Low Jeremy asked:


Cluster headache is a severe, debilitating pain that attacks one cluster of the head, usually above an eyelid or at the temple. The pain is usually characterized as being repeatedly stabbed in the eye with an ice pick. When the pain attacks, one may notice the drooping of the lids from the affected eye as well as nasal congestion on the affected side.

The pain of a cluster headache is no joke. It tends to be so sever that some people say that it is nothing compared to things like childbirth or migraines. At the height of a cluster headache attack, even morphine does very little to assuage the pain. This piece of information is from the few individuals who have actually been correctly diagnosed with cluster headache.

Usually, severe headaches are just thought to be migraines but unfortunately remain understood and untreated. It is very important to correctly diagnose cluster headache because it is extremely painful and debilitating and it has a tendency to attack for a few minutes to a few hours.

The difficulty in realizing that it is cluster headache instead of migraine is that sometimes, people who suffer from cluster headache also experience the usual nausea and sensitivity to light that migraine sufferers experience. You can tell that it is cluster headache though from the fact that its attacks follow a pattern.

There is such a thing as chronic and episodal cluster headache. Actually, one who suffers from cluster headache can experience switches from chronic to episodal attacks and vice versa. The chronic attacks can easily be noticed because the cluster headache attacks at the same time everyday for several weeks and even months.

Episodal cluster headache attacks are episodes that happen also at the same time everyday for a few days or weeks and goes into long remission states. While the suffering from cluster headaches is benign, there have been reported cases of actual suicides from the extreme pain.

This is why it is quite important that if you feel that you or a loved one may be suffering from attacks of cluster headaches, do get yourselves diagnosed properly and receive treatment. Consult with your doctor and find out some of the triggers of a cluster headache and avoid them.

Also, at the onset of a cluster headache, one can actually get treatment that can abate the attack. For instance it has been reported that inhalation of pure oxygen at the onset of an attack will abate the assault of cluster headache.



Ana

happyfacemommy asked:


I am currently 12 weeks pregnant and I get a headache almost daily. My doc says it’s ok to take Tylenol, but that has never helped. I have always taken Excedrin and it works like a dream. Now that I’m pregnant, I have taken it a few times, but I know I can’t take it daily. What the heck can I do? I have always had headaches, but always been able to take something that knocks them out to. What do you do?

Oh-laying down is not an option as I work full time (secretary) and have 3 more children when I get home. Thanks!
So I called my OB–he called in a prescription for Darvocet..I really questioned him on how on earth this could be safer than excedrin and he was very adimant about not taking aspirin of any kind..alrighty then..now I know.

Edgar

Peter sams asked:


A Tension-type headache is the most common type of primary headache. Many people have 1 or 2 headaches of this type every month. Sometimes they develop more frequently, typically during times of stress. Approximately 3% of people have a tension-type headache on most days. When this happens, the headaches are called chronic tension-type headaches. Tension-type and cluster headaches, and usually cause symptoms of sickness or nausea in addition to a severe, one-sided, throbbing headache. However, some people experience both migraines and tension-type headaches.

Headache Treatment Tips

• Pain killers or analgesics such as aspirin and paracetamol (eg Panadol)

• Pain killers or analgesics combined with codeine (eg Panadeine)

• Pain killers or analgesics combined with a sedative (eg Mersyndol, Fiorinal)

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (eg Nurofen).

These products are effective and safe when taken according to the directions. Always check with your doctor or pharmacist, as some products are not recommended with certain health conditions or for children.

• Stronger NSAIDs

• Analgesics containing stronger narcotic-type analgesics

• Ergots such as ergotamine (eg Cafergot) that have a specific action against migraine

Headache Prevention Tips

A major cause of headache is chronic stress and related emotions such as frustration and irritability. One main body area affected by chronic stress is the upper back, neck and shoulders, which become tight, tense and painful. Slow, deep breathing exercises are a superb way to calm your mind, relax your body, reduce the effects of chronic stress and improve your ability to deal with it.

Chinese Herbal Remedies: There are many Chinese herbal headache remedies that have been proven to be safe and effective over centuries of continuous use in China. While the traditional way to take them is by boiling the ingredients in water and drinking the brew as a tea, these days they are available in pill, tablet, powder and granule form. Unless you have knowledge of TCM principles and diagnostics, though, you should consult a trained practitioner of Chinese herbal medicine or acupuncture to see which particular remedy is best for you.

Acupressure: Acupressure is very easy to do - locate specific points on your body (using an acupressure point’s chart or video) and press and rub them with your fingers for 1-2 minutes, several times a day. Common acupressure points for headache are located at the base of your skull, on your temples and on your hands and feet. These are the same points that are needled in acupuncture - the difference is you can do acupressure yourself, making it a convenient way to relieve and prevent headaches.

Diet and Lifestyle: There is no single diet suitable for everyone. However, there are some general TCM dietary guidelines that can benefit most headache sufferers, especially those with chronic stress headaches. According to TCM, chronic stress mainly affects the liver. Foods and drinks which aggravate the liver include anything that is fried or spicy, as well as alcohol, coffee and drugs. TCM recommends a simple, bland diet for best health. This means fresh, natural foods and drinks and meals that are not overly cooked. Steaming and stir-frying are recommended cooking methods as they cook quickly and lightly while still retaining nutrients.

As with herbal remedies, a TCM practitioner can give you specific dietary advice that matches your age, body type, state of health and other factors unique to you. Apart from adjusting your diet it’s important to maintain a balanced lifestyle. Irregular meal times and sleeping times, overworking and excess mental irritation, for example, can all cause and/or aggravate headaches.



Norma

Crash Helmet asked:


I’ve been getting headaches after intense exercises under the sun especially after playing football(soccer).Usually the headaches come about half an hour after I stop playing.It takes about 30 minutes of play for me to get headaches.However,I can play at a high level of intensity indoors for about 2 hours with a short break and not experience anything after that.Usually the aches are in the back of the head and around the temples.The headaches last for a day and they severely restrict my ability to concentrate on work.My doctor told me that it is due to dehydration but I drink lots of water before,during and after play and don’t experience any symptoms of dehydration such as dizziness or nausea.What could be causing these headaches and how can I prevent them?Recently,I have also experienced minor and short headaches during school time.Usually at the end of a long day.

Alvin

Juliet Cohen asked:


Acupuncture is a popular complementary treatment for various pain syndromes. Acupuncture is an effective treatment for chronic headaches. Acupuncture treatment involves the insertion of extremely fine needles into the skin at precise points in the body. It has been shown to help with nausea and pain and has been known to help women undergoing fertility treatments to conceive. Acupuncture is a component of the health care system of China. Acupuncture is widely used in the management of headaches. It can be applied as a single form of care, or as part of a comprehensive treatment program. Headaches and migraines come in many different flavors. Acupuncture, even when performed by the novice practitioner, is effective in providing temporary relief from the common symptoms of headaches and migraines. There are three constitutional patterns of headaches commonly seen in clinic. The first is what I will call a Qi Rising headache caused by too much Qi (energy) rising to the head. The Qi Rising headache presents with pain that is induced by or worsened with stress, or accompanied by irritability or frequent anger. Generally, the pain is on the temples or above the ears, but can also be behind the eyes, on the top of the head or at the base of the skull. When this headache presents with severe, throbbing or pounding pain, accompanied by symptoms of nausea or vomiting (stomach qi rising up) or visual lights

Patients receiving acupuncture experienced 22 fewer days of headache per year. Patients completed a standardized measure of health-related quality of life at baseline, and three and 12 months after starting the study. Damp headache includes a subset of Phlegm induced headaches that present in conjunction with allergies, sinus problems and head colds. Patients with this type of headache feel a pressure type pain in the head, often behind the eyes or in the sinuses. They may describe a band-like sensation, or a heavy-headed feeling, that may be accompanied by symptoms of poor concentration or ‘foggy’ headedness, poor appetite or heavy limbs. These Damp headache patients are walking barometers, and commonly report that the headache is worse with weather changes, particularly during cloudy or rainy weather. Acupressure practitioner reports that pressing for 60 seconds on the web space between the forefinger and thumb of the dominant hand erases headache in patients with migraine and tension-type headaches. The specific spot pressed should be the most tender point in the web area. The patient should then lie down for about 15 minutes. Acupuncture, hypnosis and biofeedback are all alternative ways to control pain. Acupuncture involves the insertion of tiny sterile needles, slightly thicker than a human hair, at specific points on the body.

Acupuncture refers broadly to a group of procedures that stimulate the skin. Acupuncture is widely used to prevent migraine attacks, but the available evidence of its benefit is scarce. Acupuncture (up to 15 sessions over 12 weeks) was compared with metoprolol (a standard migraine prophylaxis medication). Acupuncture use has been reported for treating and alleviating a variety of ocular conditions. One randomized controlled double-masked study was found that examined the use of acupuncture for dry eye. Needles, 36-gauge, were inserted subcutaneously without penetrating the cartilage, and left in place 30 minutes without any manipulation or stimulation. The total number of treatments ranged from 2-11; the average number was 5. Frequency of treatment was 2-3 times a week, with the number of treatments determined by patient requirements. Acupuncture was no more effective than sham acupuncture in reducing migraine headaches although both interventions were more effective than a waiting list control. Acupuncture is not only effective for migraine headaches, but also works very well with tension headaches, cluster headaches, post-traumatic headaches, and disease-related headaches that might be due to sinus problems, high blood pressure or sleeping disorders. The greatest advantage of acupuncture over Western medicine is that it does virtually no harm. Some medications can have serious side effects and can (in some instances) actually lead to patients experiencing a “rebound” headache.



Antonio

Britty asked:


I work in a call center dealing with angry customers. I stare at a computer screen all day. I get a neck and back cramp from the computer chairs. I know these all cause headaches and I’m sick of taking pills that thin my blood and make me sleepy. What are some natural ways to resolve this issue?

Linda

agold_12 asked:


I am 20 and have constant headaches, advil or anacin do not seem to work anymore. Is this normal? It kind of feels like i’m carrying a brick in my head, sometimes its in the back, sometimes in front and left and right side of the head. Anyone else with this same problem? What can do I do to get rid of these headaches with a last resort going to c a neurologist or something like that. Natural remedies..maybe? I don ‘t know..please help

Jeff