Migraine Trigger Watch

Migraine Auras

Sam — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:00:06 +0000

A migraine aura is a specific type of prodrome, or premonition, that heralds a migraine. It is a symptom or series of symptoms that let migraineurs, people who suffer from chronic migraines, know in advance that a migraine headache is about to make itself felt.

Aura effects develop over about five minutes and generally occur from twenty minutes to an hour prior to the start of a headache. They are a symptom of what used to be called "classic migraine". Recently, medical practitioners have moved to a more scientifically accurate term, migraine-with-aura. Only about 15-20% of migraineurs consistently experience any kind of aura before a headache begins.

Aura Effects

Most migraine auras are visual. These auras are called positive visual phenomena because, rather than their vision fading or going dark, people who experience them see things. Examples include:

-Auras or Haloes: a nimbus of light or haze surrounding objects, particularly light sources

-Flashing or Floating Lights: colored or white (rarely dark) spots that appear to move

-Lightning Bolts: a jagged or zigzag line that sparkles and/or arcs over the field of vision; with the frequency or severity increasing over time until the person can no longer see (a whiteout); This effect usually stops with the onset of headache pain.

-Photophobia: an extreme sensitivity to light; this effect frequently lasts the duration of the headache

Most auras last less than an hour. Migraineurs who experience auras that last more than an hour are said to suffer from migraines with prolonged aura. In some cases a migraineur may experience aura effects without a headache developing, but it is still considered to be a symptom of chronic migraines. At various times the same person may experience all three variations, migraine with aura, migraine with prolonged aura, or typical aura without headache.

Migraines and Exercise

Sam — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:45:02 +0000

There are so many good reasons to begin an exercise program that you really don't even need one more. Nevertheless, you are about to read one more: Exercise can help in the treatment of migraines.

Studies have found overwhelming evidence to support the idea that just moderate aerobic exercise helps to reduce not only the intensity, but also the frequency and even the duration of migraine headaches in those who experience migraines without aura.

Migraine headaches come in two varieties. Most sufferers experience severe headaches along with nausea and a heightened sensitivity to both light and sound. When the headache is accompanied by bizarre visual disturbances or unusual head sensations this is known as migraine headache with aura. Aura usually occurs before any actual head pain in a migraine episode. Most migraine suffers, however, do not experience these extreme sensations and instead experience what is known as migraine without aura. Rapid changes in the flow of blood to the head is believed to be the cause of the migraine. The aura is theorized to be associated with constriction of blood vessels in the head, and when the vessels then widen again the result is head pain, nausea, and sensitivity to light and sound.

Studies have found that aerobic exercise can be helpful in migraine management, although exercising during the migraine episode itself can actually worsen the problem. One study involving patients with a history of migraines who participated in an aerobic exercise program revealed that they had experienced fewer migraines that were also of lessened intensity and shorter duration than did those with a history of migraines who did not exercise. Increased levels of endorphins and other chemicals in the body are thought to be behind the reduction of the episodes and the mitigation of the symptoms. Endorphins are chemicals released inside the body that are associated with reducing pain.

Another study looked at people who had experienced migraines with aura chronically and were enrolled in an exercise program. These people were studied after they had ceased their intake of all anti-migraine medications that they had been using previous to the study and began the exercise program after six weeks. The session involved a ten-minute warm-up followed by twenty minutes of aerobic exercise performed at a moderate rate, followed by a ten minute long cooling off session. Participants in this study exercised three times a week for six weeks, however they did not exercise during migraine headaches. Their levels of endorphin were measured both before and after the first exercise session and then again at the end of the study. In the last four weeks of the study, those who had participated in this study reported significantly reduced frequency of their migraines, along with reductions both intensity and duration. Endorphin levels had increased after exercise in all of the participants, but interestingly it was those participants who began with the lower endorphin levels who experienced greater increases in endorphins after exercise.

The results of these studies indicate what most people probably already knew: that exercise is good for you even if you have migraines. When it comes to aerobic exercises, especially when done moderately, you have a tremendous number of choices. Simply going for a walk can also help in relaxing you if you live in an area where going for a walk takes you away from traffic and dogs and mean little kids. Or you could try biking in order to better escape the dogs and kids, but you still have to deal with the traffic.

On the other hand, you may wish to go the treadmill route. They aren't nearly as expensive as they used to be and the cost would be well worth it if the result is avoiding headaches for the rest of your life.

Probably the best bet is to either shell out the dough for a health club membership or, better yet, buy one of those recumbent bikes. These are great because you can sit back and sort of relax, watch your favorite TV show or even play a video while getting your exercise, knocking off some pounds and may even beating your migraines.

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.

Running into Migraines

Sam — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 20:30:05 +0000

Exercise is good for you. Being fit will help your whole body feel better, including your migraines, right? So why did your headache specialist just tell you to drop out of this weekend's 10K if you want to be able to go to work on Monday?

A regular exercise program is a great migraine deterrent, but it needs to be the right kind of exercise. Many workout types put a real strain on the cardiovascular system and scientists have linked migraines to vascular problems in the temporal artery, among other potential causes.

Migraineurs who want to sweat need to warm up, slowly, for about fifteen minutes prior to any strenuous exertion, whether it is exercise or home repair. Skipping this warm up is nearly a guarantee that a migraine will be interrupting your plans later in the day.

While any exertion can be good or bad and each migraineur is different, there are a few types of exercise that are notorious for bringing down the head.

* Aerobics: high-intensity aerobics classes are a trigger for many women, especially when the cardio-pounding workout is paired with loud music.
* Biking: Whether it is competitive cycling or spinning class at the club, this is a major trigger for many.
* Running: Any kind of running that involves hard-core exertion, especially endurance events like marathons and triathlons.

You may be able to keep doing these things, especially if you really enjoy them, but you need to think about toning down the endurance aspect. Cycling should be for pleasure and exercise but not competitive. Replace high impact aerobics classes with dance, yoga, or free weight aerobics. Reduce the distance you run and see if it helps with the migraines. There is no reason a migraineur cannot be fit, just do not run yourself into a migraine.

The Best Books on Migraines

Sam — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 09:00:02 +0000

Want to make some good cash? Write a book about migraines. No, seriously. With hundreds of millions of migraine sufferers all across the world and no sure-fire cure, books about migraines are a cottage industry. In fact, there just might be as many books about migraines as web sites about migraines.

Unfortunately, many of the books available on migraines were not written by anyone with any particular knowledge or qualifications. Many books on the subject contain bogus information or are really nothing more than advertising ploys bent on selling you even more bogus treatments.

It would be impossible to read them all, but we've done some research for you and have managed to weed out the completely useless from the least slightly useful.

What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Migraines: The Breakthrough Program That Can Help End Your Pain by Alexander Mauskop.

Offers a natural therapy program that combines over-the-counter supplements (magnesium, vitamin B2, feverfew) with stress-reducing tips, exercise tips and a plan to avoid environmental triggers.

Breaking the Headache Cycle : A Proven Program for Treating and Preventing Recurring Headaches by Ian Livingstone and Donna Novak.

The authors take as their central position that theory that migraines are related to an unusually sensitive nervous system. The authors are convinced that medication alone won't cure migraines, but should be used as just one aspect of an overall containment program that includes breathing exercises, diet changes, and even taking part in support groups. In addition, the book promises to educate the reader on how to spot migraines before they hit and ward them off and even ways to keep migraines from forming.

All In My Head: An Epic Quest to Cure an Unrelenting, Totally Unreasonable, and Only Slightly Enlightening Headache by Paula Kamen.

A first person account of the migraine-suffering author's attempts to find relief for his headaches through such alternative approaches as cranial-sacral adjustments, acupuncture, gluten-free diets, yoga and, yes, even magnets. What really makes this book interesting is Kamen's take on the medical establishment treats patients suffering from so-called "invisible ailments" and chronic pain by turning their problems into psychological disorders.

The Women's Migraine Survival Guide: The Most Complete, Up To Date Resource on the Causes of Your Migraine Pain and Treatments for Real Relief by Christina Peterson.

Offering advice especially geared toward women, especially information on why women are more affected than men, how menstruation, pregnancy and menopause related to migraines, advice on alternative treatments including vitamin supplements, acupuncture, and herbs.

The Headache Prevention Cookbook: Eating Right to Prevent Migraines and Other Headaches by David & Laura Marks

The idea here is that if you follow the authors' diet and recipes for a minimum of eight weeks then you can narrow down the foods that trigger your migraines by the gradual reintroduction of foods at a rate of one per week so that it's easier to track which one is the culprit. Once the culprit is exposed, you can attain a future free of headaches by simply avoiding the trigger food.

Conquering Your Migraine : The Essential Guide to Understanding and Treating Migraines for all Sufferers and Their Families by Seymour Diamond and Mary Franklin.

Advice on identifying migraine danger signs, treating migraine when you suffer from depression, identifying possible 21st century "miracle drugs," tips on relaxation therapy, biofeedback and other alternative preventative therapies.

In addition to the books described above, a wealth of helpful information on a wide variety of topics related migraine headaches can also be found in the following books. And it seems as if a new book about migraines comes out every week so keep an eye on your bookstore shelves.

Overcoming Migraine: A Comprehensive Guide to Treatment and Prevention by a Survivor by Betsy Wyckoff.

50 Ways to Control Migraines: Proven Relief for Adults, Adolescents, and Child Migraine Sufferers by Ceabert Griffith.

Migraine Headache Prevention and Management edited by Seymour Diamond.

Everything You Need to Know Migraines and Other Headaches by Barbara Moe.

Dietary Triggers for Migraine by Agnes Hartnell and G. Scott Tyler.

Migraine, What Works: A Complete Guide to Overcoming and Preventing Pain by Joseph Kandel and David Sudderth.

Managing Your Migraine: A Migraine Sufferer's Practical Guide by Susan L. Burks.

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.

Finding a Migraine Doctor

Sam — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 16:15:31 +0000

You have severe, debilitating headaches that cause you to vomit and huddle in a dark room for hours waiting for them to go away. Chances are they are migraines. The only way to know for sure, and start on the path to managing your condition if they are migraines, is to be properly diagnosed.

The first step should always be your regular doctor. One out of every eight people suffers from migraines, so chances are good that your doctor has seen someone who has migraines before. If your regular doctor does not feel qualified to properly diagnose the source of your headaches or discounts your pain, it may be time for a specialist.

Ask your doctor for a referral to a headache specialist. If they do not know anyone, check with your insurance company to see if they have any specialists listed. If that doesn't work (or even if it does), contact your local medical board. You can also try one of the major headache organizations for professionals, not patients, and ask for the name of three or four specialists in your area.

Check with friends and family. The odds are good you know someone with migraines and they may just have a doctor they love. Another good place to ask for a referral is at a local teaching hospital or university.

When you have a few names, call and find out more about the doctor. Some good screening questions to ask the doctor are:

* How long have you been specializing in headache treatment and how often do you treat headache patients?
* Are you certified in your specialty (for doctors in the U.S. and Canada)?
* Do you belong to any headache-oriented professional organizations?
* Do you participate in any kind of continuing education program to stay apprised of the latest research on headache diagnosis and treatment?

Migraines and Pregnancy

Sam — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 06:15:03 +0000

No one is exempt from migraines and women are especially prone so it's just a matter of averages to expect that migraines will affect pregnancies. Women should naturally be concerned about taking medications during pregnancy, whether over the counter or prescription, and since most people turn automatically to medication to treat the severe headaches caused by migraines, it's doubly important to be aware of the consequences of taking migraine medication during pregnancy.

Unfortunately, the plain fact of the matter is that the effects of most headache medications on pregnant women and their unborn children still remains in the dark. Because of this uncertainty, women who suffer from migraines really need-when possible, of course-to work their migraine relief into their pregnancy plan right from the beginning, even before conception. Most experts in migraine prevention and relief strongly advise a slow tapering off medication prior to attempting to conceive. A slow tapering off means about a week, by the way, not several months.

Of course, many women suffer from headaches far too extreme to even consider tapering off their medication. If this is the case with you, it is highly recommended that before attempting to become pregnant you make an appointment with your doctor and to talk over the risks of sticking with your medications while pregnant. It's been well established that some medications such as Depakote have caused birth defects, but many other preventative medications such as beta-blockers and tricyclics have been proven relatively safe. If you're taking drugs by injection, like Imitrex, you'll definitely have to stop taking it because there just simply isn't enough evidence of its safety during pregnancy.

Since most birth defects occur during the first few months of life, often before the mother even realizes she is pregnant at all, it is not a good idea to wait until confirming the pregnancy before making decisions on medication and pregnancy.

Of course, there is more to pregnancy and migraines than just being careful with medication. Pregnancy means food cravings and food cravings means eating things you don't normally eat, or least eating them in a bulk you don't normally eat them in. Food and food additives are major league triggers of migraines so when pregnant, be sure to be careful about what you eat. In particularly, avoid foods high in MSG and stay away from strong aged cheeses, which are well known triggers for migraine attacks. It couldn't hurt to avoid low blood sugar by eating complex carbohydrates rather than refined sugars. On the other hand, when using sugar substitutes be sure to stay away from aspartame (NutraSweet).

Generally speaking, a woman who doesn't have any other health problems besides migraines probably doesn't run any special risk. On the other hand, if your first migraine onsets during pregnancy, it is vitally important to get to a doctor so that he can rule out any other dangerous conditions such brain hemorrhage, meningitis, or even tumors. Further testing may be needed to determine the cause of the headache.

Migraine treatment during pregnancy tends to be of the medical alternative variety such as the use of cold packs, darkened room, and sleep. Although caffeine is one of the trickiest of all food-related migraine triggers to deal with, taking it in small doses during the first trimester is usually safe, as is the use of acetaminophen in small doses.

When it comes to both pregnancy in general and migraines in general, one of the best thing you do to is to relieve the amount of stress in your life. Yes, it's very easy to say you're going to reduce stress and it's altogether something else to actually do it, but if you can take small steps here and there to reduce or eliminate tension-causing elements from your life, you'll be surprised at the effect it has on your migraines. Not to mention the effect it will have on your pregnancy.

One last thing to be aware of concerning pregnancy and migraines. Patients are often giving hormones to induce labor and this frequently causes migraines. Labor is painful enough without adding migraine pain to it so be sure your delivery care person knows you are prone to migraines before the decision is made to induce labor.

Sinus Headache or Migraine?

Sam — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 09:15:03 +0000

Many people with migraines go for years without being properly diagnosed because they continue their erroneous assumption that what they are experiencing is merely a common sinus headache. One study found that a whopping 97% of people who described their headaches as sinus headaches were actually experiencing symptoms associated with migraines. The problem is that the symptoms of migraine headaches and sinus headaches often overlap, leading to confusion that can be very serious if your migraine goes undiagnosed. One reason behind this confusion may lie in the fact that the same nerves that carry migraine pain also travel to the sinuses. Pain in the sinuses, face or around the eyes can be felt during a migraine on one or both sides of the head. In addition, the nerves that cause stuffy or runny nose and watery eyes can be also be activated during a migraine.

Sinus headaches

Sinus headaches usually result from a sinus infection or allergies, or else follow hard upon the heels of a cold or the flu. The cause of sinus headaches are an inflammation of the sinus passages, which are the air cavities located behind and above your nose. The increased pressure that results from the closing of infection of the sinuses is what causes the headache. The pain is involved with a sinus headache can be quite severe and last for an extended period of time. They tend to begin in the morning after waking.

The usual treatment for sinus headaches is antibiotics but physicians are beginning to question the validity of this approach because of the building up of resistance to the drug when it taken repeatedly. Common sinus headache symptoms include pain and pressure around the eyes, an ache in the upper teeth, fever or chills and swelling about the face.

Heat and ice can be used to relieve the facial pain of sinus headaches with many doctors recommending hot compresses, hot drinks such as tea or broth, and even a steamy shower. A cool-mist humidifier can also be of tremendous help in keeping your sinuses moist.

Migraine headaches

So how do migraines differ from sinus headaches, then, and how do you determine which one you've got. To begin with, there isn't just one migraine headache, but two. Migraines with aura and migraines without aura. Common migraine symptoms include pain that is prefaced by visual disturbances, a throbbing on just one side of the head that ranges from mild to extreme, nausea, vomiting, an increased sensitivity to both light and noise.

Migraines require a trigger to get your head to hurting. These triggers are wide in scope and can very significantly from person to person. Most migraines seem to be triggered by food. The most common food triggers seem to be wine, chocolate, aged cheese, processed meats, Chinese food and caffeine. Other triggers include flashing lights, loud noises, menstruation, intense exercise, weather changes, exposure to smoke or perfumes, lack of sleep, stress, or sex In addition, some medications such as birth control pills and estrogen replacement therapy have been proven migraine triggers.

So what's the big deal with misdiagnosing a migraine headache as a sinus headache? Well, for one thing all that money you're shelling out on medicine specifically marketed it not actually designed to treat sinus headaches will do you no good whatever if you are suffering migraines. In addition, if you are under the delusion that you are experiencing sinus headaches you may be unduly extending the life of your migraines by continuing to eat food triggers, or continuing to experience environmental triggers that you could and should otherwise avoid.

Basically, treating a migraine headache as it were a sinus headache is really no different from treating a toothache as it were a sinus headache. The problems are completely different, regardless of how similar they may seem and how much they may have in common physiologically. A sinus headache is a headache; a migraine is a disease that has as one its symptoms excruciating head pain. Do yourself a favor. If you are absolutely convinced you are suffering sinus headaches, go see a doctor who knows the difference.

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.

Non-Drug Treatment for Pediatric Migraine

Sam — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 17:15:05 +0000

The last thing most parents want to do is give their child a drug. Yet, when that child is a migraineur (a person with chronic migraine headaches), as are a reported 10-28% of children under the age of 19, many feel they have no choice.

This is simply not true. In fact, most pediatric neurology specialists will recommend alternative treatments before medication for safety reasons. A number of non-drug therapies are available for pediatric migraine sufferers. As with any complementary or alternative medicine (CAM) treatment, the patient's physician must be a part of the team making the decisions and overseeing care.

One of the most common non-drug treatment options is temperature therapy. The application of a warm or cool compress eases pain for many. Apply the hot or cold pack to the area of greatest pain, taking care to insulate it so no damage to the child's skin occurs.

Sleep frequently eases the suffering of adult migraineurs. The duration of children's migraines is usually shorter than that of an adult. A nap taken in a dark, quiet, area can eliminate some migraines altogether.

Scheduling can be a factor in reducing the frequency of pediatric migraines. Unlike adults, who experience stress in an acute, episodic manner, children usually experience a constant stress level, particularly during the school year. Establishing a regular routine, including time to relax and an age-appropriate sleep schedule, helps many young migraineurs.

Relaxation training, including instruction in self-hypnosis and guided imagery, is becoming the treatment of choice for recurrent pediatric migraines. Studies on the subject show that over half of the pediatric patients who learn these relaxation techniques experience less frequent migraines, but with no reduction in pain intensity when they do have one.

There are many options for pediatric migraine therapy, do not be afraid to ask the doctor about drug alternatives.

The Conventional Wisdom of Migraines

Sam — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 09:30:02 +0000

The Conventional Wisdom: Migraines are caused by various triggers.

All contemporary knowledge about migraines points to chemical reactions in the brain causing blood vessels to constrict and then expand creating a sudden blood flow as the process which creates the headaches associated with migraines. Therefore the key to avoiding migraines is limiting exposure to triggers. An enormous list of triggers has been accumulated through research into migraines. Among the most common triggers to be aware of: Stress, aroma, menstruation, sleep pattern disturbances, climate change, and diet. It's very important know triggers your migraine so you can determine whether to avoid it or not. The Conventional Wisdom: You can kiss your migraines goodbye after menopause.

The onset of migraines has been linked the start of menstruation and sixty percent of women will suffer a worsening of their coincident with their monthly periods. The link between menopause and migraines has to do with the cycling of estrogen levels; controlling estrogen levels is the best way to improve headaches in women. Menopause does create changes in migraines, but it can hardly be concluded that they put a stop to them. Two-thirds of women with migraine will experience an improve in their migraines after natural menopause. On the other hand, only one-third can expect an improvement hysterectomy or surgical menopause, and two-thirds will actually experience a worsening.

The Conventional Wisdom: Quit smoking and your troubles evaporate like smoke itself.

Nicotine modifies the quantity of pain-signaling chemicals in the nervous system. These are chemicals such as endorphins, serotonin, norephinephrine, and dopamine. Smokers generally are at a greater risk for headaches and this risk is related to the amount of nicotine consumed. The more nicotine a smoker takes into his system, the greater his frequency of headaches and the more severe those headaches will be. Quitting smoking helps one's overall health, with the added benefit of reducing headaches.

The Conventional Wisdom: You are what you eat, at least as far as migraines are concerned.

Restrictive diets are a common prescription for those suffering headaches. There are so many different foods associated with triggering migraines that each diet must be individualized. Generally speaking, however, these diets will likely include avoiding foods that contain tyramine (aged cheeses, alcohol, sour cream), phenylethylamine (chocolate), nitrates (hot dogs), and dopamine (broad beanpods). Studies evaluating single foods are mixed at best. For instance, there have been several studies into the effect of aspartame (Nutrasweet) on headaches with no conclusive evidence for either side of the issues.

Chocolate is another commonly reported headache trigger food. Several studies have been done on this link. One study tested over sixty females who were chronic migraine sufferers. The testing used chocolate bars and chocolate-flavored carob bars for control. To ensure there were no psychological effects from women who believed that chocolate caused headaches, the samples were even flavored with mint. The result showed that even those women who did believe that there is a connection between chocolate and migraines did not experience when they didn't know if they were eating chocolate or carob. Cheating on the diet and eating other restricted foods like peanut butter, colas, or pizza along with chocolate did not result in increased headache activity either. Most studies have concluded that foods can trigger headaches, but there is a growing resistance to this idea. One reason for the misconception, these studies conclude, is that mood and behavior changes that preface a migraine attack often include food cravings, thereby creating a false association between eating the food and getting a headache. According to these scientists, it's not the food that triggers the headache. Instead, the food craving is merely a sign that the headache process has begun. In addition, sweet craving typically occurs in response to stress, fasting, and menstruation. Again, the true trigger may be the stress, fasting or hormonal changes, with chocolate (or other craved foods) a reaction to the trigger rather than acting as a trigger itself. If you believe foods may trigger your headache, expect to get a headache within 12 hours of eating the food item. Elimination of certain individual foods may be helpful for a minority of headache sufferers, but restricting a wide variety of foods on a long-term basis often merely increases your stress and can lead to a headache.

Treating Migraines with Supplements

Sam — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 08:00:04 +0000

It would be terrific to come across a magic pill that ends migraine headaches the moment they hit. But unless you marry a witch or find a genie on a beach somewhere, it ain't going to happy any time soon. For the time being, the best approach to treating migraines is with prevention. Supplements are definitely the generals leading the way on this battlefield. Okay, we all know generals don't lead the way on the battlefield anymore, but the metaphor is still apt.

Magnesium and calciumMagnesium and calcium help attack migraines by keeping blood vessels malleable and helping the brain process serotonin.

Suggested dose: 400-mg magnesium and 100 mg calcium twice a day. Best taken with food to ease absorption. People with kidney disease should check with their doctor before taking magnesium.

FeverfewFeverfew is rapidly becoming one of the most popular of all the natural migraine remedies on the market because of its anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties. Studies show that it can decrease both the frequency and severity of migraines when taken over several months.

Suggested dose: 250 mg taken every morning, either with or without food, most effective when taken for extended periods. Look for standardized preparations containing at least 0.4% parthenolide, the active ingredient.

5-HTP5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan), is a form of acid tryptophan, an amino acid the body converts into serotonin. Although it make take several months to achieve the maximum benefit, some claim it is as effective as drugs. Nausea is the main side effect, but if it occurs, it usually dissipates within several days.

Suggested dose: 100 mg of 5-HTP 3 times a day. Take around mealtime. Don't combine with prescription antidepressants, such as Prozac.

RiboflavinRiboflavin, or vitamin B2, is believed to help prevent migraines by nourishing the brain's energy reserves. It may be even more effective than feverfew or 5-HTP when migraines are ongoing.

Suggested dose: 400 mg every morning. Riboflavin is most effective when taken long term for relief of chronic migraines.

Vitamin CVitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that may also boost the production of stress-relieving hormones. Excess stress is thought to play a role in triggering migraines.

Suggested dose: 1,000 mg 3 times a day. Take with food. Reduce dose of vitamin C if diarrhea develops.

Pantothenic acidPantothenic acid, or vitamin B5, strengthens nerves and promotes energy production. Like vitamin C, it may help the body produce stress-busting hormones. Pantothenic acid also plays a role in serotonin production. Suggested dose: 400 mg twice a day. Take pantothenic acid with meals.

KavaKava, finally, can be a very useful herb for the relief of stress and anxiety, which are thought to trigger migraine attacks in some people.

Suggested dose: 250 mg 3 times a day. Kava may be most beneficial during times of high stress. Look for standardized extracts containing at least 30% kavalactones, the active ingredients in the herb. In America, the Food & Drug Administration has issued a warning about kava's possible adverse reactions in the liver recommending that users consult a physician if any of the following is applicable:

Severe headaches develop suddenly, particularly if they first appear after age 35.

A headache is accompanied by fever, stiff neck, weakness on one side of the body, loss of speech, blurred vision, or disorientation.

A headache is accompanied by inflamed, clogged sinuses.

A severe headache develops after intense physical exertion or a blow to the head.

Migraines become more severe or more frequent.

The following supplements and herbs may be helpful in the treatment of migraine headaches:

Both Alpha Linolenic Acid (ALA) and Gamma Linolenic Acid reduce the severity and frequency of migraines by over 75%.

Fish oil helps prevent migraines by reducing blood vessel spasms.

Vitamin B2 appears to completely suppress migraine headaches.

Vitamin B3 (Riboflavin) helps to reduce the severity and frequency of migraines.

Vitamin D provides relief when used in conjunction with calcium.

One interesting supplement found to help with migraine relief is capsaicin, the chemical that makes hot peppers hot. It can be applied as an ointment inside the nose, though beware of burning.

Aromatherapy and Migraines

Sam — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 16:15:02 +0000

Most physicians agree that aromatherapy makes an excellent complementary therapy for migraineurs. Aromatherapy has not been shown to eliminate migraine headaches, but when used to complement traditional therapy and medication it can reduce the frequency and severity of attacks.

Aromatherapy is a natural healing methodology that uses plant-derived essential oils to achieve a desired therapeutic affect. It is not known precisely how aromatherapy works, whether it is the scent or a chemical action of the essential oil itself that provides relief. Because of this unknown factor some doctors worry about potential essential oil interactions with standard drugs used in treating migraines.

When trying aromatherapy to relieve migraines, keep in mind a few safety precautions.

* Always talk to a doctor before trying anything new.
* Speak to an experienced aromatherapist, if possible.
* When combining aromatherapy with other medications, watch for adverse reactions and report them to a doctor immediately.
* Buy real plant-derived essential oils designed for aromatherapy. Good ones will be sold in dark containers and stored away from direct sunlight.
* Use a carrier oil or aromatherapy diffuser. Essential oils can be powerful irritants and should not be applied directly to the skin.

Essential oils can be used in a number of ways. They can be used in an aromatherapy diffuser and inhaled two or three times daily. Oils can added to a large bowl of hot water and the aroma inhaled with eyes closed. While essential oils can also be added to carrier bath, face, or massage oils and applied to the body or bath, this should only be done after consulting with a knowledgeable aromatherapist to make sure the oils used are safe for this purpose.

Some of the essential oils commonly recommended for migraine aromatherapy are lavender, peppermint, rosemary, eucalyptus, sandalwood, clary sage, ginger, ylang-ylang, basil, marjoram, and chamomile.

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.

Migraines and Obesity

Sam — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 09:45:02 +0000

Are you more likely to have migraines if you are obese?

The simple answer, for adults, is no.

The more complicated answer is sort-of. Obesity does not cause migraines in adults–the jury is still out on how obesity affects pediatric migraine

That's the good news. The bad news is that migraine and obesity can have a devastating affect on each other.

While obesity does not cause migraines, migraines, especially for people with migraines plus chronic daily headaches, can lead to obesity. People with migraines are likely to spend more time being sedentary, forced to inaction by the pain in their head. Additionally, many medications given to migraineurs cause weight gain directly, others cause it indirectly by increasing appetite.

Weight gain leads to depression in many people, which leads to more unhealthy behaviors (compulsiveness, hopelessness, increased inactivity, etc.) Inaction, weight gain, and increased appetite–a road that begins in migraine may well end in obesity.

Recent studies have divided migraineurs into different categories by their body mass index (BMI). The higher the body mass index, the more overweight the patient. The majority of the study participants were women, and median age was approximately 38 years.

Obese migraineurs, those with a BMI of 30 or higher, are far more likely to have extra problems with their migraines than people with a lower BMI are. Patients with higher body mass indexes reported more frequent headaches that lasted longer and were more severe than those experienced by lower BMI patients were.

There have been several studies on weight and headache prevalence, especially migraines, in children and teens. The initial results are a little frightening since almost all of them saw a correlation between a high BMI and incidence of migraines and other types of severe headaches (tension headaches, cluster headaches). All agreed, however, that more research is needed.

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.

Reflexology for Migraines

Sam — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 07:00:03 +0000

Say the word migraine and most migraineurs will reflexively cringe in remembered pain, their last headache still vivid in their memory. Say the word reflexology to them and you will likely get a blank stare. A recent (2006) study in Denmark indicates that migraineurs who get more familiar with reflexology are less likely to cringe reflexively at the mention of migraines.

What is reflexology?

Reflexology is a massage technique based on the idea that every part of the human body has a corresponding point on the sole of the foot. Reflexologists believe that massage and stimulation of these points on the foot can relieve tension, pain, and stress in the corresponding parts of the body.

In the Danish study involved a mix of migraineurs and people experiencing chronic tension headaches. Approximately 90% of the people who participated in the study admitted to taking prescribed medication in the month prior to the study specifically for their headaches. After the study, 19% of participants said they were able to stop taking medication for their headaches thanks to the treatment.

The study involved a course of six to eight treatments with monthly follow-up treatments thereafter for a period of six months. At the conclusion of the six months 23% of the study participants said they were completely cured and no longer having headaches. Fifty-five percent of the participants noted marked improvement in their condition–headaches were less frequent and less severe. A remarkable 78% of the study participants saw an improvement in their condition.

At a follow-up check three months after the conclusion of the study 23% of the migraineurs stated they were cured. About 41% said they felt their quality of life was improved.

The treatments were most effective on younger patients and those who had been experiencing migraines for a shorter period of time.

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.

Migraines and Rebound Headaches

Sam — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 19:30:02 +0000

A rebound headache, also known as a medication overuse headache, is one of the most unpleasant side effects of migraines for many sufferers. These headaches are often blindingly painful, and are sometimes migraines in their own right.

How do people get rebound headaches? Put simply, they try just a little too hard to find relief from their migraine pain. The migraineurs is in pain and takes medication. They are still in pain later and take a little more. That does not help, so they try more medicine to relieve their suffering.

A rebound headache is when a migraine (or other severe headache) spins off into another headache as a result of medication overuse. A rebound headache is basically the original headache, which is only temporarily masked by all the drugs. When the body is finally clear of all the medications, the headache pain returns or rebounds.

Sometimes the rebound is a migraine or a continuation of the previous migraine. Others it is a blindingly painful new headache in its own right. The new headache is excruciatingly painful but without the additional symptoms, like nausea and photosensitivity, that often accompany migraines.

The overuse of any over-the-counter or prescription pain reliever can cause a rebound headache, but the two most frequent culprits are aspirin and acetaminophen. Other drugs often involved in the rebound cycle include caffeine, opiates, prescription combination medications like Midrin, codeine, ergotamine titrate, and drugs that contain barbiturates.

While all really painful, chronic headaches should be discussed with a doctor, there are a number of indicators that someone is probably suffering from medication overuse headaches. These include:

* daily or every other day headaches
* medications no longer provide the relief they used to
* prophylactic medication use

With the help of their doctor, rebound headache patients can break the cycle.

Famous and Successful Migraine Sufferers

Sam — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 10:30:05 +0000

Migraines are a serious matter. The World Health Organization of the United Nations ranks migraines among the top twenty prevailing sources of disability. The headaches associated with migraine syndromes can be severe. Tremendous pain is accompanied by heightened sensitivities to light and noise, making everything around the sufferer a potential source of agony.

There are no cures for migraines. In fact, the exact cause of the problem remains unknown. Treatment methods have been developed, however, and do offer a great deal of hope to many sufferers. New scientific advances may soon significantly decrease the severity and frequency of migraines. There is good news, after all.

If you suffer from migraines, you might be interested in some other good news, too. Even if new developments don't put a quick end to your headaches, there are many great examples of people who have been able to live with migraines while reaching pinnacles of success. Let's look at a few of the famous people who experienced migraines.

Political leaders ranging from democratic Thomas Jefferson to communist Karl Marx have experienced migraines. Former U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant had migraines, as did Julius Caesar. Severe headaches aren't necessarily an impediment to world leadership!

Fantastic authors and artists have also dealt with migraine headaches. Edgar Allen Poe, Lewis Carroll and Miquel de Cervantes were all migraine sufferers. Vincent Van Gogh suffered from severe debilitating headaches throughout his life. Some of the greatest poets, novelists and painters were able to work through and around their migraines to improve the quality of life for all of us.

History is peppered with migraine sufferers. From Joan of Arc to Sigmund Freud, hundreds of well-known personalities have proven that experiencing migraines does not need to limit one's march toward success. In all eras and in all fields, those with migraines were able to reach the top.

When we look at that impressive roster and realize how much science and medicine have advanced since those people dealt with migraine headaches, we can feel even more comfortable in our ability to rise above the disorder. After all, we have preventive and abortive treatment options at are disposal and a better understanding of common migraine triggers. We also have the promise of additional advances in the near future.

If those people could do so well while experiencing migraines back then, imagine how well any current migraine sufferer may be able to do in his or her chosen profession.

Living with migraines is difficult. For some, it is extremely difficult. However, migraines don't need to complete rule one's life. Many migraine sufferers have shown us that it is possible to excel even with a migraine diagnosis. If you or someone you love suffers from migraine headaches, these individuals should serve as a motivator and proof that although migraines can be severe, they needn't prevent anyone from reaching a goal of any sort.

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.

Keeping a Headache Diary or Journal

Sam — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 07:00:04 +0000

Which do you prefer, diary or journal? The denotation of the words is basically the same, but let's face it, there are major connotative differences. Diary kind of sounds like something a teenaged girl keeps track of her crushes in, while a journal sounds like something a novelist keeps track of her ideas in. Whatever you decide to call it really doesn't matter, what does matter is that you seriously consider keeping one.

Migraines headaches have triggers. For most people, narrowing down what that trigger is and successfully avoiding it can seriously curtail the frequency or severity. In some cases it may even lead to never having a migraine again.

Although the hardware involved is generally up to your preference, keep in mind that you may be wanting to show your entries to a doctor, so unless have the kind of penmanship that people tend to notice and comment upon, it's highly recommended that you enter the information into the computer so you can print it out.

The trick in keeping a migraine journal is sticking with it. You're on the lookout for patterns. Patterns that will ultimately link together to form an answer to your question: Why do I get headaches when I do? It may take weeks or even months to reach this answer. Give it time since patterns and correlation's don't occur overnight. Keep at it and be specific. Try to write the information down as soon as a headache occurs.

So what goes into a headache diary or journal? The following are guidelines, but each individual journal will probably differ. You may notice things that affect your headaches that other people don't. And even if you notice something that you think couldn't possibly have any effect on your pain, go ahead and record it. You never know, right?

Your headache diary should definitely include information about:

when the head pains started, including whether there is a pattern to what time of day they generally onset

the frequency with which your headaches occur

any other accompanying symptoms such as nausea or visual disturbances

the duration of the headache and if there anything that seems to affect how long the attacks last

exact location of the pain

what kind of pain you feel: throbbing, piercing, aching

what you eat, trying to notice if there is a consistency in the ingredients

what time you eat

what medications you are taking, including any vitamins and other health-related products

any exercise you do, when and for how long

how much sleep you get

weather conditions, especially any significant changes in barometric pressure

Women should record all details of their menstrual cycle, especially anything you may have done differently preceding the attack

Any lifestyle that occurred during the ten hours prior to the onset of the headache. Some things to be aware of, especially, are things that might have contributed to increasing your stress levels, any change in bowel movement, any change in sleeping patterns, etc.

Be very aware of alcohol consumption and caffeine consumption. Both alcohol and caffeine play a huge part in triggering headaches. Record not only how much alcohol you may have ingested, but also what kind, i.e., beer, wine or hard liquor. In addition, realize that caffeine is not limited to coffee, tea and soft drinks. Sports drinks are loaded with caffeine, as is many candies and gums

Don't worry about getting too explicit, but keep track of your sex life. Women especially need to keep track of whether they achieved orgasm or not in close proximity to the onset of a migraine

When you travel, notice whether certain geographic locations spur headaches or relieve them

If you're the type who feels that keeping a handwritten notebook is just way too medieval and you just absolutely have to engage with technology in order to do something like this, you are in such luck. Eheadahcejournal.com allows users, for a price, to keep an anonymous online track of their headaches. Additionally, the software will allow you to make nifty little charts and reports that you can print out to help in narrowing down exactly when, why and how your headaches get triggered.

The Migraine Narrative

Sam — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 11:30:03 +0000

Every migraine tells a story. If you can turn back the clock to your high school English classes, you might be able to remember that stories generally maintain a certain structure. That lesson was premised on Freytag's dramatic analysis, where five discernible elements are present. The story of migraines often follows this same structure.

First, there is an exposition. In literary terms, this is where the context and terrain of the story are laid out. In migraine terms, this may be considered the prodromal phase of the headache, which warns of an impending attack. Sufferers develop a variety of symptoms that set the stage for the migraine.

Second, there is rising action. In the case of a story, this is where conflict arises and decisions are made, building toward the key portion of the tale. With respect to migraines, the rising action takes the form of aura, where sensory perceptions are disturbed as the headaches approaches.

Third, there is a climax. Literary climaxes are the high point of any story. It's the moment where critical points are reached and when action and emotion are at an elevated element. The unrelenting pain and debilitation of the headache itself is the climax of a migraine cycle.

Fourth, Freytag says falling action occurs. Things begin to taper after reaching the apogee of the climax. Migraine headaches are very similar in this regard, too. After reaching a horrible moment of maximum pain, their power begins to recede, sometimes quite gradually, but in others relatively quickly.

Finally, literature features a denouement. It may end in catastrophe, in the case of traditional Greek tragedies, but usually the story reaches a less terrible conclusion. The migraine is the same way. Eventually, it does end. The action subsides and things return to normal.

So, we can understand the migraine in literary terms. It has a beginning, middle and end. It follows a structure quite similar to Freytag's analysis of narrative form.

Is this merely an interesting aside, or does the narrative structure of the migraine headache give us an opportunity of some sort to better prepare or understand the neurological syndrome?

Although the similarities between storytelling and migraine headaches may be wholly coincidental, noting them does have value. From a purely instructional perspective, it does make remember the nature of the process easier. It also allows us to develop a construct within which we can understand the course of migraines. That allows us to appreciate their temporality and to recognize that they act as a predictable process. This can alleviate some level of anxiety on the part of the sufferer, who can have a better idea of what might be coming next. Understanding the narrative structure of migraine headaches can provide some level of comfort–storytelling is so innate to humans that we are able to fall into the seemingly natural rhythm of a good yarn almost naturally. Perhaps seeing the migraine as a painful living version of the narrative can allow those with the problem to "last it out" with less concern and pain.

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.

Migraines and Depression

Sam — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 21:15:03 +0000

Being in pain so fierce that the only recourse is to hide in a dark, quiet room until it is over several times a year would make anyone sad. Migraineurs, though, are five times more likely to develop clinical depression than people who do not have these debilitating headaches. Conversely, people who are depressed are three times likelier than happy people to become migraineurs.

Many scientists view the intertwining of migraine and depression as a chicken or egg situation. They are patently comorbid, but does one cause the other? If so, which one starts the process, the migraine or the depression? The answer is not that simple. Migraines, depression, and, unsurprisingly, insomnia, a state associated with both conditions have something in common. All three are associated with neurotransmitter deficiencies in the brain.

Doctors believe that while they are related, depression and migraine headaches have distinct causes with a similar neurobiology. For years, doctors blamed depression in migraineurs on their resultant loss of quality of life due to headaches. Now it looks as though the link is a biologic shared mechanism rather than psychology.

One danger for clinically depressed migraineurs is possible drug interaction between their depression medication and their migraine drugs. In July 2006 the FDA recognized one such danger, that of mixing triptans for migraines with SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) or SNRIs (serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors), used to treat depression and mood disorders. Combining the drugs can lead to a condition called serotonin syndrome.

Serotonin syndrome occurs when there is too much serotonin in the body. Symptoms include hallucinations, increased heart rate and body temperature, fast changes in blood pressure, and gastrointestinal upset. Sometimes a patient has no choice but to take these medications together, but they need to weigh their options with their doctor and be monitored closely for serotonin syndrome.

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.