Overview

Migraine is a neurological syndrome characterized by altered bodily experiences, painful headaches, and nausea. It is a common condition which affects women more frequently than it does men.

The typical migraine headache is one-sided and pulsating, lasting 4 to 72 hours. Accompanying complaints are nausea and vomiting, and a heightened sensitivity to bright lights (photophobia) and noise (hyperacusis). Approximately one third of people who experience migraine get a preceding aura, in which a patient may sense a strange light or unpleasant smell. Patients often describe triggers they feel precipitate an episode of migraine, such as certain foods and beverages (like chocolate or alcohol), stress or menstruation. In some migraine types there are typical features but the headache remains absent, and in children abdominal pain may be a prominent feature.

Although the exact cause of migraine remains unknown, the most widespread theory is that it is a disorder of the serotonergic control system. Genetic factors may also contribute. Studies on twins show that genes have a 60 to 65% influence on the development of migraine. Fluctuating hormone levels show a relation to migraine in several ways: three quarters of adult migraine patients are female while migraine affects approximately equal numbers of boys and girls before puberty,[citation needed] and migraine is known to disappear during pregnancy in a substantial number of sufferers.

The treatment of migraine begins with simple painkillers for headache and anti-emetics for nausea, and avoidance of triggers if present. Specific anti-migraine drugs can be used to treat migraine. If the condition is severe and frequent enough, preventative drugs might be considered.

The word migraine is French in origin and comes from the Greek hemicrania, as does the Old English term megrim. Literally, hemicrania means "half (the) head".

Monday, September 29, 2008

Migraines - Not Your Ordinary Headache!

Introduction

Migraine is a disease, a headache is only a symptom. These headaches, with nausea and vomiting, usually begin in childhood and tend to becomes less severe and frequent with age. They can occur any time of the day, though it often starts in the morning. Migraine pain is caused by vasodilation in the cranial blood vessels (expansion of the blood vessels), while Headache pain is caused by vasoconstriction (narrowing of the blood vessels). The disease characteristics can include: Pain typically on one side of the head with a pulsating or throbbing quality, Moderate to intense pain affecting daily activities, Nausea or vomiting, Sensitivity to light or sound.

Attacks usually last from four hours to 3 days, sometimes longer and visual disturbances or aura Exertion such as climbing stairs makes headaches worse. Approximately 20% of sufferers experience aura, the warning associated with migraine, prior to the headache pain. It is often mis-diagnosed as sinus headaches or tension-type headaches and affects up to 15% of the population. Migraines can induce a host of serious physical conditions including strokes, aneurysms, permanent visual loss, severe dental problems, coma and even death. Sufferers experience not only excruciating pain, but social ostracism, job loss, disruption of personal relationships, and prejudices in the workplace. These headaches seem to be caused in part by changes in the level of a body chemical called serotonin and they are not the same in all people.

Symptoms

Symptoms of a migraine may include: Moderate to severe pain on one or both sides of the head, Pulsating or throbbing pain, Pain worse with physical activity, Nausea with or without vomiting, Sensitivity to light or sound. Approximately 20 percent of these people experience what's called an aura prior to the headache pain. Symptoms of an aura include flashes of light, zig zags, or blind spots in your vision or tingling in one arm or leg. With a Classic migraine, a person has these visual symptoms 10 to 30 minutes before an attack: sees flashing lights or zigzag lines, has blind spots or loses vision for a short time. With a Common migraine, a person does not have an aura, but does have the other symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting. Women also tend to report higher levels of pain, longer headache time, and more symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting.

Treatments

Treatment is divided into eliminating particular triggers, management of the specific attack, and long-term prevention. There are two basic ways to treat migraine headaches with drugs: prevent the attacks, or relieve the symptoms during the attacks. Many people use both forms of treatment. Other home treatment methods can help, such as doing relaxation techniques and using cold packs. In your headache diary (you should keep one), make a list of home treatment methods that work for you in different situations. Alternative medical treatments with medications belonging to the group known as the Phenothiazines have proven useful as non-analgesic options for treating severe headaches. At present, there is no known cure for the disease, only treatments for the symptoms. Furthermore, such treatments are not yet totally effective and sufferers may show a diminished tolerance to a variety of medications, treatments, and pain management regimens. As always, talk with your doctor about what sets off your headaches and to help find the right treatment for you.

Conclusion

Migraine is a true neurological disease and often becomes worse in the first trimester of pregnancy, but many women are headache-free later in their pregnancy. This disease and epileptic seizure disorders are also interrelated. People who suffer from these headaches are frequently dismissed as neurotic complainers who are unable to handle stress. It is the second most common type of headache syndrome in the United States and is most commonly found in women, with a 3 to 1 female-to-male ratio. They can continue through the 30s and 40s.

Migraines afflict 28 million Americans, with females suffering more frequently (17%) than males (6%). This type of headache is one of the most common problems seen in emergency departments and doctors' offices. Occurrence among females increases sharply up to age 40 years and then declines gradually. Headaches tend to run in families, suggesting that genetic factors contribute to a persons susceptibility to the disease.

The National Headache Foundation suggests you talk to your doctor about your headaches IF: you have several per month and each lasts for several hours or days, disrupts your home, work, or school life, you have nausea, vomiting, vision, or other sensory problems. Tests will be run to determine if you have migraine or not. Before your appointment, write down: how often you have headaches, where the pain is, how long they last, when they happen, such as during your menstrual cycle, other symptoms, such as nausea or blind spots, any family history of the disease. By just talking with your doctor, you may be able to give enough information to diagnose migraine.



Autor: Richard Ealom

Richard H. Ealom is the Author of this article and the creator of "Free Articles On Diseases: How To Prevent and Cure Them". Need more information Please visit our website @ http://rainydrops.com/a-migraine/migraine.php or http://rainydrops.com/alternative-orthodox.php


Added: September 29, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Migraine Headaches, Top 10 Triggers

In this article I will go over my 30 years plus past experience with Migraines and then get right to the top 10 Migraine Triggers and a source for a cure.

WHERE IT ALL STARTED

My job involves a lot of driving, however, much of my time is spent on the interstate, and as you know there are a lot of shiny windshields, bumpers, backs of semis, and much more. Every day brought the chance for Migraine Headaches. I loved the outdoors too, but I found myself dreading walking out the door. Even reflections coming in the house was starting to give me problems.

They used to take me down for the day. Then over time my headaches started changing, so did my Migraine Triggers. It got to a point where I was having one twice a week, and they were getting really extreme. More things become Migraine Triggers for me too. Then they switched to the other side of my head, and could return part way through the day.

When they start changing or go from Ocular Migraine to a regular Migraine Headache with pain, you are wise to seek advice from your doctor to investigate the reason for the change. Ocular Migraines can be a real cause for concern under certain conditions.

At this point, life was becoming quite unbearable for me. My quality of life was non-existent. I was turning into a real grump too. Migraine Triggers were waiting everywhere. I could always tell when a Migraine was going to start, my vision would start to go away. I mostly suffered from Ocular Migraines.

I am practically Migraine Headache free now, but anyone who has had a true Migraine Headache knows how miserable one can be. I started having Migraine Headaches when I was a teenager.

Top 10 Migraine Triggers

Alcoholic Beverages

Environmental factors

Foods that contain caffeine , monosodium glutamate, and nitrates

Glare from chrome, windows, etc.

Stress

Hunger can cause Migraines

Lack of sleep is also a contributing factor

Medications (over-the-counter and prescription)

Smells, Perfume, etc.

Hormonal changes in women.

The main Migraine Triggers for me was as follows; reflections off chrome or windshields, sometimes coffee, Tea, Diesel exhaust, stress was a major one. I found even chocolate was a Migraine Trigger sometimes for me.

Both of my Parents had suffered from migraines till we found a cure. It was quite a relief indeed. I have posted the cure on my website for Migraine Headaches and Migraine Triggers if you are interested in that, it's at the bottom of my page here.

After I started this routine, I went almost 6 months without having a Migraine Headache, even though all the Triggers were still there. That was really a weird experience. I had a hard time getting my parents onboard.

This may not treat all suffers of Migraine Headaches, and there are a lot more Triggers than what I mentioned here. But it will give you a place to start. One source I found during my research that has a lot of good information on the subject and has some great steps for increasing oxygen in your bloodstream can be found by following the link below that goes to my website where their link is. If I feel a Migraine Headache coming on now, I can usually always prevent it with a simple exercise also. This exercise can even be done while driving down the road. That is real handy when you are in the middle of a road trip, and an Ocular Migraine tries to comes on (Tries mind you!).

They have information to help you Discover An All-Natural Method That Permanently Eliminates Migraine Headaches And Migraine Triggers. I had considered taking some of the prescription ones out of desperation, but they sounded too risky.

One other thing that really got my attention was that you are about 50% more likely to have a stroke after a Migraine. To heck with that! I think avoiding them is the best solution. However, both the Migraine Headache and the raise in risk of stroke are only the symptoms of another problem.



Autor: Randi W Clifford

That about does it for me. I hope you find relief from your agony, I feel your pain, and nausea. Although a thing of the past now, I feel very fortunate.

Best wishes for a Migraine Headache free life,

Randi

Migraine-Headaches-101.com

I am a past sufferer of Migraine Headaches; both of my parents had suffered from them also. We are all virtually Migraine free now because of some very simple changes in our lives. Now I'm all smiles and spreading the great news!


Added: September 27, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Friday, September 26, 2008

Dealing With Headaches During Pregnancy

Although we still do not entirely understand headaches one thing that we do know is that two of the commonest types of headache - tension and migraine headaches - are far more commonly seen in women, which suggests that hormones play an important part in the onset of headaches. So, since hormone levels fluctuate wildly during pregnancy, it is no surprise to find that women frequently suffer from headaches at this time.

Headaches are particular common during the early stages of pregnancy and tend to reduce during the second and third trimester as hormone levels begin to settle down. The good news however is that women do not simply have to put up with headaches while they are carrying and there is a lot which can be done to both prevent and treat them.

Stress is one thing which can trigger a headache and most women would probably agree that pregnancy is a stressful time. This can be eased considerably however with both gentle exercise and also with meditation.

Rest is also important because a lack of proper sleep contributes to both common and migraine headaches. A lack of proper sleep will not only increase your chances of getting a headache in the first place, but can also increase its severity. It should also be borne in mind that when we talk about sleep we are talking not just about the amount of sleep you are getting but also its regularity. This means that, while it is alright to take a nap during the day if you are feeling tired, do not overdo it so that you are then unable to sleep at night.

Alcohol can also often bring on a headache and, in addition, be harmful to your baby. Here however there is considerably controversy over the quantity of alcohol which can be safely consumed. We are certainly not going to get into that argument here but, if headaches do become a problem, then simply remember that alcohol may be a contributory factor. It is also worth noting that red wine can be a common trigger for headaches and that, even those people who are not normally sensitive to red wine, can find that they become sensitive to it when they are pregnant.

You should also cut down on your caffeine consumption during pregnancy (particularly in terms of both tea and coffee) and if you enjoy that double-strength latte to get you going in the morning then it would be a good idea to replace this with a small cup of ordinary coffee for a few months. You should also be aware of the fact that certain headache medicines (such as Excedrin) contain caffeine and, while a small amount in your diet can be helpful, it is an excess of caffeine which is a common trigger for headaches. So, do not eliminate caffeine entirely from your diet but cut in down gradually to a minimum level.

Finally, when you do get a headache be careful what you take for it. Aspirin and Ibuprofen for example are not recommended during pregnancy, although acetaminophen is generally considered to be safe. If you suffer from severe headaches, such as migraine, then you should consult your physician for an appropriate form of medication.


Autor: Don Saunders

TheMigraineHeadacheCenter.com provides information on all aspects of headaches including migraine headache symptoms and migraine treatments


Added: September 26, 2008
Source: http://articlerich.com/Article/Dealing-With-Headaches-~

There Are Two Types of Migraines

MIGRAINE WITH AURA - this type of migraine is known as the classic sort.

An aura means that the migraine sufferer will experience a sensory warning sign about 10- 30 minutes before the headache actually sets in. The usual signs are the feeling of nausea and/or an aversion to bright lights and loud noises. You might see flashes of light before your eyes. Dizziness could set in and you could feel nauseous and vomit.

You could get blurred vision and partial deafness. Vision can be partly and temporarily lost while a feeling of numbness will take over the hands and arms. This would feel like "pins and needles". This numbness could affect the face as well. Usually this numbness will be most acute in the lips and tongue.

Once the headache sets in these symptoms normally go away and the sufferer is left only with the acute headache. Many regular sufferers just have a feeling that there is a migraine on the way. It is usually a restless tired feeling.

There could be a mood swing as well that triggers a warning. After experiencing the feeling many times they will know how to identify it.

A bright light that suddenly shines in your eyes, even if it is just for a split second, can trigger off an attack in some sufferers or a very loud noise.

This type of migraine is more severe than the one without aura.

MIGRAINE WITHOUT AURA - this type of migraine is know as the common sort.

These headaches start without any warning symptoms. They can start at any time of the day or night. One minute you will be feeling fine and the next you will be experiencing the pain of an attack.

It could just start as a dull throbbing, which is bearable or it could crescendo into a more aggressive pain.

There are times when the sufferer experiences unbearable pain that prevents them from being able to do anything except lay still on the bed in a darkened room until the pain subsides.

Almost always the patient has partial blindness from the pain and any form of concentration is virtually impossible. Noise of any kind makes the condition worse.
Usually this condition does not clear up until the patient has had a bout of vomiting. This seems to relieve the pressure in the head. The headache will then subside. This will not be the case with every attack.

Some attacks will last longer than others. They could last a few minutes or hours depending on the severity of the attack

Some sufferers are left feeling weak and listless for days after an attack. There could be a lack of concentration and a stiff neck.

If the symptoms are only visual and there are no other symptoms such as a headache consult an ophthalmologist in case the cause is an eye disease and not migraine. You could then get this condition treated.



Autor: Mabel Van Niekerk

This author writes various articles pertaining to migraines. http://www.curemigrainesnow.com


Added: September 26, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Natural Migraine Treatment

More than 20 million North Americans suffer from migraine, a one-sided, severe, throbbing or pulsating headache often accompanied by sensitivity to light and sound, as well as by nausea and vomiting. Migraines are also called vascular headaches, because they usually involve spasm of the arteries of the head, resulting in a pulsating pain. There are no successful medicines for it, only natural migraine treatments can help.

The headaches may last from a few hours to several days or even longer. About 10 percent of migraine sufferers experience a warning aura before the headache starts; this early symptom involves a visual disturbance, such as partial or temporary loss of sight or flashes of light and color. An aura may also cause tingling on one side of the face or body or a disturbance in the sense of smell.

Even those who don't experience an aura may have warning signs in the few hours leading up to a migraine, such as feelings of cold, craving for a specific food, mood changes, a sudden burst of energy, or frequent yawning. Migraines affect women about three times as often as men, and they commonly start between the ages of 18 and 44. Doctors think that they begin when triggers - dietary, hormonal, environmental, emotional, and other factors cause blood vessels in the brain to constrict and then relax. These distorted blood vessels prompt nerve endings to send out pain signals.

Natural migraine treatment involves relaxation techniques. In addition to using relaxation techniques, some doctors recommend taking a course in biofeedback to learn how to raise the temperature of your hands, thereby diverting some of the blood flow from the head to another part of the body. This technique can be used at the start of an attack.



Autor: Arun Vimal
Added: September 25, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

What Do We Mean By A Migraine Headache?

The most common symptom of a migraine headache is an acute throbbing pain which is normally located on just one side of the head near to the area of the temple. Unlike normal headaches, migraines are also often accompanied by other symptoms which include sensitivity to light and noise, nausea and sometimes vomiting.

Migraines are fairly common and affect about 10% of the population of the United States, or in excess of 28 million Americans. They are also far more commonly seen in women than in men (about three times as many women suffer from migraine) and can also be found occasionally in children.

Although migraines are so common and often very painful with attacks lasting anywhere from a few hours to two or three days, only about 50% of all sufferers ever consult their physician and the remainder choose to suffer in silence.

It had long been thought these headaches were caused by a of dilation of the blood vessels in the head but, although there is no general consensus, medical opinion seems to be moving away from this theory in favor of a genetic cause for this condition. Current thinking is that the condition results from the interaction of certain brain chemicals, such as serotonin, with the nerve cells. At this time however the truth is that we really do not know what cause migraines.

There are in fact two different forms of the condition, the first of which is referred to as 'classical migraine', which is characterized by an associated 'aura'. In this case the term 'aura' is used to refer to visual light effects which are experienced immediately prior to the onset of a headache including such things as bright light spots and flashing lights. In a few people a complete loss of vision can be experienced for a few minutes before the arrival of the headache.

The second form of the condition is simply a migraine without the prior symptoms of an 'aura'.

Just as we do not really know what causes a migraine, so too we have very little idea about just what triggers an attack, although there are a number of factors which do seem likely to trigger an attack in sufferers. For example, getting too much sleep appears to be one factor, as does skipping meals or eating certain types of food like cheese.

Hormonal factors are also thought to influence both the onset and severity of attacks and one piece of evidence for this is the higher incidence of migraines among women. This in part is thought to be because estrogen affects the blood vessels and it has been noted in some studies that there is a connection between the contraceptive pill (which contains estrogen) and migraine headaches.

Just to confuse matters however, studies have also shown that simple everyday activities like walking up stairs can trigger an attack, as can exposure to heat or cold, loud noises, flashing lights and even stress.

Happily, there are several medical treatments available today, although no single treatment has proved to be really effective in all cases. Over-the-counter medications are however rarely effective and, if you suffer from migraines, you are best advised to seek the help of your physician in finding a solution which works for you.


Autor: Don Saunders

TheMigraineHeadacheCentre.com answers the question of just what is a migraine? and what is the best migraine treatment?


Added: September 24, 2008
Source: http://articlerich.com/Article/What-Do-We-Mean-By-A-Mi~

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

The Mystery Behind the Common Headache

There can be very few people who have not experienced a headache and yet, despite the fact that they are so common, their cause remains something of a mystery. Also, although we often simply talk about a headache it is surprising how few people know that there are in fact several different types of headache.

Migraines for example affect about 10% of the US population (roughly 28 million individuals) and attack three times as many women as men. Yet, despite the fact that such a large section of the population regularly suffers from migraines, we still do not know what causes them. There are of course several theories, the latest of which is that they are caused by the interaction of brain chemicals like serotonin and the nerve cells of the brain, but we really do not know for sure that this is the cause.

Cluster headaches, which are much rarer but also much more intense than migraine headaches, affect only about one person in every three hundred and tend to attack men rather than women. Once again however we have only a tentative idea about what causes the stabbing pain which is often felt behind one eye in these particularly painful headaches. Some people suspect that a defect in the hypothalamus might be the cause but, as yet, there is no firm evidence to support this theory.

The commonest form of headache is what we normally refer to as ordinary or tension-type headaches and once more these are only partly understood. In this case the list of possible causes is extremely long and includes everything from what we eat to how stressed we are. Trying to pinpoint a precise cause has however so far proved too difficult and just what produces the ordinary everyday headache remains a mystery.

Perhaps the only saving grace is that there is a large number of medications available to cope with the different types of headache and most of these are both safe and effective for the majority of sufferers.

Migraines have long proved difficult to treat and the original ergot drugs used to treat them had varying degrees of success. These were then largely replaced by triptans which proved to be more effective but unfortunately carried some drawbacks. Nowadays however the second generation of triptan drugs are proving safe, have fewer side effects and work well for most sufferers.

We have also seen an increase in the use of preventive medications for migraines such as beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, anti-depressants, anti-seizure medications and a variety of other drugs which are commonly used to treat other well known conditions. For some people these will indeed stop headaches from occurring at all, while in other people they act to reduce the frequency of headaches.

For ordinary headaches traditional over-the-counter remedies such as aspirin or paracetamol (which have been around for more than 100 years) and newer drugs such as ibuprofen provide safe and effective relief in most cases. For people who suffer from regular headaches though care does need to be taken as even the humble aspirin can have side effects if taken too frequently and, for example, lead to such problems as gastrointestinal bleeding.

Even though there is still so much that we do not understand about headaches the fact that we are able to treat them effectively is a comfort to the many sufferers and especially to the large number of people who suffer from often very debilitating migraines. Surprisingly enough though only about half of all migraine sufferers ever seek medical advice and so there are millions of people today needlessly suffering in silence.

If you are bothered by headaches and simple over-the-counter medications such as aspirin or paracetamol do not do the trick then, rather than sit and suffer in silence, call in and see your physician who will almost certainly be able to help to relive your headaches.



Autor: Donald Saunders Donald Saunders
Level: Platinum
Donald Saunders is the author of a number of health related publications including: "Help Me To Sleep - A Guide To Natural Sleep Remedies", "Jet ... ...

TheMigraineHeadacheCenter.com provides information on all types of headache including such things as cluster headaches and sinus headaches


Added: September 23, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Monday, September 22, 2008

Migraine Relief Needed - Study Shows There is All Natural Migraine Help For You

Need migraine relief because you are suffering from chronic migraines? According to this study, migraine sufferers should be hopeful. There is an all natural supplement that could be give you the migraine relief you need. As a matter of fact, if you are suffering from migraines, you know that the medication that is typically subscribed is very strong... and studies have shown, a lot of it can be very dangerous.

Anyway, there is good news.

A study was done with 32 patients who had chronic migraines. They had migraines at least 2 to 8 times a month. Each person was given only 150 mg of coenzyme Q10 (also known as "Co Q 10") each morning at breakfast for 3 months. 31 out of the 32 people finished the study and no bad effects were linked with Coenzyme Q10 therapy. The great news? 61% had greater than a 50% reduction in migraine days at the end of 3 months! That's 10 patients! And 93% of the patients had at least a 25% reduction in number of days with migraine and The promising news? Only 2 out of the 32 patients showed no improvement. So the odds are very good that Co Q 10 might help with migraines.

Where do you buy Co Q 10? You can get it at your local health store but they will charge you a LOT of money for it. You can also buy it online for a lot cheaper... but be careful about where you buy it. A lot of vitamins have "fillers" in them that are not good for you. Make sure you buy an "all natural" Co Q 10. Be careful.

To find out a place where you can buy "all natural supplements" such as Co Q 10, visit http://www.provennaturalcures.com/discountvitamins.html

Source: Rozen TD, et. al. Open label trial of Coenzyme Q10 as a migraine preventive. Cephalagia 2002; 22:137-141.



Autor: Hope Pope Hope Pope
Level: Basic PLUS
Hope Pope is the owner of Proven Natural Cures website. This website includes information on all types of natural cures. ...

Hope
http://www.provennaturalcures.com


Added: September 22, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Sinus Headache Symptoms

The pain in Sinus is much more intolerable as compared to any other headache. A patient of sinus feels pain in sinuses. There are various sinus headache symptoms, which confirm that a person is suffering from it. The pain starts from the upper part of sinus then it continues to nose and finally in the cheeks. The person feels pain in these areas only.

If you have sinus infection, then it is important to notice the specific pain area. It is so, because migraine sufferers have to tolerate the pains in full head. On the other hand, sinus headache occurs in the localized areas that have been described above.

Another sinus symptoms are stuffy ears and fever. During the flight journey, the ears of the sufferer would affect extremely. So for a safer side, he should bring benadryl syrup.

Whenever the body temperature gets high, it is necessary to visit a specialist. May be you are suffering from sinus headache that can make the situation worst if it does not cure on time. However, a mild fever does not mean that you are suffering from this painful disease.

Some of the other sinus headache symptoms are postnasal drip and nasal congestion. Postnasal drip is the situation when a person experiences the accumulated mucus at the back of the throat while lying down. Nasal congestion is the blockage of nasal passages and sinuses.

Extreme pain in forehead when you wake up from the sleep is another of the symptoms. The sufferer feels pain and pressure around cheeks, brow and forehead. Moreover, lethargy and fatigue is the normal situation that comes under the sinus headache symptoms.

Cure these symptoms by following the prescribed medicines and the natural homemade remedies. Inhale steam and nutritive diet heals the pain fast and effectively. Also, Pranayamas like anulomaviloma, sitkari and Asans include uttanpadasana, and shavasana is also one of the best treatments to keep the sinus headache away.

Be sure to find out the exact problems and causes of your pain. Do not just treat the sinus headache symptoms blindly. Consult a specialized doctor and then start working over the prescribed course.



Autor: Mikel Martin

Would you like to know how I treated my sinus infection in 4 days without any drugs? If yes then visit sinus infection blog or sinus treatment blog.


Added: September 20, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Friday, September 19, 2008

Sinus Headache Treatment

Approximately 45 millions people of America suffer from sinus every year. It has been found that the majority of people depend on the antibiotics and other medicines. They find it the only available treatment. But after its cure, the same sinus associated pain appears again and makes a tense situation for the sufferers. Now, they do not need to depend on the prescribed drugs completely. Some natural treatments have been found to cure the sinus headache effectively. The natural treatment saves the hard earned money of people and would make the victim feel a lot better.

The first natural sinus headache treatment is the hot and cold compression. Apply a hot compress over the sinus pain areas for 2-3 minutes and then a cold compress for 30-60 seconds. Repeat this effective technique for 3 to 4 times per treatment.

Irrigate the nasal passages with the salt-water solution. This would wash away the accumulated mucus, dust particles, bacteria and pollutants. Also, it decreases the swelling of mucous membrane. But before going to prepare this, it is better to consult a doctor for the correct directions.

Take a cotton fabric, dip it into cold water and then place it on forehead for a few minutes. This sinus headache treatment would lessen the sinus pain quickly.

Another sinus headache treatment is a eucalyptus or peppermint steam inhalation that provides the immediate relief. It opens up the sinus passages and cleans out the mucus and other dust particles. Also, for a sinus headache patient, jalapeno pepper, ripe grapes juice is good to lessen the headache. With these, a patient should add other nutritive food and drinks also. He has to avoid the oily, spicy food and cold beverages for some days.

Some home made pastes work excellent on the forehead. Like thick mixture of dry ginger and milk. The other one is, the mixture of basil leaves, cloves and one tablespoon of dried ginger. Apply this paste on the forehead.

The natural treatment has the potential to cure the sinus headache fast. Sufferers can follow any one- sinus headache treatment that has been described above.



Autor: Mikel Martin

Have you given your life completely to sinus infection; thinking there is no way out? Get your Sinus Treatments or visit Sinus Treatment Blog.


Added: September 19, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Monday, September 15, 2008

Migraine Headache Causes And Triggers

When your head starts that pounding that makes you think you are going to die and you have to go into a dark room when it is quiet to try to ease some of the pain. You just want to be able to take something or do something that will help you get rid of this terrible migraine headache. What are migraine headache causes? Actually, it is not sure what causes a migraine headache. It is thought to run in family genetics. Some people are more prone to getting headaches. Not one particular trigger has ever been determined. Some migraine headache causes and triggers are:

Stress- this has always been a strong migraine cause, as far as people everywhere, stress causes a migraine.

Food Sensitivity- foods can cause migraines. Some people have gotten migraines from artificial sweeteners, which also have been known to cause fatigue.

Light- sometimes bright lights or Florissant lights are migraine headaches causes.

Sound- loud sounds or continued sound can cause migraines.

Smell-different smells may cause a migraine depending on how sensitive you are to smells.

Physical Condition- your sleep habits and physical workouts will also affect you and can cause a migraine.

Some people think that a sinus headache is a migraine. While you would swear some of your sinus headaches, felt like migraines many get them confused. Migraines are very intense and can make your feel sick or vomit. Your vision may be affected. You may be sensitive to light, sound or smell. You will not react to medication as well when having a migraine. Medications are not absorbed the same when having a migraine headache due to chemical releases and reactions. Migraine headache causes are not exact. Triggers differ from person to person and would depend on other factors to determine what is triggering your migraine.

Is There Help For Migraine Headache Causes

When you are in this much pain, you wonder if there is anything that can make the pain stop. There are medications out there that can help keep your migraine headaches treated and hopefully prevent onsets. You need to see your doctor and talk to him or her about your symptoms and what may be triggering them. You doctor may want to run a couple tests to rule out other conditions. Try to keep calm and seek help.

You can prevent migraines by watching what you do and eat as well as your sleeping habits and if you smoke, everyone knows this is also a major concern for people prone to migraine headaches. The migraine causes are not well known most is speculation, although these things seem to be present at the onset of a migraine.



Autor: Judy Wellsworth

You can also find more info on Headache Remedies and Headache Treatment Options. i-headache.com is a comprehensive resource to know about i-headache.com.


Added: September 15, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Saturday, September 13, 2008

Cure Migraine- 3 Home Remedies To Cure Migraine Fast

Many people make the mistake of buying expensive over-the-counter drugs in order to cure migraine. Not only are some of these drugs harmful; there is no need to waste your money on costly medicines because there are cheap natural home remedies available that can cure migraine even more effectively than western medicines. In this article I will tell you about three natural home remedies that you can use to cure migraine fast.

Ice-Wrap Towel: One of the best natural remedies is ice-warp. You can of course buy ice-wraps at your local drugstore but you can also create it at your home if you like. To create an ice-wrap, just take out a towel, wet it thoroughly in water then wring the water out of it and fold it in such a way that you can place it in your freezer. Keep it in your freezer for about five minutes, or until the towel begins to stiffen. Once the towel stiffens, unfold and refold it by placing the frozen parts in the middle and the wet parts on the outside. Once the whole towel has frozen, place it around your forehead and eyes. This will help you cure migraine fast.

Salt: Do you know that salt can cure migraine? If you want to cure migraine fast, just get a packet of salty corn chips for yourself. You can also eat fried foods that are rich in salt. It is not often that we are encouraged to eat salt. However, many people claim that salt helps them to cure migraine.

Messaging: Yet another natural and easy way to cure migraine is to message your scalp. Have someone message your scalp for about ten minutes. Make sure they message your scalp and not your temples. This messaging should help cure your migraine.

Prevention is better than cure. While there are several cures of migraine, it is best for you to prevent migraine attacks than wait for migraine to appear and then look out for treatments. You can easily control migraine by changing your lifestyle a little. For example, if you suspect that a particular food is triggering migraine attacks, you can easily discontinue the consumption of that food. You should also get enough sleep. For some people, migraine attacks are however caused by loud noises, stress or tension. In any case, if you can find out the root cause of your migraine attack, you can easily cure it. And of course, there are ways to find it!



Autor: Mike Bedard

Discover 5 Natural Ways To Cure Migraine Fast For more information on how to cure migraine, visit us at:
http://headache.besthelptips.com/cure-migraine-2.php
Article Big.com- The Coolest Article Directory


Added: September 14, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Friday, September 12, 2008

Cure Headache- 3 Natural Ways To Cure Headache Fast

There is nothing as annoying and exhausting as a headache. Headaches not only affect the quality of our life, it also affects our efficiency as well as social existence. When we have a headache, we feel totally exhausted - mentally as well as physically. In this article I will tell you about three natural home remedies that you can use to cure headache fast.

There are a variety of causes behind headaches. Headaches can occur either because you are suffering from sinus, or migraine, or tension. Each of these types of headaches should be treated differently.

Most people make the mistake of running for medicines AFTER they have a headache. Don't make that mistake. Most headaches are easily preventable and there is no need to wait for a headache to appear in order to find the treatment. Why would you endure the pain of headache while you can easily prevent it? You can easily prevent headache by using the following home remedies:

1. Take two teaspoonfuls of honey every day. This will help prevent any headache attacks.

2. Apart from honey, natural apple cider vinegar too has been proven to preventive headaches. You can take equal amounts of natural apple cider vinegar and water and boil them in a pan well until smoke begins to rise. When the smokes are strong enough, lean your head over the pan and inhale the smoke for about fifty to eighty breathes. This goes a long way in preventing future attacks of headaches. Also if you are already suffering from headache, this treatment helps to cure headache as well.

3. Messaging is yet another way to prevent headaches. Messaging helps in curing headaches as well. Buy Pure Almond Carrier Oil and Lavender Essential Oil. Wet your fingertips in Pure Almond Carrier Oil and then add a couple of drops of Lavender Essential Oil and gently message your temples, the hollows at the sides of your eyes, behind the ears and over your neck in a circular motion. See how it soothes your pains!



Autor: Mike Bedard

Did you know that the cause behind your headache is your diet? Discover 4 Common Foods That Can Trigger Headache For more information on how to cure headache, visit us at:
http://headache.besthelptips.com/cure-headache-2.php
Article Big.com- The Coolest Article Directory


Added: September 12, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Do You have Tension or Migraine Headaches?

Nearly everyone has had a headache. But, there are some people that have learned how to eliminate them and during the year they might have one or two. Most of these headaches are usually related to stress, depression or anxiety. The most common type of headache is a tension headache. Tension headaches are due to tightening of muscles in your shoulders, neck, scalp and jaw. You are most likely to get tension headaches if you work too much, don't get enough sleep, miss meals or use of alcohol.
Very few headaches have serious underlying causes, but those that do require urgent medical attention. For example, a severe headache may be a sign of meningitis. Then there are the most common headaches in women - the migraine headaches. Migraines can originate from some brain disorder, from neck vertebrae shifting, or from anxiety. In elderly people, a headache with tenderness of the scalp or temple may be due to temporal arthritis, in which blood vessels in the head become inflamed.
Now, why is it that headaches become a common problem among people? They become a common problem since they affect our daily routine. A mild or severe headache is a nuisance, which takes the joy out of life. Once you have a headache, you became agitated and irritable it becomes hard for you to focus on what you're doing. Headaches decrease your awareness and give you tunnel vision - vision where you are concentrating your pain and not what is happening around you.

According to a recent survey, seven out of ten people have at least one headache a year. The majority of headaches last for only a few hours, but some can persist for weeks. Migraine headaches are the most severe headaches, which can last all day and can occur everyday. Nearly forty-five million Americans suffers from chronic headaches and most of these headaches cost billions of dollars in lost productivity every year and plenty of misery.

A majority of headaches come from anxiety and neurosis. I know many people will deny that they are neurotic, but this does not change that fact that they are. Denial is the first signs of neurosis. People don't know how neurotic or how much stress or anxiety they have. They go day by day stressing over their day job, their children, their school, and the relationships they have. Stress causes neck and shoulder muscle tension causing imbalances in the muscles holding the neck vertebras in place. This can lead to simple or severe headaches.

If you have re-occurring headaches, take time to get a shoulder and neck massages every once in a while. Compliment this with getting a chiropractic neck adjustment to release the muscle imbalances that can cause your headaches.
Headaches can have many causes, but serious causes of headaches are rare. Sometimes headaches warn of a more serious disorder. But, if you have a sudden or severe headache, it is best to seek medical help right away to see if it is related to a serious disorder or just related to your unhealthy lifestyle.

Autor: Rudy Silva

Rudy Silva is a nutritionist that provides you more tips on how you can eliminate headache pain at this site: http://www.remedies-for-headaches.com/


Added: September 12, 2008
Source: http://articlerich.com/Article/Do-You-have-Tension-or-~

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Is There A Natural Headache Relief

You are a healthy person who does not take pills, consume alcohol, additives or anything else that is not natural. You have headaches but you do not like taking medications. Is there any natural headache relief for you? Yes, there is and here are some of the remedies you can use;

Coenzyme Q10 150mg per day can cut headaches by 50% in some people

Feverfew (Tanacitum Pathenium) Herbal Pain reliever found to be affective on Migraines

Fish Oil up to 3000mg per day.

Magnesium

5-HTP Amino Acid found to be affective on Tension and Migraine Headaches

These are five natural supplements you can add to your daily regimen to prevent headaches. You can also try Green Tea or Holistic and even acupuncture. There have also been people who have used ice-packs or hot-packs that have had luck in relieving headaches. You will want to talk to your doctor or someone who is familiar with natural headache relief or a doctor familiar with Holistic treatments.

There can be various triggers that may bring on your headaches and it may help if you try to keep track of some information when you feel the onset of a headache. Weather changes, food, msg, allergies, stress, tension, light, sound and smells could be a possible trigger for your headaches. If you can figure out some things that may be the trigger this will help your doctor find out what type of headaches you are suffering from and better treat them.

People have different types of headaches. Knowing what type of headache you have will help in your natural headache relief treatments. Types of headaches are:

Tension

Cluster

Migraine

Allergy or Sinus

Fever

Other from Physical Condition

Headaches can also occur from surgery or injury problems or chiropractic problems. Talk to your doctor about your symptoms in order to find an affective treatment for you. Headaches are painful and can last a short time or even months. They can interfere with your daily life and some can incapacitate you. Knowledge is powerful. Take notes and see if your headaches have any particular triggers. Knowing is half the battle. The natural headache relief might help better than some of the medications fro a doctor as well as being a little less expensive. There is no need to add extra stress to an already painful situation.



Autor: Judy Wellsworth

You can also find more info on Headache Remedies and Headache Treatment Options.


Added: September 11, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Understanding Migraine

Migraine is a neurological syndrome that causes several symptoms, the most prominent symptom being the headache. Usually, migraine causes severe or moderate one-side and pulsating headache, which may last from four to seventy two hours. The other symptoms may include nausea and vomiting and a great sensitivity to bright lights and noise. A majority of the people having migraine experience a preceding aura, which gives a strange light and unpleasant smell.

Migraine can be classified into four types depending upon the intensity of the headache namely, no pain, mild pain, moderate pain and severe pain. Mild pain is the one that does not disturb the usual day-to-day activities, moderate pain exists but does not fully prevent usual activities and the severe pain disturbs all activities. The most commonly occurring type of headache is the migraine without aura wherein the patients suffer from headache with unilateral location and moderate or severe headache along with nausea and or high sensitivity to bright lights and sound.

Migraine without aura can be diagnosed if there are at least five attacks fulfilling the criteria such as untreated headache for six to forty eight hours, at least two symptoms of unilateral location, moderate or severe pain, obstructing routine physical activity, and pulsating quality. While experiencing a migraine without aura, there must be nausea or vomiting, or sensitivity to light or sound.

The next common type of headache is migraine with aura and people suffering from migraine with aura may also experience without aura. Migraine with aura is characterized by at least two attacks with visual symptoms, sensory symptoms and speech disturbance which are all fully reversible. The visual and sensory symptoms may affect just one side of the body and each symptom may last from 5 to 60 minutes.

Acephalgic migraine is a type of migraine in which the patient may experience other symptoms but not headache. Other types of migraine are abdominal migraine and menstrual migraine. The signs and symptoms of migraine vary from one patient to another and therefore, cannot be generalized. But still, there are four phases of migraine namely, prodrome, which occurs hours or days before the headache, the aura, which is just before the headache, the pain phase, which is the headache and the post drome.

The causes of migraine, known as triggers, can be many. They may be due to environment, behavior, infection, diet and so on. The treatment for migraine headaches may vary from simple remedies like applying hot or cold water to the head, getting adequate rest in a dark and silent room or a cup of coffee at the right time to over-the-counter medications. Naproxen is found to be effective in aborting migraine headache and a light or moderate headache can be controlled through paracetamol. A simple analgesic combined with caffeine may be of great relief.

Autor: Lesley Lyon

http://www.shunmigraine.com deals extensively with all types of migraines, the causes, prevention and treatments.


Added: September 9, 2008
Source: http://articlerich.com/Article/Understanding-Migraine/~

Sinus Headache Symptoms That Warn Against Potential Problems

Determining if your headache is due to sinuses or other reason is something that your doctor can determine with an examination. The headache of sinus origin or acute sinusitis is usually associated with constant pain and tenderness over the affected sinus, a deep dull ache, and exaggerated by head movements or straining. Nasal symptoms are prominent, including sinus pain which is usually accompanied by other symptoms of sinus disease such as nasal discharge, ear sensations or fullness, and facial swelling.

Vascular headaches such as with a Migraine can cause similar symptoms and some who have a sinus headache will think they have a migraine. Many times along with sinus headache symptoms, there is also a fever especially if you have a sinus infection or other underlying cause.

Many times with a sinus headache when you lay you will find that there is also pressure and some drainage may occur and there may be nasal blockage also. Although sinus drainage may make your stomach upset the nausea and vomiting from a Migraine will affect you differently.

Sinus allergies will usually start with eyes watering, itchy runny nose, coughing, pressure and sneezing at the first signs of onset. Then you start to feel pressure. There are treatments that you can take. If you are allergic to bug bites your doctor can help you with that treatment also. If a sinus infection or allergies go untreated they can be intense enough to incapacitate you. A sinus headache and sinus pressure can even make your equilibrium feel a bit off.

Some things that can trigger a sinus headache or allergy attack are;

Pollen

Dust

Golden Rod

Hay

Mold

Animal Dander

Food

Ingredients in Perfumes and other products.

Medications

Plant Matter

Bug Bites

Migraines are a vascular headache which in most cases can be more intense. You may feel sensitive to light, sound and smells. With a Migraine you may want to go into a dark room that is quiet and just try to relax or sleep. You may feel the need to vomit or be nauseated.

The best way to find out what type of headaches you suffer from is to visit your doctor and talk about the symptoms you are having. This will make your treatments move effective. For some of us a certain over-the-counter medication does fine. Sinus headache symptoms help you to realize there is a problem arising and you need to take care of it now.



Autor: Judy Wellsworth

You can also find more info on Quick Headache Relief Remedies and Sinus Headache Relief. i-headache.com is a comprehensive resource to know about i-headache.com.


Added: September 9, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Monday, September 8, 2008

Common Migraine Symptoms

A majority of the migraine attacks are accompanied by headache, which is an intense, throbbing or pounding pain involving one temple. At times, the pain may be located in the forehead or around the eye or the back of the head. Usually, migraine attack reoccurs and is a chronic disability. The headache is generally on one side of the head, though it may rarely happen on both the sides. The unilateral headache changes sides alternatively, from one attack to another, which is, in fact, characteristic of migraine (otherwise it may be a more serious problem).

Daily routines like walking upstairs aggravate a migraine headache. The most common and obvious symptoms of migraine are nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light. Some people experience warning symptoms called aura before the actual beginning of a headache. An aura is a group of symptoms, mainly a vision disturbance which foretells that a headache is coming. But, most of the people do not have such warning signs. In fact, migraine headaches are classified based on their symptoms such as migraine without aura, migraine with aura and mixed tension migraine.

Migraine without aura: The most common symptoms can be a throbbing pulsating headache, which is usually worse on the sides of the forehead, generally only on one side, that can be either severe or dull, lasting for six to forty eight hours. The other symptoms are dizziness, vertigo (a feeling that the room is moving), loss of appetite, fatigue and nausea. There may be symptoms after a migraine attack too. It can be dullness, neck pain and a need for more sleep. Such symptoms may be accompanied apart from headache.

Migraine with aura: Before the headache, the warning symptoms may occur anywhere from a few minutes to 24 hours and the aura or vision changes happen in one or both the eyes. The symptoms may be one or more of the following; seeing zigzag lines, seeing flashing lights, temporary blind spots, sensitivity to bright light, visual hallucinations, blurred vision and eye pain. Accompanying the headache, there are other symptoms like loss of appetite, chills, increased urination, increased sweating, irritability and fatigue. The "pounding" headache starts on one side and spreads to the other side that typically starts as a dull ache and progressively worsens over several minutes to hours. So, the patients wish to rest in a quiet, dark room.

Mixed tension migraine: This migraine is a headache with features of both tension and migraine headache. The symptoms include headache on one or both sides and the person may feel dull, tight and the pain, which varies from mild to severe, may get worse with activity, lasting from 4 to 72 hours. Sensitivity to light or sound, depression, tingling, sluggishness, numbness, and weakness are other symptoms.

Unfortunately, migraine headache is a recurring chronic ailment, which may recur after 24 hours for some people.

Autor: Lesley Lyon

http://www.shunmigraine.com deals extensively with all types of migraines, the causes, prevention and treatments.


Added: September 8, 2008
Source: http://articlerich.com/Article/Common-Migraine-Symptom~

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Feeling Tense! Discover the Truth About a Neck Spasm Headache

There is a wide variety of headaches all with different severity levels. But did you know that the most common type of headache is the tension headache? Tension headaches known also as muscle contraction headache are caused by spasms and tensions of the muscle located in your neck and shoulders. So I guess it"s fair to say that "Neck Spasms headache" is a fairly accurate description of the condition.

Although tension headache or neck spasm headache are amongst the most common type of headaches, they are difficult to treat. To help you overcome this situation, this article is going to resume the various ways that a neck spasm headache can be treated so if you are suffering from this condition you can then take an informed decision about the type treatment that best fits your individual lifestyle and condition.

What are the Real Causes of a Neck Spasm Headache?

Has you already know, a neck spasm headache also known as tension headache is caused by tension in muscles neck, creating pain at the top and the base of the head. But the real question to answer is what the causes of those tensions? Actually there are multiple possible causes for the spasm in your neck, all with different degree of severity.

Some of the most serious causes of muscle spasm in the neck are often related to car accident, like a rear end motor vehicle accident. Of course most of the cases are not that serious and are caused by less important factors such as:

- Bad posture

- Neck held in a bad position for to long

- Work at a computer

- Driving for long period

- Etc...

Available Treatment for a Neck Spasm Headache

There are of course multiple ways to treat a neck spasm headache. One of the most common or used method is "manipulative therapy". The goal of the therapy is to reduce the muscle spasm allowing the spine to return to its normal position. This method is usually performed by quickly stretching the muscle. Other methods like "counter-strain" are also used to treat this type of headache. If you are the kind of person who doesn"t like to take medicine then manipulative therapy could be a good option for you to get rid of your neck spasm headache.



Autor: Frederic Madore

If liked this article about neck spasm headache, please visit my website at http://www.headache-solution.com. We offer quality information about the various headache relief solutions for any headache types.


Added: September 7, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Friday, September 5, 2008

What is Migraine?

Migraine is a neurological disease. A migraine is a very painful type of headache. In some cases, these painful headaches are preceded or accompanied by a sensory warning sign (aura), such as flashes of light, blind spots or tingling in your arm or leg. More than 29.5 million Americans suffer from migraine, with women being affected three times more often than men. This vascular headache is most commonly experienced between the ages of 15 and 55, and 70% to 80% of sufferers have a family history of migraine. Migraine is the second most common type of headache syndrome in the United States. Tension headaches are the most common. Migraines most commonly are found in women, with a 3:1 female-to-male ratio.

In childhood, however, migraines are more common in boys than in girls. More than 80% of patients who develop migraines will have a first attack by age 30. Migraines continue through the patient's 30s and 40s. Less than half of all migraine sufferers. Migraine is often misdiagnosed as sinus headache or tension-type headache. Migraines' secondary characteristics are inconsistent. Triggers precipitating a particular episode of migraine vary widely. The efficacy of the simplest treatment, applying warmth or coolness to the affected area of the head, varies between persons, sometimes worsening the migraine. A particular migraine rescue drug may sometimes work and sometimes not work in the same patient.

Migraine pain is caused by vasodilation in the cranial blood vessels (expansion of the blood vessels), while headache pain is caused by vasoconstriction (narrowing of the blood vessels). Migraine is three times more common in women than in men. Some people can tell when they are about to have a migraine because they see flashing lights or zigzag lines or they temporarily lose their vision. Migraines are classified as either "with aura" or "without aura." An aura is a group of neurological symptoms, usually vision disturbances that serve as warning sign. Patients who get auras typically see a flash of brightly colored or blinking lights shortly before the headache pain begins.

However, most people with migraines do not have such warning signs. Migraines often begin in adolescence, and are rare after age 60. Eighty percent of migraine sufferers experience "migraine without aura. Some of the symptoms associated with migraine headaches, such as nausea (80%), vomiting (50%), yawning, irritability, hypotension, and hyperactivity, can be associated with dopamine receptor activation. Dopamine receptor hypersensitivity has been shown experimentally with dopamine agonists such as apomorphine, bromocriptine, and pergolide. Dopamine antagonists, such as metoclopramide (Reglan), haloperidol (Haldol), and prochlorperazine (Compazine), have been shown clinically to treat migraine headaches effectively.

There is no specific cure for migraine headaches. Many factors may contribute to the occurrence of migraine attacks. They are known as trigger factors and may include diet, sleep, activity, psychological issues as well as many other factors. The goal is to prevent symptoms by avoiding or altering triggers. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are helpful for early and mild headache. NSAIDs include acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen, and others. A recent study concluded that a combination of acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine could effectively relieve symptoms for many migraine patients. Migraine-specific medications and analgesia are the keys of ED care.

Triptans are a mid-line treatment suitable for many migraineurs with typical migraines. They may not work for atypical or unusually severe migraines, transformed migraines, or status (continuous) migraines.Rest in a darkened, quiet room is helpful. Alternative treatments are aimed at prevention of migraine. Migraine headaches are often linked with food allergies or intolerances. Identification and elimination of the offending food or foods can decrease the frequency of migraines and/or alleviate these headaches altogether. Herbal therapy with feverfew (Chrysanthemum parthenium) may lessen the frequency of attacks. Some patients find cool compresses to painful areas helpful.



Autor: Juliet Cohen

Juliet Cohen writes articles for acne treatment and depression treatment. She also writes articles on skin disorders.


Added: September 6, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Is Your Child Suffering From Abdominal Migraines?

Abdominal migraines, also called periodic syndrome or tummy migraines, are one of the variants of migraine headaches that commonly occur in children ages five to nine years old. Children who are affected usually have a family history of migraines and often develop migraine with or without an aura in their adult years.

The incidence of abdominal migraines is misunderstood and often ignored as a cause of abdominal pain among people. It was thought to be strongly related to where the migraine originated in the part of the brain area called post trema. Abdominal migraine occurs due to a disordered intestinal motility that is triggered by an abnormality in the brain waves.

The usual symptoms associated with abdominal migraines include recurrent central abdominal pain that is usually located around the umbilicus and lasts for several hours accompanied by nausea and vomiting. The pain may last for 2-6 hours and may keep on re-occurring for the next three to four days and is often strong enough to interfere with the daily activities of children. The patient may become pale with accompanying dark shadows under the eyes and flushing. As with other types of migraines, an aura, or visual disturbance may precede an attack symptoms including flashing lights, numbness around the mouth, muscle weakness and even paralysis.

There is no specific test that can help diagnose abdominal migraines in children. The diagnosis can be made by conducting a detailed and careful program of observational research over time and using imaging or scans that may help in the identification of abdominal migraine symptoms. A Visual Evoked Response (VER) test can be performed in children to provide a further indication of the presence of abdominal migraine by having a fast wave form response to flashing light.

Once abdominal migraines attack have started, there is very little that can be done with regards to its management. Positive reassurance and living a stress free life may do more than taking any medications. The best treatment is often prevention. The triggers of abdominal migraines are likely to be the same as for adult migraine, which includes stress, bright flickering lights, caffeine, cheese, chocolate and fizzy drinks among others.

The common medications that are often prescribed by healthcare providers are Paracetamol or Ibuprofen for abdominal pain. If the individual experiences frequent abdominal migraines and is becoming worse, he can be given a long term preventive treatment that lasts up to six months. Most often, when no attack is experienced for a long time and when he avoids the triggers seriously, an individual may live an abdominal migraine free life. Long term preventive medications that are prescribed include cyproheptadine, propranolol and fluoxetine. However, for migraine attacks that are experienced infrequently, drugs that are prescribed for other forms of migraines are prescribed such as NSAID, anti nausea medications and triptans.



Autor: John Rodgers

To find out more about migraine headaches and symptoms visit John Rodgers site at http://migraine-treatment.info


Added: September 4, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

A Herbal Remedy For A Headache

Headaches are a difficult thing to deal with, especially when they seem to come, one right after another. Some people get reactive headaches from the environment around them, such as is the case of those that get headaches when a strong weather system is moving through the area, through stress or allergies to various things in the environment. There are also some types of headaches that accompany different types of sicknesses, such as those that come along with the flu, or in the case of a sinus infection. It really doesn't matter why you suffer from headaches, if you have one then the only thing you really want to do is to make it stop.

Many people rush to the drug store or a medicine cabinet at the first sign of a headache, and while this may help the pain to go away it also is not necessarially the best thing for you from a natural standpoint. Still others seek out a herbal remedy for a headache, or some other natural cure to try and keep the body in balance. If you are looking for a herbal remedy for a headache then here are two that have helped me in the past. The first one I would do at the first sign of a headache. I would take Arnica Salve and rub it onto my temples and the area where the top of my nose meets my face (between the eyebrows). This would generally give me some relief rather quickly. The other thing that I would do is to make an herbal tea, particularly chamomile, and you might find that this helps too if you don't have allergies to chamomile tea. Of course a good old cold compress and a nap do wonders as well.



Autor: Nicholas Matthews Nicholas Matthews
I hate not being able to sleep ...

Don't let headaches ruin your life. Make simple small changes at home and be headache free for a lifetime. Download our Special Report at http://www.headache-stop.info/

Stop Headaches and Migraines Now, an Online Special Report, Now Available to Download.


Added: September 3, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Monday, September 1, 2008

Migraine Headache Treatments

There are lots of resources offering migraine headache treatments that you can search in the different media. Although different theories are used explaining how a person gets to experience migraine headaches, there are numerous varied migraine treatments and alternatives that you may want to check out.

However, first things first, the details of treating migraine headache must be placed in order. If the person manifests symptoms of migraine, preventative treatments are often the first step. This type of treatment plans to get rid of your migraine before it even starts, and they are orally or intravenously taken. Once the onset of the migraine symptoms, such as a swelling sensation on a certain portion of your head, nausea, and weariness, manifest themselves, it is wise to move to taking the abortive prescriptions as prescribed by your doctor. The most common group of headache busters is called triptans, which are primed to control serotonin. However, this group of medicines, which include Sumatriptan, Naratriptan, and Almotriptan, among others, exclusively targets headaches and is not used for body pains.

On the other hand, if the migraine headache has been going on for almost a week, and you were not able to take preventative or abortive medications before it got worse, then the person is left to take rescue measures in order to suppress the pain and lessen the occurrence of the headache attacks. Some of the medications involved in rescue treatment are calcium channel and beta-blockers to control blood pressure, anti-seizure drugs, and anti-depressants. Rescue treatment is usually issued by doctors, and the medicines are taken with gradual increase in dosage after a period of time.

If non of the treatments work for an individual, you may want to try resting for a while. The pain and weariness accompanied by migraine headache are intensified when exaggerated physical activity is done by the person, so complementing your medication or treatment with proper rest and care could help you with your headache problem. Also, you may want to cut down on taking the coffee if you are a regular caffeine junkie. Consumption of products that contain caffeine happens to increase the pain. On the other hand, if the medication prescribed by your doctor does not work, you may want to try out over-the-counter medicines. Non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs and painkillers are readily available in your nearest drugstore, so you may want to consider buying and trying them out if the prescription drugs did not work. However, going against your doctor"s orders might be a risky thing to do, so proceed with caution.

Aside from these general migraine headache treatments, there are other places where you can search for alternative methods in dealing with your headache. Search the Internet and you will not only see websites offering their advices on which drugs to take during a migraine headache attack, but you will also get to hear from ordinary people who have successfully dealt and have recovered with the pain using their own methods. Also, you should refer to your doctor every time you feel that none of the treatments he has given are working. If in doubt, you can always get a second opinion from another doctor.



Autor: John Rodgers

Find out more about migraine medications at John Rodgers site at http://migraine-treatment.info


Added: September 1, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/