headaches are common and can be severe. They tend to be generated by a mixture of physical and emotional stress and tension. Muscles in the neck and shoulders tighten up and restrict the neck movement. This – in turn – causes pains to be felt over the back of the head, often ending up behind one eye or over the temple. Some tension headaches are reported as being like having a sweatband tightened around the head.’ explains Wilkinson.

A migraine, on the other hand, is a complex mixture of chemical and circulatory irregularities that ultimately cause head pain. ‘Migraines can have various contributing factors. These may include hormone imbalances or changes (they often occur around menstruation in women), a sluggish digestion, an over-burdened liver, nutrient deficiencies, stress, food intolerances, blood sugar imbalances, dental problems and even genetic predisposition’ adds Cassandra.

What is the difference? ‘Migraines follow a two-phase attack. The initial symptoms include flashing lights in the eyes (related to a reduction in circulation) followed by the pounding headache (as the circulation changes again and blood vessels expand and push on the pain sensitive covering of the brain.).’ adds Wilkinson.

• Reduce your migraines, try the following:
  Balance your blood sugar by eating three good meals a day – Common foods that may trigger a migraine include cured meats, alcohol (especially red wine), chocolate, citrus fruits and strong cheeses
• Make sure you’re drinking enough water – usually between 1.5 and 2 litres a day is generally advised and avoiding sugary drinks including fruit juices
• Eat more magnesium-rich foods – pumpkin seeds, beans and pulses, and green leafy vegetables
• Try a B vitamin supplement – its thought that the cause of the pain in migraines is abnormal nerve activity. B vitamins contribute to normal nervous system function. In particular, vitamin B2 may be effective in preventing or reducing occurrence of migraines. As it’s best to take B vitamins together, try Quest Mega B Complex (www.revital.co.uk, £9.29) taking one tablet a day with breakfast’ says Cassandra.

Is it eczema or psoriasis?

In some cases skin conditions are notoriously difficult to identify. Both eczema and psoriasis cause red irritant rashes that can appear for the first time at any point in life and both can be stress related.

However, it is easy to distinguish what skin condition it is by just looking at places where it appears. ‘In the case of eczema, the rash tends not to follow a regular shape or distribution over the body. Psoriasis, on the other hand, typically has a round, raised, disc-like appearance and occurs on the outer surfaces of the arms and legs or around the trunk and in the scalp. When eczema hits it tends to be found in the creases of the body such as the back of the knee, the groin, in the armpit and bend of the elbow. The two skin rashes tend to stick to this pattern of distribution which can be a real help when trying to decide what rash is what.’ explains Wilkinson.

In general, both skin problems can be helped by boosting the intake of omega-3 fatty acids, such as flax oil, and by applying a good natural moisturiser ‘Keeping the skin moist and nourished from the outside is crucial, as it can bring instant relief from itchiness and discomfort. However, emollient creams that are often recommended by doctors and pharmacists, rarely provide long-term relief. What’s more, they can even irritate already inflamed skin, as very often they contain chemicals, such as chlorocresol and cetearyl alcohol. Instead, try a natural cream or balm, such as What Skin Needs Skin Balm (www.whatskinneeds.co.uk, £13.99), which contains a blend of natural ingredients including Plantolin along with Aloe Vera extract and tea tree essential oil can help to manage skin conditions by reducing inflammation and oxidative damage.’ says Sonja Dymalovski, Skincare Expert at What Skin Needs.

Is it an upset stomach or is it Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

Any change in your digestion or gut function can cause great anxiety and distress not to mention physical discomfort. In some cases it’s easy to point a finger at the cause but thankfully, food poisoning is not difficult to miss. ‘The fever, vomiting, abdominal cramps and diarrhea can be severe but tend to clear after 24 – 48 hours. It would be difficult to confuse this with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)’ explains Shona Wilkinson, Head Nutritionist at www.nutricentre.com.

IBS tends to be a more chronic problem and can be characterised by wind, bloating and fluctuating bowel motions, from loose to constipated. ‘However, post infective IBS is often overlooked and can go untreated for a long time. This occurs when the inflammation and infection, which was responsible for the food poisoning, leaves the delicate bowel lining over-sensitive long after the initial infection passes. Such super-sensitivity makes the gut react to its own natural movements, causing cramping pains that are often only eased by passing wind or going to the toilet.’ adds Wilkinson.

Getting to the bottom of IBS will require an accurate diagnosis and the help of a good naturopath to guide you through the good and bad foods for your bowels. ‘Both forms, however, benefit from taking a good probiotic supplement such as ProVen Adult 25 Billion (www.provenprobiotics.co.uk, £13.95).’ advises Nutritionist, Cassandra Barns.