It’s really important for all of us to get the right nutrition and when it comes to sportspersons the right diet becomes all the more important

In the current column, our panel of experts answers your queries about issues like nutrition and back pains.

Q: I am a young golfer and play the game at a very competitive level. Occasionally while playing I start seeing blind spots. That is followed by debilitating headache and vomiting. Whom should I consult with? –Asad Ahmed

A: My dear you need to consult a Neurologist. He will take a detailed history, examine you thoroughly and would order some tests. All this will help him to reach the diagnosis.

There are certain points that need to be clarified before making any diagnosis. We need to know your age and body weight. We need to know if there is any family history of such recurrent headaches. If we know about the age of onset of these headaches, if they occur only during the game or at other times also and how long does the pain continue, would be of great help. We would also like to know about any permanent deterioration of your vision. A few other points in the history also need to be addressed.

With the given information it appears that you might be suffering from Ocular Migraine. The other possibility is Idiopathic intracranial hypertension. There are a few other possibilities that might be benign or may be quite dangerous to your vision. It is advisable not to take the matter lightly and should consult a neurologist at your earliest. You might also be referred to consult an Ophthalmologist since there are certain eye problems also that are causing this kind of symptomatology. Wishing you all the best.

Dr. Syed Ahmed Asif

FCPS (Neurology)

Head of Department, Assistant Professor | Department of Neurology

Liaquat National Hospital & Medical College

Q: I'm 39 years old and play tennis regularly. Sometimes I suffer from these acute spells of weakness. I am generally healthy but this problem affects my game badly. What should I do? Mrs Samina Khan

A: Thank you for your question. Tennis is a fantastic sport, and it requires great mental, emotional and physical well-being to be a tennis player. I am a great fan of Maria Sharapova, Pete Sampras and Roger Federer. Unarguably, most professional tennis players would retire before they reach forty years of age. With advancing age, a tennis player needs to give much more care to his physical and mental health.

Acute spells of weakness or lethargy can grip a sportsman later in his career, and may become a reason for quitting the sport altogether. I would advise to have short stints of games rather than long stretches. Adequate rest and proper sleep is extremely important. Warm-ups and trainings should focus more on long term endurance. Emotional and mental strength is key to continue playing tennis unhindered by spells of weakness. Sports psychologist may be a great help.

Adequate nutrition and fluid intake is crucial for tennis players. A diet rich in proteins is beneficial in the long run, but adequate carbohydrate supply for a long game is essential. Both short acting and long acting carbs are important before a game to keep you afloat. Water intake should be adequate even 24 hours before the match. Weather conditions should guide the type of fluids you need before and during the match.

I am sure you must have had your complete medical checkup, as some illnesses and certain vitamin deficiencies can also lead to weakness. Enjoy your sport!

Dr. Ali Asghar

MRCP (UK), FACE (USA) Fellowship in Diabetes & Endocrinology

Assistant Professor | Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism

Liaquat National Hospital & Medical College

Q: I am 24 years old, cricketer and my expertise is wicket keeping. Lately I develop a back pain while in action. Is it some kind of a fracture or a muscle pain? Please advise. –Jawed Ali

A: As your profession and age most likely you have got muscular back ache which can easily be relieved by rest and physiotherapy but it’s not always the case, back ache may be due to some pathology like spondylolysis, metabolic problems, congenital problems etc. You need to visit some spinal surgeon for evaluation and assessment.

Prof. Dr. Zaki Idrees

FRCS, A.O. Fellow

Professor | Department of Orthopaedic
Surgery

Liaquat National Hospital & Medical College

All the specialists on our experts’ panel are associated   with Liaquat National Hospital. Please send your queries at khalidhraj@gmail.com or Anjum.Rizvi@lnh.edu.pk.) –Khalid Hussain