Archive for the ‘allergy’ Category

Migraine Causes, Incidence and Risk Factors

Monday, September 22nd, 2008

A lot of people get migraines — about 11 out of 100. The headaches tend to first appear between the ages of 10 and 46. Occasionally, migraines may occur later in life in a person with no history of such headaches. Migraines occur more often in women than men, and may run in families. Women may have fewer migraines when they are pregnant. Most women with such headaches have fewer attacks during the last two trimesters of pregnancy.

A migraine is caused by abnormal brain activity, which is triggered by stress, certain foods, environmental factors, or something else. However, the exact chain of events remains unclear.

Scientists used to believe that migraines were due to changes in blood vessels within the brain. Today, most medical experts believe the attack actually begins in the brain itself, where it involves various nerve pathways and chemicals. The changes affect blood flow in the brain and surrounding tissues.

Migraine attacks may be triggered by:

* Alcohol
* Allergic reactions
* Bright lights
* Certain odors or perfumes
* Changes in hormone levels (which can occur during a woman’s menstrual cycle or with the use of birth control pills)
* Changes in sleep patterns
* Exercise
* Loud noises
* Missed meals
* Physical or emotional stress
* Smoking or exposure to smoke

Certain foods and preservatives in foods may trigger migraines in some people. Food-related triggers may include:

* Any processed, fermented, pickled, or marinated foods
* Baked goods
* Chocolate
* Dairy products
* Foods containing monosodium glutamate (MSG)
* Foods containing tyramine, which includes red wine, aged cheese, smoked fish, chicken livers, figs, and certain beans
* Fruits (avocado, banana, citrus fruit)
* Meats containing nitrates (bacon, hot dogs, salami, cured meats)
* Nuts
* Onions
* Peanut butter

This list may not be all-inclusive.

True migraine headaches are not a result of a brain tumor or other serious medical problem. However, only an experienced health care provider can determine whether your symptoms are due to a migraine or another condition.

Symptoms

Vision disturbances, or aura, are considered a “warning sign” that a migraine is coming. The aura occurs in both eyes and may involve any of all of the following:

* A temporary blind spot
* Blurred vision
* Eye pain
* Seeing stars or zigzag lines
* Tunnel vision

Not every person with migraines has an aura. Those who do usually develop one about 10-15 minutes before the headache. However, it may occur just a few minutes to 24 hours beforehand.

Migraine headaches can be dull or severe. The pain may be felt behind the eye or in the back of the head and neck. For many patients, the headaches start on the same side each time. The headaches usually:

* Feel throbbing, pounding, or pulsating
* Are worse on one side of the head
* Start as a dull ache and gets worse within minutes to hours
* Last 6 to 48 hours

Other symptoms that may occur with the headache include:

* Chills
* Increased urination
* Fatigue
* Loss of appetite
* Nausea and vomiting
* Numbness, tingling, or weakness
* Problems concentrating, trouble finding words
* Sensitivity to light or sound
* Sweating

Symptoms that may linger even after the migraine has gone away include:

* Feeling mentally dull, like your thinking is not clear or sharp
* Increased need for sleep
* Neck pain

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Sinus Headache Causes and Treatment

Tuesday, August 12th, 2008

If you have a sinus headache, typically you will feel the effects when you get out of bed in the morning. The typical symptoms include uncomfortable pressure, pain, heaviness in the cheeks and your brow as well as your forehead. The pain from sinus headaches usually increases due to bending in a forward position or by lying down. A major sign that you are experiencing a chronic sinus headache is experiencing a continual headache that is somewhat dull in nature.

You might develop a sore throat, a fever, coughing might occur and you may experience fatigue. Migraine headaches show some of the same symptoms but a migraine headache is typically associated with a pounding feeling which is intensified by bright lights and loud noises and nausea typically occurs.

Causes of Sinus Headaches

Some typical causes of sinus headaches include colds, an improperly functioning immune symptom, problems with the nasal cavities as well as allergies. People who are candidates for chronic sinusitis are people with asthma, certain types of allergies, people with growths located in the nasal area and people with a weakened immune system. If your headaches are very intense and you are experiencing other symptoms such as a fever that is above 100.5, dealing with a stiff neck, experiencing confusion, pain, swelling on the face or in the area near your eyes you might want to consult you doctor.

Treatment for Sinus Headaches

If you have sinusitis your physician will probably recommend antibiotics. Even if your symptoms diminish take all the antibiotics that the doctor prescribed for you. This is necessary in order to eliminate the bacteria that were causing the problem. Doctors might recommend corticosteroid pills or nasal spray for patients who are having sinusitis symptoms due to allergies or from inflammation.

Eventually as your sinus problems go away the sinus headaches should be eliminated. To help reduce the uncomfortable feelings, decongestants and over the counter types of pain medication as well as saline nasal sprays may be recommended by your doctor. If structural problems in the nasal cavities are contributing to your sinus headaches, surgery might be considered by your doctor.

To lower the risks of acquiring sinusitis keep your sinuses in good shape. Washing your hands with soap can help reduce the chances of acquiring upper respiratory infections that can produce sinusitis. You might want to consider purchasing a humidifier since a moist air environment can help to stop sinusitis from occurring. If you have a sinus headache you might want to consult with your doctor.

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Migraine and Magnesium Deficiency

Wednesday, July 16th, 2008

A number of studies have been done on the relationship between magnesium deficiency and migraine. The importance of magnesium in the pathogenesis of migraine headaches is clearly established by a large number of clinical and experimental studies… However, the precise role of various effects of low magnesium levels in the development of migraines remains to be discovered. Magnesium concentration has an effect on serotonin receptors, nitric oxide synthesis and release, NMDA receptors, and a variety of other migraine related receptors and neurotransmitters. The available evidence suggests that up to 50% of patients during an acute migraine attack have lowered levels of ionized magnesium. Infusion of magnesium results in a rapid and sustained relief of an acute migraine in such patients.

The Difference between A Migraine And An Allergy Headache

Often people find it difficult to distinguish between an allergy headache and a migraine.There may be chances of Allergy headache if someone complains of headache after eating or drinking something. If the headache is accompanied with swelling, hives or breathing problems too then these symptoms confirm Allergy headache. These types allergies can be fatal if not handled properly a doctor should be consulted immediately.

If a person suffers from headache pain, but have no other symptoms, then he can try to get relief by applying a cold pack on his forehead. When this is accompanied with proper rest he should feel much better after a short period of time. However, if he feels that the cold pack is of little use, then he should stop using it and allow the pain to settle down. A painkiller such as acetaminophen, naproxen sodium, ibuprofen or aspirin may prove to be helpful.

Allergy Headaches Due To Weather

Someone may also get an allergy headache from the changes in seasons as well.symptoms effectively make an allergy headache discernible from a migraine. The symptoms of migraine are an intense headache that is located in one particular area of your head. Usually it is accompanied by nausea and it may even cause you to vomit. Sometimes person having migraine may even become sensitive to touch on his arms and scalp.

A migraine may last for several hours or days. If someone suffer from migraines, discussion with a doctor and proper medication may prove helpful.

On the other hand, an allergy headache is usually triggered by person’s allergies or a change in the air pressure. Therefore, if he notices that headache is seasonal or occurs due to weather change, then there might be a possibility of Allergy headache.

Person having Allergy headache can simply treat this common type of headache by taking an over-the-counter allergy pain reliever medication. This helps the pressure inside your sinuses to equalize with the air around it. These medications prove very helpful in treating all seasonal allergy symptoms as well.

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