Migraine Triggers Watch » Headache

Details about Migraine Headache Symptoms

Sam — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 07:15:06 +0000

Migraine is a neurologic disease, whose most common symptom is an intense and disabling headache. Migraine is the most prevalent type of vascular headache. Migraine headaches are mostly characterized by severe pain on one or both sides of the head, an upset stomach, hypersensitivity to light (photophobia) and hypersensitivity to sound that is phonophobia. The word "migraine" comes from Greek construction "hemikranion" which means pain affecting one side of the head. Migraines are caused due to changes in brain and surrounding blood vessels and typically last from 4-72 hours. These tend to differ in frequency from daily to fewer than 1 per year. As a matter of fact Migraine affects about 15% of the world population today.

Different types of migraine headaches are

a. Common migraine which accounts for around 80% of migraines. There is no aura before any common migraine.

b. People with classic migraines generally experience an aura before their headaches. Most often, this aura is a visual disturbance like outlines of lights or jagged light images. Classic migraines – these are usually much more severe than common migraines.

c. Status migrainosus – it is a migraine that does not go away by itself.

Migraine Headache Symptoms

The symptoms of migraine tend to differ from person to person and each migraine is different from the other. Five phases can often be identified with a migraine. These are -

Prodrome – A number of warnings can come before a migraine. These can consist of a change in mood for example, feeling high, irritable, or depressed. Or there could be a subtle change of sensation like a funny taste or smell. Fatigue and muscle tension are some other common symptoms.

Aura – a migraine may or may not be accompanied or preceded with aura. This is commonly a visual disturbance that is followed by the headache phase. Some migraineurs may develop blind spots called scotomas, or see geometric patterns or flashing, colorful lights. They may even lose vision on one side which is called hemianopsia.

Headache – though migraine pain mostly appears on one side of the head, 30-40% of migraines are found to occur on both sides. Throbbing pain may also be present. More than 80% of migraineurs tend to feel nauseated, and some may vomit. About 70% have been found to become sensitive to light (photophobia) and sound (phonophobia). This phase can last for anywhere between 4 to 72 hours. Even if left untreated, the headache usually goes away with sleep.

Postdrome – Other signs of the migraine like inability to eat, problems with concentration or fatigue may linger after the pain has disappeared and are called posydrome.

Sinus Headache Treatment

Sam — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 06:00:03 +0000

Sinus headaches occur when the air-filled, bony cavities connecting to the nose get blocked due to excess mucous and get infected and congested.

Treatment for sinus headaches -

Treatment involves reducing the swelling in the sinuses region, the inflammation and the pain, and improving the drainage system in the nasal area. Some of the treatment methods that can be adopted are -

1. It is essential to breathe humidified air. The dry air environment can be humidified using any one of these – A steam vaporizer, cool-mist humidifier, steam from a basin of hot water or steam from hot shower water.

2. A hot compress has to be placed on the affected area, across the sinuses region for three minutes and a cold compress for around thirty seconds. This process has to be repeated thrice and has to be taken 2 to 6 times in a day.

3. Nasal Irrigation is done to cleanse the sinuses and other affected areas of mucous, pollutants, bacteria, virus, dirt and irritants to reduce the swelling, inflammation and the pain and improves the drainage in the nasal passage. Many nasal rinse products are available over the counters of drug stores, however, physician, preferably an ENT specialist has to be consulted to determine which would be the best for a person and how to use it.

4. Medications like the pain relievers containing aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, naproxen or a combination of any of these are available on the counters of the drug stores. One has to be careful enough is choosing the best pain reliever that suits him / her.

5. Decongestants and Antihistamines can be used to fight the allergens causing the sinus headaches. In some severe cases, nasal steroid sprays are used for the treatment.

6. In China, Magnolia flower is used in clearing the stuffed sinus and nasal regions. Other herbs like angelica, mint, chrysanthemum are also used to treat the infections in the respiratory tract, especially the upper part of the tract.

7. If the condition gets worse, it is advisable to consult an ENT (ear, nose, throat) specialist and have a CT scan made. If it is chronic sinusitis, allergy testing and desensitization is done to treat it. If it is acute sinusitis, antibiotics and decongestants are used or in extreme cases endoscopic or image guided surgery is done.

Headache rack

Sam — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 21:45:03 +0000

The Headache Rack comes in two styles, namely, the 2 Inch or the Hauler. Both styles are made of heavy-duty square tubing, full louvered or window cut with louvers. The Headache Racks must be installed with short or long rails. Ranch Hand's Headache Rack provides the customer with a product that is both functional and compliments the vehicle's design. Each Ranch Hand Headache Rack is finished with the highest quality super polyester black pearl powder coating available today for superior corrosion resistance. The 2-inch Headache Rack is constructed of 14 gauges, 2 inch square tubing. It must be installed with short or long rails. Optional features includes full Louvered and louvered with window cut. The Hauler is constructed of 14 gauge, 2 inch, square tubing and 11 gauge 2" x 6" tubing. Comes standard with 2 oval red lights, which function as taillights and 2 ovals clear lights, which function as back up or work lights. Must be installed with short or long rails. Optional features includes full louvered and louvered with window cut.

More of the headache rack

A headache or contractors rack cools the cab. It keeps the sun off your rear window and also protects you and the back window from large objects in your bed. These racks are attractively styled as well as being very practical. The Toolbox Rack and the Painted Racks can also serve as ladder racks with the optional attachment. Headache racks guard your rear window, taking the pain out of shifty large loads that break glass. Each headache racks is forged from durable materials for withstanding life on your truck. And, our headache racks mount to your stake pockets in minutes.

Conclusion

Headache racks are the next big things in picks up accessories! Installing one of our headache racks will help keep the cab section of your pick up cool. Deter sun from your back window while adding a little style with any of our headache racks. All of our headache racks are built by top selling manufacturers using the most durable, reliable materials. You can save as much as sixty percent on headache racks when you place your order from our online catalog. Each headache rack has been designed to fit your back window perfectly.

Migraine Headaches – Are You Suffering From Them?

Sam — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 21:30:05 +0000

It has been found that more than 28 million Americans suffer from migraine headaches, a type of headache that's often very severe. Another fact is that the number of women suffering from migraine is three times more than men. Though any head pain can be miserable, a migraine headache can be disabling. In some cases, these painful headaches can be preceded or accompanied by a sensory warning sign (aura), such as flashes of light, blind spots or tingling in leg or arm. A migraine headache may also be accompanied by other signs and symptoms, like nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. Migraine pain can be excruciating and may incapacitate the sufferer for hours or even days.

It is rather fortunate that the management of migraine headache pain has improved dramatically in the last decade or so. If one has seen a doctor in the past and had no success, it's time to make another appointment. There is still no cure for migraine, medications can help reduce the frequency of migraine headaches and stop the pain after it has started. The right medicines combined with self-help remedies and changes in lifestyle can make a tremendous difference for a patient.

The Signs and Symptoms Of Migraine Headache -

Well, the signs and symptoms that a migraine produces are varied. A typical migraine headache attack will produces some or all of these signs and symptoms:

a. Moderate to severe pain – many migraine headache sufferers experience pain on only one side of their head, while some experience pain on both sides

b. Head pain which has a pulsating or throbbing quality

c. Pain which worsens with physical activity

d. Pain which hinders your regular daily activities

e. Nausea which may be accompanied with vomiting

f. Sensitivity to light and sound

If left untreated, a migraine headache can typically last from four to 72 hours, but the frequency with which they occur is bound to vary from person to person. One may have migraines several times a month or just once or twice a year. It is also important to note that all migraine headaches are not the same. While most people suffer from migraines without auras, some have migraines with auras. A second group patient is likely to have auras about 15 to 30 minutes before your headache begins. These may continue after the headache starts. Auras may include sparkling flashes of light, dazzling zigzag lines in the field of vision or slowly spreading blind spots in vision.

Dizziness headache

Sam — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 21:15:05 +0000

Dizziness can apparent as lightheadedness, feeling faint, being unsteady on your feet, loss of balance or vertigo. The source of dizziness is generally not serious, and it will quickly resolve on its own or can be treated very simply. Lightheadedness happens when there is not sufficient blood getting to the brain. This can happen if there is an unexpected drop in your blood pressure or you are dehydrated from vomiting, diarrhea, fever, or other causes. Many people, particularly as they get older, experience lightheadedness if they get up too quickly from a lying or seated position. Lightheadedness frequently accompanies the flu, common cold, or allergies. More serious conditions that can lead to lightheadedness include heart problems like that abnormal heart rhythm or heart attack, stroke, and severe drop in blood pressure. If any of these grave disorders is present, you will generally have additional symptoms like chest pain, a feeling of a racing heart, loss of speech, change in vision, or other symptoms.

Causes of dizziness headache

The most familiar causes of vertigo are benign positional vertigo and labyrinthitis. Benign positional vertigo is vertigo that happens when you alter the position of your head. Labyrinthitis generally follows a cold or flu and is caused by a viral infection of the inner ear. Meniere's disease is another ordinary inner ear problem. It leads to vertigo, loss of balance, and ringing in the ears. Much less usually, vertigo or feeling unsteady is a sign of stroke, multiple sclerosis, seizures, a brain tumor, or a bleed in your brain. In such conditions, other symptoms generally accompany the vertigo or imbalance. If you have a tendency to get lightheaded when you stand up, avoid sudden changes in posture. If you are feeling thirsty or lightheaded, drink fluids. If you are not capable to keep fluids down from nausea or vomiting, you may need intravenous fluids.

Conclusion

Most times, benign positional vertigo and labyrinthitis go away on their own surrounded by a few weeks. During attacks of vertigo from any basis, try to rest and lie still. Avoid unexpected changes in your position as well as bright lights. Be cautious about driving or using machinery. Such medications include antihistamines, sedatives, or pills for nausea. For Meniere's disease, surgery may be necessary. Promptly treat ear infections, colds, flu's, sinus congestion, and other respiratory infections. This may help put off labyrinthitis and Meniere's disease. If you have a cold, the flu, or other viral illness, drink plenty of fluids to put off getting dehydrated.

Cluster headaches – the details

Sam — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 09:00:07 +0000

What are cluster headaches?

Cluster headaches are headaches where the suffer experiences attacks come in groups. The pain arrives with little, if any, warning, and this type of headache has been described as the most severe and intense of all headaches. Generally, it lasts from 30 to 45 minutes, though it might persist for several hours before disappearing. Unfortunately, it may reoccur later in the day. Most sufferers tend to suffer from one to four headaches a day during a cluster period. Cluster headaches frequently surface during morning or late at night and a cluster cycle can last weeks or months and then can disappear for months or years. The clusters most often occur during spring or autumn and, thus, are incorrectly associated with allergies. Approximately 10 percent of the sufferers have been found to experience chronic cluster headaches that occur all year long. It is also estimated that less than one percent of the population are victims of cluster headaches, and they encounter this headache between the ages of 20 and 45. More men (about five to one) than women experience cluster headaches.

Symptoms of cluster headaches -

The cluster headache was once considered a type of migraine as it is vascular. It is rather unfortunately that it is possible for a person to suffer from both migraines and clusters, though this condition is rare.

A cluster headache is mostly unilateral and rarely switches sides from one attack to another. One might feel the pain starting around one eye, like a nail or knife stabbing or piercing the eye, or as if someone were pulling out the eye; it may or may not be accompanied by a tearing or bloodshot eye and a runny nose on the side of the headache. It may radiate from the eye to the forehead, temple and cheek on the same side. Thus in all, the pain of a cluster headache has been described as piercing, burning, throbbing, pulsating, and so excruciating that most victims cannot even sit still and are compelled to rock in a chair, walk back and forth, or bang their heads against something.

Precipitating Factors of cluster headaches-

Unlike migraine headaches, cluster headaches do not result due hereditary factors. Sufferers have been generally found to have a history of chronic smoking, and alcohol frequently triggers a cluster headache. As the level of histamine increases in a person's blood and urine during a cluster headache, many researchers believe that histamines, which dilate or expand blood vessels, affect a cluster headache. However, antihistamines have not proven to be an effective therapy against cluster headaches.

Eyestrain Headaches

Sam — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 02:30:02 +0000

Headaches and eyestrain – Introduction -

There are different causes and reasons for headaches. Eyestrain is one of the most common causes of headaches, especially at work places. These headaches can be commonly seen in people who are doing any work involving close contact with the eyes, especially, those who work in front of the computers.

Symptoms of eyestrain headaches -

The headache can be a mild, throbbing one or a sharp, stabbing pain and can be seen in one part of the head or the whole head area. The pain may gradually lead to nausea, vomiting, and may also affect the vision.

Eyestrain can be seen in case of tension headaches and migraine too. In a tension headache, pain can be felt in any part of the head and a feeling of tightness can be experienced around the eye area. In migraine headaches, eyestrain can take different forms like flashing of lights across the eyes, blurred vision, blind spots in the eyes.

The typical symptoms of eyestrain can be – feeling of tightness, itching and /or irritation in or around the eye area, difficulty in focusing on the objects that are at a distance after one focuses on the nearby objects (or even the other way round), blurring of vision for a temporary period, headaches, dizziness and lightheadedness.

Treatment of eyestrains and eyestrain headaches -

If a headache is of a mild nature and not a very serious one, it will disappear by itself within a few minutes or hours. But if it persists, mild painkillers like paracetamol, aspirin or ibuprofen can be taken. However, it is advisable to consult a doctor and also read the label carefully before consuming any pain killers. If a headache is experienced due to eyestrain, taking a break from the work, especially if the work involves intense use of the eyes, and stretching the muscles or a light massage of the face, neck and head muscles would help.

If in case, the headache persists for the next couple of days or becomes worse even after taking the pain killers, if there is blurring of vision, nausea, vomiting, sharp pain in the head or temples, disturbance in the vision, frequent headaches accompanied by loss of memory, tiredness, a health care professional should be visited at the earliest.

Dealing With Pregnancy Headaches

Sam — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:30:05 +0000

Headaches are one of the most common discomforts and complaints that come with pregnancy. Though a headache may occur at anytime during one's pregnancy but they tend to be most common during the first and third trimesters. It is common for all ladies to feel anxiety about occurrences like headaches during the most important phase of their lives. Thus they can learn all they want to about pregnancy here.

What Causes Headaches during Pregnancy?

If one experiences an increase in headaches during the first trimester, it is believed to have resulted by the surge of hormones along with an increase in the blood volume circulating throughout your body. These headaches are generally tension headaches and may get further aggravated because of stress, poor posture or changes in vision. Other causes of headaches during pregnancy may involve one or more of the following.

a. Lack of sleep

b. Low blood sugar

c. Dehydration

d. Caffeine withdrawal

e. Stress (too many changes)

Quiet contradictory to this, women who have a tendency for migraine headaches may find that they experience fewer migraines during pregnancy, though it is possible for some women to encounter the same amount or even more. It is important to talk to your doctor about any medications that you may take for headaches during your pregnancy.

Headaches during the third trimester are more related to posture and tension due to carrying of extra weight. Headaches during the third trimester may also be caused by a condition called pre-eclampsia that is high blood pressure during pregnancy.

Treating Headaches during Pregnancy -

The best way to deal with any headache is to avoid it altogether. Avoiding tension headaches is easiest if one practices good health tips:

a. Keeping good posture (especially during the third trimester)

b. Taking plenty of rest and relaxation

c. Daily mild exercise

d. Eating well-balanced meals

If one is not able to prevent a headache from starting, then one must take steps do away with them. It is important that during pregnancy, one tries to relieve one's headache by natural means as far as possible. Pain relief medications like aspirin and ibuprofen are not recommended during pregnancy, though acetaminophen (Tylenol) may be considered safe only if taken occasionally.

Cough Headaches

Sam — Sat, 02 May 2009 22:00:06 +0000

Cough Headache can be caused by cough; sneeze or bending, when the blood pressure in the veins in the head increases and the pain may be sharp or stabbing usually on both the sides of the head and at the back of the skull. These may be mild, severe and/or long-lasting. It may start suddenly and can be for a few seconds to few minutes.

Primary Cough Headache is a milder form of cough headache and not a very serious condition. Secondary cough headache (a more serious form of cough headache) may be a result of serious causes like brain tumors and malformations in the brain.

Cough headache is a slight variation from Vascular Headache and usually occurs during a bowel movement, coughing, sneezing, bending or straining.

Who suffers from cough headaches?

More men than women suffer from this. Men are three times more likely to suffer from this type of headache. It can occur in men who are 40 years old and above.

Diagnose of Cough Headaches -

It is best to visit the physician if the headache becomes severe. The physician first needs to determine if it is really a cough headache and if it is serious. They usually recommend an MRI exam (Magnetic Resonance Imaging).

Primary Cough Headache -

An unusual type of cough headache, it is characterized by sharp splitting or stabbing pain on both the sides of the head or at the back of the skull. It occurs due to excessive coughing or other types of strains like laughing, crying or blowing the nose, lasting for a few seconds or a few minutes, but a mild pain may persist for a few hours in some cases. Increased pressure in the head (intracranial pressure) while coughing and other types of strains, a previous infection, and irregularities in the brain are said to be the causes, but the exact cause is not known. If the headaches are sudden and severe then a visit to the doctor is advisable. MRI exam is conducted to diagnose the condition. If it has a long history, then indomethacin to help reduce the pressure in the brain is prescribed or else, acetazolamide or topiramarate may be prescribed. A spinal tap (lumbar puncture) involving the removal of the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord may be done in some rare cases.

Headache pillow

Sam — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 01:30:02 +0000

The headache pillows are filled with outstanding quality wild ginger fruits, seeds and lemon pepper. Both fragrances unite to a very pleasant scent, which only you will notice, and only when your light pressure on the pillow gently crushes the herbs. Headache ice pillow helps stop headaches obviously, but you don't need a headache to enjoy this cozy neck pillow. It's also great for travel, sleeping, and reading. It uses time-honored and medically suggested cold therapy treatment for migraine and tension headaches. It also helps to come over pinched nerves, stiffness, sprains, neck injury, or other traumas. Headache Ice Pillow that uses cold therapy treatment to help relieve migraine and tension headaches. This simple and natural method is an alternative to medication and drugs.

Design of a pillow

Designed by a headache specialist, the pillow uses a compact design to help provide support to a resident's neck while sleeping or resting. An anatomically designed, soft-frozen gel pack inserts into the pillow for added relief. The Ice Pillow can also provide relief from pinched nerves, stiffness or sprains. The removable gel pack stores in the freezer until needed. Featured in Core Products' new, full-color catalog, the Ice Pillow's optional massage unit provides gentle massaging action for added relief. People get headaches for all different reasons. Stress, illness, dehydration, or a pinched nerve can cause your basic everday headaches. Minor headaches like these will usually go away on there own, or can be relieved by taking over-the-counter medications or by getting some rest. More serious headaches are usually called migraine headaches.

Other descriptions

Migraine headache patients usually describe an intense pain that exists on one side of their head, often felt directly behind the eye socket. These kinds of headaches are incredibly painful to the point of even incapacitating a person or causing nausea and vomiting. While some causes of migraine headaches are unknown, sometime they are attributed to more serious illness or psychotic disorders. You can treat migraine headaches through medication or therapy. Individuals for whom drugs do not work will often consider alternative means to cure their headaches. Certain herbal remedies have been known to help painful headaches and to ease a person into a relaxed state. Acupuncture and other eastern medicines have also been known to benefit various body pains such as headaches. If you suffer from long-lasting, intense headaches, consult a health professional in order to find the right cure.

What causes headaches?

Sam — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 17:30:02 +0000

Headache & its common causes:

Medically termed as cephalgia headache is a condition in which a person may undergo mild to severe pain in the head and sometimes neck or upper back pain may also be interpreted as a headache. Headaches may origin from a wide variety of causes, ranging from eyestrain, sinusitis and tension to life-threatening conditions such as encephalitis, meningitis, cerebral aneurysms and brain tumors. The headache occuring in conjunction with a head injury, its cause is usually quite evident & traceable. However in many cases the causes orn the root of origin are more unclear. The most common form of headache is a tension headache which is caused by stress or anxiety while some other causes may be dehydration & caffiene withdrawal etc.

Types of headaches:

Medically headaches are broadly categorized into four types, e.g. vascular, myogenic or muscle tension, traction and lastly inflammatory. Migraine is one of the most common forms of vascular headaches. In general the severe pains on both of the head may easily characterize migraine headache, which may also bear the signs of an upset stomach and sometimes disturbed or blurred vision. Migraine is very common in women. Cluster headaches, which causes repetitive episodes of severe pain and headache due to high blood pressure is another type of vascular headache. Prior to migraine another very common type of vascular headache is the toxic headache often produced by fever. Muscular or myogenic headaches have the common roots of origin, which involves the tightening of facial and neck muscles, and may often radiate to the fore head. Tension headache is a very common form of the type. Traction or inflammatory headaches are generally symptoms or sign bearers of other disorders of the body, which may range from sinus infection to stroke.

Diagnosis:

In general headaches may harmless and self-limiting but some of the specific types may be warning signals of more serious disorders, which may demand testing, and diagnostic tests. In such specific cases computed tomography common forms forms of which are CT/CAT scans of the brain or sinuses are commonly performed, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in specific settings. Blood tests also helps in narrowing down the differential diagnosis, but they rarely confirm the specific headache forms or the reaso of their occurence.

An Overview Of Menstrual Headache

Sam — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 04:00:02 +0000

It has been found in various studies that Women suffer from headaches and migraines three times more frequently than men do and also that menstrual migraines affect 70 percent of these women. A menstrual headache occurs either before, during or immediately after periods, or during ovulation. While, serotonin is the primary hormonal trigger of a headache, some researchers believe that migraine is an inherited disorder that somehow affects the way serotonin is metabolized. But, for women, it also matters how serotonin interacts with uniquely female hormones. Menstrual migraines are primarily caused by estrogen, the female sex hormone which specifically regulates the menstrual cycle fluctuations throughout the cycle. With change in levels of estrogen and progesterone, a woman will be more vulnerable to headaches. As oral contraceptives influence estrogen levels, women on birth control pills may also experience more menstrual migraines.

The Treatment Options For Menstrual Headache -

The medications used in the treatment of menstrual migraine are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications called as NSAIDs. The NSAIDS most often used for menstrual migraine include ketoprofen (Orudis), ibuprofen (Advil and Motrin), fenoprofen calcium (Nalfon), naproxen (Naprosyn) and nabumetone (Relafen).

Therapy with the NSAID must start 2 to 3 days before the onset of the menstrual flow (menses) and should be continued through the flow. As the therapy is of short duration, the risk of gastrointestinal side effects is limited. For patients who have severe menstrual migraine or who want to continue taking birth control pills, physicians recommend taking a NSAID, starting on the l9th day of the cycle and then continuing it through the second day of the next cycle.

Other medications for menstrual headache can include:

a. Small amount of ergotamine (including Bellergal-S) or a similar compound, methylergonovine maleate (for example, Methergine)

b. Beta blocker drugs like propranolol

c. Anticonvulsants like valporate

d. Calcium channel blockers like veraperamil

These drugs should also be started 2 to 3 days pre-menses, and should be continued throughout the menstrual flow. As fluid retention is often associated with menses, diuretics have been used for preventing menstrual migraine. Some physicians also recommend that patients follow a salt-restricted diet immediately before the start of menses. Lupron is a medication that affects hormone levels and is used as the last option, when all other treatment methods have been tried and have failed.

Constant headache

Sam — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 21:15:02 +0000

Headache is lone of the commonest ailments with which patients come to a doctor. Headache might be a fore-runner of a variety of eye problems, and hence anyone suffering from a constant headache should consult an eye specialist. Most people consider that eye-strain and the need for glasses are the commonest cause of headache. However, this is not true. The diagnosis of headache can usually be established by history and examination alone and other diagnostic aids like x-ray of the skull, CAT-scan, MRI and other diagnostic tests are seldom required.

Categories of headaches

There are many a groups on which the headaches have been divided. They may be namely, muscle Contraction, migraine and problem caused by eye strain. The most recurrent type of headache is caused by muscle contraction. The pain is rarely felt over the contracting muscles but is usually referred to areas such as the forehead, temple, or eye-balls. Muscle contraction headache can happen due to the daily stress of life, whether at home or work. It may also take place from sleeping or working long hours in unusual positions or prolonged close work. By and large this headache is relieved with a pain-killer. Headache caused by eye-strain can be perplexed with muscle contraction headache as it is referred to the eye-balls. Another issue that may cause confusion is the fact that such headaches are made worse by extensive use of eyes, but the headache caused by eye-strain is made worse only after use of eyes. One of the most painful headaches recognized to mankind is the problem of migraine. The pervasiveness of migraine increases rapidly in the first and second decade of life, and then remains steady till the fourth or fifth decade of life, and then slowly declines with age. Migraines lean to run in families. The pain tends not to be permanent but is generally severe and localized to one side of the head, often accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Migraine can take place due to a sudden increase or decrease in stress levels.

Causes of headaches

Eye disease causing headache are rare and are accompanied by other visual symptoms like blurring of vision, haloes around lights, photophobia, etc. There is generally a local ocular cause responsible for the headache. Eye-strain is very seldom a cause for continuous headache unless the eyes are continuously used for prolonged periods for near work. With the arrival of computers and their continuous use in daily work, headaches related to eye-strain are becoming more and more common. The constant glare of the monitor joint with the lack of blinking during computer work aggravates the headache. Other diseases that can origin headache can be due to ears, teeth, jaws, tumors, etc.

Dehydration Headache

Sam — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 05:15:04 +0000

What is Dehydration?

It can be explained as the removal of the water from the body. It can turn out to be a serious and life threatening condition when the water content in the body required for the normal body functioning falls short of the required amount.

Causes of Dehydration -

Dehydration may be caused by external or stress related factors like prolonged physical activity, blood loss, diarrhea, hyperthermia, shock and vomiting, infectious diseases like cholera, gastroenteritis, yellow fever, malnutrition and fasting.

Effects of Dehydration -

It is very important that your body retains the required amount of water to maintain good physical and mental health. Dehydration can result in a series of problems like tiredness, stiff joints, headaches, nausea, aches and cramps in other parts of the body and other serious problems. A person who is dehydrated can become cranky. Severe cases of dehydration may coma or even death.

Dehydration – A cause of headache -

Dehydration can be a major cause of headaches, especially migraine. Usually, tension type headaches that are caused by stress related factors and dehydration. Not consuming enough fluids on hot days and also after rigorous physical activity, when the body loses much water content, leads to dehydration thereby triggering headaches.

Symptoms of Dehydration and Dehydration Headaches -

Along with thirst, parched lips and dry mouth, one needs to look out for these symptoms other symptoms of dehydration and dehydration headaches -fatigue, dizziness, weakness, headache, rising heart beat, dry, flushed skin, muscle cramps.

Dehydration headaches or coffee headaches?

These days, many people who complain of headaches are seen consuming less water and worse even, drink coffee instead of water. So, replacing the water by any other beverage like coffee, tea or alcoholic beveragesdehydration may even be caused by consuming too much of coffee and lesser

Dehydration Headaches or Coffee Headaches?

Recently I have encountered a number of adult patients complaining of headaches who reported drinking less water than they should. To make it worse the majority of their fluid replacement involves the consumption of coffee. As an example, a 59 year-old male claimed to drink about 24 ounces of water per day. This was a big man weighing 210 pounds. Normally, I would suggest a man of this size to drink at least 80 ounces of water. He mentioned that most of his water came from drinking coffee. I cringed and wondered what prevented him from suffering with kidney stones. He then stated that he has been experiencing pain in his kidneys. Now I am wondering whether people suffer headaches from too much caffeine or too little water?

I suggested to the patient that he drink more water. He was advised that he should reduce his coffee intake and implement a life style change that would include drinking 100 ounces of water per day. It was stressed that he should drink no more than 3-4 ounces at a time repetitively throughout the day and into the early evening.

Cure for Dehydration Headaches -

It is advisable to drink sufficient quantity of water each day to keep the body well hydrated to carry out its normal functions and keep the dehydration related headaches at bay.

The Know-How Of Headaches

Sam — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 16:15:03 +0000

In today's fast life every second person one meets is either suffering from or has suffered from a headache. The situation today is so bad that children worldwide are also suffering from headache and its symptoms. This is mainly because of the growing competition, tension and suffering. Below is all the information you need to know about headaches

The Pain That Comes With A Headache -

The hurt in headache pain originates from a network of nerves that cover the scalp and from particular nerves in the face, mouth, and throat. The muscles of the head as well as blood vessels along the surface membrane that surround the brain and base of the brain contain pain-sensitive nerve fibers. In addition to this, many nerves run from the brain directly to the face and head. These nerves have pain receptors which carry pain signals to the brain. Stress, muscular tension, and expanded (dilated) blood vessels are the provokers of the pain sensations. Once this pain message is received, the brain then registers it, originating from regions of the head, face, and neck.

There are two common causes of headache pain which can explain and differentiate two common types of headaches. These are tension-type and migraine headaches.

a. Tension may strain muscles of the face, neck, and scalp. This leads to tight, pressing pain sensation of tension-type headaches.

b. Swelling and stretching of the blood vessels in the head leads to vascular headache pain: A migraine headache is the main form of vascular headaches.

When is your headache a emergency?

Though headaches have become a common phenomenon, it is important that they are not completely neglected. If your child suffers from recurring headaches, then you must show him to a doctor. As far as adults are concerned following types of headaches need you to consult your physician – a severe headache with sudden onset or headache pain that feels like an explosion or thunderclap. A headache pain that is continuous and becoming worse or if a headache pain persists following an injury to the head can also not be neglected for they may be indicating some disease.

Treating your migraine headache

Sam — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 09:45:02 +0000

There was a time when aspirin was almost the only obtainable treatment for headaches. Today, many drugs, specifically designed to treat migraines are available in the market. Also, many drugs commonly used for treating other conditions help to relieve migraines in some people. All these medications and treatments fall into two classes -

1. Pain-relieving medications which help to stop pain once it has started.

2. Preventive medications which reduce or prevent a migraine headache.

Whether to choose a preventive strategy or a pain-relieving strategy would depend on the frequency and severity of the headaches, the degree of disability that the headaches cause and other medical conditions of the patient. One may be a candidate for preventive therapy if one experience two or more debilitating attacks a month, if one uses pain-relieving medications more than twice a week, if pain-relieving medications aren't helping or if one has uncommon migraines. In this article we would be mainly discussing pain-relieving medications and treatments.

Pain-relieving medications – for best results one should take pain-relieving drugs as soon as one experiences signs or symptoms of a migraine headache. It may help if one rests or sleeps in a dark room after taking them:

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) – These medications include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) or aspirin and help to relieve mild migraines. Drugs marketed mainly for migraine, such as the combination of acetaminophen, aspirin and caffeine (Excedrin Migraine), may also ease moderate migraines. If taken too often or for long periods of time, these may lead to ulcers, gastrointestinal bleeding and rebound headaches.

Triptans – Sumatriptan (Imitrex) was the first drug specifically made to treat migraines. It mimics the work of serotonin by binding to serotonin receptors and causing blood vessels to constrict.

Since the introduction of sumatriptan, many similar drugs have become available. These include rizatriptan (Maxalt), naratriptan (Amerge), zolmitriptan (Zomig), almotriptan (Axert), frovatriptan (Frova) and eletriptan (Relpax) and usually provide pain relief within two hours for most people. Also these have fewer side effects and cause fewer recurring headaches. However the side effects of triptans include nausea, dizziness, and muscle weakness and, sometimes though rarely, stroke and heart attack.

Ergots – Drugs such as ergotamine (Ergomar) and dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45) and dihydroergotamine nasal spray (Migranal) also help to relieve pain.

Medications for nausea – Metoclopramide (Reglan) is helpful for relieving the nausea and vomiting associated with migraines, but not the migraine pain itself.

Blurred vision headache

Sam — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 08:00:06 +0000

Headaches may be because for any number of reasons including, namely sinus conditions, hypertension, allergies, tumors, hormonal changes, and most frequently, stress. They are not generally associated with problems related to the eyes. Eye-related headaches usually occur after extended periods of reading, watching television, computer work, or other close work that requires intense concentration. This type of headache generally disappears after a period of rest. In several cases, headaches may be caused by eyestrain related to eyeglasses. A tendency for the eyes to cross or drift outward might also bring on headaches. One eye problem known to cause an intense headache is angle-closure glaucoma. With this type of glaucoma, the headache is only part of the problem. Patients suffering from an angle-closure attack also may experience nausea, intense pain around the eye, blurred vision, and haloes around lights.

Causes of headaches

Headaches are generally caused by eye disease are unique in their symptoms and types of pain. It is important to make detailed notes of your symptoms, type of pain, lifestyle and what you were doing when the headache began. This information's can be very helpful to the physician to diagnose the type and cause of the headache you are experiencing. The symptoms that emerge from the headaches can be extremely variable and it all depends on the underlying problem. Because of the scope of the several types and causes is so immense, the following the headaches are described with the typical symptoms as they relate to the eye. There may be several types of headaches that are related or affect the eye fatigue. They may be either headaches that begin after an extended period of reading, computer use, watching television, or close work or burning eyes or fatigue.

Conclusion

It is required and is necessary that there should be stress relief, control of blood pressure, or medication in order to maintain appropriate hormonal levels. New glasses or different work lighting may also be prescribed by your doctor to maintain the health of the patient. If one have persistent headaches, it is necessary enough for the patient to consult your medical doctor about them for a medical evaluation. Blurred vision is generally the loss of visual acuity resulting in a loss of ability to see small details. For the most complicated form of visual loss, see also blindness. Blind spots are basically dark holes in the visual field in which nothing can be seen.

Information On Headaches During Pregnancy

Sam — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 13:45:05 +0000

Pregnancy is a very important phase of a woman's life – perhaps the most important phase. Therefore no woman would like to ignore even the minutest of discomforts as it may affect her baby. In such a situation, even headaches during pregnancy are a topic of discussion. Pregnancy headaches are usually witnessed during the beginning of pregnancy due to rise in various hormones and in the third trimesters due to the increasing weight that the body has to bear. Below are some helpful details on headaches during pregnancy.

Headaches during Pregnancy – An Overview

It is important to note that the headaches that one experiences can get better in pregnancy, as progesterone causes the blood vessels to relax and not spasm, which is usually the cause of bad headaches. However, if one does suffer from increased headaches during pregnancy, one may be particularly sensitive to one's hormones or have had headache problems before the pregnancy also. Pregnancy headaches most commonly result from hormonal changes, fatigue, tension, hunger or physical and emotional stress. One must engage in some deductive reasoning and figure out the correct cause of one's headaches.

Treating Your Headaches -

Below are some potential treatments for pregnancy headaches -

As some headaches are triggered by low blood sugar, one can prevent bouts of decreased blood sugar by eating regular meals and by carrying high-energy snacks. Drinking plenty of water will also help to do away with dehydration which is another cause for headaches.

Another important suggestion is to avoid loud music, noisy restaurants, packed parties and crowded department stores. Ensuring a healthy environment is a necessity. An overheated, smoke-filled unventilated room would trigger a headache in almost anybody. Also, make sure that the home and workspace you are working in has adequate natural lighting.

Going out for a brisk walk will also help pregnant ladies in keeping good health and thus avoiding headaches. Rest is also essential during pregnancy, though too much of it can worsen overall symptoms. Meditation and yoga are two ways which can help one relax and decrease the effects of tension headaches.

Acupuncture, biofeedback and massage have also shown to bring some relief from a headache. Remember, during pregnancy taking any drug or medicine without the prescription of a doctor should be avoided as it could affect the coming baby.

Hypertension Headaches

Sam — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 22:45:12 +0000

Introduction -

Hypertension (also called high blood pressure) can be the cause of heart attacks and strokes. It is a silent killer as it is does not show any obvious symptoms. It can also cause headaches, however the blood pressure has to be too high for causing a headache (200/110 or higher).

Medications taken for relief from high blood pressure also may result in a headache.

Hypertension Headaches -

These are the common types of headaches and are considered normal. Around 90% of all headaches are hypertension headaches. A steady and dull pain is seen in the forehead, temple and back of the neck and is usually felt like a tight band tied around the head. Around 40 percent people suffer from this. These are caused by high blood pressure in the body. Stress and emotional factors can lead to high blood pressure thereby causing headaches.

At times, incorrect postures causing tension on the head and neck and other activities involving longer periods of eyestrain can result in hypertension headaches.

Degenerative arthritis of the neck and temporomandibular joint dysfunction (it is a disorder of the joint between the temporal bone and the lower jaw resulting from poor biting and jaw clenching) are also said to cause the headaches.

These may last for a longer time or may die down after the stress is released out. The exact cause is not known. However, it is believed to be caused by sustained muscle tension.

Symptoms of Hypertension Headaches -

Pain, pressure or tightness begins in one location that gradually spreads out to the other parts of the head. It usually starts at the back of the head and upper neck. A tight pain or pressure is felt around the head, with the severe pain near the eyebrows. Usually there is a mild pain at both the sides of the head. A painful, squeezing sensation is experienced in the forehead, temples, back of the head that may get down to the neck and shoulders. Nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to sound or light are also seen sometimes.

Treatment of Hypertension Headaches -

Pain relievers like aspirin, acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be used. When the pain gets severe, more powerful drugs are recommended.

Stress management therapies, relaxation exercises and meditation are also recommended.

Hypertension headaches can be prevented by adequate sleep, rest, massages and a healthy diet.

Visual migraine

Sam — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 17:30:04 +0000

Visual Migraine is a disease of temporary visual disturbance, which is caused by vascular tremor in the brain. The visual migraine can be with or without the headache. The visual migraine is a result of decreased blood flow to the occipital cortex, or that portion of the brain associated with vision. The visual migraine is often related with the sensation of a shimmering light in the peripheral vision. The vision can be blurred or distorted. There can be flashing and pulsating lights in the peripheral vision in this condition. The visual migraine is not usually treated because it is not associated with disabling headaches. In the typical visual migraine, the visual disturbance lasts for 15 – 20 minutes and then it disappears. Many visual migraine sufferers complain only of fatigue in the eyes after the visual disturbance.

The symptoms of the visual migraine:

The symptoms of the visual migraine can be very variable and depend on the basic problem. Because of the scope of the various types and causes of the visual migraine is so immense. The most common symptoms of the visual migraine are related to the eye fatigue. The visual migraine may begin after an extended period of reading, computer use, watching television. The burning eyes, fatigue, throbbing pain, sensitivity to light and sound are some of the other symptoms of the visual migraine. The nausea and some types of visual aura is also the symptoms of the visual migraine. Intense headache with the irritation in the eyes is the clear sign of the visual migraine.

The causes of the visual migraine:

In most of the cases, the migraines are considered to be brought on by stress. This headache commonly follows the stress relief of a hectic week during which the blood vessels in the head calm down and contract. The visual migraine can occur from any number of other causes including sinus conditions, hypertension, allergies, tumors or hormonal changes. The visual migraines are not generally connected with problems related to the eyes. Certain foods and additives such as chocolate, alcohol, dairy, and MSG are also accredited to migraines.

Cure headache

Sam — Mon, 05 May 2008 13:00:06 +0000

Headache is roughly never located in the brain. There is in fact not much ability at all to sense pain in the mass of the brain – surgeons do for instance not use anesthetics on the brain when they perform brain surgery. Headache is almost forever located in the muscles of the head – caused by tension built up during long time in these muscles. One can carry out a simple self-test by pressing with your fingers on certain locations on the head. The two most familiar physical locations of headache are located at the places where the jaw-muscles are attached, right behind the jaw below the ears and at the temples. One should not feel any pain while applying pressure on these two spots and are completely relaxed. It will even though hurt quite a lot I presume, especially at the spot behind the jaw – this is a condition that people in common unfortunately enough has gotten used to as something completely natural. In many martial arts disciplines there actually are grips that takes advantage of these spots in order to neutralize or even paralyze adversaries.

Cures for headaches

Such tricks have no result on balanced individuals. The cause of this pain is that one can clench their teeth – stiff upper lip – and one requires doing some exercises in order to put an end to that behavior so that you can get rid of your headache at its origin. One should be sharp-eyed and never let your rows of teeth meet each other any other times than when you are chewing something. There's no requirement to go around gaping like a fish – it's easily achievable to keep your lips closed without letting the teeth meet each other – but a small ventilation hole makes things easier. Open the mouth large and rotate the jaws from time to time. Snapping, crackling and clicking sounds from the jaws are generally nothing to worry about, it might even hurt some in the beginning – but that will cease in time.

Other cures for headaches

Even headache cause of abstinence can be partly cured with the methods above since abstinence headache caused by for example lack of coffee mainly sits in the same tensed spots as described above. Headache cause of lack of coffee is no reason to stop drinking coffee though. Coffee contains lots of antioxidants and it is also rumored that coffee may work preventive against some neurological diseases, such as Parkinson's for instance. Another universal cause of headache is tensions in the muscles of the eye.

Causes of Kids' Headaches

Sam — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 09:30:15 +0000

Children have headaches just like adults, sometimes even more frequently than adults do. If the reason for the headache isn't apparent a doctor should be consulted as kid's headaches could indicate a more serious condition.

Some apparent causes of kid's headaches include an injury, an illness, stress or environmental factors. An injury to the head may require medical attention of course, but most bumps are still likely to create a headache even if they do not seem to be too bad at first.

Illness can take many forms, for most kids' headaches are common with a cold, flu, sinus infection, strep throat or a variety of other common childhood illnesses. Additionally sensitivity to certain foods can also be a trigger for a kid's headache.

Stress can give anyone a headache, kids' headaches caused by stress are thought to be more common than adults, and many children have a harder time dealing with intense situations or anxiety. This may be even more common in teenagers because of all the social and emotional changes in their everyday lives.

Environmental triggers are also very common culprits concerning kid's headaches, bright lights, loud noises, severe smells, smoke or pollution. Even the motion of travel can set a child's head to pounding.

Children and Migraines

In one study of children under age 17 a startling 8% of boys and 23% of girls said to have had a migraine headache at least once. This gives new insight to kids' headaches. Parents need to be aware of the possibilities so the most effective treatment methods can be implemented with the help of a doctor.

If a kid's headache is a migraine they will likely have a sour stomach, sensitivity to light and/or sound. They might also complain of severe pain around the eyes, forehead, and other areas of the head or neck.

One reason girls may experience more migraine headaches than boys do, is because of the hormonal changes that occur with the onset of their menstrual cycle. Hormonal changes have been known to cause both tension and migraine headaches in women.

Tension type headaches are also remarkably common in children; many children feel the stress piling up on them just as adults do. Many kids' headaches could be relived with relaxation techniques such as meditation or yoga.

Kid's headaches can be hard to diagnose, as such asking the right probing questions can be the determining factor of diagnosis. Knowing that tension headaches present severe pain in the head, neck, and shoulders or that migraines will often be accompanied by nausea and the desire to sleep can help parents choose the best treatments for their children.

There are Many Different Types and Causes of Headaches

Sam — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 21:15:04 +0000

Any irritation to the structure of the neck and head can lead to a person experiencing a headache. Furthermore, the sensation of pain can transmit it through associated nerves to other parts of the body such as a neck pain that can cause a person to suffer from a headache as well. No doubt, everybody is liable to have suffered from a headache at some point of time in their lives since it is indeed a very common illness.

"Fight Or Flight" Responses

The types of headaches are many and so too are the causes of headaches, and this is the reason why headaches come about so frequently and there are also instances of recurring headaches that are caused by many different factors. Perhaps the most common cause of headaches is stress which can cause a person to feel a 'fight or flight' feeling that usually is accompanied by shallow breathing as well as raised heart rate as well as high blood pressure. Even adrenaline amounts will shoot up and cause a person to experience a headache.

If you do not eat the proper food you will be more likely to suffer a headache as diet as well as sensitivity to food is another major cause of headache, especially the migraine headache. You may suffer from a headache because of variations in the blood sugar levels, or because of withdrawal of caffeine, or because of food additives.

Sometimes a dental abscess can be the cause of headache, especially following extraction when an infection may appear and there may be difficulty with your jaw joints that will cause local pain that is then transmitted to the face and head causing a headache. Even when your teeth are not properly aligned, you will still be at risk of getting a headache; so you need to get a dentist to look into this matter and find a proper treatment for it.

Hormones are what allow a person to experience pain, and sex hormones are believed to play an important role in causing a headache, especially in women before, or immediately after their menstrual period. If the sex hormone levels are low when menstruation is taking place, women may suffer a headache.

Persons with impaired vision will also be at risk of having a headache as this is a common cause of headache, especially when they need to squint, or strain their eye muscles in order to focus their eyes. Even glaucoma which is an eye disease can be a cause of headaches as they refer pain into the head's structure.

You can also find that headaches come about due to a disorder in the ear, nose or throat and common causes of headaches include sinus headaches, labyrinthitis, infections and traumas. Even damage to a person's nerves can be considered to be a cause of headaches.

What is a Chronic Headache?

Sam — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 00:45:03 +0000

People often complain about having a headache. There are many types of headaches and many types of causes of headaches. Some people suffer what physicians call chronic headaches. Chronic means that the headaches occur on a regular basis over a long term. If a person has had a headache for which lasts for several months with only intermittent relief they can probably assume they are suffering from a chronic headache.

The good news about chronic headaches is that they are seldom caused by a serious illness. People with chronic headaches often worry that they have a brain tumor or some other dreaded disease but these diseases more often have other symptoms before headaches occur and the headaches associated with such disease will usually come on suddenly and severely. Chronic headaches usually indicate a less severe condition although a painful condition.

Chronic Headaches Due to Migraines

Many chronic headaches are considered migraine headaches. Migraines are probably the least understood of all headaches but recent advances in medicine have made treatment of migraines much more successful. People who suffer with migraines complain of sudden, severe throbbing pain usually on one side of the head. The people often become very light and noise sensitive.

People with migraines have often found that the only cure is resting in a quiet dark room for an extended length of time. No one truly knows what sets off a migraine headache. It may be anything from flashing lights to some type of chemical reaction in the body. A physician can prescribe medication for the migraines and many of the recently discovered medications work well.

Other Causes of Chronic Headaches

There are other causes of chronic headaches some which have not even been discovered.
Sinus headaches and tension headaches which are left untreated can easily become chronic headaches. Certain types of allergies may cause headaches until they are diagnosed and treated. There is speculation by some individuals that certain sweeteners and preservatives may cause chronic headaches.

These claims have not been scientifically proven but many people relate their headaches to such chemicals. The best thing that a person who finds they are suffering from chronic headaches to do is to consult their doctor. A doctor can determine what the cause of the headache is and the best treatments available. Treatment may be as simple as dietary or environmental changes or may include daily medications. Whatever the course of treatment prescribed by the physician, the relief from the headache will be well worth it.

Natural headache relief

Sam — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 09:01:05 +0000

The greater parts of headaches are caused by tension, which tightens the muscles in the head. Vascular headaches, such as migraines and cluster headaches result from constricted blood vessels. Medications relieve headache temporarily. Long-term use of medications such as Demerol, ibuprofen, aspirin and codeine may increase the frequency of headaches or make them more severe. Natural remedies can offer relief, without side effects, by promoting relaxation or dilating constricted blood vessels. Some foods can trigger migraines. Migraine sufferers should avoid cheeses, such as Brie, Gruyere and cheddar, onions, alcohol and black tea. Coffee can provide relief for a headache when taken with aspirin. Coffee, which constricts blood vessels, increases the pain-relieving properties of aspirin. Intake of coffee should be limited to about two cups a day and no more than two aspirins should be taken a day.

Cures for headaches

When the headaches first starts, applying an ice pack can provide quick relief. The ice pack can be placed on the top of the head or on the forehead. Tension headaches result from stress and reduced blood flow to the brain, causing the neck muscles to tighten. To soothe the neck muscles apply heat. Applying a heating pad or taking a hot bath can provide relief. A massage can relieve stress and relax the muscles in the neck and other parts of the body. With the fingertips, massage the scalp and temples, using a circular motion. Studies have shown that Feverfew and Ginkgo reduce migraines and vascular headaches. The leaves of the Feverfew contain parthenolide, which inhibits the production of substances that dilate blood vessels and cause inflammation. Ginkgo also relieves ringing in the ear, and dizziness often associated with headaches. Feverfew and Ginkgo are available at health food stores.

Other cures of the headache

Ginger relaxes blood vessels in the head and reduces swelling in the brain. It activates natural opiates in the brain that relieve pain. Ginger can be taken in the form of tea or in tablets available at health food stores. Aromatherapy can promote relaxation and relieve stress and pain. Biofeedback techniques can be effective in preventing and relieving headaches. It helps change and controls the body's vital functions such as temperature, muscle tension and blood flow. Watching bodily reactions on a computer screen does this. Thermal biofeedback is commonly used for migraines. In this type of biofeedback, relaxation techniques are used to increase blood flow to the fingers, thereby diverting blood flow from the head. A certified biofeedback practitioner should be consulted for this technique. Although exercise should not be done during a headache, regular exercise, such as walking, jogging or swimming, can help prevent the occurrences of headaches.

Some Headache Remedies For Quick Relief

Sam — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 10:45:04 +0000

A headache, particularly a severe one, can quickly turn a day from great to awful. When you're suffering from a headache, all you really want is relief from the pain, and that can be sometimes hard to find.

There are a number of headache remedies for quick relief that you can try, from traditional to alternative, that will help you get back on track and living comfortably, as you should. By using one or a combination of these headache remedies to provide quick relief, you'll be feeling better in no time.

Traditional Medicine

It should go without saying that with all the other headache remedies for quick relief to try, you should make use of the medicine that's proven to work. By doing so, you'll tip the scales in your balance even faster, and have long-lasting relief as well.

Be sure to keep some aspirin, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen tablets both at home and at work, so you're never caught without some form of headache relief. If you are a frequent sufferer of migraines, ask your doctor for suggestions on what he can prescribe for headache remedies for quick relief.

Pressure

The use of pressure points comes from Eastern medicine, and is another good choice in headache remedies for quick relief. By applying pressure on particular points in the body, you can relieve the symptoms of a headache and feel better.

Acupressure makes use of Chinese medical techniques to help provide headache remedies for quick relief, but this isn't always an option if you don't know the pressure points or can't make it to a therapist. One point you can get yourself, though, is the webbed area between your finger and thumb, a simple example of headache remedies for quick relief, when you may not have access to other methods.

Herbs

For those looking for natural remedies, herbs are a great source of headache remedies for quick relief. For instance, peppermint has been used for a long time to soothe headache symptoms, and peppermint tea or peppermint extract can help ease your symptoms a little.

This herb is just as useful for its aroma, and peppermint essential oils used as a massage oil or to scent a room might improve your headache problem. Other herbs, such as passionflower, can be made into teas and used as headache remedies for quick relief, with relaxing and pain relieving properties. Ideally, using traditional medicine, herbs, and pressure points will provide three headache remedies for quick relief, so you can get to enjoying your life instead of suffering through it.

Chronic Sinus Headaches, or Something Else?

Sam — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 19:15:10 +0000

Many people believe they suffer from chronic sinus headaches because they frequently suffer from sever pain around their sinus areas in their face and head. It is possible to have chronic sinus headaches however the condition is rare and can only be diagnosed by a doctor.

A chronic sinus headache would not be as painful as the more common acute sinus headache which occurs during a sinus infection. When sinuses are clogged bacteria can grow in the nasal passages creating an infection of the nasal passages commonly known as a sinus infection.

The headache associated with a sinus infection is quite severe and common treatments such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen will not help the pain. Chronic sinus headaches and acute sinus headaches will often require antibiotics to kill the infection as well as medications to alleviate the sinus pain.

Migraine Headaches

Many self-diagnosed chronic sinus headache suffers could actually be suffering from migraine headaches, the pain occurs in much the same places in the face and head. However, the cause of migraine headaches are varied and rarely are related to an illness.

Some people who believe they suffer from chronic sinus headaches believe the change in weather or pollution such as chemical smells or smoke are the cause of their sinus headache. In fact, these are triggers of migraine headaches.

If an allergy does exist it would not cause a sinus headache, because with allergies such as pollen, dander, or dust which cause nasal drainage. The fact that there is drainage omits the possibility of chronic sinus headache occurrences.

Moreover, many people take over the counter medications for sinus headaches such as sinus relief medicines, allergy medicines, or other pain relieving medication. However, these medications often will have no effect on the headache.

Tension Headaches

Tension headaches are also often thought to be pain masquerading as chronic sinus headaches. Tension headaches can cause pain in the temples and across the forehead. Because of this many people do mistake tension headaches for chronic sinus headaches.

Many tension headaches are accompanied by pain in the neck and shoulders. Sometimes the pain is right at the base of the head. Because there are also glands here, this can confuse many people into believing that they are suffering from chronic sinus headaches instead of tension headaches.

A doctor can perform tests to determine if a person has chronic sinus headaches. If someone believes they have chronic sinus headaches they should immediately contact a physician as medial treatment is necessary to relieve the pain and kill the infection.

Some Simple Migraine Headache Remedies

Sam — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 08:15:02 +0000

Migraine headaches are difficult to deal with, since this affliction seems to affect people in different ways. Migraines can be a debilitating affliction, since when it hits some, the pain affects them so much that they can't go about their day normally.

If you suffer from frequent migraines, you'd want to know how to fight them, and while your doctor will probably prescribe medication for migraine headache remedies, you'll fight them more effectively if you know some home migraine headache remedies to help tip the scales in your favor or to help ease the suffering while the medicine works at you.

Finding Your Triggers

Migraines often are sparked by some sort of trigger, some sort of stimulus that regularly leads to migraines. One of the best migraine headache remedies is to avoid these triggers, so you don't give your headache a chance to even start. Common trigger foods include caffeine and alcohol, cheddar cheese, and nuts.

For some, strong smells like perfumes will trigger the migraines, and lack of sleep and stress can also lead to these. You'll help all your migraine headache remedies by learning what your triggers are, if any, and avoiding them in order to keep from getting the headache in the first place.

Heat and Cold

Some migraine headache remedies can help some while making the headache worse for others, and that's the case for warm and cold cloths. For some, resting a cold cloth or a hot one on the head can help ease the pain of a migraine headache.

But because not everyone seems to experience this headache in the same way, it also seems to increase the symptoms. Still, until you know if this works one way or the other, it's yet another one in the list of migraine headache remedies to try.

One of the more interesting migraine headache remedies that uses cold requires you to eat a bowl of ice cream in order to feel better! By using your tongue to push and hold spoonfuls of ice cream against your soft palate, you can trigger a reaction known as an ice cream headache. While this is normally a bad thing, for some people, the ice cream headache is one of the most effective migraine headache remedies, stopping a migraine quickly.

Sleep

Another of the simple, but effective migraine headache remedies is to take a nap. While this doesn't truly alleviate the migraine, while you're asleep, you won't notice the symptoms, and migraine headaches don't usually last longer than a nap would.

In this way, you get some rest and avoid dealing with the pain and the exhaustion that sometimes can come as a result of coping with a migraine. This tactic, combined with one or several of the other migraine headache remedies, should help ease the problems you have from this common affliction.

Headache medicine

Sam — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 16:45:04 +0000

The over-the-counter and prescription medications that are used to treat migraine pain fall into two general categories: those for use during an attack and those that help prevent attacks. A sufferer may need to take different medications to address distinct symptoms. For example, some drugs can help relieve the nausea and vomiting, while others may ease the head pain.

Recent news about the safety and efficacy of cox-2 inhibitors and other pain medications has raised concerns about taking some prescription drugs for headaches, with 19 percent of headache sufferers reducing their dosage of headache medication or discontinuing their use altogether, according to a new survey sponsored by the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain, whose members are specially trained in the treatment of headaches and face pain.

About the AACFP

The AACFP Craniofacial Pain Survey (CFPS) also found that among those taking prescription drugs for their headaches, narcotic analgesics are most common, with 88 percent of prescription users also taking OTC medications for their headaches. People with the most frequent headaches are twice as likely as less frequent sufferers to combat their problem with prescription drugs. Because muscles and joints of the head and face are often overlooked as a source of headaches, it's not surprising that patients are still suffering despite all these medications. Impact of Headache on Family, Work The survey also found that headaches have a significant impact on family, social and work life, especially greatest among those with frequent headaches.

Conclusion

Fully three-quarters of Americans with weekly headaches admit their social or family life or work suffers in a variety of ways. In fact, almost half of those with weekly headaches say their condition keeps them from working to their potential. Isometheptene, dichloralphenazone, and acetaminophen combination is used to treat certain kinds of headaches, such as tension headaches and migraine headaches. This combination is not used regularly to prevent headaches. It should be taken only after headache pain begins, or after a warning sign that a migraine is coming appears. Isometheptene helps to relieve throbbing headaches, but it is not an ordinary pain reliever. Dichloralphenazone helps you to relax, and acetaminophen relieves pain.

Understanding Migraine Headache Causes

Sam — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 20:00:07 +0000

Many doctors believe that people commonly mistake a migraine headache for a sinus headache. This can be because migraine headache causes can be similar to what most people think causes sinus headaches.

One of the migraine headache causes people commonly mistake for sinus headache causes is the weather. The change in air pressure causes many people to have migraine headaches, some people are so sensitive to this change that even high humidity can change cause migraine headaches.

Food Sensitivities

Food sensitivities can also cause migraine headaches. Common foods are dairy products, artificial sweeteners, chocolate, alcohol, processed meat products (lunch meat, hot dogs), caffeine, and most fatty foods.

For a person to determine if their migraine headache cause is food related there are simple tests that can help to make this clear. A doctor may suggest omitting the suspect food from the person's diet for a set amount of time or keeping a food and headache diary, recording what foods the person eats and which of those days headaches occur to try to establish a pattern.

Environmental Factors

Some migraine headache causes are from a person's surroundings such as bright lights, strong smells or rhythmic motion. There are many external migraine headache causes which people cannot always avoid, these people may be able to take some precautions such as wearing sun glasses or taking an over the counter motion sickness medication if the nausea leads to headaches when traveling.

Mental Stress

Stress is a common cause of migraine headaches. Many people have anxiety from situations in the work place, at home, with family, and many other situations which lead to severe headaches.

Depression has also been linked as a possible migraine headache cause; when people suffer from depression they tend to use extra stimulants such as coffee or nicotine to compensate for their moods which can also cause migraine headaches. Some people also tend to consume alcohol when they are depressed to cope with their feelings. An excess of alcohol is also a known cause of migraine headaches.

Physical Causes

A disruption in a person's normal sleeping pattern can also be one of a migraine headache's causes, every person's body requires a unique amount of sleep, for most people that is between six and nine hours each night. When a person has trouble sleeping it can affect their whole next day by plaguing them with severe head pain, nausea, and sensitivity to light or sound.

This can also be true if a person is getting too much sleep either all at once or by napping throughout the day. Most people thrive on sleeping for a set amount of time each day waking and sleeping at the same times, for some migraine headache sufferers regulating their sleeping pattern could reduce their occurrence of headaches immensely.

There are many more migraine headache causes, if a person thinks they may be suffering from migraine headaches, they should consult a doctor. No one should suffer with migraine pain because there are so many medications, some with very rare and mild side effects which can help migraines last less than an hour instead of hours or days which are common to some sufferers.