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".

Thursday, October 30, 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: October 30, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Tuesday, October 28, 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: October 28, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Sunday, October 26, 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

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: October 26, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Saturday, October 25, 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: October 25, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Friday, October 24, 2008

Triggers And Treatments For Migraines

Migraines are a fairly common neurological disorder that are often described as a severe throbbing or pulsating headache and can last anywhere from several hours to several days. These painful headaches are often accompanied by nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light.

For those that suffer migraine attacks it can severely inhibit their lifestyle as they may often find themselves unable to carry out their normal day to day duties. For many people while there is no definitive treatment that totally stops an attack, there are ways to try and prevent or minimise the severity of them. While it"s always recommended you discuss both your symptoms and treatment with your local doctor there are ways to help reduce or minimise the pain associated with a migraine.

Many migraine attacks are brought on by certain triggers, these can be emotional, environmental or dietary etc. some of these triggers include things like:

Certain food: chocolate, nuts, preservatives etc. Some medications may also be a trigger.

Your environment may induce the signs of an attack: Bright or flickering lights, pollutions, allergic reactions, glaring screens or sunlight. Even changes in the weather can bring about a migraine.

Your emotions and hormones may also be a reason for a migraine: high stress situations or sudden relaxation from such situations, menstrual cycles and birth control pills may also play a part.

While you may have no control over some of those triggers listed above and that by no means is a comprehensive list, in certain instances if you can deduce what may be a factor in having a migraine attack you can try to reduce or avoid those situations or products etc.

Some migraine sufferers are also given a warning of some sort prior to the migraine beginning these too come in different forms depending on each individual:

Some may have a visual sign: blurred vision or wiggly lines before their eyes. Others may smell certain odours as a sign a migraine is coming; these signs may start up to an hour before the pain of the migraine begins. While other people may have altered moods up to a day before the severe headache actually begins.

If a sufferer is aware of these signs they can try to prepare for the attack by taking any prescribed or over the counter medication to help stave off or minimise the attack once it arrives.

As mentioned above if you suffer from migraines or believe you do make sure you take the time to talk to your doctor about the pain and symptoms, each individual is different and may require a different treatment based on the type of migraine and symptoms they have.



Autor: V Brown V Brown
Level: Platinum
V Brown is a single mum living in Australia. She recently introduced a new puppy to her family and has started sharing her experiences, that ... ...

For more information on migraine triggers and other causes and treatments please take a look at Migraines


Added: October 24, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Migraine Food - Stop Pulling the Triggers

There are many different types of headaches, from those that are caused by sinus problems or sickness to chronic migraines that come in clusters. Almost everyone suffers from headaches from time to time, and for most people those headaches can be treated easily enough using over the counter pain killers. But for others that suffer from things such as migraines there seems to be no real relief from the suffering, and if you are suffering from migraine headaches, no matter how infrequent, it is just not an acceptable way to live. For most people, however, there are some things that act as triggers to the migraine headaches. Those triggers could be things such as the environment that they are around, allergens, or even migraine food.

Here is a short list of migraine food. These are things that tend to cause migraines in some people.

* Peanuts

* Caffeine (both in food and in drinks)

* Yeast and yeasty products

* Chocolate

* MSG (Monosodium Glutamate)

* Red Wine

* Beer

* Cheese

There are some others that you will have to avoid according to your own personal triggers and keeping a diary of the foods that you are eating, along with recording your health and how you are feeling will help you to identify these triggers.

There are also some foods that are considered beneficial migraine food by many people, although there isn"t any medical proof to back it up, of course. For many, a raw food diet that consists of uncooked fruits and vegetables has helped, while others drink herbal teas, such as peppermint. Just make sure that you keep track of what you do so you can identify the foods to avoid.



Autor: Nicholas Matthews

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: October 22, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Stop Your Sinus Migraine

Migraine headaches and sinus problems sometimes go hand in hand, and they are probably more common than what you think. Some people have problems all the time with their sinuses, either because of a change in the weather, or perhaps allergies but the problems are generally the same, extreme pressure in the sinus areas that brings along with it a massive headache. If you are suffering from sinus migraine problems then here are some things that you can do to help overcome them.

Many people that suffer from sinus migraines don"t really try to hit the problem at the source. They try to treat the headache, and while this is necessary if the sinus problems aren"t addresses the problem just keeps coming back again. There are many reasons why you might be having sinus problems, but here are some things that you can try to see if you are able to keep them away. The first thing that I would try is some nasal irrigation, otherwise known as Neti. This is where you flush our your sinus cavities by pouring a saline solution through your one nostril and allowing it to come out the other. This may sound unpleasant, but if done properly it actually is quite enjoyable. Another thing that you can try is to remove some of the allergens from your environment, especially where you sleep. Get a good air filter and make sure that you change your sheets frequently. Also make sure that you are going to bed with clean hair as the allergens that collect in your hair during the day will be on the pillow and you will be breathing then through the night. It"s a tough battle, but if you are successful the you will be able to say goodbye to your sinus migraine problem once and for all.



Autor: Nicholas Matthews

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: October 21, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Migrain Headache Cure - Simply Changing Daily Habits Permanently Quenches Chronic Headache In Mins

Most of the common diseases affecting the world can easily be prevented if each and everyone of us can take time to look at our life styles and change those things that are harmful to our health.

For example, in the case of headache and migraine,the causes or what triggers them are different for everyone!

The cause of headache for Mr. A will not be exactly the same for Mr.B, though the symptoms may be the same for both persons. Therefore, you have to carefully think back where you have gone wrong with regards to your health, like retracing your steps and your headache will vanish! Before I started this write up, I had already spent 16hrs. in my office doing some other jobs. But since I must make a post to my blog today, I had no choice than to write.Then I had a serious headache.What did I do? simple, I stopped writing, took a shower and had a sound nap .Woke up 2hrs. later and the bloody headache had vanished.

What triggered my headache? lack of rest for over 16hrs. What did I do to cure the headache? I took the best form of rest, sleep.

You see ,you can do the same to your headache if you can take time to check out what causes your headache. For migraine or a serious headache, if you can afford to avoid the following foods that cause chronic headache, for example, age cheeses, onions,pickles, cured meats, red wine, beer, sour cream, nuts of all kinds, freshly backed yeast products, eggs, tomatoes, citrus fruits and caffeinated drinks.

So what do you do if you stopped eating all those goodies? Eat fish like salmon and tuna rich in omega-3 fatty acids which help prevent migraines.

Also a lot of other triggers that can worsen your condition, are ,lack of sleep and rest,changes in the weather, hormonal swings that occur with menstrual cycle, the use of birth control pills and environmental chemicals, including cigarette smoke.

From now on, figure out what triggers your headache or migraine and you will be relieved gradually but certainly in a few minutes.

You may think that this is a simple problem. But do know that 29 million Americans suffer from migraines? For a serious symptom. Take the following quick steps.

1. Mix two drops of peppermint oil in a teaspoon of olive oil, rub on your forehead and temples to instantly cool the pain

2. Or put two drops of lavender essential oil on a cotton ball and inhale three times, the pains will go away.

You can see that headache and migraine can be permanently cured with self-care home remedies. The secret to it is to really know what causes yours and simply avoid it.



Autor: Obiakor David

Obiakor David is a researcher and a health and fitness buff.He has written a lot about migraine and headache. Do you know that headache and migraine are your body's cey for help? One out of three drugs for this disease cause side effects .What do you do if you are under attack? Find out at, http://www.obiakordavid.wordpress.com


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

Friday, October 17, 2008

Which Headache Medication Is Right for You

If you take medications for blood pressure, heart conditions, depression, anxiety or other disorders than you know that there are side effects that we have to contend with every time we take our meds. Some will cause stomach upset, cramping and/or other discomforts and in order for us to live longer lives we must take these medications. As with most other medications, Zoloft headache medication is no different and had its side effects and this includes headaches.

Any time your body takes in a new chemical or ingredient it is not used to it will react in different ways. Some people will have a reaction to some vitamins and some of the minerals and may get a headache. The most common drug reactions are:

Stomach upset

Cramping

Tenderness in muscles or joints

Headache

Sleeplessness

Grogginess

Blurred vision

Nervousness

Diarrhea

Most side effects will subside after your body gets used to your new medication. Sometimes you could have allergic reactions or the medication might be too strong. Either way you will want to be closely monitored while starting any new medication. Every one reacts differently to medication and depending on the person and other medications that person may be will also be different.

Make sure your doctor knows of all the medication you are taking even if you take vitamins or over-the-counter medications of any kind. Make sure your doctor knows of any herbal products you are using also. Some Herbal products will react with other medications and you should always use caution with herbal products also. Your doctor may recommend something you can do to help you with the Zoloft headache medication as well.

Most people"s reactions will ease up after getting used to the new meds. If your condition worsens or changes you must make sure you notify your doctor immediately of these changes. If you have thoughts of suicide go to the hospital or call 911. If your reaction is severe get to the hospital and they will contact your doctor from there.

Most of the time when starting a new treatment regimen, the good will out weight the bad and the side effects will ease up after a time of adjustment. Sometimes your dose may need to be changed or the medication may need to be changed. Keep close contact with your doctor when starting a new treatment. Anytime you take a prescription drug, you need to pay close attention to the directions and the possible side effects to prevent further health concerns.



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: October 18, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Migraines and Miracles in My Life - 2

My earliest recollection of severe headaches was when I was about 3. I was lying on the sofa, watching the 'Wizard of Oz" with my brothers while my mother was frying chicken. My head hurt so bad it felt like it was going to split. The smell of food cooking was making me very nauseous and before the end of the show, I had a full blown migraine (although it would be another 15 years before I got the name of what I was experiencing).

I learned to live with the migraines and adapt my life around the times I'd been in so much pain. I believe that I had an angel watching over me every time I was so sick and felt like I could die and did almost die. The years that I could not perform daily activities were offset by miracles of my angel always with me.

My angel was with me when I was 52 years old and having a severe headache. It was a Friday in February. It was a miracle that my son was home from college and he'd just taken a life saving course. My son and angel were with me that Friday afternoon when I had a stroke. Because of the stroke, the miracles were going to be obvious in my life. In "Strokes and Miracles", I'll share details of my stroke and how miracles kept me alive and at peace during that scary time.

Migraine can be very troublesome. It can be debilitating for anyone. As there is no cureas yet for Migraine, we have to depend upon pain relieving pills. These pills may also caiuse side effects. Migraines do come suddenly but we get a warning before the headache gets bad. At that time take care to relax and sleep in closed room with no noise. That may stop the migraine from getting out of hand.



Autor: CD Mohatta

Social network users, click for Christmas myspace comments. You can also use Christmas myspace graphics. For Christmas Layouts- click Christmas Myspace Layouts to add to your profile.


Added: October 16, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

What Causes Migraines And Other Headaches

Nearly 90% of men and 95% of women have experienced at least one headache in their life. Today, migraine affects about 15% of the general population. Migraine is one of the most common reasons people seek medical attention. It affects more women than men and it runs in families suggesting that there is a genetic link.

The cause of headaches on a pathophysiologic level is not well understood. Different types of headaches have different triggers. And what triggers a headache differs from person to person. Headache triggers range from the simple such as eyestrain, poor posture and dehydration to nutritional deficiencies, certain foods, environmental triggers, hormonal fluctuations and medical conditions.

Experts agree that migraine is a neurological disease. Migraineurs have hyperactive nerve cells. It has been observed that during a migraine serotonin levels are low and dopamine levels are elevated. Some researchers maintain that prior to a migraine blood platelets release serotonin, which causes intercranial blood vessels to contract. They subsequently dilate when serotonin levels drop putting pressure on the nerves of the smooth muscles in the blood vessels. In tension headaches, which are the most common type of headache, the smooth muscles around the scalp or in the neck and shoulders contract. Recent findings however suggest that the cause of headaches is more complicated than that and some research points to a connection with the limbic system, the seat of our emotions1. Many experts now speculate that migraine and tension headache have the same origin in the brain.

In order to get lasting relief we need to look beyond the immediate triggers some of which we can avoid, and some of which are unavoidable, to the underlying cause of a headache, which goes beyond chemical changes that take place in our brain.

The underlying cause of headaches seems most often to be

Stress

Though not all headaches result from stress, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 87% to 95% of all physical and nonphysical health problems have stress as their origin. Headaches are the primary symptom of stress manifesting itself in the central nervous system. Stress affects hormonal fluctuations, which in turn bring about the chemical changes that control the pain pathways. Stress comes from two sources. We experience stress from external circumstances and from internal thoughts conscious, subconscious or semi-conscious. External stressors are the triggers; internal stress makes us vulnerable to the triggers.

If you suspect that external stress is the culprit in making you sick and you are not able to remove yourself from the stressful situation, you can learn to control your response to these stressors through various techniques among which are Biofeedback, Yoga, Qigong, Meditation and relaxation techniques such as Shiatsu and Progressive Relaxation..

Internal Stress

Our coping mechanism to deal with stressors can be impaired due to psychological factors. Often self-destructive thoughts such as negative self-talk, anger, jealousy, fear, feelings of guilt either real or false and inner conflict, are subconscious or semi-conscious. We don't realize that these destructive thoughts cause us to be chronically in a flight or fight mode. Our bodies are continuously flooded with stress chemicals, which over time cause us to succumb to disease in the place where we are genetically most vulnerable. In case of headaches it is our head. These unhealthy thought patterns can also create clinical depression, a mental disorder often associated with headaches. These thoughts and feelings may have their origin as far back as our early childhood.

To relieve the stress we have to bring these unconscious, unhealthy feelings to the surface and address them. This can be done through psychotherapy, in depth counseling or through a method that is pioneered by Dr. Alexander Loyd, N.D., Ph.D., called 'The Healing Codes'. This system makes it possible for a person to address his subconscious negative emotions and heal them in 15-minute daily sessions. According to Dr. Loyd it is based upon the knowledge that everything at its root is an energy frequency (E=MC2) and that illness and disease can be traced to an unhealthy energy frequency. (Similar to the way an MRI determines health problems.) If you can change the unhealthy frequency to a healthy one, the illness or disease will go away without drugs, surgery, counseling, or even effort.

The Healing Codes teaches you the technique to bring about a change in your emotional well-being and spiritual health which in turn alleviates the physical issues related to it. In other words it deals with the underlying cause of your headaches. This natural healing system has brought healing to hundreds of people.

Another energy healing system that has gained considerable popularity due to its proven effectiveness in healing all types of diseases is the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). This healing system promotes healing by tapping with the fingertips on established energy meridian points. It's based on the premise that "The cause of all negative emotions is a disruption in the body's energy system."

EFT concurs with the notion that our unresolved negative emotions are major contributors to most physical pains and diseases.

In summary, whatever the immediate triggers of your headaches, in order to get permanent relief, it behooves you to explore if there is an emotional basis for your distress and seek the proper care to resolve it.

1. Keith R. Edwards - Mechanisms of Prolonged Headache.



Autor: Elisabeth Ullom

I was a chronic headache sufferer for over twenty years. Pharmaceutical drugs were ineffective or I couldnn't tolerate the side effects. I turned to natural therapies and found some relief but it was when I began to deal with my emotional issues that my headache symptoms began to improve. I created my website because I want to help other headache sufferers find the help they are looking for.

Elisabeth Ullom
http://www.headachefreeliving.com


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

Monday, October 13, 2008

Are You Suffering From Migraines?

Many people suffer from extreme headache pain but don't realize that what they are experiencing is actually a migraine which often requires a different approach to treatment. Migraines are caused by an enlargement of blood vessels along with the release of chemicals from specific nerve fibers that coil around these blood vessels. This obstruction involves the temporal artery which is located just outside the skull.

Migraine pain is often associated with the swelling that causes pressure to the temple area. This enforces an attack on the sympathetic nervous system. This is the part of the body that responds to stress. However, under the conditions of a migraine headache, it is unable to respond normally.

This increased activity in the sympathetic nervous system often results in an unwanted reaction from the intestines. Specifically, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea are often experienced.

The sympathetic nervous system activity also affects the bodies' response to normal blood circulation causing conditions such as cold feet and hands.

Migraines aren't only experienced through headaches. However, when headache pain does occur it is significantly extreme. Most migraine sufferers develop specific warning signs that an attack is going to occur. Sleepiness, irritability, depression or euphoria, fatigue, yawning, and an increased craving for salty or sweet foods are common indicators.

There are several medication and non-medication treatments available to migraine victims today. Non-medication treatment may involve developing relaxation techniques, diet, exercise, and better sleep amongst other things.

Medical treatments for migraines often used are acetaminophen (Tylenol), aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, and corticosteroids. However, using these medications may include some caution of use knowledge. For example, aspirin can be a leading cause of Reye's syndrome in children and teenagers which can have fatal results such as coma or death. People taking blood thinners should also refrain from the use of aspirin.

Stronger forms of medication are used to treat individuals with more extreme circumstances of pain. Triptans or serotonin receptors are often used because of their ability to reduce inflammation and constrict the blood vessels. Those who suffer migraine or tension headaches may rather be referred to treatment using Midrins which include a blood vessel constrictor, acetaminophen, and mild sedative. However, people who have high blood pressure, glaucoma, kidney disease, liver disease, or are using other specific medications may not take these types of medications.

Treatment is not limited to these specific forms of medication or non-medication treatments. If you experience abnormal recurrent headaches it's best to consult your physician right away to get an early diagnosis of the problem. Immediate treatment of migraines will help you to feel better and live more healthily.



Autor: Gabriel J. Adams

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Added: October 13, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/