Mark Bevan asked:


What are headaches?

Headaches rank amongst the most common and frequent ailments. A headache is not a disease, but may be indicative of other underlying problems. Although common and generally not serious, headaches are common in about 50-75% of all teens. However, recurrent headaches can upset and worry an individual to a great extent. The most common types of headaches that people in their teens and early twenties have are tension headaches and migraines. In some cases these problems may require a visit to a medical provider.

Treatment of an uncomplicated headache is usually symptomatic with over-the-counter painkillers although, headaches like migraines may require specific treatment. The occurrence of migraine headache could also be the result of particular allergic triggers like stress or some unambiguous foods which should then be avoided.

There are three types of primary headaches: tension-type (muscular contraction headache), migraine (vascular headaches), and cluster. Cluster headaches are sharp, extremely painful headaches that tend to occur several times per day for months and then go away for a similar period of time.

Some other rare types of headaches include:

· Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (headache with visual symptoms due to raised intracranial pressure)

· Ictal headache

· Brain freeze (also known as: ice cream headache)

· Thunderclap headache

· Vascular headache

· Toxic headache

· Coital cephalalgia (also known as: sex headache)

· Hemicrania continua

· Rebound headache (also called medication overuse headache, abbreviated MOH)

· Red wine headache

· Spinal headache (or: post-dural puncture headaches) after lumbar puncture or related procedure that will lower the intracranial pressure

· Hangover (caused by heavy alcohol consumption)

What are the causes of headaches?

The vast majority of headaches are non-malignant and self-limiting. Some common causes of headaches are said to be tension, migraine, eye strain, dehydration, low blood sugar, hyper mastication and sinusitis. In addition, we have some very rare headaches that are a result of some life-threatening conditions like meningitis, encephalitis, cerebral aneurysms, exceptionally high blood pressure, and brain tumors. If head injury is the cause of a headache then the reason is usually quite evident. In women, a large percentage of headaches are caused by their ever-fluctuating estrogen levels during the menstrual years. This can occur prior to or mid-cycle.

If anyone over the age of 50 experiences a headache for the first time, a condition called temporal arthritis may be the cause. Headache symptoms include impaired vision and pain aggravated by chewing. Because, there is a risk of becoming blind, it needs to be promptly treated by a doctor.

Brain aneurysm, brain tumor, stroke or TIA, and brain infection like meningitis or encephalitis are some rare causes of headaches and can be serious.

What are tension headaches?

Often related to stress, depression, or anxiety, tension headaches are due to contraction of the muscles in the shoulders, neck, scalp, and jaw. Overwork, insomnia, missed meals, and use of alcohol and drugs can make one more vulnerable to headaches. Some foods can also trigger a headache including, chocolate, cheese, and monosodium glutamate (MSG), and flavor enhancers. A deviation from the usual fix of caffeine can also result in headaches.

Tension headaches can also result from performing an activity with the head held up in one position for a long time. This can generally happen from using a computer, microscope, or a typewriter, sleeping in a cold room or in an abnormal position, overexerting oneself, and clenching or grinding the teeth.

Tension headaches tend to occur on both sides of the head, often starting at the back of the head and spreading forward. The pain may range from a dull or squeezing ache to a feeling of a tight band or a vice around the head. The muscle tension generally begins in the shoulders, neck, or the jaw before it gradually extends to the head. Therefore, these areas also feel tight and sore.

Where does the pain during a headache occur?

Pain, during a headache, occurs in the tissues covering the brain, as well as in the muscles, network of nerves and blood vessels around the scalp, face, and neck. The brain itself is insensate to pain because it lacks nociceptors. Headaches often result from traction to or irritation of the meninges and blood vessels. Dura mater, the membrane surrounding the brain and the spinal cord, is innervated with nociceptors. Any kind of stimulation of these dural nociceptors is thought to produce headaches. Types of headaches are classified separately of which the three most common headaches are:

· Tension or muscle contraction headache

· Migraine headache

· Cluster headache

Apart from these types, it is not uncommon for some people to experience a combination of the above mentioned headache types.

What are migraine headaches?

A severe, recurrent headache that is generally accompanied by visual disturbance or nausea is a common symptom of a migraine headache. This type of headache tends to begin on one side of the head, although the pain may later spread to both sides. Migraine headache generally starts with an “aura” (warning symptoms before the actual onset of the headache) that is usually accompanied with a feeling of throbbing, pounding, or pulsating pain.



Karl

Dr. A. R. Scopelliti asked:


If you have a headache, you’re not alone. Nine out of ten Americans suffer from headaches. Headaches comprise the top three reasons why one goes to the doctor. Some are occasional, some frequent, some are dull and throbbing, and some cause debilitating pain and nausea. What do you do when you suffer from a pounding headache? Do you grit your teeth and carry on? Lie down? Pop a pill and hope the pain goes away? There is a better alternative. As a chiropractic neurologist, I have been successfully helping patients rid themselves of headaches, oftentimes in as little as one treatment. Research has demonstrated the value of manipulative therapy for a multitude of disorders including headaches. A report released in 2001 by researchers at the Duke University Evidence Based Practice Center in Durham, NC, found that spinal manipulation resulted in almost immediate improvement for those headaches that originate in the neck, and had significantly fewer side effects and longer-lasting relief of tension-type headache than a commonly prescribed medication.

As a neurologist, we have many diagnostic capabilities at our disposal, as well as adjunctive therapies, which have proven to work very well for migraineurs as well as headache sufferers who have yet to be diagnosed. Headaches have many causes, or “triggers.” These may include foods, environmental stimuli (noises, lights, stress, etc.) and/or behaviors (insomnia, excessive exercise, blood sugar changes, etc.). About 5 percent of all headaches are warning signals caused by physical problems. The other ninety-five percent of headaches are primary headaches, such as tension, migraine, or cluster headaches. These types of headaches are not caused by disease. The headache itself is the primary concern. Today, Americans engage in more sedentary activities than they used to, and more hours are spent in one fixed position or posture. Many find themselves in fluorescent lighting and/or in front of a computer monitor all day. Many are on the telephone much of the day, which is very stressful on the muscles of the head, neck and shoulder. These scenarios are fuel for headaches.

So what can you do?

If you spend a large amount of time in one fixed position, such as in front of a computer, take a break and stretch every 30 minutes to one hour. Exercise may help relieve the pain associated with primary headaches, however, this will often aggravate headaches of migraineurs. As migraine headaches are vascular headaches, they should always be evaluated prior to entertaining any course of self-treatment. Drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day to help avoid dehydration, which can lead to headaches. Naturally, I would recommend all headache sufferers to come see us for an evaluation, as most will be helped in a short amount of time without requiring drug therapies, which can often have deleterious side effects and consequences. You will be referred for these types of therapies if felt to be warranted to be used as an alternative course of care, although this is certainly not the norm but rather the minority. The vast majority of our headache patients share a common conclusion; they invariably wish that they had come in to see us sooner and avoided the years of unnecessary suffering.

Dr. Scopelliti has over 1000 hours in post doctoral neurology, and practices at the 279 Professional Medical Arts Bldg at the rear of Monmouth Medical Center; Tel. (732) 229-5250. Information is updated weekly on the web at www.dcneuro.net.



Judy

Jon Kelly asked:


Stressful situations are unpleasant to deal with and can, in some circumstances, last for a long time. Pressure and tension in the workplace or at home are major contributing factors to the stress in many people’s lives. And while the deadlines, interpersonal difficulties and worries of daily life can be difficult enough on their own, they can also create a range of physical problems.

Sleeplessness, digestion problems, unhealthy weight gain or loss, and muscles tension can all be caused by ongoing stress. One of the most disruptive stress-related ailments can be a tension headache. While it is not always easy to get rid of this type of headache, due to the possibility that there may be many causes, there are things you can do to decrease the discomfort of a tension headache.

Muscle tension or muscle spasms in the shoulders and neck can trigger or contribute to the pain of a tension headache. If you find that you are prone to tension headaches, paying particular attention to muscle tightness this could help you be forewarned about when a headache is about to start.

For tension headaches that are worsened by muscle tension, it might be helpful to use a heat pad, hot water bottle or muscle ache cream to ease the tension in your neck and shoulders. This might not prevent or remove a tension headache, but it might reduce the severity and help you relax. In fact, any routine that helps you relax at the end of the day might be beneficial in preventing tension headaches. A warm shower or bath, a cup of herbal tea, or a cooling washcloth draped across your eyes can help relax away the tension at the root of your headaches.

Some tension headache sufferers might find relief from deep breathing exercises or light stretching routines to give the body a chance to unwind after a stressful day. Making time to relax at the end of the day even when not suffering from tension headaches can help prevent stress from building up to the point that it could trigger a headache.

While different headache sufferers experience different types of pain associated with tension headaches, this type of headache is frequently categorized by pervasive pain or a sensation of pressure across the entire head. Visual disturbances, such as spots or lights interrupting the line of sight, are usually signs of a migraine headache rather than a tension headache.

If your headaches are recurring or occur in conjunction with nausea or visual symptoms, a diagnosis from a physician will help rule out other types of headaches and other possible medical issues before you try to find the best way to treat your headaches. If it turns out that you are dealing with recurring tension headaches, your physician may recommend over-the-counter pain relievers for you to take as needed. Acetaminophen can be effective, as can aspirin and ibuprofen. Your physician should be able to advise you on methods for combining pain relievers with stress reduction techniques for maximum relief from your tension headaches.



Frederick

Mitamins Team asked:


Headache treatments began from the time humans first began to dabble in the medicinal arts. Many kinds of procedures, including home remedies and health supplements for the treatment of headaches, have been tried for centuries. The earliest known surgical procedure is thought to have been an attempt at headache treatment. This procedure became popular in the Middle Ages (along with comparably credible treatment such as leeches, humor balancing and flogging). This surgical procedure, called trepanning or trephining, involved digging a large hole in the head, which was thought to relieve the pressure causing the headache(http://www.mitamins.com/disease/Headache.html).

Since then, science has come a long way though our knowledge of the brain, but methods of treating headaches are not always successful. Though there are plenty of drugs, health supplements and natural remedies for the treatment of headaches, the causes of headaches are still largely unknown.

Here we are referring to primary headaches, or those that are not caused by a basic medical condition. Secondary headaches can be signals of serious problems, thus any headache that is frequent, severe or followed by any other symptoms (vomiting, diarrhea sensitivity to light, dizziness, slurred speech etc) ought to be checked out by a physician. If you are unsure of whether your headaches require a trip to the doctor, take one there anyway.

The medical world has divided headaches into a lot of different categories. Though you may have your own expletive-laden terms, we will split headaches into two types for our purposes, and give some suggestions for supplements and natural solutions that may help alleviate and treat headache pain.

Tension headaches - These are the most ordinary and are usually caused by tension in the muscle of the scalp or neck. Poor posture, repetitive actions or overuse of the jaw muscles can all lead to excess strain, causing mild to moderate pain.

The best remedy for tension headaches is relaxation, and a hot bath or a cold pack on the neck can work. Slow and deep breathing is a good way to alleviate pain and relieve headaches(http://www.mitamins.com/disease/Headache.html) as well.

Natural herbal health supplements for headaches(http://www.mitamins.com/disease/Headache.html) including chamomile, peppermint oil and lavender can all failitate the relaxation process and relieve headaches. Additionally, health supplements for headaches such as Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Pantothenic Acid play an important part in supporting functions in the head. Calcium and Magnesium can alleviate muscle tension. If you suspect you have been grinding your teeth throughout the night, supplements for headaches such as passionflower, hops and valerian may be effective in ensuring a headache-free, peaceful night’s sleep.

Vasular headaches - This category includes migraine headaches, flu headaches, cluster headaches and premenstrual headaches. This type of headache is caused by dilation of the blood vessels around the head. It gets worse during physical activity, and some episodes can go on for days.

Besides pharmaceutical options, there are also some natural herbal health supplements known to be effective in the prevention and treatment of vascular headaches including: Feverfew, which can alleviate the inflammation in the brain; White Willow, a kind of natural analgesic; and Ginkgo Biloba which assists in maintaining peripheral circulation to the brain (although check with your doctor as some people’s migraines become worse after using gingko biloba). It is important to find out the reason for your headache symptoms and either avoid the cause (such as red wine, aged cheese and tyramine-containing foods) or be prepared at the onset of certain conditions ( such as menstruation or bouts of flu).



Judy

Jennifer W asked:


I tend to get headaches on almost a daily basis….I do eat a lot of chocolate, have a lot of anxiety, and I’ve pretty much had headaches since my early teens. I get them very easily and it’s very bothersome especially since I have 3 children. It makes me so irritable and I snap at them. I don’t like to do that to them but I’m sick of taking Tylenol, Excedrin etc. I’d like to try a natural route. The thing is I know chocolate can trigger headaches but I’m seriously addicted. Chocolate is my fix…..if I’m so stressed out it actually makes me get relief. I don’t know what else to do. I can’t really sit quietly with music and meditate with three children ages 4 and under so I need some kind of remedy that doesn’t take a lot of time and peace and quiet. lol I’m desperate! Thanks!

Louis