Archive for the ‘chocolate’ Category

Natural And Easy Ways To Chase The Headache Away

Monday, December 17th, 2007

Did you know that tension headaches caused by anxiety, nervous tension, eyesight, poor seating, or tight muscles in the neck and shoulders? And you know, migraine headaches caused by the expansion of blood vessels in your head. Headache can also be caused by colds or flu, and even digestive problems. Ouch. Do not worry, there are 5 effective remedies for headaches chase away easily. To eliminate tension headache, massage your temples with some lavender essential oil. In addition, you can place your fingers at the top of your spine, neck, which meets the skull. Then move your fingers from 5cm along the base of your skull until you find a few small indentation on both sides. Apply firm pressure pads on the fingers, making a small rotating motion with the fingers. You will feel slightly tender, as you apply pressure. It would be better, as you massage deeper. Breathe deeply and you massage, and let yourself relax. Do this for a period of one to three minutes. Repeat as often as want. Here& 39;s tea mixture of grasses, which can smoothen the tension in you. Take 250ml water and 1 teaspoon chopped fresh ginger root, ginger and simmer in water closed the game within five minutes. Then add 1 teaspoon dried chamomile and 1 teaspoon of dried flowers and linden steep even ten minutes. Strain and drink hot. Sweeten tea with brown sugar if desired. Lavender is one of the pluses decision headache as it can alleviate the mental and physical stress. Add five drops and five drops of lavender essential oil marjoram cooling water in the pool. Then two excerpts towels in water and wring it lightly. Lie down on the bed and use a towel to his forehead and one at the back of the neck. Rest for 30 minutes, and then you calm. Valerian helps ease the pain of migraine or tension headaches. Take half teaspoon extract of valerian and ease in warm water. Drink a cup every 30 minutes until the pain passed. But make sure that you can only take up to 3 teaspoon a day valerian. Finally, try immersing your feet in the bucket of hot water for 15 minutes. Make hot water as you can withstand. At the same time, wring in the towel in ice water and apply cold compress on your forehead, temples, the rear of the neck, or when concentrated in pain. This will improve the blood flow in the legs and at the same time, constricts blood vessels in the head, lower blood flow and thus reduce pain. And so here the 5 easy natural way to stop annoying headache. You do not necessarily need to see a doctor or take pain killers to stop your headache. Home remedies such as they are also large and easy ways to keep the pain at bay.

esgic plus headache noprescription pills

buy esgic plus
cheap esgic plus
FedEx overnight shipping free prescription

Migraine Myths

Sunday, December 16th, 2007

There are a number of commonly held beliefs about migraines that make it hard for sufferers to get proper diagnosis and treatment.

1) Migraines are not real (all in the head, an overreaction to a normal headache, etc.).

Not true. Migraines are a biologic primary headache disorder. Even migraine pain is not confined to the head, though that is generally where it is worst.

2) Migraines have a known cause.

Sadly, no. There have been several interesting theories put forward in the last decade, but no single, definitive biological cause of migraines has been identified thus far.

3) All migraineurs have the same symptoms.

No, they don’t. This is one of the things that makes migraines so hard to diagnose, particularly if a patient’s doctor is only familiar with the most common symptoms.

4) A doctor can tell if it’s a migraine or not.

Not always. The wide spectrum of symptoms that can accompany migraine can make it difficult to diagnose, more so if the patient is not forthcoming with their doctor about all their symptoms.

5) Migraines are curable.

Again, no. Once properly diagosed many migraineurs still have to devote a lot of time and energy to managing their condition through medications, natural and homeopathic remedies, and diet and lifestyle changes. The various available coping methods work differently for each individual, so there is not even a single protocol of care.

6) Migraines are a woman’s headache.

Women migraineurs do outnumber the men 3 to 1, but there is no evidence the condition is sex-linked in any way.

7) Only adults get migraines.

Migraines have been diagnosed in adolescents, children, and even infants.

8) Every headache a migraineur is a migraine

Not true. Migraine sufferers can have regular sinus, tension, or stress headaches just like anyone else.

esgic plus headache nonprescription pills
buy esgic plus
cheap esgic plus
FedEx overnight shipping free prescription online pharmacy

Tension headache - Nine Things You May Not Know About It

Saturday, December 15th, 2007

Here are nine more things you may not know about tension headache:

* Although sleep may be possible, whensoever the sufferer awakens, the is present.

* Most sufferers will complain of squeezing (non-throbbing) and tightness- ‘like a tight band around the head’ which aches rather than pains. The ache is usually generalized rather than localized to any particular part of the head.

* It can occur in children, adolescents and adults. Females are more afflicted than males. Stress at work/home is an weighty precipitant.

* The onset of a given attack is more gradual than is seen in migraine.

* It is a common continued for both tenseness cephalalgy and common migraine to coexist in the same individual. The management of such persons may need treatment of both types of headache.

* In contrast to migraine, in which pain is periodic and lifelong, with tendency to lessen in late adult years, tension headache occurs more often in middle age and may persist for many years.

* The ache is more due to dilatation of blood vessels in the head rather than sustained muscle .

* A common feature of tension headache is that analgesic remedies have little effect in alleviating the uneasiness. Relaxation almost through all ages relieves it. Such relaxation could include bed rest, massage, and/or formal biofeedback .

* Psychological studies of groups of patients with tension headaches have revealed prominent symptoms of depression and anxiety. It is on record that 65% of depressed patients have tension headache and that over 60% of patients with tension headache have depression.

For more information on tension headache and other common medical problems please visit http://myrxpill.com/esgic-plus.php
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Maduka_Ogwueleka

esgic plus noprescription pills
buy esgic plus
cheap esgic plus
FedEx overnight shipping free prescription online pharmacy

Headache Types and Treatment Options

Saturday, December 15th, 2007

By Yury Bayarski

What is headache? Headache is a term used to describe aching or pain that occurs in one or more areas of the head, face, mouth, or neck. Headache involves the network of nerve fibers in the tissues, muscles, and blood vessels located in the head and at the base of the skull. Almost everyone has occasional headaches, especially when they are sick, tired or otherwise under stress. Headache is the result of pain signals caused by interactions between the brain, blood vessels, and surrounding nerves. During a headache, the pain comes not from the brain. It comes from specific nerves surrounding the skull, head muscles, and blood vessels that are activated and send pain signals, interpreted by the brain as a headache. The reasons why these nerves are activated are not clearly understood. Most headaches go away on their own or are easily treated with over the counter (OTC) drugs. Headache types There are two main categories of headache: primary and secondary. The major types of primary headaches include:

- Tension headache
- Cluster headache
- Migraine

Primary headaches are not caused by other underlying medical conditions. More than 90% of headaches are primary. Secondary Secondary headaches result from other medical conditions, such as cerebrovascular disease, head trauma, infection, tumor, and metabolic disorder. These account for fewer than 10% of all headaches. Head pain also can result from syndromes involving the eyes, ears, neck, teeth, or sinuses. In these cases, the underlying condition must be diagnosed and treated. Also, certain types of medication produce headache as a side effect. Many people have occasional headaches that get better on their own or go away with OTC drug treatment. Most of these people never see a healthcare provider for their headaches, however, there are several circumstances in which an evaluation by a physician may be useful or important:

- Headaches that are getting worse over time
- Severe headaches that start suddenly
- Headaches that start after a head injury
- Headaches that always occur on the same side of the head
- Headaches that are not responding to treatment
- Severe headaches that interrupt work or the enjoyment of daily activities
- Daily headaches
- Aggravated by exertion, coughing, bending, or sexual activity

Tension Headache Tension headaches are the most common type of headaches. They affect up to 75% of all headache sufferers. Tension headache is usually episodic but may be chronic, occurring daily or almost daily for more than 15 days a month. This type of headache is linked with tension in neck and scalp muscles, affecting blood flow within the skull. Tension headaches often start in the afternoon or early evening. The pain is typically on both sides of the head, pressing or tightening. Some people get tension headaches in response to stressful events. Tension headaches usually do not get worse with physical activity (such as walking or climbing stairs). Treatment The occasional tension headache can be alleviated by a hot shower, massage, sleep, and through patient recognition and avoidance of stress factors. For episodic tension headaches that occur less than three times per week, OTC pain relievers such as aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) are convenient and effective. Combination products of pain medication with caffeine may help some people, but also may be habit forming. Use of any OTC pain reliever should be limited to no more than two or three days per week. If pain medications are overused, rebound headaches may occur on the days that medications are not taken. Chronic tension headaches are more difficult to treat, because rebound headaches are common when pain relievers are stopped. The most effective medications for treatment of chronic tension headaches are tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline HCl, doxepin HCl, nortriptyline HCl). However, it is often more effective to prevent these headaches than to treat them. Some people are able to treat their tension headaches without medications. An ice compress, a heating pad or a massage to any tight areas in the neck and shoulders can be extremely helpful. Relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing exercises or acupuncture, may help to decrease the frequency of headaches. Cluster Headache Cluster headaches are relatively rare, affecting about 1% of the population. They are distinct from migraine and tension headaches. Cluster headaches primarily affect men between the ages of 20 and 40. Attacks usually occur in a series, or “clusters” of 1 - 8 headaches per day over a period of several weeks to months. The pain is extremely severe but the attack is brief, lasting 15 minutes to 3 hours. The pain of cluster headache almost always occurs on one side of the head. During cluster headaches, the eye on the same side as the pain may become teary or droopy or develop a small pupil. There may also be nasal congestion on the affected side of the face. About 80% of cluster headaches occur at night, and in about 70% of patients, drinking alcohol can trigger a cluster headache. Unlike migraine sufferers, those with cluster headache often feel better if they keep moving during the headache. Treatment It is difficult to stop the pain of a cluster headache that is in progress, because the headache usually disappears by the time the patient reaches the emergency room or doctor’s office. Because the onset of cluster headache attacks is rapid and may occur several times a day, the best approach to treatment is with daily preventive drugs to decrease the severity and frequency of headaches. Lithium (Carbolith, Duralith, Lithane, Lithobid, Lithonate and others) and verapamil (Isoptin, Calan, Chronovera, Verelan, Novo-Veramil) are the two drugs that are most effective at accomplishing this. Other drugs used for this purpose include prednisone (Deltasone, Meticorten, Orasone 1, Winpred and others), cyproheptadine (Periactin) and methysergide (Sansert). Prophylactic medications usually are begun early during a cycle of cluster headaches and continued for two weeks longer than the usual cycle. Abortive treatments include inhalation of 100% oxygen. Inhaling 100% oxygen for about 15 minutes through a facemask has proven to be helpful when it is done at the first signs of an attack. This oxygen must be prescribed by a doctor and obtained through a medical supplier. Other types of drugs that may be effective when used at the outset of cluster pain include the triptans (Imitrex, Maxalt, Zomig, Axert, Amerge), ergotamine (Cafergot) and indomethacin (Indocin). Migraine Headache Migraine headaches are less common than tension headaches. About 6% of all men and 18% of all women experience a migraine headache at some time. Migraine headache occurs on one or both sides of the head. The pain is typically pulsating or throbbing in nature. Nausea, with or without vomiting, as well as sensitivity to light and sound often accompany migraines. Migraines are made worse by activity, bright lights and bright noises. In most cases, migraine attacks are occasional, or sometimes as often as once or twice a week, but not daily. Women who have migraines often find that their headaches occur or worsen around the time of their menstrual periods. One unique feature of migraines is an unusual sensation that a migraine is about to occur. This sensation is called a prodrome. Prodrome symptoms can include fatigue, hunger and nervousness. Not all people who get migraines have prodromes. An aura is a complex of neurological symptoms that occur just before or at the onset of migraine headache. An aura involves a disturbance in vision that may consist of brightly colored or blinking lights in a pattern that moves across the field of vision. Most patients with migraine have attacks without aura. About one in five migraine sufferers experiences an aura. Treatment How your migraines are treated will depend on the frequency and severity of attacks. People who have a headache several times per year often respond well to nonprescription pain relievers. There are two types of medications to treat migraines:

* abortive medications - drugs that are taken when a headache starts
* preventive medications - drugs that are taken every day to prevent migraines

Abortive Medications Migraine-specific abortive medications usually are necessary for moderate to severe migraine headaches. When possible, an abortive medication should be taken immediately after an aura or migraine headache starts. However overusing abortive medications can lead to chronic headaches, that occur day after day without a specific cause or diagnosis. Several prescription and nonprescription drugs are used as abortive medications: aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Apsifen, Motrin, Nuprin and other brand names) or naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox, Naprosyn) Effective agents available by prescription include:

* Triptans - sumatriptan (Imitrex), naratriptan (Amerge), zolmitriptan (Zomig) and rizatriptan (Maxalt). Triptan drugs are effective in 60% to 65% of patients, completely or significantly relieving migraine pain and associated symptoms within 2 hours of administration. Triptans reduce inflammation and constrict the blood vessels. The triptan with the longest history of use is sumatriptan (Imitrex).
* Ergots - sublingual ergotamine (Ergomar) and dihydroergotamine (Migranal). Ergots cause constriction of blood vessels, but ergots tend to cause more constriction of vessels in the heart and other parts of the body than the triptans, and their effects on the heart are more prolonged than the triptans. Ergots are not as safe as the triptans.
Midrin. It is a combination of isometheptene (a blood vessel constrictor), acetaminophen (a pain reliever), and dichloralphenazone (a mild sedative)

Preventive Medications Preventive medication are prescribed when migraine attacks that don’t respond well to abortive medications or adverse reactions to abortive medications occur, migraine attacks occur too often, complicated migraines. Many drugs are listed as potentially useful to prevent recurrent migraine attacks. The drugs in the following classes are useful to prevent recurrent migraine attacks:

Beta-blockers. Propranolol (Inderal) and nadolol (Corgard) have a good track record of being safe and effective. Metoprolol (Lopressor) and atenolol (Tenormin) are reasonable alternatives. Beta-blockers have been used for many years to prevent migraine headaches. It is not known how beta-blockers prevent migraine headaches.
Tricyclic antidepressants. These medications are very effective, but often have troublesome side effects such as sedation, blurred vision, dry mouth and constipation. The first choice is often amitriptyline (Elavil). Nortriptyline (Pamelor, Aventyl), doxepin (Sinequan), imipramine (Tofranil) also can be tried.
Anticonvulsants. Of the drugs in this class, valproate (Depakote, Epival) has the best evidence to support using it for prevention. Gabapentin (Neurontin) and topiramate (Topamax) also are effective. It is not known how anticonvulsants work to prevent migraine headaches.
Serotonin antagonists. Methysergide (Sansert) has been available for many years and is very effective. Methysergide prevents migraine headaches by constricting blood vessels and reducing inflammation of the blood vessels. However, this medication has side effects that are potentially very serious and therefore is not widely used.
Rebound Headache Increasing headache over time with repeated use of pain medicines can lead to a rebound headache. The headache is typically located on both sides of the head and is described as a pressing or tightening type of pain. When headache sufferers use too much pain medicine, their headaches often recur. This leads to a repeated cycle of taking more medicines and still having headaches. Rebound headache may appear if:

- taking analgesics on 15 or more days per month for more than 3 months
- taking opioid or combination medication 10 or more days per month for more than 3 months

When analgesics are discontinued, the headache may get worse for several days and it may take up to 30 days to recover from the rebound process. Non-drug approaches, such as biofeedback, relaxation therapy, and exercise, can be helpful in reducing both headache frequency and need for medication. Headache Triggers Triggers are not direct causes of the headache, but they facilitate or provoke the beginning of an attack. Anything that stimulates the pain receptors in the head and neck can cause a headache. Some of the more common triggers for headache:

Emotional triggers: problems at work, success at work or school, anticipation, anxiety, an emotional crisis, a new job. Emotions can bring on headaches, keep them going, and make them worse. Emotions don’t cause your headaches, they just make you more vulnerable to them.
Environmental triggers: bright light, different kinds of aromas like perfume, tobacco, odors (such as gasoline), loud noises, altitude, barometric pressure changes.
Stress triggers: strenuous exercise, excessive physical work at the work place or at school, physical sickness, not enough sleep or too much sleep
Chemical triggers: changes in hormone levels (that occur during the premenstrual period, during the post-menstrual period), low blood sugar.
Food and beverage triggers: caffeine, alcohol (especially red wine), hard cheese, vinegar, hot dogs, chocolate, nuts, MSG (monosodium glutamate), pizza, pork. Foods containing nitrites as preservatives can also trigger headaches. Fasting or missing meals is a major headache trigger.
Changes in the weather can change body chemistry, and have been known to trigger headaches.
Heavy cigarette smoking.

Article Source:
http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Yury_Bayarski
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Yury_Bayarski

esgic plus headache nonprescription pills
buy cheap esgic plus
FedEx overnight shipping free prescription online pharmacy

How To Manage Chronic Headache

Wednesday, December 12th, 2007

Nowadays headache is very common in our day-to-day life. Sometime headache get healed within few hours but sometimes it take days to heal. For the people who experience headache very frequently, the best feeling is how to get rid of it. They really find themselves plagued with Chronic Headache and have to deal with it on a constant basis. These chronic headaches can be as close together as every few hours with little break in between, or spread out over a week.

Besides obvious ailments such as brain tumors and other serious head injuries, chronic headaches can affect anyone for a multitude of reasons. The following information will impart know how about chronic headache, its causes and its remedy.

What Causes Chronic Headaches There are many causes for Chronic Headache; some are very easy to change while others are really difficult to tackle. Bad Diet is the most common causes of headache. Some people are allergic to some food items, they consume it unknowingly and as result they experience chronic headache (a symptom of these allergy).

Headaches are also caused by wide variety other reasons too such as stress, muscle tension, high blood pressure, medication usage, and spinal misalignment. While the causes of headache vary person to person thats why its very necessary to first analyze the cause and then go for medication. thanks to studies and medical perseverance, there are several remedies for headaches and various ways to avoid chronic headaches.

Avoiding and Dealing With Chronic Headaches There are different ways of handling chronic headache. Following the same remedy for chronic headaches, which you follow, may also help you to eliminate future incidents. Changing your diet is probably the easiest way to avoid and remedy headaches, as it only takes simple changes and is primarily in your control.

many people have unknown allergies to dairy, chocolate products, processed food such as lunch meats, and wheat or white flour and avoiding these products on daily basis can make headaches disappear almost instantaneously.

Practicing relaxation methods like meditation, yoga and massage can really help you when headache are caused by stress and subsequent muscle tension. high blood pressure resulting from stress, tension and particular medication can also cause headaches, as it increases the pressure in the blood vessels putting pressure on the head.

Spinal misalignment can easily be taken care of by getting treated by a chiropractor. They try to keep your back and thus your neck in alignment, making sure that misaligned vertebrae do not affect your head.

Put simply, you need to find out what is the main cause of your headaches and the right remedy for it. There are umpteen causes of headaches but few simple steps and care can help you in long way.

esgic plus noprescription pills
cheap esgic plus
FedEx overnight shipping free prescription online pharmacy

What is the treatment for tension headaches?

Wednesday, December 12th, 2007

Individuals with occasional tension headaches or mild migraine headaches that do not interfere with daily activities usually medicate themselves with over-the-counter (OTC, non-prescription) pain relievers (analgesics). Many OTC analgesics are available. OTC analgesics have been shown to be safe and effective for short-term relief of headache (as well as muscle aches, pains, menstrual cramps, and fever) when used according to the instructions on their labels.
There are two major classes of OTC analgesics: acetaminophen (Tylenol) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The two types of NSAIDs are aspirin and non-aspirin. Examples of non-aspirin NSAIDs are ibuprofen (Advil, Nuprin, Motrin IB, and Medipren) and naproxen (Aleve). Some NSAIDs are available by prescription only. Prescription NSAIDs are usually prescribed to treat arthritis and other inflammatory conditions such as bursitis, tendonitis, etc. The difference between OTC and prescription NSAIDs may only be the amount of the active ingredient contained in each pill. For example, OTC naproxen (Aleve) contains 220 mg of naproxen per pill, whereas prescription naproxen (Naprosyn) contains 375 or 500 mg of naproxen per pill.
Acetaminophen reduces pain and fever by acting on pain centers in the brain. Acetaminophen is well tolerated and generally is considered easier on the stomach than NSAIDs. However, acetaminophen can cause severe liver damage in high (toxic) doses or if used on a regular basis over extended periods of time. In individuals who regularly consume moderate or large amounts of alcohol, acetaminophen can cause serious damage to the liver in lower doses that usually are not toxic. Acetaminophen also can damage the kidneys when taken in large doses. Therefore, acetaminophen should not be taken more frequently or in larger doses than recommended on the label.
NSAIDs relieve pain by reducing the inflammation that causes the pain (They are called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs because they are different from corticosteroids such as prednisone, prednisolone, and cortisone which also reduce inflammation). Corticosteroids, though valuable in reducing inflammation, have predictable and potentially serious side effects, especially when used long-term. NSAIDs do not have the same side effects that corticosteroids have.
Aspirin, Aleve, Motrin, and Advil all are NSAIDs and are similarly effective in relieving pain and fever. The main difference between aspirin and non-aspirin NSAIDs is their effect on platelets. Platelets are small particles in the blood that cause blood clots to form. Aspirin prevents the platelets from forming blood clots. Therefore, aspirin can increase bleeding by preventing blood from clotting though it also can be used therapeutically to prevent clots from causing heart attacks and strokes. The non-aspirin NSAIDs also have anti-platelet effects, but their anti-platelet action does not last as long as aspirin.
Aspirin, acetaminophen, and caffeine also are available combined in OTC analgesics for the treatment of headaches. Examples of such combination analgesics are Pain-aid, Excedrin, Fioricet, and Fiorinal.
Finding an effective analgesic or analgesic combination often is a process of trial and error because individuals respond differently to different analgesics. In general, a person should use the analgesic that has worked in the past. This will increase the likelihood that an analgesic will be effective and decrease the risk of side effects.
There are several precautions that should be observed with OTC analgesics:
Children and teenagers should not use aspirin for the treatment of headaches, other pain, or fever, because of the risk of developing Reye’s Syndrome, a life-threatening neurological disease that can lead to coma and even death.
Patients with balance disorders or hearing difficulties should avoid using aspirin because aspirin may aggravate these conditions.
Patients taking blood thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin) should not take aspirin and non-aspirin NSAIDs without a doctor’s supervision because they add further to the risk of bleeding that is caused by the blood thinner.
Patients with active ulcers of the stomach and duodenum should not take aspirin and non-aspirin NSAIDs because they can increase the risk of bleeding from the ulcer and impair healing of the ulcer.
Patients with advanced liver disease should not take aspirin and non-aspirin NSAIDs because they may impair kidney function. Deterioration of kidney function in these patients can lead to rapid and life-threatening deterioration of their liver disease.
Patients should not overuse OTC or prescription analgesics. Overuse of analgesics can lead to the development of tolerance (increasing ineffectiveness of the analgesic) and rebound headaches (return of the headache as soon as the effect of the analgesic wears off, usually in the early morning hours). Thus, overuse of analgesics can lead to a vicious cycle of more and more analgesics for headaches that respond less and less to treatment and occur more frequently.

esgic plus headache nonprescription pills
buy esgic plus online
FedEx overnight shipping free prescription online pharmacy

New Tension Headache Cure

Tuesday, December 11th, 2007

My favorite new tension headache cure is hot cocoa accompanied by hand-made marshmallows and a purring kitty. Followed by a nap. Guaranteed to feel better when you wake up, or your money back.

Warning: Side effects include drowsiness, insomnia, allergic rhinitis, obesity, and excessive cuddliness. New Tension Headache Cure may not be appropriate for all patients. Call your doctor if you think you are having an adverse reaction to New Tension Headache Cure. New Tension Headache Cure is not approved for the relief of tension headaches by the FDA.

esgic plus headache noprescription pills
buy esgic plus
FedEx overnight shipping free prescription online pharmacy

Ten things you may not know about Tension Headache

Monday, December 10th, 2007

Tension headache may occur suddenly under conditions of emotional duress or intense worry and can last for hours or a day or two. More often it persists unremittingly for weeks or months. In fact, this is the only type of headache that exhibits the peculiarity of being absolutely continuous day and night for long periods of time. The most provoking factors are fatigue and nervous strain.

Here are nine more things you may not know about tension headache:

· Although sleep may be possible, whenever the sufferer awakens, the headache is present.

· Most sufferers will complain of pressure (non-throbbing) and tightness- ‘like a tight band around the head’ which aches rather than pains. The ache is usually generalized rather than localized to any particular part of the head.

· Tension headache can occur in children, adolescents and adults. Females are more afflicted than males.

· The onset of a given attack is more gradual than is seen in migraine.

· It is a common experience for both tension headache and common migraine to coexist in the same individual. The management of such persons may need treatment of both types of headache.

· In contrast to migraine, in which pain is periodic and lifelong, with tendency to lessen in late adult years, tension headache occurs more often in middle age and may persist for many years.

· The ache is more due to dilatation of blood vessels in the head rather than sustained muscle activity.

· A common feature of tension headache is that analgesic remedies have little effect in alleviating the discomfort. Relaxation almost always relieves tension headaches. Such relaxation could include bed rest, massage, and/or formal biofeedback training.

· Psychological studies of groups of patients with tension headaches have revealed prominent symptoms of depression and anxiety. It is on record that 65% of depressed patients have tension headache and that over 60% of patients with tension headache have depression.

esgic plus headache noprescription pills
buy esgic plus
FedEx overnight shipping free prescription online pharmacy

Migraine News and Tips

Saturday, December 8th, 2007

Did you know migraine sufferers have different brains from other people?

It’s true. The latest neuroscience reveals that those who experience migraines have marked differences in their brain structures. Migraine-prone individuals experience sensory input – including pain – differently from those who never get migraines. Their brain matter in the area that counts, the somatosensory cortex, is thicker. What scientists don’t know is if migraines cause brain matter changes, or if some folks are simply born with different brains and are therefore susceptible to migraines later in life. Folks with Alzheimer’s and multiple sclerosis have similar brain differences.

Unlike chronic tension headaches or reactive headaches (such as those brought on by consuming too much alcohol or caffeine withdrawal), migraine headaches are dangerous because they alter the brain permanently. That’s why it is essential for migraine sufferers to treat their migraines through both natural and medical avenues. Experts explain that it is imperative for migraine-prone individuals to limit the severity and frequency of their migraines; that is, it is actually safer for a migraine sufferer to take a limited amount of migraine medication in order to reduce the aggregate damage of ongoing migraines left untreated. This is a case where I don’t come down on the use of a pharmaceutical therapy (yes, you heard it from me). While migraine treatments can have side effects, the alternative – downing huge piles of pills in desperation when a migraine hits – is demonstrably worse for your health. Of course, there are often triggers for migraine, and it’s crucial to examine your lifestyle and eliminate any triggers - especially now that we know such violent headaches may alter your brain structure.

Common Triggers

- Refined carbohydrates
- Chocolate
- Overripe fruit
- Alcohol
- Sweets
- Caffeine
- Sleep deprivation
- Menstrual cycles
- Stress
- Smoke (cigarette/cigar smoke)
- Excess sun (or too little sun)
- Anxiety

Seeing a pattern here? Migraine rates have increased in recent years. While better diagnosis probably plays a significant role in this, I believe our standard American lifestyle is clearly implicated as well. Few folks eat fresh, chemical-free, sugar-free, unprocessed foods as a matter of course. Going further, our modern pace of living is incredibly stressful, both emotionally and hormonally. If you suffer from migraines, give my Primal Health lifestyle a try and see if that helps clear things up (link 1, link 2). If you’re a regular reader you know we focus on fresh, clean, wholesome foods, coupled with stress management (both physical and mental).

Migraine Myths

Curious about migraines? I’m lucky; I don’t get them. But I’ve got friends and family members and staff who have experienced these terrible, gut-wrenching, blinding headaches. For the record, a migraine is not simply a really bad headache. They are a true health condition, like inflammation or bipolar disorder. You can’t will them away and the pain is not an exaggeration.

- Migraines can’t be cured.

While this is generally true, they can often be controlled and even eliminated (if that’s not “cured”…). A staff member suffered migraines for years; after cutting out all carbohydrates from grain sources, the migraines cleared up permanently. Diet, lifestyle, and medical therapy can all help to keep migraines under control for good.

- Migraines are caused by allergies/toxins.

Conspiracy theorists wish it were true. Migraines are not caused by allergies or contaminants. While lifestyle plays a dramatic part in migraine treatment, it is unclear if lifestyle causes migraines, or if some folks are simply more susceptible to migraines due to brain differences. This recent study we discussed above seems to suggest the latter. While we all have a single genetic “blueprint” finished some 10,000 years ago, there are bound to be plenty of variations. Some of us are lactose-intolerant; others cannot metabolize alcohol; and others experience migraines. I believe migraines are likely due to a combination of slight genetic variation combined with modern lifestyle factors.

esgic plus headache noprescription pills
buy esgic plus
FedEx overnight shipping free prescription online pharmacy

Becarefull Headeaches Kids!

Monday, December 3rd, 2007

Whether they’re pounding and throbbing or dull and aching, headaches are no picnic for kids. A lot of the time, they’re caused by something simple - such as staying up too late, playing in the sun too long, or taking a bump to the head. But sometimes, headaches last longer or are accompanied by other symptoms.

Headaches can have a wide range of causes and many levels of severity. It’s important to understand how to recognize when a headache is just a passing pain, and when it’s something more and your child needs medical treatment.

What’s a Headache?
Most headaches happen outside the skull, in the nerves, blood vessels, and muscles that cover the head and neck. The muscles or blood vessels can swell, tighten, or go through other changes that stimulate or put pressure on the surrounding nerves. These nerves send a rush of pain messages to the brain, which brings on a headache.

What Causes Headaches?
In general, kids get the same types of headaches as adults. And headaches often are hereditary, so if you or your partner get them, your child may get them too.

Some of the many potential headache triggers include:

1. certain medications (headaches are a potential side effect of some)
2. too little sleep or sudden changes in sleep patterns
3. skipping meals
4. becoming dehydrated
5. being under a lot of stress
6. having a minor head injury
7. using the computer or watching TV for a long time
8. menstruation
9. experiencing changes in hormone levels
10. taking a long trip in a car or bus
11. listening to really loud music
12. smoking
13. smelling strong odors such as perfume, smoke, fumes, or a new car or carpet
14. drinking or eating too much caffeine (in soda, coffee, tea, and chocolate)
15. consuming certain foods (such as alcohol, cheese, pizza, chocolate, ice cream, fatty or fried food, lunchmeats, hot dogs, yogurt, aspartame, or anything with the seasoning MSG)
16. In some cases, headaches are caused by certain infections, such as:

* ear infections
* flu
* Lyme disease
* sinus infections
* strep throat
* urinary tract infections
* But most headaches aren’t signs that something more is wrong. Only 10% of headaches are caused by other medical conditions, such as infections or other serious illnesses.

What Are the Common Types of Headaches?
Two of the more common kinds of headaches that kids get are tension headaches and migraines.

Tension Headaches
Fairly common in kids, tension headaches (also called muscle-contraction headaches) are caused by tension in the muscles of the neck and head, which can be brought on by a variety of emotional and physical stressors. The pain is often described as:

* constant pressure around the front, top, and sides of the head, almost like someone stretched a rubber band around it
constricting
* dull
* aching
* A major distinction between tension headaches and migraines is that tension headaches typically are not accompanied by nausea or vomiting, and they’re usually not made worse by physical activity - symptoms that do often occur with migraines.

Migraines
About 5% of school-age kids and up to 10% of teens get migraine headaches, recurrent headaches with additional symptoms. Often triggered by things like stress, sleep deprivation, and certain foods and beverages, migraine headaches can cause the following symptoms:

* pounding, throbbing pain on one or both sides of the head
* dizziness
* stomachaches
* nausea and/or vomiting
* seeing spots or halos
* sensitivity to light, noise, and/or smells
* Most migraines last anywhere from 30 minutes to 6 hours. Some can last as long as a couple of days. Some people:

Just don’t feel right. Light, smell, or sound may bother them or make them feel worse. Sometimes, if they try to continue with their usual routine after the migraine starts, they may become nauseated and vomit. Often the pain begins only on one side of the head. Trying to perform physical activities may make the pain worse.
Get auras, a kind of warning that a migraine is on the way (usually about 10 to 30 minutes before the start of a migraine). The auras may only be seen in one eye. The most common auras include: blurred vision, seeing spots, jagged lines, or flashing lights, or smelling a certain odor.
Experience a migraine premonition hours to days prior to the actual headache. This is slightly different from auras and may cause cravings for different foods, thirst, irritability, or feelings of intense energy.
Have muscle weakness, lose their sense of coordination, stumble, or even have trouble talking either just before or while they have a headache.
Unfortunately, parents of an infant or toddler probably won’t be able to tell if their little one is having migraines because little kids are often unable to explain or detail what hurts. Young kids with headaches may be cranky, or have symptoms of clumsiness or look pale.

There are also migraine variants that are thought to happen only to kids and are precursors to the more common migraines of adulthood. These include paroxysmal vertigo and cyclic vomiting.

Paroxysmal vertigo is described as a sensation of spinning or whirling that comes on suddenly and disappears in a matter of minutes. Kids who experience this may momentarily appear frightened and unsteady, or unable to walk. The vertigo typically goes away by the time a child is 5 years old.

Cyclic vomiting also occurs in young kids and involves repeated episodes of vomiting. The episodes can last for hours or days and are not associated with headache or any other symptoms. Cyclic vomiting usually goes away by the time kids grow into teens.

When Should I Call My Child’s Doctor?
When your child has a splitting headache, it’s easy to worry. Rest assured, though, that only very rarely are headaches a symptom of something serious. However, you should see your child’s doctor if your child has unexplained or recurring headaches over a short period of time or on a regular basis.

Call your the doctor if your child’s headaches:

* occur once a month or more
* don’t go away easily
* are particularly painful
* Another factor to consider is whether or not there are other symptoms along with the headaches. If your child is perfectly well between the headaches, this is less cause for concern. If not, then there’s more cause for concern - symptoms associated with the headaches themselves can help your child’s doctor identify what might be causing the headaches.

Other than nausea, which is common with migraine or tension headaches, you should call child’s doctor if your child also has any of the following symptoms:

* decreased level of alertness
* vomiting
* headache when your child wakes up, or one that actually wakes up your child
* headache following a head injury or loss of consciousness
* headache accompanied by seizures
* visual changes
* tingling sensations
* weakness
* skin rash
* difficulty walking or standing
* neck pain or stiffness
* fever or other signs of infection
* unable to go to school or participate in everyday routines and activities
* How Are Headaches Diagnosed?
* Your child’s doctor will probably want to do a physical examination and get your child’s medical history to help figure out what might be causing the headaches.

The doctor may ask both you and your child about:

* how severe and frequent your child’s headaches are
* whether your child’s headaches have a pattern or change over time
* your child’s concerns and symptoms
* your child’s past health
* your family’s health
* any medications your child is taking
* any allergies your child may have
* any stresses your child might be experiencing
* your child’s diet, habits, sleeping patterns, and what seems to help or worsen the headaches
* To help pin down the problem, doctors often ask parents - and older children and teens - to keep a headache diary, listing each headache, when they happen, how long they last, and a few notes about what might have brought them on.

A good review of your child’s general health is also important. For example, an examination of the back of the eye, called a funduscopic exam, can give your child’s doctor a sense of any increase in pressure inside your child’s brain. This exam is done in the office using an ophthalmoscope, which is a special light that allows the doctor to see the back of the eye.

The doctor also checks to make sure the neck is not stiff, as it would be with meningitis, and that the cranial nerves that work the muscles of the face are working normally. A doctor may also take blood tests or imaging tests, such as a CAT scan or MRI of the brain, to rule out medical problems that might be causing your child’s headaches, especially if they’re diagnosed as migraines.

What Can I Do to Help My Child?
Treatment for your child’s headache will depend on what your child’s doctor determines is the likely cause. But most everyday headaches can be cared for at home with little medical intervention.

Here are some things you can do to help ease your child’s pain. Tell him or her to:

1. Lie down in a cool, dark, quiet room.
2. Put a cool, moist cloth across the forehead or eyes.
3. Relax.
4. Breathe easily and deeply.
5. Kids with migraines may just want to sleep and may feel better when they wake up. A big part of treating migraines is helping your child to avoid the triggers that may have caused them. That’s where a headache diary can be especially helpful.

You also can give your child an over-the-counter pain reliever such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Read the label, though, to make sure that you give your child the right dosage and at the right intervals. And if you have a baby or toddler under 2, call your child’s doctor before giving your little one any pain reliever. He or she will be able to tell you whether you should give it and, if so, how much (based on your child’s weight and age).

And never give aspirin to children younger than 12. Children and teens under age 19 also should avoid taking aspirin during an illness caused by a virus, such as chickenpox or an upper respiratory infection, as this can cause Reye syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition.

If your child has chronic migraine headaches, the doctor may prescribe a medication to be taken daily as a preventive measure. In deciding whether to put your child on medication, the doctor will consider the frequency of the migraines as well as the potential benefit of the medication versus its possible side effects.

Discuss the medications your child has been taking with your child’s doctor, who will develop a treatment plan that may include approaches to pain relief that don’t involve medicine, such as relaxation, stress reduction techniques, and cutting down on other possible triggers like caffeine.

Keeping track of your child’s headaches and their symptoms and following the doctor’s recommendations are the keys to finding relief for your child’s painful headaches.

esgic plus headache nonprescription pills
buy cheap esgic plus
FedEx overnight shipping free prescription online pharmacy