Month: June 2022

Is Your Headache a Tension Headache? Or is it a Migraine Headache?

Most people have experienced one headache in their time that they were not sure about and wished that there was a cure for migraine. Some headaches are easier to distinguish than others, and you need to know the signs in order to be able to tell them apart. For example, a sinus headache will present with pain and pressure around the sinus area in the front of your face. Migraine headaches and tension headaches are two types of headaches that are almost similar, but there are a few differences.

Tension headaches appear as a response to the tightening of the muscles in your neck, shoulders, and/or jaw. If you spend too much time working or you experience a lack of the proper amount of sleep, you are likely to experience tension headaches. In some cases, tension headaches can be caused by not eating properly. The best way to determine if you’re headache is a tension headache is to apply slight pressure to the back of your neck. If the throbbing in your head eases even the slightest bit, you have a tension headache, and a hot or cold compress will help you get rid of it.

Migraine headaches, on the other hand, are a bit more serious. They are also much more painful than any other kind of headache. Many people who suffer from migraine headaches will describe the pain as is someone were jabbing a sharp instrument into their head all over. Some people have actually confused their first migraine with a brain aneurysm. There are a few different causes for migraine headaches, and typical over the counter medications are usually ineffective. There are still a lot of studies being conducted to find a cure for migraine, but so far it seems that chronic migraine headaches are attributed to changes in blood vessels and nerves that affect the pain sensors in the brain.…

Over the Counter Migraine Medications – Are They Really Worth It?

There are a lot of people who suffer from chronic migraine headaches, and it has become rather frustrating to go through tons of medications in an effort to combat these life-stopping headaches. The pain can be so severe that it causes the sufferer to put a halt on all activity because of the nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound. One issue that has been raised about migraine headache treatments is whether the over the counter medications are really effective and are they worth the risks? All medications in any form have risks associated with the ingredients. Migraine medications are no exception.

Unfortunately, there are some migraine medications that can be more harmful to your body than effective on your migraine headaches. Think about this:

Medications that contain even a small amount of aspirin can cause bleeding issues; these issues can include internal hemorrhaging and bleeding in the stomach.

Medications that contain acetaminophen can cause a dangerous increase in the possibility of liver damage. This damage can occur from the minimum recommended dosage taken only one time within a four day period.

Medications that contain ibuprofen can lead to stomach disorders. These medications are classified as Naiads because the main ingredient is non-steroidal and anti-inflammatory.

Of these three medication types, all are available in brand name over the counter varieties that we are all familiar with. The truth of the matter is that when you suffer from chronic migraines, you will need to take something rather regularly. This can be very dangerous. In hindsight, it is a good idea to consider other options for treating your migraines.

When you consider the costs associated with taking these migraine medications frequently, you should also consider the costs that will be required when you realize that you have damaged your liver or have bleeding issues. Is your life worth it when the medications don’t always work?…

Migraine Headaches – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

A 2003 study by the World Health Organization, estimated that as many as 303 million persons worldwide suffer from migraine headaches. Being so widespread, it is possible that you, or someone you know, could be a migraineur, (a person who has a migraine headache). Therefore it is good to know what you are dealing with. What are migraines, and what makes them different from ordinary headaches? Also; what are the causes, triggers, symptoms, treatment methods and prevention. We will explore these issues and more in this article.

Migraine headaches have been attributed to several causes, but perhaps the one on which there is most agreement, relates to the expansion of the blood vessels in the head. A migraine is characterized by severe head pain, which is usually limited to one side of the head.

There are two main types, classic migraines also known as migraines with aura, and common migraines or migraines without aura. Aura, usually takes the form of visual disturbances such as blind spots, dots, specks, flashes, and similar conditions. There are some of the affected who experience aura during the early stage of a migraine attack, before full blown symptoms occur.

The most common symptoms identified by migranieurs are: sensitivity to light and noise, numbness, speech difficulty, nausea and vomiting. Because symptoms can vary from person to person, migraines sometimes go undiagnosed, leading to even more suffering for the people with this condition.

There are several things that can trigger a migraine headache. There are some that can be controlled, such as second hand smoke, certain types of food, alcohol, and bright lights. There are others, such as changes in the weather, over which you do not have any control.

As more research is being done and new facts being unearthed about migraine, it is now recognized in some quarters, as a purely neurological disease. Perhaps not so well known, is the fact that migraines have been proven to lead to conditions such as strokes and comas.

Another, less acknowledged fact of migraine a headache, is the disruption it can cause in the lives of those who are afflicted. Due to the their intensity and severity, many migraine suffers are unable to function normally during an episode, which can last several hours, or in some cases, several days. Some are unable to get relief from traditional remedies, and can only lock themselves away in a dark room to get some relief. This can seriously impact their job, and family and other relationships.

There are preventive treatments available, which are usually prescribed for persons who suffer more than 2 attacks in a given month. Included in these are beta-blockers and antidepressants. Over time, these can reduce the swelling of the blood vessels, but do not necessarily treat all the symptoms of a migraine.

There are other preventive treatments, not involving the use of drugs, which have been successful. These include the use of herbs such as feverfew and butterbur, and supplements such as Vitamin B2, magnesium and coenzyme Q10.

As the number of persons suffering with migraine headaches has increased, so has the research. This has resulted in more awareness of the disorder, and in addition, more information being available that can help migranieurs. While the debilitating effects of the condition are undeniable, there is help available to combat its effects, and to help prevent it.…

Why Should You Consider Getting Headache Relief From A Chiropractor?

There are many who find that they are suffering from frequent or severe headaches, and this is a condition that can be very difficult to live with. At times, it can even interrupt your daily routine in a way that will make you realize it is time to do something about it. A chiropractor offers headache relief and will help you get back to a pain free, normal life.

Going to a chiropractor is a very safe, effective, and natural way to manage a condition such as frequent headaches. Rather than simply masking the pain or helping an individual manage the symptoms, these professionals will work to help find the root source of the problem and address it, thus healing the entire body and freeing it from pain.

The whole idea behind this type of care is that it offers one a way to manage health issues by treating the whole body and helping it to heal itself. This is a great alternative compared to pills and medicines that are often turned to. Not only to these merely help one manage their symptoms, but they can often have a number of harmful side effects.

There are many who will testify to the relief they obtained from pain after turning to this alternative form of treatment. While head aches may have a number of root causes, the chiropractor will work to discover this and resolve it in a completely safe and yet effective manner.

Many suffer from stress related head pain, and this can also cause them to become achy and stiff throughout their entire body. Getting a proper adjustment may help these feel better than they have felt in years, making them realize just how advantageous regular visits to the chiropractor can actually be. Visit a chiropractic center near you to find the relief that you need from headaches.…

A Little-Known Way to Stop Chronic Migraine Headaches

Chronic migraine headaches can be disabling and painful. To be considered chronic they must be present a minimum of 15 times each month for three consecutive months. If they occur less than 15 times a month they are not considered chronic, but episodic. Approximately 3% to 5% of the world’s population experiences migraine, which is about 300 or 400 million people.

Migraines are typically one-sided pounding or throbbing headaches that are moderate to severe in intensity. They are more often than not accompanied by other symptoms that will occur before, during, or after the headache. Almost two-thirds of all migraine sufferers will experience some type of symptoms before the actual headache. These pre-headache symptoms can be nausea, vomiting, visual disturbances, auditory disturbances, mood changes, depression, and many others.

Auras occur in about 20% or 25% of migraine sufferers and typically consist of visual disturbances, but can also include increased sensitivity to loud noises or odors. Whenever symptoms precede a migraine attack it can alert the migraineur of an upcoming attack. With this advanced warning it is often possible to begin treatment early and avert a full-blown migraine attack.

There are many ways to stop migraine headache using natural approaches, but finding the treatment that works for you may not be as easy as you would think. Just because one treatment works for your coworker doesn’t mean it will work for you. If some of the more common approaches don’t give you the results you want you may need to dig deeper for an answer to your problem. One possible solution may be to check your drinking water.

Drinking lots of clean filtered water may help

If water is to blame for your migraines it may not be what’s in the water, but how much of it you drink. Not drinking enough water can cause the body to dehydrate rather quickly in some people, triggering a migraine headache. The solution is to drink more water. If you’re drinking enough water your urine should be a pale straw color and you will be urinating about once every four hours. In addition, you should try going no longer than 3 hours between drinks.

In addition to dehydration, certain chemicals in the water can trigger migraine headaches, and in particular, chronic migraines. There are many chemicals in drinking water that can cause migraines, but nitrates are probably the most common. Nitrates are inorganic minerals that are found in large amounts all over the world. They are in the ocean, freshwater, ground, and air.

Animal manure contains high levels of nitrates which eventually can work their way into tap water. High levels of nitrates in drinking water have been shown to trigger migraines. To find out if you have excessive amounts of nitrates in your water you can buy a cheap test kit at the hardware store. If you discover high levels of nitrates in your water you can either start drinking bottled water or better yet, use a filter to remove them from your water.

Nitrates are also found in many foods, but particularly in cured meats such as hot dogs, ham, salami, and others. This means if you find high levels of nitrates in your water and then filter it, you may still get headaches from the nitrates in your food. If you want to find make sure that nitrates are not causing your headaches you will need to avoid eating foods that contain nitrates too.…

How to Get Good Treatment For Headaches Due to Stress

If you are having long lasting or recurring headaches recently for no other reason except fatigue, then that is headache caused by stress. Doctors say there are many kinds of headaches and the ones that are due to stress are unmistakable because of the fact that the longer you stay in your stressful situation, the headache never seems to go away either. Headaches do not really need a complicated treatment. If you see people advertising some miracle type of stress headache treatments, then you’re surely going to get ripped off.

Stress headache treatments are classified into two. One kind of treatment focuses on the headache itself. The other treatment is rooting out the stress. The logic is simple. No stress, no headaches due to stress. The treatment focusing on the headache is as simple as popping an aspirin into the mouth and downing it with water. Some people prefer paracetamols as it can somewhat have a drowsy effect to help them go to sleep easy. This brings us to one of the natural ways to beat the headache caused by stress: Sleep.

Sleep: Chronic stress may cause sleep disturbance. Thinking too much about what’s in store for you tomorrow can leave your brain working at full capacity on a time that it should be resting. Lack of sleep can make your brain work at less than full capacity during the time it should be working. It’s a cycle, really. So get some sleep. If you can’t sleep, try self-hypnosis or watching a really boring movie.

Meditation: Meditation can be hard to do when you have a headache. But when mastered, it enables you to gain a peaceful state of mind regardless of whatever is happening around you or within you. Meditation is the relaxation method of choice for those who seek stress relief. Without stress, there will be no headaches. To relieve stress, relax.

Massage: Massage is a practice of manipulating the muscles in purpose of relaxing them. When your muscles are relaxed, your mind follows. Such is also true in meditation and hypnosis, which may involve relaxing the muscles first before anything else. Massaging the neck, shoulders, and the head can quickly relieve stress headache.

So how do you get good treatment for headaches brought about by stress? It is actually pretty simple. Just find a way to relax! You don’t have to think out of the box to get rid of that nasty headache. Just get plenty of rest and find a relaxing thing to do. Also, try to see if your lifestyle causes you stress. If it does, then maybe it’s time you change it.…

Finding A Common Headache Cure You Can Try

The most common headache cures involve the drinking of water and applying a cold compress to your head where the pain is located. Water helps to hydrate your body and flush out toxins. Many headaches are caused by dehydration. Most individuals aren’t even aware they are dehydrated. At the first onset of a headache, make sure you drink plenty of water. Applying ice to the painful area of the head allows the inflamed areas to relax. Both of these natural remedies will help a great deal with your headache pain.

Another headache cure you can try is to press your index fingers onto your temples. Applying this simple pressure and actually massaging the area gently can provide a great amount of relief. Squeezing the bridge of your nose can also provide this same type of relief. This is due hitting certain pressure points. Acupuncture therapy is based on these concepts and could be considered if your headaches persist over time.

Caffeine has often been known as a common headache cure. This is true to a point. Caffeine in small doses can actually thin the blood causing some relief on the pressure of the headache. However, large amounts of caffeine can actually cause headaches. So it is important to be careful at the amount of caffeine you intake on a daily basis.

A recently common headache cure is the use of various herbal supplements. This headache cure is becoming more popular as more and more naturopaths have demonstrated the benefits of these substances. Some common herbs shown to aid with headache pain include:

Melatonin

Cayenne

Magnesium

Vitamin B2

Ginkgo Biloba

Before using any herb it is important to make sure you have discussed this with your physician. Some herbs may actually react with any current prescription medications you may be taking.

Quite often, if you are not a chronic headache sufferer, you headache may be caused by fatigue. Fatigue headaches usually go away after you get enough rest and/or nutrition. Ensuring you get a good night sleep, eat right and get some exercise during the day should take care of these type of headaches. If you do experience fatigue headache and you can’t take a quick nap, drinking a Sports drink can help ease the symptoms. Getting a boost of vitamins and electrolytes found in these type of drinks can ease the symptoms of your headache.

Common headache cures are often enough for you to get rid of your headache pain. However, as previously mentioned if you do experience frequent headaches, don’t hesitate to consult your doctor.…