Globus, a persistent or intermittent sensation of a lump or foreign body in the throat, is a well-defined clinical symptom. Though it is non-painful, it can be long-lasting, difficult to treat, and prone to recurrence. Interestingly, this sensation often improves with eating and typically does not accompany dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) or odynophagia (painful swallowing).

Rhinitis, Sinusitis, and Rhinosinusitis are common conditions frequently seen in primary care. Studies indicate that 1.4 out of every 100 general practice encounters involve acute or chronic sinusitis, and over 2 million Australians are estimated to suffer from chronic rhinosinusitis. In some studies, this condition has shown a greater impact on social functioning than chronic heart failure, angina, or back pain.

In my conversation with expert headache and movement disorder specialist Dr. Michael Eller from Richmond Neurology, I was keen to delve deeper into the realm of chronic primary headaches—specifically, migraine and cluster types. The evolving understanding of the pathophysiology of these headaches and the developing treatment approaches, focusing on inhibiting the neurotransmitter called Calcitonin gene-related peptide, is fascinating. This peptide is inhibited by the 5-HT1D and 1B receptor agonist effect of the triptans, as well as by a new family of CGRP-targeting drugs and monoclonal antibodies developed for the preventive treatment of migraine.