Headaches

We have all suffered from headaches at some point. There are many types of headaches, such as cluster headaches and migraines. And there are various levels of pain and frequency associated with these headaches. It is our intent to give you some important information about headaches; some causes, some specific triggers, some treatments and some self help advice to lessen the severity and frequency of this common human ailment. If you have persistent headaches, see your doctor for treatment options.

Types of Headaches

* Excruciating pain, generally located in or around the eye, but may radiate to other areas of the face, head, neck and shoulders

* Stuffy or runny nasal passage in the nostril on the affected side of your face

The pain of a cluster headache is often described as sharp, penetrating or burning. People with this condition say that the pain feels like a hot poker being stuck in the eye or that the eye is being pushed out of its socket. People with cluster headache appear restless, preferring to pace or sit and rock back and forth to soothe the attack. In contrast to people with migraine, people with cluster headache usually avoid lying down during an attack because this position seems to increase the pain.

Some migraine-like symptoms, including nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and aura, may occur with a cluster headache.

A cluster period generally lasts from one to 12 weeks. The starting date and the duration of each cluster period may be consistent from period to period. For example, cluster periods occur seasonally, such as every spring or every fall.

Most people have episodic cluster headaches, which means the cluster headaches occur for one week to a year, followed by a pain-free remission period that may last as long as six to 12 months before another cluster headache develops. Chronic cluster periods may continue for more than a year, or pain-free periods may last less than one month.

The pain usually ends as suddenly as it begins, with rapidly decreasing intensity. After attacks, most people are completely free from pain but exhausted.

A tension headache is the most common type of headache, and yet its causes aren't well understood. A tension headache is generally a diffuse, mild to moderate pain that many people describe as feeling as if there's a tight band around their head.

It may feel as though muscle contractions are responsible for your head pain, but experts don't think that's the cause, which is why this type of headache is generally referred to as a tension-type headache.

Fortunately, effective treatments for tension headaches are available. Managing a tension headache is often a balance between fostering healthy habits, finding effective non-drug treatments and using medications appropriately.

* The sensation of tightness or pressure across your forehead or on the sides and back of your head

A tension headache can last from 30 minutes to an entire week. You may experience these headaches only occasionally, or nearly all the time. If your headaches occur 15 or more days a month for at least three months, they're considered chronic. If you have headaches that occur fewer than 15 times in a month, your headaches are considered episodic. However, people with frequent episodic headaches are at a higher risk of developing chronic headaches.

The headache is usually described as mild to moderately intense. The severity of the pain varies from one person to another, and from one headache to another in the same person.

Tension headaches can sometimes be difficult to distinguish from migraines, but unlike some forms of migraine, tension headache usually isn't associated with visual disturbances (blind spots or flashing lights), nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, weakness or numbness on one side of the body, or slurred speech. And, while physical activity typically aggravates migraine pain, it doesn't make tension headache pain worse. An increased sensitivity to light or sound can occur with a tension headache, but this isn't a common symptom.

Perhaps the most intense headache is the migraine. Migraines are chronic headaches that can cause significant pain for hours or even days. Symptoms can be so severe that all you can think about is finding a dark, quiet place to lie down.

Some migraines are preceded or accompanied by sensory warning symptoms or signs (auras), such as flashes of light, blind spots or tingling in your arm or leg. A migraine is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound.

Migraines usually begin in childhood, adolescence or early adulthood. A typical migraine attack produces some or all of these signs and symptoms:

* Moderate to severe pain, which may be confined to one side of the head or may affect both sides

When untreated, a migraine typically lasts from four to 72 hours, but the frequency with which headaches occur varies from person to person. You may have migraines several times a month or much less frequently.

Not all migraines are the same. Most people experience migraines without auras, which were previously called common migraines. Some people have migraines with auras, which were previously called classic migraines. Auras can include changes to your vision, such as seeing flashes of light, and feeling pins and needles in an arm or leg.

Whether or not you have auras, you may have one or more sensations of premonition from several hours to a day or so before your headache actually strikes, including:

Although there's no cure, medications can help reduce the frequency and severity of migraines. If treatment hasn't worked for you in the past, it's worth talking to your doctor about trying a different migraine medication or perhaps trying a more natural approach. The right medicines combined with self-help remedies and lifestyle changes may make a tremendous difference. For more information about headaches, please follow this link to The Mayo Clinic

Natural Treatments for Headaches

A little alternative assistance in the way of Traditional Chinese Medicine can help many people who suffer from any type of headache. Pressure or needles are used on specific pain sensory areas on the neck, forehead and cheeks to redirect the pain. “The body learns to readjust its level of pain and desensitize the pathways over time. The needles are so tiny you can barely feel them. Treatment may be needed for several months, but the benefits can last up to a year. Another form of acupressure is reflexology. This art of foot and hand manipulation has helped many headache sufferers. You can find qualified practitioners in the phone book.

OK...let's be honest... How many times have you used the excuse of a headache to get out of having sex with your spouse or significant other? Well, sorry to say, that free pass just won’t fly anymore, since sex can actually help relieve a headache. Natural feel good chemicals, such as endorphins and other pain-relieving hormones are released during orgasm, which help you to relax and give you a sense of calm. The effects are short lived, though, so be prepared to use some other type of pain relief after.

If you experience headaches regularly and also need an incentive to trim some of that extra weight, exercise can help. “When you get moving, you improve your stamina, reduce stress and sleep more soundly,” says Jan Brandes, MD, assistant clinical professor of neurology at Vanderbilt University. “The more rigorous the exercise—jogging, fast walking, swimming—the more you’ll reduce pain associated with tension headaches,” she says. However, if you are experiencing a migraine, regular exercise can actually make it worse, so be sure to take it easy!

There are a number of herbs that can help reduce the severity and frequency of headaches. Each person should consult with a qualified practitioner to find the right dosage for them. Some promising herbs that have been used for centuries are feverfew and butterbur. As with all herbs, some people may have allergic reactions, so be aware of any symptoms you may have. Also, herbs are not a one size or one dose fits all. If you find that you are experiencing no change in your symptoms after 2 weeks, try another treatment or a different dosage. Check with your healthcare provider for advice.

Here’s another reason to get your eight glasses of water each and every day: Dehydration is one of the biggest causes of headaches. When the body doesn't get enough water, it begins to preserve the fluid it already has and signals the person that it needs more by way of headaches or migraines and other signs, such as fatigue, dizziness and other symptoms. The good news is, drinking up can immediately cure the discomfort. To keep your body in balance, drink eight to 10 8-ounce glasses of water a day. But be careful; too much water can cause problems as well. Find out what your body needs to keep hydrated and follow that schedule.

Your blood sugar levels can also affect signals to the brain. If you haven't eaten in a while you can get a hunger headache. Grabbing a piece of fruit, or even a handful of chips (not our first choice) can immediately raise your blood sugar levels and stoop your headache.

Besides waking you up in the morning or keeping you awake during the day, a cup of coffee or tea may have unexpected benefits. Limited amounts of caffeine can help control or eliminate headache pain. Plus, caffeine can help the body better absorb migraine medication through the stomach lining. And it can also curb pain at the onset of a headache by constricting blood vessels. For some people, though, caffeine causes headaches, so be aware of your reaction.

These days, getting that elusive eight hours of shut-eye seems harder than ever, but if you suffer from headaches, too little (or even too much) sleep can cause one. Your body needs at least seven hours of uninterrupted sleep to refresh and replenish itself in order for the headache to disappear. Try to stick to a regular schedule of going to bed and getting up at the same time each day. Over- or under-sleeping, by even just an hour or two, can trigger a migraine.

Keep track of your food and beverage intake. You’ll be able to pinpoint any food triggers that may be causing your headaches. For example, if you notice that you only seem to get headaches at barbecues, the trigger could be the hot dogs. The nitrates in hot dogs can cause headaches for some people. You can also identify what’s not causing your headache. You may be blaming chocolate for your migraines, but in the initial stages of a migraine, some people experience food cravings. So, if you’re wanting a chunk of chocolate, it’s the migraine, not the chocolate that’s to blame.

All information presented on Health Alternatives Online is for educational purposes only. The FDA has not evaluated any of the statements made on this website, therefore, the information presented is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Only your personal health care professional can assess your health concerns and should be consulted before beginning any alternative method of treatment.

HEADACHES

Types of Headaches

Natural Treatments for Headaches