Justin Bell asked:




What are headaches?

Headaches rank amongst the most common and frequent ailments. A headache is not a disease, but may be indicative of other underlying problems. Although common and generally not serious, headaches are common in about 50-75% of all teens. However, recurrent headaches can upset and worry an individual to a great extent. The most common types of headaches that people in their teens and early twenties have are tension headaches and migraines. In some cases these problems may require a visit to a medical provider.

Treatment of an uncomplicated headache is usually symptomatic with over-the-counter painkillers although, headaches like migraines may require specific treatment. The occurrence of migraine headache could also be the result of particular allergic triggers like stress or some unambiguous foods which should then be avoided.

There are three types of primary headaches: tension-type (muscular contraction headache), migraine (vascular headaches), and cluster. Cluster headaches are sharp, extremely painful headaches that tend to occur several times per day for months and then go away for a similar period of time.

Some other rare types of headaches include:

· Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (headache with visual symptoms due to raised intracranial pressure)

· Ictal headache

· Brain freeze (also known as: ice cream headache)

· Thunderclap headache

· Vascular headache

· Toxic headache

· Coital cephalalgia (also known as: *** headache)

· Hemicrania continua

· Rebound headache (also called medication overuse headache, abbreviated MOH)

· Red wine headache

· Spinal headache (or: post-dural puncture headaches) after lumbar puncture or related procedure that will lower the intracranial pressure

· Hangover (caused by heavy alcohol consumption)

What are the causes of headaches?

The vast majority of headaches are non-malignant and self-limiting. Some common causes of headaches are said to be tension, migraine, eye strain, dehydration, low blood sugar, hyper mastication and sinusitis. In addition, we have some very rare headaches that are a result of some life-threatening conditions like meningitis, encephalitis, cerebral aneurysms, exceptionally high blood pressure, and brain tumors. If head injury is the cause of a headache then the reason is usually quite evident. In women, a large percentage of headaches are caused by their ever-fluctuating estrogen levels during the menstrual years. This can occur prior to or mid-cycle.

If anyone over the age of 50 experiences a headache for the first time, a condition called temporal arthritis may be the cause. Headache symptoms include impaired vision and pain aggravated by chewing. Because, there is a risk of becoming blind, it needs to be promptly treated by a doctor.

Brain aneurysm, brain tumor, stroke or TIA, and brain infection like meningitis or encephalitis are some rare causes of headaches and can be serious.

What are tension headaches?

Often related to stress, depression, or anxiety, tension headaches are due to contraction of the muscles in the shoulders, neck, scalp, and jaw. Overwork, insomnia, missed meals, and use of alcohol and drugs can make one more vulnerable to headaches. Some foods can also trigger a headache including, chocolate, cheese, and monosodium glutamate (MSG), and flavor enhancers. A deviation from the usual fix of caffeine can also result in headaches.

Tension headaches can also result from performing an activity with the head held up in one position for a long time. This can generally happen from using a computer, microscope, or a typewriter, sleeping in a cold room or in an abnormal position, overexerting oneself, and clenching or grinding the teeth.

Tension headaches tend to occur on both sides of the head, often starting at the back of the head and spreading forward. The pain may range from a dull or squeezing ache to a feeling of a tight band or a vice around the head. The muscle tension generally begins in the shoulders, neck, or the jaw before it gradually extends to the head. Therefore, these areas also feel tight and sore.

Where does the pain during a headache occur?

Pain, during a headache, occurs in the tissues covering the brain, as well as in the muscles, network of nerves and blood vessels around the scalp, face, and neck. The brain itself is insensate to pain because it lacks nociceptors. Headaches often result from traction to or irritation of the meninges and blood vessels. Dura mater, the membrane surrounding the brain and the spinal cord, is innervated with nociceptors. Any kind of stimulation of these dural nociceptors is thought to produce headaches. Types of headaches are classified separately of which the three most common headaches are:

· Tension or muscle contraction headache

· Migraine headache

· Cluster headache

Apart from these types, it is not uncommon for some people to experience a combination of the above mentioned headache types.

What are migraine headaches?

A severe, recurrent headache that is generally accompanied by visual disturbance or nausea is a common symptom of a migraine headache. This type of headache tends to begin on one side of the head, although the pain may later spread to both sides. Migraine headache generally starts with an “aura” (warning symptoms before the actual onset of the headache) that is usually accompanied with a feeling of throbbing, pounding, or pulsating pain.



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Dennis Francis asked:




My wife suffers from migraines every month like clockwork. After 15 years I’ve come to understand that these recurring nuisances have kept her and other members of her family in pain. Many people with migraines have a family history of migraine. If both your parents have migraines, there’s a good chance you will too. Even if only one of your parents has migraines, you’re still at increased risk of developing migraines.

Recurring headaches and migraines are painful reminders of how fragile our nervous systems are. Even the strongest body builder can be brought to their knees by a migraine or even a severe tension headache.

Headaches and migraines are still an unsolved mystery to researchers. Many researchers conclude that migraines are caused by functional changes in a major pathway in your nervous system called the trigeminal nerve system, and by imbalances in serotonin levels.

Although headache pain sometimes can be severe, in most cases it’s not the result of an underlying disease. The vast majority of headaches are called primary headaches. Besides tension headaches, these include migraines and cluster headaches.

Migraines are different from tension headaches which are caused by specific triggers. Unlike some forms of migraine, tension headache usually isn’t associated with visual disturbances (blind spots or flashing lights), nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, weakness or numbness on one side of the body, or slurred speech.

Migraine headaches plague millions of Americans daily. In addition to the obvious, there are other common symptoms that accompany the classic migraine headache. During a migraine episode, the most common region of the brain to lose blood flow is known as the Calcarine Cortex. This is the area at the back of your brain that, when stimulated by your eyes, allows you to see. When these nerves are depleted of oxygen, they begin to fire spontaneously.

For example, if the reduction of blood flow is on the side of the brain, know as the temporal lobe, ringing in the ears may result. Most of these symptoms precede the onset of the headache. The sympathetic nerves that control the diameter of the blood vessels rely on specific chemicals to do their job.

These chemicals are called neurotransmitters. Not long after the visual disturbance, the amount of neurotransmitter available to aid in the constriction of the blood vessels is depleted.

This will allow the sympathetic nerves to fire at a higher rate than normal leading to vasoconstriction and potentially, a migraine headache. Because the function of the cerebral cortex is under the direct influence of the spine, it is imperative to address spinal abnormalities as the ultimate source of the migraine.

The nature of headaches may still be a mystery to researchers but we are aware of their triggers. Common migraine triggers may include:

Hormonal changes
Medications
Intense physical exertion
Foods
Stress
Sensory stimuli
Changes in wake-sleep pattern
Changes in the environment

If you find that your headaches are interfering with your daily life, consult your medical practitioner for relief. Have a thorough examination to ensure that there are no hidden conditions causing your pain.

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Lana R. Howard asked:




Congratulations! Pregnancy can be a wonderful time for migraine sufferers as many women notice their migraines significantly diminish during their second and third trimesters. Unfortunately, an estimated 15% of women also notice an increase in migraines in the first trimester. This increase is due primarily to rapidly escalating levels of estrogen and other metabolic changes within the body. If you are planning a pregnancy, make sure your doctor knows right away.

Why is this? Most medications are simply not safe to take if you may be pregnant – especially those for the treatment of migraines like triptans (prescription medications which can stop migraine attacks.) If you are currently taking prescription medications for the treatment of migraines and become pregnant – your baby could be at risk. Before you plan on trying to get pregnant, it is very important to have a sit-down discussion with your doctor to determine which if any of the drugs and supplements you take are not safe for your baby.

Do not make the mistake of assuming that over-the-counter medications are safe just because they do not require prescriptions. Even over-the-counter drugs like Aspirin and Advil (lung development) carry risks of birth defects. Tylenol (acetaminophen) is approved for periodic use (unless told otherwise by your doctor), which is an option, but in general over-the-counter pain medications are seldom effective at reducing migraine pain. Over-the-counter pain medications have a better track record with tension headaches and body aches. No matter what, be sure to limit use and follow all recommendations on the product label. Acetaminophen is toxic in high doses and people die every year from over dosing on a medication they assume to be unconditionally safe.

The best course of action is to be very diligent when it comes to trigger avoidance, as this is your best chance at avoiding a migraine. This means you will want to be extra strict about managing stress, eating regular healthy meals (without triggers,) and keeping a regular sleep schedule. Go ahead and use herbal tea such as ginger for your nausea but make sure you absolutely avoid feverfew as it is not safe for pregnant or breastfeeding women. Also, this may be a time to consider trying acupuncture or biofeedback, as these treatments are considered safe for pregnant women.

Any women who is pregnant should know that all medications on the market are divided into a “pregnancy risk” category ranging from A, B, C, D, and X by the Federal Food and Drug Administration (here in the United States.) Only drugs in category A have been proven to be safe. Drugs in categories B and C show uncertainty either towards the positive or negative, and categories D an X show positive evidence of fetal risk. This information is updated all the time. Be sure to research any medications you are using or thinking about using for the latest information.

Some abortive medications like Fioricet and Lortab can still be used sparingly. Triptans should not be taken at all during pregnancy (unless prescribed by your personal doctor and only if he or she knows you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant) as the effects of these drugs on developing babies are still unknown. Be sure to speak with your doctor and see if the two of you can work out a plan that works for both of you.

Note: Women who experience severe morning sickness may also experience more migraines due to dehydration. Your doctor may be able to write you a prescription for intravenous fluids, which can be administered for you if needed.

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