What's Up Doc?

What's the difference between a migraine and a tension headache?
A migraine is a severe, throbbing headache that is often accompanied by other symptoms, such as nausea, sensitivity to light or sound, dizziness or chills. The pain is usually located at the side of the forehead. A tension headache is a dull headache, with a feeling of pressure over the head, neck and scalp. It is usually not as severe as a migraine. Other symptoms rarely accompany a tension headache.
Jason Ramm, MD, family medicine physician, Cypress Medical Clinic

I have dense breasts and a friend told me this means mammography would be useless for me. Is this true?
Dense breasts can make traditional mammograms more difficult to interpret, but this doesn't mean this life-saving screening is useless for detecting cancer or other breast abnormalities in women with dense breasts. Dense breasts contain more glands and ligaments, and less fat. Mammogram technology does not "see through" this dense tissue as well as less dense tissue. As a result, dense breast tissue appears as a solid white area on a mammogram film. Tumors also are dense and appear as solid white areas on the film. This can make it difficult to detect a tumor because it looks a lot like the dense tissue around it. Young women are more likely to have dense breasts than older women. After menopause, breast tissue tends to lose density and contain more fat. If you have dense breasts and your doctor detects a breast lump, he or she may recommend further evaluation of the lump — even if a mammogram is interpreted as normal. Additional tests may include ultrasound, MRI, or a biopsy of a small amount of tissue for examination under a microscope.
Barbara Tomek, MD, Radiologist with Lake Charles Medical and Surgical Clinic

I had moderate to light bleeding during my entire first three months of pregnancy. Should I be concerned about this affecting my baby’s health and am I more at risk for a premature delivery?
Bleeding during the first trimester is a common experience and most pregnancies that don't miscarry run a normal course. Unfortunately, anyone who has had some bleeding in the first trimester is at slightly increased risk for complications, meaning premature birth, poor fetal growth, and other problems. However, there isn't any associated increase in birth defects or chromosome problems. Overall, anyone who had first trimester bleeding has an excellent chance of having a normal pregnancy, birth, and baby.
G. Vincent Bailey, MD, ob/gyn specialist, Jennings American Legion Hospital

My 8-year-old son gets nosebleeds fairly often, even when he hasn't bumped or hit his nose. What causes this and should I be worried?
Nosebleeds are especially common in children between the ages of four and ten. If not the result of an injury, they are usually caused by colds, allergies or overuse of nasal spray. In most cases, bloody noses are no cause for panic. They can usually be stopped fairly easily. Have the child clear their nose by blowing out all mucus and blood. The head should be held slightly forward, not backward, so that any additional blood loss will be noticed and not swallowed. Firmly pinch the anterior two-thirds of the nose (the entire soft part of the nose; pressure on the bridge of nose or upper lip does not help) for 10 minutes (by the clock), then release. If the nose is still bleeding, repeat these steps once more. Rarely does bleeding continue, but if it does, consult your pediatrician.
Albert Richert, Sr., MD, pediatrician with the Pediatric Center of Southwest Louisiana