Archive for the ‘brain’ Category
Thursday, December 4th, 2008
For the past 2,500 years, aspirin has been a stable in cultures all over the world for treating headaches. Hippocrates, the famed Greek doctor in 5th century B.C., extracted aspirin from the bark of a willow tree as a way to reduce fevers. The aspirin extracted from the willow tree bark has salacin, a chemical that the body converts into salicylic acid. Towards the end of the 19th century, Bayer, a German pharmaceutical company, introduced acetylsalicylic acid (or simply aspirin) that was made by Felix Hoffman, a chemist. Aspirin is a very widely used product, with more than 80 billion tables of it sold annually. It s one of the most popular over-the-counter medications for headaches used today.
Aspirin is quite simple to manufacture, which is good news because it does contain many properties that can only be identified by those who are in the biochemical field. There are very few people who suffer from side effects when they use aspirin for treating their headaches. Aspirin is used to treat various ailments in addition to headaches including inflammation, heart disease, and fevers. It is important that aspirin be used as directed because taking too much aspirin is not good for the body.
When a person is injured, the brain quickly sends messages to the nerve endings. A rush of blood is sent to the area to surround the damaged tissues. This is what causes the immediate swelling in the area. The hormone prostaglandin is released and this hormone tells the body that there is pain taking place.
There is some mystery still, though, about how the body is able to signal pain when a person experiences a headache. For more than two decades, doctors and medical professionals believed that tension headaches were caused by muscle tension in various parts of the body including the neck, back and face. The research that has been conducted since then indicates that tension headaches may be due to the combination of tension and serotonin in the body mixing with nerve cells.
Aspirin works by suppressing the cells responsible for making prostaglandin. It does this by stopping the enzyme known as COX from binding with the prostaglandins. The kidneys continue to filter out this product, however, and that is why taking more aspirin is needed to help keep the pain at bay. It is not advisable to consume too much aspirin because doing so can remove too much prostaglandin from the body. This can lead to the thinning of the stomach lining and the onset of chronic stomach pains or even ulcers. It is possible to overdose on aspirin and this can cause serious issues. Aspirin can damage the kidneys.
Aspirin is known to help thin the blood so it can prevent heart attacks. However, this anti-coagulating property of aspirin also prevents the blood from clotting normally. If you take aspirin regularly, you need to be very careful with nose bleeds and cuts.
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Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008
Headache medicine can be an effective solution for the chronic pain sometimes associated with stress and tension headaches. These headaches can become a daily nuisance for patients, striking daily and detracting from quality of life. In some cases, headaches can become serious enough to cause an obstacle to daily functioning. It is important to treat these headaches promptly, in order to bring quality of life back up to normal levels.
Over the counter medications such as ibuprofen, aleve, and acetaminaphen can all be effective treatments for headache. In some situations, more powerful headache medicine could be required to cure the issue. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can usually do a great deal to reduce pain and symptoms, but sometimes more powerful medicines may be required. Triptans are a family of medications prescribed for serious pain, and are usually prescribed to sufferers of migraine headaches. Hormonal headaches can potentially be a cause of severe headache pain. This kind of headache is due to shifting levels of hormone production, and are difficult to prevent. Ibuprofen and Aleve are oftentimes effective in these cases.
Sinus problems are another potential source of severe headache pain. Under these circumstances, sinus pressure building behind the nasal cavity can trigger intense pain. In severe cases, the excess mucus that has built up behind the nasal cavity can become infected. When this happens, the pain can be quite severe. A persistent pain behind the eyes is a good sign of such an infection, as is any swelling or blood discharge from the nose. Decongestants, nasal sprays, and antibiotics are all powerful measures against a sinus headache, and may be necessary headache medicine.
In addition to headache medicine, prevention is an important part of treating frequent headaches. Primary headaches are the most common kind of headache, and occur due to added tension or stress, either physical or emotional. Stress management can play a large role in treating headaches, thereby preventing them from occuring. Stress and tension headaches frequently develop as a band like feeling above the eyes. This can act as a definite signal to take preventative measures. Regular anti-inflammatories can be an effective headache medicine for the common primary headache. Further treatment can include biofeedback, or massage therapy.
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Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008
Tension headaches are considered as the most common headache. It accounts 90% of all the headaches and already afflicted many people at some point in their lives.
People who have tension headaches experience pain (ranges from mild to severe) and tightness which extends from the back, neck, muscle groups of the face, and the eyes. This condition can last for half an hour or sometimes can even extend for several days. But on the average, it can last between four and six hours.
A person with a tension headache experiences bilateral pain (a pain that is distributed evenly on the sides of the head) and feels that their head is being squeezed continually. Tension headaches do not disturb a person’s life. However, if this headache becomes chronic or severe, it can lead a person to become incapacitated.
The cause of tension headaches remains unclear. Experts before believed that tension headaches are caused by spasm of neck and head muscles while present experts theorized that it can be caused by certain changes made in the brain chemicals.
Even if the experts cannot clearly point out the cause of this condition, the good thing is that, the factors that can trigger it are known. Physical and emotional stress, eye and neck strain because of poor body posture or caused by an injury, overexposure to bright light, and strain of the jaw ( caused by nail-biting, gum chewing, and teeth-clenching) are said to trigger tension headaches.
Tension headaches can easily be distinguished from other types of headaches. First, the pain is consistent which means, there’s no pulsing or throbbing that happened. Second, the pain experienced in the forehead is tight and the top portion of the head seemed to be squeezed. Other manifestations include pain felt from the head’s back down to the neck as well as the temples. Since this condition is caused by stress, people who are between 30-39 years of age are the ones who are commonly affected. It is said that these age range is the most stressful stage in one’s life. Those people whose lifestyle has fewer trials and those who are getting old have lower chance of getting tension headaches.
There are three ways to cure tension headaches. The first solution is to buy over-the-counter medications such as aspirin. The second one is to try the non-medication forms like undergoing therapy such as acupuncture, stress management, biofeedback, and meditation. The third and most practical solution to this problem is to know what triggers this condition (i.e., stress, hunger, anger, tiredness) and avoid them. Chronic headaches that continue to pop up can be treated by knowing its underlying causes like anxiety and depression.
In general, tension headaches are not that serious. But one should remember that a simple pain can be a symptom of a more serious health condition. It is therefore advisable that when such symptoms persist, go to a professional to seek for a medical advice and help. After all, prevention is still better than cure.
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Monday, December 1st, 2008
One of the most frustrating and excruciating experiences any person has to go through is headache. Aside from the painful sensations felt in the several areas of the head like temples, scalp and the forehead, headache may bring pain to the different parts of the face, throat, and mouth because of the series of nerves that extends one another.
Before taking in any medication or undergoing any treatment to bring relief to your aching head, make sure that you know first what are the different types of headache and possible causes of the common illness.
How are headaches categorized?
Studies show that 90 percent of all types of headaches are classified as tension and muscle contraction. However, there most experts would agree that headache could be further classified into two broad categories: the primary and the secondary.
“Primary headache” includes migraine, cluster, and tension headache. Migraine headache are usually characterized by throbbing pain on one side of the head, queasiness, over sensitivity to light and sound especially to bright lights and loud noises. Statistics say that 18 to 28 million Americans suffer from migraines and majority of which is women.
Aside from throbbing or pulsing pain, migraine is also characterized by visual disturbances, numbness of the face, nausea, and heavy vomiting. Usually triggered by food, stress, heat or cold temperature, strong smells, emotions, fatigue, or hormonal fluctuations, experts say that people who are anxious and depressed are more prone to migraine.
Tension headache, on the other hand, is considered as the common type of headache people suffer from. Characterized by a tight band of pressure around a person’s head, heavy throbbing of temples, light and sound sensitivity, vomiting, general muscle aches, difficulty in falling asleep and staying asleep, chronic fatigue, irritability and disturbed concentration, tension headache is said is traced from physical or emotional stress.
Major lifestyle adjustments like having a regular physical activity or exercise, proper and balanced diet, proper stress management and maintaining good posture can help a person a lot to avoid tension headache.
If tension headache is the most common type of headache, cluster headache is the least common of all types. Greatly affecting men instead of women, cluster headaches are characterized by severe pain usually centered in one eye that leads to swelling and watering of the affected area and severe and unbearable pain in the head.
Triggered by alcohol and cigarettes, experts say that there is no concrete cause of this type yet. Treatment may include taking in medications similar to those used for migraine like sumatriptan, triptans, and the like.
The other classification of headache is called “secondary headaches.” Usually triggered by an underlying or existing disorder like infection, injury, or tumor, secondary headaches are known to be results major illnesses.
Secondary headaches are also considered as side effects of various disorders like a recent head injury, meningitis, sinus infection, brain tumor, eye diseases, spinal injury, arthritis, and the inflammation of the arteries or temporal arteritis.
In order to treat any types of headaches, make sure you get your physician’s advice first.
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Sunday, November 30th, 2008
Raja said over-the-counter drugs can mitigate the severity of the migraine, but they don’t work for everybody. Avoiding triggers is another way to pre-empt migraines.
But when over-the-counter drugs don’t work, and the first line of prescription medications fail, severe migraine sufferers might need narcotic painkillers to ease the symptoms, she said.
The NHF breaks down treatment into two kinds - acute treatments, designed to stop migraines in progress; and prophylactic treatments, medications designed to reduce their likelihood or impact.
Raja said studies have shown that certain blood pressure medications, anti-depressants and seizure medications are effective against migraines and that it’s common practice for doctors to prescribe these drugs for such a use.
The NHF adds to that list drugs used to treat epilepsy and Alzheimer’s disease.
Other new treatments, according to the NHF, include a battery-operated skin patch that allows migraine drugs to be absorbed into the body. There are also many treatments that don’t involve drugs, such as acupuncture and relaxation techniques, Raja said.
Cayenne-pepper “soup,” a totally made-up home remedy of chicken broth with a heavy dousing of cayenne pepper (an idea my mother’s late cousin came up with) has worked during some of my migraines. In fact, the NHF mentioned the use of the capsaicin from cayenne pepper in a nasal spray as one of the latest forms of treatment available for migraines.
I am not endorsing the use of cayenne-laced chicken broth as effective treatment, but I do find solace knowing that there’s medical help out there when I need it. No more sequestering myself to a dark, quiet place for four hours, waiting for the pain and nausea to go away.
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Saturday, November 29th, 2008
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, part of the National Institutes of Health, there are four types of headaches: vascular, muscle contraction (tension), traction and inflammatory.
Migraines are the most common type of vascular headaches, according to the federal health agency, and are characterized by severe pain on one side or both sides of the head and upset stomach and, at times, disturbed vision.
Migraines come in two forms, Raja said - classic and common.
I suffer from the classic version, which means I get an “aura” - in my case, a blurred ring of vision - before the onset of the migraine. Other people might smell something funny, experience tunnel vision or feel a prickly sensation.
Whichever is your aura, it acts as a warning.
The American Headache Society estimates 20 percent of migraine sufferers experience migraines with an aura.
Unlike classic migraine sufferers, Raja said, people who suffer from common migraines don’t get auras. The migraine arrives without warning, she said.
Triggers for migraines vary. It could be a smell, a reaction to light, hormonal changes or a variety of other things that trigger the migraine, Raja said.
Sometimes, it’s impossible to pinpoint the trigger.
Other health care groups, such as the National Headache Foundation, suggest that migraines might be triggered by the brain.
I have yet to determine what causes mine.
Whether classic or common or otherwise, the migraines share the same characteristics - pulsating pain, nausea or vomiting, and sensitivity to light or sound.
Once triggered, blood vessels constrict then dilate, pressing on the nerves and causing the migraine, according to the NHF.
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Friday, November 28th, 2008
First comes what I like to call the “ring of death,” a circular patch of blurred vision that arrives 20 minutes or so before the migraine.
Technically known as an aura, it always appears in my left eye, making it hard to transcribe notes. The migraine will begin as soon as the ring of death goes away.
I learned the hard way why it’s not a good idea to work through a full-blown migraine. Like many migraine sufferers, nausea and vomiting are two of my symptoms - making it hard when you’re away on assignment.
Thankfully, my editors are sympathetic. And I am not alone.
Groups like the American Headache Society and the National Headache Foundation put the number of migraine sufferers between 28 million and 30 million Americans, roughly 13 percent of the U.S. population.
It’s a common diagnosis at Antietam Health’s Urgent Care centers at Robinwood Medical Center and on Pennsylvania Avenue in Hagerstown, said Dr. Bhuvana Raja, director of Antietam Health Urgent Care.
The good news is that despite how much they hurt, you can make the pain go away.
“There are so many cool things out there,” said Suzanne E. Simmons, executive director of the National Headache Foundation in a recent phone interview with The Herald-Mail.
The Chicago-based nonprofit has conducted several studies on migraines, with funding from drug companies.
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Thursday, November 27th, 2008
Mgs Rebound headaches ibuprofen enough estrogen to prevent a migraine but not enough. At this point, I usually prescribe an estrogen patch, the kind used in hormone therapy. Many people see a Jonathon nott because they think they have a migraine, but really there has been no diagnosis. T levy a fine against the cable service. Don’t hesitate to go to the emergency room for headaches that start.
Diagnose and treat your headaches, keep a journal that notes how long each. Alert me when articles match as these words. Which are key in tension headaches, says. In addition, migraines can sometimes be diminished or prevented with long term use of medications such as tricyclic or SSRI antidepressants, anti epilepsy drugs or beta blockers.
Between the brain, blood vessels, and surrounding nerves. See how you caompare in our Polls.
The most troubling thing about gas duster is my propensity to redose to the point where I don. Also consider incorporating relaxation prednisolone into your body.
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Wednesday, November 26th, 2008
What is anxiety?
Anxiety can be experienced in many ways. For some people, anxiety is accompanied by physical symptoms such as a racing heart, nausea, sweating, muscle tension and headache. For other people, anxiety is in the form of thoughts - either worry about the future or thinking excessively about the past. People who are anxious also have a strong tendency to avoid situations, actions or thoughts that make them anxious. Based on what triggers the anxious response, we can classify the anxiety (e.g., test anxiety, social anxiety, etc).
Is anxiety dangerous?
No. Anxiety is merely the activation of the body’s natural “fight or flight” response. The purpose of the “fight or flight” response is actually to protect you. It helps to activate your body for protection in a dangerous situation. For example, if you hear a burglar breaking into your house, then your heart will start pumping blood through your body so that you can jump into action. Although anxiety is not dangerous, it has been found to be associated with some physical problems. For example, chronic anxiety is often associated with gastrointestinal problems and muscle tension.
Should I see my doctor for medication? What else can I do?
The choice to take medications for anxiety is your choice. Psychiatrists and many primary care physicians prescribe anti-anxiety medications. The particular medication that is prescribed depends on the nature of your symptoms. The major problem with taking medication for anxiety is that it is only a short-term fix; your anxiety will return when you stop taking the medication.
You should also consider the possibility that you might experience side effects from the medications. For example, you might experience sexual side effects from some types of anti-anxiety medications. You might also have difficulty quitting the medication; decreasing or quitting medications might cause you to become shaky, which can add to the feeling of being anxious. For everyone, it is important to weigh the positive and negative aspects of the decision to take medication.
A great alternative to medication is to seek help from a mental health professional. The benefit of seeking psychotherapy with a mental health professional is that he/she can help you to learn ways to cope and to decrease your anxiety. This can lead to long-lasting benefits as you learn to understand your anxiety and have more control over it.
How do I decide if I should seek help from a professional?
For anxiety or any emotional problem, you should consider seeking help from a professional when the problem is interfering with your life. For example, if you had to give a presentation at school or work, and you skipped the presentation due to fears about giving the presentation or used a substance (e.g., alcohol) to get through the presentation, then you should seek professional help. Other ways that anxiety may be interfering with your life include (but are not limited to): having difficulty with sleep, decreased concentration, avoiding leaving home, or not being able to accomplish your daily tasks.
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Monday, November 24th, 2008
Pathophysiology of Migraine
Our understanding of the pathophysiology of migraine is still evolving. Wolff popularized the vascular theory of migraine, which emphasizes the role of vasoconstriction and vasodilatation leading to oligemia, neuronal disruption and, eventually, aura. The neural theory of migraine, proposed by Lance, emphasizes the neuronal origins of a vascularly mediated pathophysiologic cascade that results in headache. The trigeminal vascular hypothesis of migraine, based on the work of Moskowitz and MacFarlane, focuses on the relationship of the trigeminal nerve and the cerebrovascular system. Antidromic stimulation of the trigeminal nerve (because of a genetic predisposition or triggers acting in the cortex or in thalamic or hypothalamic structures) leads to vasodilatation and release of neuropeptides at the perivascular nerve endings. The affected trigeminal nerve releases substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide, which stimulate vasodilatation and a sterile inflammatory response in the meningeal vessels, resulting in pain. This chain of evens is further mediated by mast cells that release histamine and platelets that release serotonin. Finally, the relationship of migraine to depolarization of cortical neurons resulting in “the spreading depression of Leao” over the cortex remains undefined.
The description of the role of serotonin (5-HT) receptors in the pathophysiology of migraine has significant implications for therapy. The development of highly specific agonist and antagonist 5-HT subtype receptor drugs has revolutionized migraine therapy and given a scientific rationale to drug selection. 5-HT1A and 5-HT2 receptors are the focus of available abortive or prophylactic medications. Sumatriptan and dihydroergotamine (DHE) affect the 5-HT1D-receptor site. Rizatriptan is a 5-HT1B/1D agonist, whereas Rizatriptan, cyproheptadine, and amitriptyline act as antagonists at the 5-HT2 receptor. Agonist activity at the 5-HT1D or 5-HT1A is the proposed site of abortive drug therapy, while prophylactic medications are effective as antagonists of 5-HT2 or 5-HT1 receptors.
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