At some point in our lives, we experience headaches. The pain that we experience may be mild or severe. It may also last for a few minutes or will exist for hours and then for longer. Some headaches experienced by people are too severe to the extent they can't bear it anymore. Headaches are caused by various reasons. One is caused by a stressful activity we have indulged ourselves in. Other reason is migraine. To be sure, if you're in doubt of the cause for your headache, you must consult a doctor. It may not be a simple headache that pain relievers can work with. Migraines and brain tumors are two of the other possibilities.
People getting headaches don't panic having one. As a matter of observation, people get used to it. Some, however take it for granted. It may just be caused by a stress of thinking too much. The one that they do as a reaction is take a pain reliever and that's all. For people who are thinking for a lot of times, it is normal. But sometimes, headache may not always be that simple. Let us stress the one reason mentioned above. It is called headache migraine.
Headaches (due to migraine) is recurring. It is felt more than once in a time. The pain differs from ordinary stress headaches. It is more intense and throbbing, one cannot take it for granted. The pain runs in the forehead, at the back of the head, and sometimes in the area around the eyes. Besides this situation, others though, still choose to endure the pain and not see a doctor. It will not do good. Advises from the physician are the bests. Due to lack of info, the activities that you do may be worsening the headache. It is better that you rest and stop walking around for longer periods.
Migraine, when it attacks, causes headache. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, facial pallor, cold hands, cold feet, and sensitivity to light and sound are also experienced when one has a migraine.
How to diagnose migraine? When the symptoms of migraine are experienced by the patient, he is more likely to have a migraine. However, further tests are conducted by medical doctors to affirm the anticipation. Some tests done include blood testing, brain scanning, and a spinal tap.
Migraine can be through heredity. Genetic proneness may have been passed to you by your parents that is why you are experiencing it. Migraine starts at early age then onwards.
A cure for migraine is available. Treatments and medications paves the way to successfully eliminating the illness from you. For instance, preventing the pain is not a way of treating it. But for the purpose of relieving it, some points may help. Resting and lying down help minimize the intensity of the pain, if not make it disappear totally. Sleeping is good to do. Taking pain relievers will also, for some, eliminate the pain.
Whether the goal is to prevent or cure the migraine, it is also helpful that some don'ts are seriously subscribed. Dietary prescriptions are to be followed. Some food will have to be avoided like cheese. Smoking has also to be cut out from one's habits.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Types of Headache
Headache is one of the most common health related conditions in Australia, with around 15 per cent of us taking painkillers for a headache at any given time.
Below lists some of the major headache types:
* Migraine
* Muscle Contraction Headache/Acute Tension Type Headache
* Chronic Daily Headache
* Cluster Headache
* Ice Pick/Ice Cream Headache
* Sinister Headache: Meningitis/Subarachnoid Haemorrhage/Cranial Arteritis
* Facial Headache: Acute Sinusitis, Post Herpetic Neuralgia, Trigeminal Neuralgia, Temporomandibular Joint
Today, despite the toll headaches still take on millions of people around the world, we have made enormous progress in treating them. New medications, combined with nondrug therapies, are preventing, stopping or managing some of the toughest headaches around.
Tension headache
Tension headache is the most common type of headache. Two out of three people will have at least one tension headache in their lifetime.
Sinus headaches: Sinus headaches are associated with a deep and constant pain in the cheekbones, forehead or bridge of the nose.
Ice-cream headache
Eating something very cold can cause a sharp pain in the middle of your forehead or over one temple. People who get migraines may be more likely to get an ice-cream headache — so-named because it comes on immediately after eating ice-cream.
Migraine headache
Three times as many women (15 per cent) as men (5 per cent) suffer from migraine, and hormones are thought to play a significant role.
Cluster headache
Cluster headaches are relatively uncommon and tend to mainly affect men.
Vascular headaches
Vascular headaches are related to blood vessels; includes migraines and cluster headaches.
Secondary headaches
A secondary headache is a side effect of another disorder.
Hormone headache
Some women experience severe headaches including migraines at times when their hormones fluctuate, for example, around the time of their period each month or around the time of ovulation.
Chronic progressive headaches
Also called traction or inflammatory headaches, chronic progressive headaches get worse and happen more often over time.
Eye strain headache
If you have visual problems that have not been addressed by prescription glasses or contact lenses, you can get an eye strain headache, which typically causes pain and a weighty feeling around the eyes.
Temporo-mandibular joint headache
Some people may get muscle tension and pain related to a disorder of the temporo-mandibular joint (TMJ), the joint just in front of each ear, where your jaw bone connects to your skull.
Acute headaches
Seen in children, these are headaches that occur suddenly and for the first time and have symptoms that subside after a relatively short period of time.
Mixed headache syndrome
Also called transformed migraines, this is a combination of migraine and tension headaches. Both adults and children experience this type of headache.
Below lists some of the major headache types:
* Migraine
* Muscle Contraction Headache/Acute Tension Type Headache
* Chronic Daily Headache
* Cluster Headache
* Ice Pick/Ice Cream Headache
* Sinister Headache: Meningitis/Subarachnoid Haemorrhage/Cranial Arteritis
* Facial Headache: Acute Sinusitis, Post Herpetic Neuralgia, Trigeminal Neuralgia, Temporomandibular Joint
Today, despite the toll headaches still take on millions of people around the world, we have made enormous progress in treating them. New medications, combined with nondrug therapies, are preventing, stopping or managing some of the toughest headaches around.
Tension headache
Tension headache is the most common type of headache. Two out of three people will have at least one tension headache in their lifetime.
Sinus headaches: Sinus headaches are associated with a deep and constant pain in the cheekbones, forehead or bridge of the nose.
Ice-cream headache
Eating something very cold can cause a sharp pain in the middle of your forehead or over one temple. People who get migraines may be more likely to get an ice-cream headache — so-named because it comes on immediately after eating ice-cream.
Migraine headache
Three times as many women (15 per cent) as men (5 per cent) suffer from migraine, and hormones are thought to play a significant role.
Cluster headache
Cluster headaches are relatively uncommon and tend to mainly affect men.
Vascular headaches
Vascular headaches are related to blood vessels; includes migraines and cluster headaches.
Secondary headaches
A secondary headache is a side effect of another disorder.
Hormone headache
Some women experience severe headaches including migraines at times when their hormones fluctuate, for example, around the time of their period each month or around the time of ovulation.
Chronic progressive headaches
Also called traction or inflammatory headaches, chronic progressive headaches get worse and happen more often over time.
Eye strain headache
If you have visual problems that have not been addressed by prescription glasses or contact lenses, you can get an eye strain headache, which typically causes pain and a weighty feeling around the eyes.
Temporo-mandibular joint headache
Some people may get muscle tension and pain related to a disorder of the temporo-mandibular joint (TMJ), the joint just in front of each ear, where your jaw bone connects to your skull.
Acute headaches
Seen in children, these are headaches that occur suddenly and for the first time and have symptoms that subside after a relatively short period of time.
Mixed headache syndrome
Also called transformed migraines, this is a combination of migraine and tension headaches. Both adults and children experience this type of headache.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Top 13 triggers that can cause headache
Everyone at some point in their lives suffers from a headache. In severe cases, headaches can adversely affect the quality of life of the sufferer. If you have had headaches since childhood, for whatever particular reason, you most certainly must have been to the doctor to get yourself checked out. When the doctor was examining you, he may have mentioned the word 'trigger'. What is this trigger?
In the case of a headache, the word 'trigger' means something that initiates the headache. The trigger may not be the direct cause of the headache, but it assists or provokes the start of an attack in a patient who already suffers from them.
Everybody may have a different cause behind the triggers of their headaches. Common headache triggers vary, depending upon the type of headache and on the individual.
Below is the list of probable causes and the effective ways to deal with them:
1. Stress
Stress is the most common trigger for most headaches. Stress at work, personal problems, depression or frustration can trigger some severe cases of headache, both tension headaches (also called stress headaches) and migraines.
Tension headaches can either be episodic (triggered by a build-up of stress or an isolated stressful situation) or chronic (triggered by daily stress such as from a high-pressured job). Migraines come from changes within the brain itself. During stressful events, certain chemicals in the brain are released to combat the situation. These chemicals can alter blood vessel dilation that can cause migraine headaches.
The best way to avoid this trigger is to de-stress regularly using some effective meditation technique.
2. Specific foods
Certain fruits (avocado, papaya, pineapple, raspberries, strawberries), certain vegetables (raw garlic, lentils, mushrooms, olives, onions), certain dairy products (sour cream, yogurt, cheese), red wine and certain food additives (Tyrosine, Tyramine, Monosodium glutamate (MSG)) are also responsible for triggering a headache. But these factors are only dependent on the individuals. So if you are suffering from these triggers, it is best to avoid them altogether.
3. Seasonal changes
Many people experience headaches or migraines during the change of seasons, when the weather changes from a sunny day to a rainy day etc. This is because the hypothalamus is very sensitive to seasonal variation. These weather-related headaches are more commonly known as barometric pressure headaches. Unfortunately, there is no way to avoid these other than taking some over-the-counter medications.
4. Sleep deprivation
With our fast-paced lives, it is very difficult to get eight sound hours of sleep. A recent study indicated that those who slept an average of six hours a night had significantly more severe and more frequent headaches than those who got more than eight hours of sleep. So make sure you get a good eight hours of sleep everyday to wake up fresh and lively.
5. Sex
In one survey, 46 percent of headache sufferers said sex had triggered a headache. Mostly men confirmed that the pain builds during foreplay or they get a sudden headache around orgasm. This pain is a result of overexertion of the body. Physical exertion causes blood vessels in the neck, head, and scalp to swell, producing a build-up in pressure. So if you feel tired and exhausted, take a break from your nightly schedule. Strenuous exercise can also lead to exertion headaches.
6. Poor posture
The way you sit can also trigger tension headaches, as a result of pressure build-up in the head and neck muscles. Slouching at your desk, hunching your shoulders, staring at a screen that is too low or too high, using a chair with poor support for thelower back and using your shoulder and ear to hold the phone are all examples of poor posture. Take a good look at your workspace and make sure it is set up in a way to prevent headaches.
7. Nutrition
You are more vulnerable to a headache if you are dehydrated or have not received proper nutrition. Low blood sugar, high blood sugar and other food-related issues can cause blood vessels to dilate, which further triggers headaches. So listen to your body often. If you feel hungry or thirsty, don't deprive your body of what it requires.
8. Certain smells
Certain smells like household cleaners, along with perfumes and fragrances, air fresheners, house paint etc contain chemicals that can bring on headaches or trigger migraines in many people. If you're susceptible to headaches brought on by these smells, avoid them altogether. Use a table fan to drive these fumes away.
9. Hair accessories
Hair accessories can also trigger headaches, depending upon how you wear them. For example, a tight ponytail can cause strain on the connective tissue of the scalp, leading to a hairdo headache. Tight-fitting hats, braids and headbands can also have the same effect. If you notice problems, try to avoid keeping your hair pulled back too tightly and let it loose.
10. Hormonal changes
When estrogen levels (female sex hormones) fluctuate dramatically, just before and during a woman's menstrual period, it may cause a headache. OTC medications are your best bet in such cases.
11. Cold foods
Do you get a sharp, stabbing pain in your forehead when you eat or drink some cold foods? If yes, then these are called ice cream headaches. There is no treatment available as such for these headaches, but they generally last for less than five minutes. The pain in this type of headache is usually felt in the middle of the forehead.
12. Medication
Several medications (both prescription and nonprescription) given to you by your doctor can also cause headaches, especially if you use them regularly. These include cold medicines (decongestants, antihistamines), diabetes medications, birth control pills (oral contraceptives) etc. You may contact your doctor to get your dosage changed in such cases. Overuse of pain medicines may also trigger headache (rebound headache), especially in people who have frequent and severe headaches.
13. Smoking
Another reason to add to your list of incentives to quit smoking. It not only triggers headaches in smokers, but also in people who are exposed to the secondhand smoke of cigarettes. Nicotine, contained in the cigarette smoke, causes blood vessels in the brain to narrow.
Triggers should be at the top of the list during any examination for a headache. Once you know your set of triggers, try to avoid them to live a headache-free life.
In the case of a headache, the word 'trigger' means something that initiates the headache. The trigger may not be the direct cause of the headache, but it assists or provokes the start of an attack in a patient who already suffers from them.
Everybody may have a different cause behind the triggers of their headaches. Common headache triggers vary, depending upon the type of headache and on the individual.
Below is the list of probable causes and the effective ways to deal with them:
1. Stress
Stress is the most common trigger for most headaches. Stress at work, personal problems, depression or frustration can trigger some severe cases of headache, both tension headaches (also called stress headaches) and migraines.
Tension headaches can either be episodic (triggered by a build-up of stress or an isolated stressful situation) or chronic (triggered by daily stress such as from a high-pressured job). Migraines come from changes within the brain itself. During stressful events, certain chemicals in the brain are released to combat the situation. These chemicals can alter blood vessel dilation that can cause migraine headaches.
The best way to avoid this trigger is to de-stress regularly using some effective meditation technique.
2. Specific foods
Certain fruits (avocado, papaya, pineapple, raspberries, strawberries), certain vegetables (raw garlic, lentils, mushrooms, olives, onions), certain dairy products (sour cream, yogurt, cheese), red wine and certain food additives (Tyrosine, Tyramine, Monosodium glutamate (MSG)) are also responsible for triggering a headache. But these factors are only dependent on the individuals. So if you are suffering from these triggers, it is best to avoid them altogether.
3. Seasonal changes
Many people experience headaches or migraines during the change of seasons, when the weather changes from a sunny day to a rainy day etc. This is because the hypothalamus is very sensitive to seasonal variation. These weather-related headaches are more commonly known as barometric pressure headaches. Unfortunately, there is no way to avoid these other than taking some over-the-counter medications.
4. Sleep deprivation
With our fast-paced lives, it is very difficult to get eight sound hours of sleep. A recent study indicated that those who slept an average of six hours a night had significantly more severe and more frequent headaches than those who got more than eight hours of sleep. So make sure you get a good eight hours of sleep everyday to wake up fresh and lively.
5. Sex
In one survey, 46 percent of headache sufferers said sex had triggered a headache. Mostly men confirmed that the pain builds during foreplay or they get a sudden headache around orgasm. This pain is a result of overexertion of the body. Physical exertion causes blood vessels in the neck, head, and scalp to swell, producing a build-up in pressure. So if you feel tired and exhausted, take a break from your nightly schedule. Strenuous exercise can also lead to exertion headaches.
6. Poor posture
The way you sit can also trigger tension headaches, as a result of pressure build-up in the head and neck muscles. Slouching at your desk, hunching your shoulders, staring at a screen that is too low or too high, using a chair with poor support for thelower back and using your shoulder and ear to hold the phone are all examples of poor posture. Take a good look at your workspace and make sure it is set up in a way to prevent headaches.
7. Nutrition
You are more vulnerable to a headache if you are dehydrated or have not received proper nutrition. Low blood sugar, high blood sugar and other food-related issues can cause blood vessels to dilate, which further triggers headaches. So listen to your body often. If you feel hungry or thirsty, don't deprive your body of what it requires.
8. Certain smells
Certain smells like household cleaners, along with perfumes and fragrances, air fresheners, house paint etc contain chemicals that can bring on headaches or trigger migraines in many people. If you're susceptible to headaches brought on by these smells, avoid them altogether. Use a table fan to drive these fumes away.
9. Hair accessories
Hair accessories can also trigger headaches, depending upon how you wear them. For example, a tight ponytail can cause strain on the connective tissue of the scalp, leading to a hairdo headache. Tight-fitting hats, braids and headbands can also have the same effect. If you notice problems, try to avoid keeping your hair pulled back too tightly and let it loose.
10. Hormonal changes
When estrogen levels (female sex hormones) fluctuate dramatically, just before and during a woman's menstrual period, it may cause a headache. OTC medications are your best bet in such cases.
11. Cold foods
Do you get a sharp, stabbing pain in your forehead when you eat or drink some cold foods? If yes, then these are called ice cream headaches. There is no treatment available as such for these headaches, but they generally last for less than five minutes. The pain in this type of headache is usually felt in the middle of the forehead.
12. Medication
Several medications (both prescription and nonprescription) given to you by your doctor can also cause headaches, especially if you use them regularly. These include cold medicines (decongestants, antihistamines), diabetes medications, birth control pills (oral contraceptives) etc. You may contact your doctor to get your dosage changed in such cases. Overuse of pain medicines may also trigger headache (rebound headache), especially in people who have frequent and severe headaches.
13. Smoking
Another reason to add to your list of incentives to quit smoking. It not only triggers headaches in smokers, but also in people who are exposed to the secondhand smoke of cigarettes. Nicotine, contained in the cigarette smoke, causes blood vessels in the brain to narrow.
Triggers should be at the top of the list during any examination for a headache. Once you know your set of triggers, try to avoid them to live a headache-free life.
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