My teenage son gets terrible migraines.

How can he stop them happening?

A migraine is a recurrent severe headache which is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and/or sound.

Taking anti-migraine medication when the early symptoms of a migraine begin can prevent it from becoming prolonged or severe.

However, it is advised to take only the minimum amount of medication needed and not too often as too much can cause a migraine.

Some people notice that certain food triggers attacks - commonly chocolate, caffeine and cheese - but sometimes foods are falsely blamed.

I would not go down the route of exclusion diets without your doctor's agreement. Migraine can be triggered by stress, but it does not occur at the time but when the person is away from stress ie ruins a weekend.

Regular exercise, a healthy diet and eating regularly to keep blood sugar levels up are also recommended, as is plenty of sleep.

Someone at work told me that I had bad breath and I am completely embarrassed about it.

What can I do to prevent it?

Bad breath, sometimes known as halitosis, is a common problem.

In most cases, it is caused by a build-up of bacteria in the mouth, as a result of food debris, plaque or gum disease.

As well as maintaining a high level of oral and dental hygiene, you can help prevent bad breath by eating a healthy and balanced diet and cutting down on strongly flavoured or spicy food.

Reducing alcohol intake, stopping smoking and drinking plenty of fluids, and cutting down on coffee can all also help.

You could also clean your mouth after eating milk products, fish and meat and chew sugar-free gum after eating and when your mouth feels dry.

You may also want to consider a visit to your dentist for advice on cleaning your mouth and teeth and other treatments which may help prevent the onset of bad breath.

WHAT IS...OEDEMA?

Oedema is the medical term for fluid retention in the body. It occurs when there is a build-up of fluid (mainly water) in the body's tissues, causing swelling to occur in the affected area.

As well as swelling or puffiness of the skin, oedema can cause: skin discolouration; fluid-filled areas of skin that temporarily hold the imprint of your finger when pressed, known as pitting oedema; aching, tender limbs; stiff joints; weight gain; raised blood pressure and pulse rate

Oedema can be a symptom of an underlying medical condition. It can also be caused by a variety of factors such as sitting for long periods of time, which can result in swelling of then ankles and lower legs.