Archive for the ‘symptom’ Category

Do You Get Frequent Headaches?

Thursday, December 18th, 2008

Frequent headaches can be a debilitating problem, detracting significantly from quality of life. The medical community breaks headaches into a system of categories, with primary headaches accounting for the vast majority of headaches. Cluster and secondary headaches are far rarer, but can present the patient with severe pain and more serious neurological issues. Although never life threatening, primary headaches can nonetheless be very serious, infringing on quality of life in many cases. Frequent headaches, even milder primary headaches, can have a serious effect on enjoyment of daily life.

How can frequent headaches be prevented? That depends on the source of the headaches. Primary headaches are frequently a symptom of tension, and can become frequent if the cirumstances that prompt them are a regular facet of daily life for the patient. Tension headaches are brought about when the patient undergoes significant emotional or physical stress. This kind of stress causes the muscles that cover the skull to contract, resulting in pain from the pressure. This can be difficult to prevent and treat. Over the counter medications typically do a good job in treating this kind of primary headache when it occurs.

Prevention is more about circumventing the kind of situations that prompt serious physical and emotional stress. This kind of stress results directly in contraction of the skull muscles, subsequently causing sometimes serious headaches. Frequent headaches can be a sign that life adjustments need to be made. If emotional stress is thought to be behind the frequent headaches, consider visiting a doctor about this stress, or taking steps in personal life to reduce the stress.

Frequent headaches that occur seemingly at random can be a sign of a more serious secondary problem. In these situations, a structural or chemical problem in the brain is to blame for the pain. This can signify a serious issue, such as a tumor growing in the brain. Although this is rarely the cause, frequent headaches should be cause for a visit with the doctor.

Over the counter medications are typically all that is needed to treat a primary headache. Aleve and ibuprofen work equally well to treat primary headaches. In more serious cases, therapeutic steps such as biofeedback may be needed in order to overcome the pain associated with frequent headaches. If none of these measures provide a remedy for the pain, consider seeing a specialist about the pain.

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Handling Chronic Tension Headaches

Wednesday, December 17th, 2008

Chronic tension headaches can be a potentially debilitating condition that seriously deprives the patient of life enjoyment. Daily activities can be painfully interrupted by the sudden occurence of a tension headache. Chronic tension headaches can easily lead to depression and a general pain crisis. It is important that chronic tension headaches be treated as soon as possible. Fortunately, the medical community has a great deal of experience with the phenomenon of headache, and has several avenues of treatment available for sufferers. In fact, the medical community has researched headache thoroughly, and has divided the phenomenon into three distinct categories.

The majority of headaches suffered can fit into the primary category. A primary headache is frequently brought on by emotional or physical stress, and is the most common form of headache by far. Primary headaches are almost never life threatening, but they can bring serious pain with them. This pain can hamper everyday enjoyment of life, making even basic functioning difficult. Although the exact causes remain something of a mystery, it is widely held that the symptoms are brought on by a tightening of the muscles that surround the base of the skull. This tightening can be initially identified as a band like feeling just above the eyes that gradually grows into a painful sensation.

Cluster and secondary headaches are a far rarer form of headache that occurs to small portion of the population. To treat this kind of headache, serious medical attention is required. Cluster headaches are easily identifiable by the amount of pain they cause. Patients frequently describe cluster headaches as an icepick sensation behind one or both eyes. Treatment includes powerful sedatives and pain medications. Secondary headaches can be a sign of deeper neurological issues.

Chronic tension headaches should be approached from a stress management point of view. Physical and emotional stress can be a significant source of chronic tension headaches. Circumstances that trigger significant emotional stress can easily lead to chronic tension headaches. Prolonged physical stress is another potential cause of chronic tension headaches. Steps to manage both kinds of stress should be undertaken in order to reduce the occurence of chronic tension headaches. If these steps do not succeed, then further treatment via pain medications may be necessary. Chronic tension headaches that do not abate should be a signal to see a doctor.

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What Are Headache Clinics?

Monday, December 15th, 2008

Sometimes the problems associated with frequent headaches can become so severe and life impairing that special treatment is required. There are numerous headache clinics in the United States that can assist sufferers with chronic headache pain problems. Although the vast majority of headaches are transitory and minor problems, some portions of the population suffer from headaches that strike so frequently and so painfully that their lives are interrupted. In these cases, it is important that treatment be sought promptly. Effective treatment of the problem can seriously mitigate the issue and perhaps even completely relieve it.

The medical community has split the headache problem into three categories. Primary headaches are what the vast majority of sufferers experience, and they are very rarely life threatening. Although the pain can be severe, primary headaches are usually treated with a combination of over the counter NSAID medications such as ibuprofen or aleve. Such medications are typically an effective way to reduce the pain significantly. Primary headaches are typically caused when tension or stress makes the muscles around the skull contract painfully, introducing too much pressure.

Problems requiring treatment at headache clinics are most likely related to cluster or secondary headaches. These serious headaches can strike randomly, causing severe pain in the sufferer. Cluster headaches tend to strike in groups, with gaps of sometimes years between episodes. A cluster headache can be identified by the severe pain experienced, as well as a runny nose or eyes. In these cases, treatment should be sought as soon as possible. Secondary headaches are commonly a seen of a deeper neurological issue. These kinds of problems should be treated at headache clinics. Although relieving pain with these varieties of headache can be difficult, more powerful pain relievers can be effective.

It is also very important that the cause of secondary headaches be promptly identified. A secondary headache usually signifies some kind of neurological issue, and it is vital that these issues be dealt with as soon as possible at headache clinics, or by another specialist. Specialists at headache clinics like the Mayo Clinic are very well equipped to diagnose and treat the problems associated with severe headache pain. Headache clinics can be found around the world, and are very much worth visiting if chronic pain has inhibited daily life. As chronic headaches can also be a symptom of other issues, it is important to seek prompt medical care.

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Migraine and Headache Symptoms

Sunday, December 14th, 2008

There are many different types of headaches. Although not all headaches are the same, they all share at least one thing in common - they cause pain. But many headaches also cause other unwanted symptoms, including nausea and vomiting. This article addresses the most common headache symptoms associated with the different types of headaches.

Tension Headaches

People with tension headaches commonly report these symptoms:

Episodic Tension Headaches (occurs less than 15 days per month)

* Pain is mild to moderate, constant band-like pain, pressure or throbbing
* Pain affects the front, top or sides of the head.
* Pain usually begins gradually, and often occurs in the middle of the day
* Pain may last from 30 minutes to several days

Chronic Tension Headaches (occurs more than 15 days per month)

* Pain may vary in intensity throughout the day, but the pain is almost always present
* Pain affects the front, top or sides of the head
* Pain comes and goes over a prolonged period of time

Associated Symptoms of Tension Headaches include:

* Headache upon awakening
* Difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep
* Chronic fatigue
* Irritability
* Disturbed concentration
* Mild sensitivity to light or noise
* General muscle aching

Migraines

The symptoms of migraine headaches can occur in various combinations and include:

* Moderate to severe pain (often described as pounding, throbbing pain) that can affect whole head, or can shift from one side of the head to the other
* Sensitivity to light, noise or odors
* Blurred vision
* Nausea or vomiting, stomach upset, abdominal pain
* Loss of appetite
* Sensations of being very warm or cold
* Paleness
* Fatigue
* Dizziness
* Fever (rare)
* Bright flashing dots or lights, blind spots, wavy or jagged lines (aura)

Cluster Headaches

* Intense one-sided pain described as having a burning or piercing quality that is throbbing or constant
* Pain is located behind one eye or in the eye region, without changing sides
* Pain lasts a short time, generally 30 to 90 minutes. But, it can last from 15 minutes to three hours. The headache will disappear only to recur later that day (most sufferers get one to three headaches per day during a cluster period).
* Headaches occur very regularly, generally at the same time each day, and they often awaken the person at the same time during the night.

Sinus Headaches

* Deep and constant pain in the cheekbones, forehead or bridge of the nose
* The pain usually intensifies with sudden head movement or straining and usually occurs with other sinus symptoms, such as nasal discharge, feeling of fullness in the ears, fever, and facial swelling.

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Deep Frustration of Pointless Headaches

Saturday, December 13th, 2008

Maybe I should adopt the common practice of the young these days, and drink to oblivion, regardless of the next day hangover. The hangover is a day long pain, but at least its there for a reason.

The last 7 mornings, I have awoken with something akin to a hangover, afflicted day long by head strain and a curtailed ability to think.  But for no reason that I can perceive whatsoever.

I didn’t do anything tangibly different than the first 14 days of the month when I had no such headaches.

I awake after a fine, undisturbed, restful sleep feeling relaxed. So how can I have a tension headache, that persists all day long? As far as I can see, it is a simple habit that my brain has, totally, and utterly in direct conflict with my desires. I categorically do not want, nor do I do anything that would encourage a headache.

The dulled thinking is as much a blight as the headache.

I have been gifted with a wide range of skills, such as drawing, writing, designing, photographing, thinking, socialising and so on. All of these are severely hampered by a bad head. These wonderful abilities are never wihtin my control. I can never know when I will awake in a state that allows me to use these skills.

The frustration of being able to do so much, yet hampered day in day out by a foggy head that is there for no reason whatsoever is a deep one.

Of course, I can get on with menial tasks, as I wait, day in day out for my head to sort itself out. And of course, I am the cause for this malaise, but I have no idea whatseoever how. Nor how to reverse it.

The 14 days was a stark reminder of how debilitating my headaches are. The lucidity of thinking I had then, whilst ill with anxiety, light headedness, stomach cramps, extreme tiredness and cold symptoms was staggering. And this is how I used to think when younger.

Anyway, enough whinging - I must just accept the headaches and work round them. I have all but given up trying to find a means of removing them.

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Homeopathy Headaches Remedies and Cures

Thursday, December 11th, 2008

Millions of people are affected by headaches daily. Stress headaches, migraines, sinus headaches, and even headaches related to a dietary deficiency or dental problem can affect your quality of life and make it very difficult to get through a day. The effectiveness of conventional medicines eventually fades, and they only cover up symptoms anyway. Over the counter pain relievers can cause a tolerance to build up in your body after a while so that they no longer relieve your headaches as well as they once did.

Not surprisingly, many headache sufferers are turning to homeopathy for headaches.There is no better way to create a healthy body and optimise health than to use homeopathic treatments and remedies. Homeopathy for headaches can include homeopathic medicines and remedies such as stress relief, dietary changes, exercise, rest, and increased hydration.

Homeopathy for headaches is effective because it attempts to let the body come up with its own solution to a chronic problem. The medicines taken by the sufferer actually induce the same symptoms that the sufferer wants to clear up, so that the body will be compelled to invoke its healing abilities to get rid of the symptoms. This can result in a long-term reduction in symptoms, as well as some measure of immediate relief.

Homeopathic treatments or medications for homeopathy for headaches can be found from a homeopathic health practitioner, health food and supplement stores, and from some homeopathic supply dealers.  If you are looking in a health food or supplement store, you may see bottles of supplements labeled as “headache relief,” “migraine support,” or similar names. These tablets will usually be made up of the exact homeopathic cures or ingredients which you would get from a registered homeopathy practitioner.

However, in order to ensure that you are taking a product that will benefit your specific type of headache, it may be beneficial to ask a homeopathic health practitioner to look at the ingredients for you. If you decide to go with a more personalized treatment, homeopathy for headaches is easy to accomplish with just a basic working knowledge of homeopathy medicines. Most homeopathy books contain a headache section that will help you choose the correct medicines for headache relief.

With homeopathic remedies for a headache, just like with all homeopathic treatment, what works for one person may not work for the next.Experiment to see what suit’s you most. You will be thrilled when you feel what it is like to not worry about headaches.

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Myrotherapy For Headaches Relief

Wednesday, December 10th, 2008

Myrotherapy is a form of physiotherapy that can be used to treat many different disorders including headaches, sports injuries, chronic back pain and even muscle sprains. Myrotherapy uses various techniques to alleviate the symptoms of such painful ailments.

Some of the treatments used in myrotherapy include massaging the affected area as well as using hot or cold compress therapy to alleviate swelling. This is particularly helpful for some sports injuries where swelling has occurred and back injuries where a muscle is inflamed.

Massage and hot and cold treatments used in myrothearpy also are effective to treat tension headaches. Headaches are usually caused by a swelling of blood vessels in the brain. By applying myrothrapy techniques, the swelling can be reduced and the pain from the headache can vanish.

Other techniques used in myrotherapy, which is a form of physiotherapy practiced by licensed myrotherapists include electrical nerve stimulation, movement exercises and even acupuncture. For thousands of years, Eastern cultures have used acupuncture to treat a variety of illnesses and this treatment has been proven to be very effective in curing pain derived from headaches.

When you visit a Myrotherapist, you will most likely have to describe your symptoms and, depending upon your complaints, x-rays may or may not be taken. Upon review of the symptoms and x-rays, your Myrotherapist will prescribe the best treatment options for you.

People with sports related injuries often benefit from myrotherapy and the gentle massage and movement techniques employed by the therapist. Many athletes seek myrotherapy treatment after a sprain or other type of sports injury so they can recover quickly and return to their active lifestyle.

Acupuncture treatments, also called Myofascial dry needling, is one of the more popular methods of treatments used in myrotherapy. Treatments usually last about one hour and most people find pain relief within the first treatment, although three sessions are usually recommended. This form of myrotherapy is most often used to treat chronic pain, such as back pain or tension headaches.

In addition to treating you in the office, your Myrotherapist will also recommend home treatments that include certain exercises and stretches that you can do to alleviate your condition. This is most beneficial to those with chronic back pain. Many times, people who suffer from chronic back pain incur this condition due to inactivity. Many people who sit in an office all day, especially those who have poor posture, tend to develop back pain. Back pain is the most common reason why people choose to visit their doctors. In most cases, medical doctors can do nothing but prescribe pain killers to alleviate the pain. While the medications may mask the symptoms of the back pain, they do not provide a cure. By using myrotherapy to treat chronic back pain, a patient may be able to not only alleviate the pain, but actually cure his condition.

Myrotherapy also includes the practice of meditation, an ancient Eastern art that is helpful for those who experience stress. Stress can be responsible for a variety of ailments, including chronic pain. By employing various techniques, myrotherpay can help people who suffer from minor but painful ailments such as sprains, tension headaches, stress, and back pain, eliminate the cause of the pain instead of masking it with a variety of drugs.

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Something Can Be Done About Chronic Tension Headaches

Tuesday, December 9th, 2008

Chronic tension headaches can be a potentially debilitating condition that seriously deprives the patient of life enjoyment.  Daily activities are subject to interruption by painful episodes that can occur any time.  Chronic tension headaches are known to cause depression in some.  It is important that chronic tension headaches receive prompt attention and medical care.  Fortunately, the medical community is very experienced with the problem of chronic tension headache, and has several avenues of treatment available for sufferers.  In fact, the medical community has researched headache thoroughly, and has divided the phenomenon into three distinct categories.

The majority of headaches suffered can fit into the primary category.  A primary headache is frequently brought on by emotional or physical stress, and has the most frequent rate of occurence by far.  Primary headaches are almost never life threatening, but are known to cause significant discomfort.  This pain can hamper everyday enjoyment of life, making even basic functioning difficult.  Although the exact causes remain something of a mystery, it is widely held that the symptoms are brought on by a tightening of the muscles that surround the base of the skull.  This tightening can be initially identified as a band like feeling just above the eyes that gradually grows into a painful sensation.

Cluster and secondary headaches are a far rarer form of headache that occurs to small portion of the population.  To treat this kind of headache, the attention of a specialist is most likely required.  Cluster headaches are easily identified by the pain level that they induce.  Patients frequently describe cluster headaches as like having an icepick driven into the eye.  Treatment includes powerful sedatives and pain medications.  Secondary headaches can be a sign of deeper neurological issues.

Chronic tension headaches should be approached from a stress management point of view.  Physical and emotional stress can be a significant source of chronic tension headaches.  Circumstances that trigger significant emotional stress can easily lead to chronic tension headaches. Prolonged physical stress can also be tied directly to chronic tension headaches.  Steps to manage both kinds of stress are necessary to bring the problem under control.  If these steps do not succeed, then further treatment via pain medications may be necessary. Chronic tension headaches that do not abate should be a signal to see a doctor.

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How To Beat The Pain Of A Headache

Monday, December 8th, 2008

Headaches can be a real pain and the stresses and strains of modern living mean everyone needs quick and effective ways of tackling them.

Here Dr Sarah Brewer gives her five tips on preventing and treating headaches.

1. Pin-Point
Identify your trigger factors and, where practical, try to avoid them. Common headache triggers include stress, lack of sleep, extreme emotions, missed meals and certain foods, such as cheese, alcohol (especially red wine), chocolate and caffeine.

2. Preserve
Look after yourself. Make sure you eat healthy whole-foods to maintain even blood glucose levels and drink enough fluids to prevent dehydration. Get enough sleep and exercise regularly.

3. Check Your Posture
To reduce headaches caused by muscle tension, avoid stooping when standing or sitting, hunching your shoulders, folding your arms tightly, clenching your fists and grinding your teeth.

4. Pressure
Try acupressure. When you feel a headache coming on, identify an acupressure point known as the Third Eye. It is situated directly between your eyebrows, in the indentation where the bridge of your nose meets your forehead. Massage this point with your middle finger, using firm pressure, while making small rotating movements both clockwise and anti-clockwise. Manipulate this point for three minutes to help clear your mind, calm your body and reduce your headache.

5. Paracetamol
Keep Paracetamol to hand. Paracetamol is an excellent first-line analgesic to relieve headache.

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Learning How To Manage Migraine Headaches

Friday, December 5th, 2008

Migraines are the second most common cause of headaches and afflict 15 percent of women and 6 percent of men. Migraines occur episodically and are associated with excessive sensitivity to environmental stimulants. This sensitivity to the environment may be amplified in females during their menstrual cycles and may account for some of the differences in incidence of migraines between the sexes.

A migraine headache may be started or worsened by bright lights, noise, hunger, stress, exercise, bad weather, menstruation, too much sleep and alcohol. The most common symptoms of migraines are nausea at 87 percent, light sensitivity at 82 percent, light headedness at 72 percent, scalp tenderness at 65 percent, vomiting at 56 percent and at 33 percent dizziness.

The simplified diagnostic criteria for migraines, according to the International Headache Society Classification Committee, are:

1) repeated attacks of headache lasting four to 72 hours in those with no other reasonable cause for the headache;
2) at least two of the following: unilateral pain, throbbing pain, moderate to severe intensity of pain and aggravation of the headache by movement and;
3) one of the following: nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light or sound.

Many times individuals can feel a migraine coming on; this is associated with the constriction of blood vessels to the brain. Once the migraine begins, the opposite occurs and the blood vessels to the brain dilate.

Tension headaches are sometimes confused with migraines and are characterized by a bilateral tight band like discomfort of the head with pain building up slowly. In most cases tension headaches are not accompanied by nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light or sound, nor are aggravated by movement. As a rule of thumb migraines occur earlier in the day while tension headaches occur later or towards the end of the day. There are many exceptions to this rule.

Migraines can frequently be managed without medications by learning to avoid those environmental stimulants which may trigger the headache. In addition, a healthy diet, regular and consistent exercise and sleep patterns and avoiding excess alcohol may limit the incidence of migraines.

It is of interest to note that those with migraines do not encounter more stress than others but tend to biologically over respond to stress. Once a migraine has started it is frequently helpful to go into a quiet, dark room and just lie down and relax. When these techniques do not work as well as they should we sometimes need to use medication to help deal with migraines.

Among the classes of drugs to treat migraines are serotonin agonist (activators) called triptans such as sumatriptan, almotriptan, zolmitriptan and so forth. These drugs act by constricting blood vessels and are useful when a person is having a migraine attack. Because these drugs constrict blood vessels they should not be used in those with vascular disease. These medications are known to cause coronary vasospasms and up to 5 percent of those using these medications experience chest discomfort.

Other drugs such as beta blockers and calcium channel blockers have been used to prevent migraine headaches, but are not effective if taken after a migraine has begun. Aspirin and ibuprofen are helpful in controlling the pain of migraines. In some severe cases, opioids may be needed to control the pain.

The probability that a drug will work is about 63 percent. If a drug fails, then another drug can be tried. After five to six months of successful treatment of migraines the particular therapy can be tapered off slowly to assess if the therapy is still needed or if it can be managed through lower doses. Many individuals are able to discontinue medication for good or are able to use medications much less frequently.

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