‘Unusual’ warning signs of brain tumors
Cancer is caused by cells in a speci¿c part of the body reproducing uncontrollably, according to the NHS.
These cancerous cells can destroy the healthy tissue surrounding them — including organs, express.co.uk reported.
More than a third of all people will develop cancer at some point in their lifetime.
You could be at risk of a brain tumor if you have a ‘severe’ headache, it’s been revealed.
Headaches that are severe and persistent could be one of the earliest warning signs of a brain tumor, said Consultant Neurosurgeon, Ian Sabin.
He told Express that the headaches are usually worse in the morning, and gradually get better throughout the day.
It’s not uncommon for the headaches to be accompanied by blurred vision when standing up from a seated position, he added.
“Early signs of a general brain tumor can include headaches that are severe and persistent, continue for an extended period and are unusual i.e. not related to an existing illness,” said Sabin, who is also medical director at the London Gamma Knife Center, part of HCA Healthcare UK.
“Characteristically they are present on waking in the morning and often improve once the individual is up and about.
“There may be visual disturbance when rising from a sitting position, with ‘greying’ out of vision [obscurations] and a feeling of faintness.
“Sudden onset headache, sometimes referred to as ‘thunderclap’, may be due to a hemorrhage in and around the brain and requires urgent investigation.
“Some brain tumors grow faster than others, and it is important to know when you need to see a medical professional for a second opinion.”
You could also be at risk of a brain tumor if you’re feeling constantly nauseous, added Sabin.
Vomiting and nausea is caused by a tumor interfering with the internal circulation of brain Àuid, which causes ‘water on the brain’, he said.
While most people feel nauseous at some points, you should see a doctor if it’s associated with headaches or drowsiness.
An other warning signs of a brain tumor include seizures, cognitive changes, and even hearing loss.
More than 9,000 people in the UK every year are diagnosed with brain tumors.
If you really can’t sleep, get up
If you often lie awake for more than half an hour, either when you ¿rst go to bed or if you wake in the night, get up and make yourself comfortable somewhere else with a book or some music. Return to bed when you feel tired — this will help you associate bed with sleep and not with wakefulness.
Get the Sleepio App
Available on the NHS if you live in the home counties, and in other areas of the southeast from early 2019, Sleepio is a digital program based on cognitive behavioral therapy that helps you discover your ideal personal sleep pattern. Designed to help reduce dependence on sleeping pills, research has shown it can help more than 75 percent of insomnia sufferers achieve normal sleep. If you live outside these areas, it will cost you £15.40 a month.
Keep a sleep diary
Record your sleep habits over a fortnight: when you go to bed, how long it takes you to sleep, whether you wake in the night. Look for patterns you can change — maybe you sleep best when you’ve exercised. A sleep diary can also help a doctor pinpoint what’s wrong. If all else fails, get checked out: insomnia is linked with depression, and for some people sleep disruption is an early sign.