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: November 30, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

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: November 29, 2008
Source: http://articlerich.com/Article/What-Do-We-Mean-By-A-Mi~

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

Please visit BCBSNC Blue Cross Blue Shield NC and BCBSNC Blue Cross Blue Shield NC

Added: November 28, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Who Is At The Greatest Risk Of Suffering From Headaches?

Although the exact causes of various different types of headache are very much the subject of ongoing research there are some likely culprits and the generally accepted causes today vary according to whether we are talking about tension, cluster or migraine headaches.

Not surprisingly tension headaches are so named because they are thought to be caused by muscle tension. Accordingly, such simple actions as cradling a telephone handset between your ear and shoulder for extended periods can bring on a headache. In this case the muscles are both stretched and compressed in an unnatural way, which can have various results including inflammation and narrowing of the blood vessels.

Similarly, if you have a chronic habit, such as clenching or grinding your teeth which are seen in many people particularly during sleep, this too can lead to a tension headache.

Tension headaches also seem to run in families and about 40% of sufferers can trace a family history of the condition. When it comes to migraines genetics is also now thought to play an important role and a large, but as yet not quantified, number of migraine sufferers have a family history of the condition.

Depression too would appear to play a role and about 70% of people who suffer from chronic daily headaches also suffer from depression. Here of course the exact nature of the relationship is still unclear and while in some people it may well be depression which leads to a headache, in others it may well be the chronic headaches which result in depression.

People who suffer from insomnia or sleep apnea are also prone to headaches, although it is not entirely clear whether these two conditions cause headaches or whether there is an underlying cause for the combination of insomnia and headaches or sleep apnea and headaches.

Gender also plays a significant role with women being at greater risk from both tension and migraine headaches. Indeed, about three times as many women as men suffer from migraines. However, in the case of cluster headaches, which appear on a daily basis often for weeks or months at a time, men are affected far more than women.

Finally, there are a number of lifestyle factors which affect your likelihood of suffering from headaches and these include drinking too much alcohol (especially red wine), skipping meals, eating particular types of food (cheese is a common culprit here) and even stress.

When it comes to treating headaches there are clearly some factors which we can control (such as eating and drinking) and other which are outside of our control (such as genetics) but, the starting point in all cases is to get a professional diagnosis for your headache and not simply to assume, as many people do, that all headaches are basically the same.


Autor: Don Saunders

TheMigraineHeadacheCenter.com provides information on a wide variety of headaches including migraine headaches and tension headaches

Added: November 28, 2008
Source: http://articlerich.com/Article/Who-Is-At-The-Greatest-~

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: Don Saunders

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

Added: November 26, 2008
Source: http://articlerich.com/Article/The-Mystery-Behind-The-~

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

The Humble Aspirin Is A Powerful Treatment For Headaches

Although it was not originally known as aspirin, this particular drug has been around for many years and historical documents show that the Greek physician Hippocrates used a form of aspirin extracted from the bark of willow trees to treat fever more than 2,500 years ago.

Aspirin as we know it today was however developed by the chemist Felix Hoffman who was working for the German company of Bayer towards the end of the 19th century. Today the humble aspirin has proved to be one of the most successful drugs ever created.

As long as aspirin is taken at its recommended dosage it exhibits very few side effects and can be used to treat everything from fever and inflammation to heart disease. And, of course, it is also commonly used to treat headaches.

Whenever an injury occurs to the tissue of the body prostaglandins are released which send nerve signals to the brain, including signals which contribute to the sensation of pain, and also contribute to the swelling which occurs at the site of the injury. Aspirin works to suppress the production of prostaglandin by binding to an enzyme which forms part of the production process.

The problem when it comes to trying to work out why aspirin works in the case of a headache lies in defining just what sort of 'injury' gives rise to the headache in the first place.

For example, it has been thought for many years that tension-type headaches are caused by muscle tension in the face, neck and back and that the stretching and compression of the muscles gives rise to inflammation, which is the injury leading to a headache. Today however, while muscle tension may well still be involved in the production of a headache, it is thought that the interaction of brain chemicals such as serotonin with the nerve cells of the brain plays a much more important role.

One of the greatest dangers with aspirin is that it can be too effective and as well as removing prostaglandins at the site of an injury it also removes prostaglandins from the stomach which, over time, weakens the lining of the stomach and leads to stomach upsets and ulcers.

Another problem with aspirin is that it 'thins the blood' because prostaglandins are also necessary for blood clotting. This is why aspirin is often used as a preventative medication for some heart conditions, but it can cause problems when it comes to stopping bleeding following a cut or in the event of a nose bleed.

Today we consume well over 80 billion aspirin tablets every year and the evidence shows that, used properly, it is a very effective and safe form of medication which will continue to be used to treat conditions such as headaches for many years to come.


Autor: Don Saunders

TheMigraineHeadacheCenter.com provides information on all types of headaches and answers several common questions such as what causes morning headaches and why does caffeine cure my headache?

Added: November 25, 2008
Source: http://articlerich.com/Article/The-Humble-Aspirin-Is-A~

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: November 24, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

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: November 23, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

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

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: November 20, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

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

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: November 16, 2008
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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: November 15, 2008
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The Sudden Pain of a Thunderclap Headache

You"re sitting around at home, watching a program or getting something on the computer. Perhaps you"re at your desk hard at work, or trying out the latest new dishes at your restaurant of choice. Suddenly, like a bolt from the blue, it hits: a huge whopper of a severe headache. It comes suddenly, and only gradually goes away - and during the time you"ve got it, there"s no question you feel its effects. This is pain that is often described as the worst headache ever suffered. If you are experiencing these sorts of headaches, you"re perhaps a sufferer of a type known as a thunderclap headache. The name is certainly appropriate, as the onset of the affliction can be likened to a pop of thunder from the sky. In a matter of a minute, the pain reaches its peak intensity; these headaches might last anywhere from a few hours to sometimes a week or more.
So what might cause these headaches?? The reasons that these headaches occur can be varies, and range from less severe to life-threatening. A thunderclap can strike for no particular given reason, and could be any number of things - such as a torn lining in a blood-supplying brain artery, or an infection like meningitis...a condition that strikes many people, sometimes during adolescence or in a collegiate setting. It could also be caused by the lack of flow of spinal fluid to the brain due to a cyst or some other blockage, among many other reasons.
In order to determine whether you are a thunderclap headache sufferer, you should get medical help immediately if you experience one of these headaches. Go to the doctor and once there, you"ll likely be put through several potential tests, such as a spinal tap, or a CT scan that X-rays the brain. Thunderclaps could be caused by a serious condition like a weakened blood vessel in the brain, or a hemorrhage. You could be experiencing signs of a brain aneurysm. Such would be a life-or-death situation that you can"t play around with - a significant reason why any headache of this type should be dealt with by going to the hospital to seek immediate diagnosis and treatment.
If you"re dealing with a thunderclap headache, it"s a burden regardless of what the cause may be - but take these things very seriously and make sure everything is fine...don"t wait!!!

Autor: Matt Murren

Matt D Murren owns and operates http://www.headache-relief-advice.com

Thunderclap Headaches

Added: November 13, 2008
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When a Thunderclap Headache Hits

No matter where you are, or what you"re doing - they can strike without warning. You could be anywhere, running an errand, relaxing at home or out with friends - or possibly even at work - when a major pain hits your head and causes discomfort like you"ve never experienced before. These headaches can closely resemble the way thunder snaps in the sky. For this reason, this sort of sudden, quite painful headache is known as a thunderclap headache. Getting these headaches might be a sign of something serious - so you must make sure you see a doctor as soon as possible about it.
Thunderclaps are often described as perhaps the worst kind of headache anyone has ever suffered. With these, the pain becomes so intense, especially after about a minute"s worth of time. When you come down with this malady, it can stick around for hours, even days. The causes of this type of headache vary and could be anything from a bacterial infection like meningitis or encephalitis, to a torn lining in an artery near the brain. Even issues like bleeding found in the pituitary gland can lead to a thunderclap episode. You might also have bleeding around the brain, or bulging in blood vessels in the brain - which is known as an aneurysm. When an aneurysm ruptures, it can lead to stroke-like symptoms, and possibly even death. This illustrates just how serious it is to get quick attention if you find yourself suffering from one of these headaches.
When you see a physician, he or she will probably put you through a number of different tests to assess how serious your condition is, and what is the cause of your headaches. Your doctor might send you for a CT scan to get X-rays of your head, or could request a spinal tap, where they take a sampling of fluid from the spinal area to be tested for different substances and figure out if there"s something there that could be causing your headaches. Other assessments include angiographies (contrast dyes, etc. are administered to get a snapshot of your brain"s blood vessels) and MRIs.
So take heed of the warning signs a thunderclap headache could mean - and take comfort knowing that if you seek medical attention, you have a much better chance of taking care of our issue before it"s too late.

Autor: Matt Murren

Matt D Murren owns and operates http://www.headache-relief-advice.com

Thunderclap Headaches

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

Migraines Without Medications

Migraine headaches afflict millions of Americans, especially among people 20 to 45 years of age. Heredity may play a significant role in migraines, in particular when both parents have the problem.

A migraine is more than a bad headache: it is an acute, throbbing pain, usually on one side of your head. In addition, the pain, which may last several days, is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sounds.

Scientists are at a loss as to what really triggers migraine episodes. Foods, cigarette smoke, stress, or even the weather, are among many of the culprits.

Whatever the causes, migraines can be debilitating. Essentially, a migraine attack occurs when the blood vessels inside your brain constrict and then expand, and thus causing nerve endings, which transmit pain messages to your brain.

You can do something about your migraine headaches, instead of resorting to medications, which only suppress the symptoms without curing the causes. Remember, all pharmaceutical drugs are chemicals and may have long-term adverse effects on your health. Think twice before you take any prescription medications.

Prevention is better than cure. To prevent a migraine episode, you should first of all identify all possible migraine triggers. Keep a diary to help identify specific triggers.

Begin with pain-safe foods: brown rice; cooked green and colored vegetables (except tomatoes); cooked or dried fruits (except apples, bananas, and citrus fruits). Have these pain-safe foods for several weeks.

Then, slowly and gradually, add other food items to see how your body may react to them. Through the process of elimination, you will soon be able to determine your tolerance or lack of it for certain foods.

Common triggers are dairy products, eggs, chocolate, meat, corn, onions, tomatoes, apples, bananas, citrus fruits, nuts, peanuts, and wheat.

In addition, avoid soda beverages, caffeinated drinks (such as teas and coffees), and alcoholic beverages (especially red wine).

The above measures are effective in preventing migraines.

However, if you feel the first hint of an impending headache, you should abort it by taking immediate action. Stop whatever you are doing, and take a rest. Use your fingers to massage or press gently on the large blood vessel that you can feel in the temple area. This can provide temporary relief in about 40 percent of people suffering from migraines.

To treat the symptoms, use feverfew, which is an herbal plant used by ancient Greeks to treat fever and headaches. Feverfew is sold at all health food stores. Feverfew comes in capsules or in fresh leaves. This popular herb is safe (except with pregnant women or those with clotting disorders), with little or no side effects.

Ginger has been used for thousands of years in the Far East to treat headache-related symptomses. Include fresh ginger in your everyday diet.

Other vitamins and minerals for prevention include calcium, vitamin D, and magnesium.

Deal with migraines without medications.

Autor: Stephen Lau

Stephen Lau is a researcher and writer. He has published several books, and has created websites on health and healing, such as eating disorders, natural healing, longevity health, and mental depression. For more information about his work, go to: http://www.stephenlau.name

Added: November 10, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

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
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Added: November 7, 2008
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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
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Added: November 6, 2008
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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: November 5, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

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: November 3, 2008
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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: November 1, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/