Dear doctor,

I experience a terrible headache every time I try to read my notes. I’m worried this might affect my studies since I now avoid revising. I’m confused. What should I do?

Sharon, Form 6

Dear Sharon,

Headache occurring after reading mostly indicates a stress to the eyes caused due to impaired vision. Eyes are part of body that are put to use throughout the waking hours of a person and eye muscles work constantly to enable us to see near and far both clearly. Any impairment in this causes strain to the eyes and can cause headache. Working on computers for long hours, watching television constantly for a long time, poor illumination while reading/writing, less outdoor activity are other factors which cause eye strain, visual problems and headache in young adults.

Taking a diet with plenty of green vegetables, yellow fruits, carrots, whole grains and nuts helps to strengthen the eye muscles and stop the progress of any weakness of eye muscles. Indulging in   outdoor activities, avoiding watching computers for long hours constantly, reading/writing using good illumination, all these can further help in keeping eye sight good. There are specific exercises for the eye muscles which if done regularly can help one to remove eye strain and correct visual problems in early stages.

You need to get your eye sight checked. If there is any problem, heed advice of the ophthalmologist.

Chronic sinusitis (congestion and inflammation of air cells in brain) can also cause headache while looking down (a position adopted while reading). But in this case one may have associated fever, pain on touch over affected part of head. Moreover sinusitis commonly occurs secondary to frequent cold or running of nose.