HormonalHeadaches
Hormonal headaches are a serious and often times debilitating form of headache that effects only women. Fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone can have significant effects on the brain, often triggering severe headaches. Hormonal headaches are a part of the overall premenstrual cycle, and can begin eleven to seven days before the menstrual cycle. Symptoms of hormonal headaches include severe migraine like pain, usually accompanied by a sensitivity to light and loud noises. The pain can typically be described as a throbbing like sensation.
A great number of women experience hormonal headaches at one point or another in their life. The occurence of hormonal headaches is difficult to predict, although contraceptives are known to have an effect on their frequency. In some women, oral contraceptives can actually increase the occurence of hormonal headaches, while in others it ends up reducing the frequency of the headaches. Accurately predicting the effect that oral contraceptives will have is difficult. Outside of contraceptives, the exact causes of a hormonal headache are unknown. Preventing hormonal headaches can be difficult, or even next to impossible.
Fortunately, treatment for hormonal headaches can potentially be far more effective. Over the counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can do a good job of handling the symptoms of hormonal headaches. Treatment with these over the counter drugs around five to seven days prior to a menstrual period can mitigate their effects. Aspirin, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen are all effective treatments for hormone headaches. These NSAID medications can also be effective in reducing other premenstrual symptoms, such as cramping.
Migraine medications, such as triptans, can also be used to lessen the impact of hormone headaches. Although not a direct treatment for the cause of the headaches, triptans can significantly reduce the associated pain. Triptans and NSAID medication should be used wisely when attempting to reduce hormonal headaches, because they can cause reactions if overused. Overuse of both triptans and NSAID medication can result in what are known as “rebound” headaches, where the symptoms emerge even stronger after the effects of the medication has worn off.
In addition to the premenstrual cycle, hormonal headaches can be triggered during other periods of wide fluctuation in hormone levels. The early periods of childbirth can cause significant fluctuations in hormone levels, and this can easily trigger severe hormonal headaches. The days after childbirth are also a prime time for hormonal headaches to occur. Menopause can also frequently be associated with hormonal headaches.
Varapamil/ Cluster headaches?
Does anybody have any experience with verapamil for treatment of cluster headaches? I have suffered with them for 15 years untill my doctor gave me verapamil to prevent them. Now it seems the first day I start taking it my headaches go away. Just wondering if anybody else has had similar results especially in such a short time frame
no, but as a nurse, I have heard of that type of situation before. In some people, medications works different (faster, slower, longer, shorter) At least it works for you 
Migraine Headaches Can Quickly Ruin Your Day
Migraine headaches are no fun at all. They are debilitating, they make it hard to concentrate and they cause you to just sit in a room until the pain subsides. People who suffer from frequent migraines often spend lots of money on migraine headache medication and sometimes that medication doesn’t even work very well. Instead of spending all of your money on medication, it would instead be smarter to learn the mirgraine symptoms and causes of migraine headaches. That way, you’ll be able to hopefully prevent migraines from ever coming back. To find the causes of your migraine headaches, make a record of when you get the migraines, as well as any other variables you can think of. It may take a few migraines before you find the cause, but this will help you out in the long run as you will know exactly how to prevent ever getting migraines again.
Horrible Feeling
Frequent migraines can quickly become debilitating to the point of you not being able to do anything. The migraine headache symptoms can vary from person to person but one thing is clear: everyone hates them and wishes they would never get them. The migraine headache symptoms are usually in the form of dull to sharp throbbing pains in the head. They can also be accompanied by nausea, light as well as smell sensitivity. Most sufferers of migraine headaches usually want nothing more than to just lay down in the dark until they go away. But you have to force yourself to investigate the causes of your migraine headaches if you ever want to stop suffering from them.
Recording The Variables
Whenever you feel any of the migraine headache symptoms coming on, have a notebook and pen handy and begin recording everything you can. It won’t be easy, as migraine headache symptoms often make it hard to concentrate on anything, but force yourself so that you can pinpoint what’s causing these horrible pains and feelings. What time is it? Where are you? What have you eaten today? What’s the weather like? What scents are you exposed to? Write this all down and record the date. When you have finally gotten rid of the migraine headache symptoms (sometimes they just go away on their own), look over the data, as well as all of your previous data, and play investigator. Try to find a link between this last time and any of the other times.
Sometimes, you can find a link. Try to change that variable. Hopefully, by doing that, you can prevent the migraine headache symptoms from ever coming back. If you can’t seem to make any progress, it’s that time that you should see a doctor as there may be something more serious going on that you’re not aware of.
SinusHeadache
Sinus headache can be an annoying problem that patients suffer from on an almost yearly basis. The change in seasons, often times from warm to cold, can trigger a sinus headache. Sinus headache typically forms when the small cavity behind the nose becomes filled with excess mucus, putting too much pressure in that area. This can present as a feeling of pressure around the nose and eyes. This pressure can become quite uncomfortable and even painful over time. The prelude to a sinus headache is usually a stuffy nose and congestion. If a cold or congestion lasts for a long period of time, it can easily cuase a sinus headache to follow.
Prompt treatment of congestion and colds can easily prevent a sinus headache. Decongestants and nasal sprays are an effective way to prevent the attack of a sinus headache. Whenever a cold or congestion initially strikes, be sure to treat those symptoms with decongestants. Overly dry air can quickly lead to a sinus headache as well, so a humidifier can be a good solution as well. Sinus headaches normally develop as a result of pressure building up behind the nasal cavity that is not promptly released.
The problem can become painful if the mucus in the nasal cavity becomes infected by bacteria or a virus. Prolonged colds and congestion are a breeding ground for bacteria. When bacteria infects the nasal cavity, it can lead to swelling and irritation. Significant pain when sneezing or blowing, in addition to a fever, are strong signs of an infection. It is important to treat such infections promptly. Sinus headache can become very painful if an infection is allowed to spread unchecked. See a doctor promptly, and they will typically prescribe both antibiotics and decongestants to rid the patient of the problem.
It is important to treat infections quickly. If left alone, sinus headache can actually become life threatening when the infection spreads out of control. Sinus headache can be easily controlled with a combination of decongestants and antihistamines. The earlier the problem is caught, the more effective the treatment can be. Ignored sinus headache can develop into serious infections that threaten permanent damage to the sinus cavity. In severe cases, it may be necessary to block off the sinus cavity to prevent a repeat of the problem.
How to Quit Drinking
In early recovery it is all we can do to just stay sober for another day. We might have a hard time staying dry for a single day at a time and just to make it without drinking we will have to use our friends and support from the meetings. This is OK but as you stay sober for longer you'll realize that you are becoming more reliant on your self and on your level of growth. This does not mean that you are permanently healed of alcoholism or that you no longer need others to recover, but only that there is a shift in what you focus on. Recovery is fueled by passion and purpose and the striving for personal growth, whereas early recovery is more about learning and networking with others. Both stages use all of these strategies, but the emphasis is going to be different for those who find success in recovery.
So you want to know how to stop drinking? My first message to you is one of safety - you need to find a medical treatment center to sober up in. This is important because stopping drinking can literally kill you if you are not careful. There is also the added bonus that if you go to a treatment center to detox then you will also receive a ton of support from doing so. The associations that you have from others in eary sobriety are critical, and if you go to drug rehab then you will invariably make friends with those who can help you. Because of these 2 things pointed out, I strongly urge anyone to go to a medical drug rehab if you really want to get sober.
Now at this point many people think that their job is done when they walk out of the treatment center but in fact it has not even started yet. The real challenge in long term sobriety is in maintaining it without slipping back to your old ways and eventually drinking again. It is not just the liquor that got us into a world of hurt, but also the fast life that came with it. If you leave treatment and try to stay off the sauce but revert right back to the same lifestyle then you're probably not going to stay sober. We have to make large, sweeping change in our daily routine if we are going to maintain recovery. This is not unachievable but it takes some real work on your part.
Most of those who leave a treatment center don't follow through on their aftercare plan. If you want to make recovery work for you then you need to approach it with overwhelming force. We put a lot of effort into our drinking and we need to put just as much, if not more, into our recovery. Most people underestimate what it will take to stay sober. The secret is to go way above and beyond what you think is necessary to keep you clean.
And that is the bottom line right there: If you want to stop drinking then you have to take action. At first your goal in recovery will be very concentrated on staying sober one day at a time and figuring out how to live again without drinking. But as time goes on in recovery your actions must shift towards those of personal growth and development. In early recovery the support you get from other people is really important. In long term sobriety your drive for personal growth and holistic health is what is key.
StressHeadache
The medical community has identified a set of well defined headache categories. The first category, that of the primary headache, is experienced by almost everyone throughout their lives. The primary headache is by far the most common kind of headache, and is by definition not life threatening, nor indicative of any kind of neurological problem. The cluster headache category is defined as a far more painful variety of headache that occurs to a much smaller segment of the population. Cluster headaches earn their name from the random grouping of attacks that they present with. Patients can go without an attack for years at a time before suddenly experiencing a rash of cluster headaches. Secondary headaches are classified as symptoms of a deeper neurological issue, such as internal bleeding, tumor growth, or chemical imbalance in the brain. Cluster headaches and secondary headaches are far rarer than primary headaches.
The common stress headache fits into the primary headache category. Although not at all rare or life threatening, the stress headache can become an impediment to the enjoyment of daily life. In some cases, the common stress headache can be very painful. It is important that these cases be resolved as any other medical problem should be. The first step in treatment is understanding the cause of the problem. Stress headache is believed to actually result from a contraction of the muscles surrounding the skull. The added pressure from this contraction introduces a painful and uncomfortable sensation. The problem has nothing to do with any neurological issue, but rather with the tightness around the skull.
The tightening of the muscles around the skull can usually be identified as a band like feeling just above the eyes. This is the first sign of stress headache, and can be a good time to administer preventive measures like a dosage of Ibuprofen or Aleve. To actually prevent stress headache more effectively, the underlying causes should be examined. If stress headache occurs on a fairly regular basis, it can be assumed that some life circumstance is to blame. Stress management can be a big part of reducing stress headache. Attempt to change the circumstances that trigger stress headache, or manage them more effectively, and stress headache may be reduced. If pain persists in a chronic fashion, be sure to visit a physician.
Migraineurs have a lower incidence of breast cancer
A silver lining for women who suffer from migraine has been discoveredâ??researchers have determined that female migraineurs have a significantly lower chance of developing breast cancer than women who do not have migraines.
Overall, women with a history of migraine showed a 30% decrease in the incidence of the most common types of breast cancer. These [...]
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HeadacheClinics
Sometimes the problems associated with frequent headaches can become so severe and life impairing that special treatment is required. There are numerous headache clinics in the United States that can assist sufferers with chronic headache pain problems. Although the vast majority of headaches are transitory and minor problems, some portions of the population suffer from headaches that strike so frequently and so painfully that their lives are interrupted. In these cases, it is important that treatment be sought promptly. Effective treatment of the problem can seriously mitigate the issue and perhaps even completely relieve it.
The medical community has split the headache problem into three categories. Primary headaches are what the vast majority of sufferers experience, and they are very rarely life threatening. Although the pain can be severe, primary headaches are usually treated with a combination of over the counter NSAID medications such as ibuprofen or aleve. Such medications are typically an effective way to reduce the pain significantly. Primary headaches are typically caused when tension or stress makes the muscles around the skull contract painfully, introducing too much pressure.
Problems requiring treatment at headache clinics are most likely related to cluster or secondary headaches. These serious headaches can strike randomly, causing severe pain in the sufferer. Cluster headaches tend to strike in groups, with gaps of sometimes years between episodes. A cluster headache can be identified by the severe pain experienced, as well as a runny nose or eyes. In these cases, treatment should be sought as soon as possible. Secondary headaches are commonly a seen of a deeper neurological issue. These kinds of problems should be treated at headache clinics. Although relieving pain with these varieties of headache can be difficult, more powerful pain relievers can be effective.
It is also very important that the cause of secondary headaches be promptly identified. A secondary headache usually signifies some kind of neurological issue, and it is vital that these issues be dealt with as soon as possible at headache clinics, or by another specialist. Specialists at headache clinics like the Mayo Clinic are very well equipped to diagnose and treat the problems associated with severe headache pain. Headache clinics can be found around the world, and are very much worth visiting if chronic pain has inhibited daily life. As chronic headaches can also be a symptom of other issues, it is important to seek prompt medical care.
Take Control Of Your Life By Controlling Your Brain Waves
Surely after reading the title of this article you must be wondering what the heck it’s going to be about. Well, that was my initial reaction the moment someone told me that controlling my brainwaves was the key to reaching the goals in my life. I looked at him, raised my eyebrows and sniffed hard for traces of whiskey. But all kidding aside, this statement is fast becoming the norm in the personal development arena these days. Brain wave entrainment, or the technology or method of triggering specific electromagnetic waves from the brain is a reality thanks to today’s modern technology. Available in a medium as ordinary as a CD or a manual, this is the new holy grail of mental control and taking taking charge of your own life like you have never imagined.
The underlying concept of this technology is simple. Experts in the field have discovered that acute states of internal human abilities can be attributed to specific electromagnetic frequency states produced by neurons and chemical reactions within the cerebral cortex. For instance, your brain produces specific types of brainwaves, low frequency waves associated with states of accelerated learning and relaxation, states where information-retention is at its peak, and such states occur between the space of time before and after sleep. It is also entirely possible to invoke states that can give you better focus, alertness, or an accelerated rate of healing within the body.
The fact is, studies on brainwave entrainment have been well documented, and the method is scientfically proven. Patients in a hospital given a placebo but exposed to nurturing and supporting staff, an atmosphere that retains a sense of buoyancy and happiness, seem to heal faster than most. Slanting the brain in a positive perception actually fires up the body’s healing process. This technology has also been applied in efforts of healing mind related disease and even helping patients with amnesia regain their memory retaining capabilities.
Clever little men in white coats have discovered that engineered beats that have differing frequencies (beyond human hearing) can actually invoke a cortical response and fire up the neurons to produce brainwaves for a specific purpose. Got a med exam the next day and the textbooks look like they have been written in ancient Chinese? Fire up the alpha state frequencies and absorb information like a sponge without breaking a sweat. Feel restless and can’t seem to rest easy? Then invoke just the right amount of brain wave frequencies and ease yourself into a relaxed and peaceful meditative state of mind.
These beats are embedded into a music file of soothing music and introduced into the brain through your earphones. There are of course other methods including biofeedback and autogenic or even traditional methods like yoga and music to soothe the mind and reprogram the subconscious with positive thinking.
The possibilities are endless. If you ever feel constantly depressed and need to rekindle you drive to live and drive to succeed, then just give your brain waves a push in the right direction. They say that we only use a very small percentage of our brain; imagine the control over our own lives and the goals we can accomplish when we can wield the full capacity of our minds.
CausesMigraineHeadaches
Migraine headaches can be debilitating issue that interferes severely with daily functioning and quality of life. Preventing and treating migraine headaches, however, can be done effectively with a wide range of both over the counter and prescription drugs. The exact causes of migraine headaches are still something of a mystery in the medical community, but it is widely held that serotonin levels in the brain play a significant role in the formation of migraine headaches. Low serotonin levels are usually accompanied by a migraine headache.
A migraine headache can sometimes be preceded by what is known as an “aura.” An aura occurs with what are called classic migraine headaches. In a classic migraine attack, the sufferer may experience changes in vision, such as strange colors or spots that develop. Tenderness in the scalp is another sign of an oncoming migraine headache. Alterations in mood can also occur, such as depression or irritability. These subtle symptoms can begin developing as much as a full day before the onset of a migraine attack. The following migraine headaches are typically fairly intense, but do not last very long.
Common migraine headaches are a more prolonged variation of the problem, and can last for long periods of time. This can be seriously debilitating, and can be a real impediment to daily life. Luckily, there are many medications out there that can both reduce pain and help to prevent the onset of migraines. Sleep and plenty of fluids are very important in helping to prevent the onset of migraine headaches. During an attack, be sure to remain in a dark and quiet environment. Use a cold compress to reduce the tension, and massage the scalp with a fair amount of pressure. Stress is believed to be one of the top causes of migraine headaches, and should therefore be avoided as much as possible.
Some foods are also believed to be behind causes of migraine headaches.
Physicians recommend, for example, that red wine should be avoided by sufferers of migraine headaches. Canned and processed meat are also known as frequent causes of migraine headaches. Causes of migraine headaches can also include excess amounts of caffeine, aged cheese, or cultured dairy products. If you suffer regular migraine headaches, see a physician for a full list of foods and beverages that should be avoided.
Pages
- Available Headache Treatments
- Contact us
- Dealing with Hormonal Headaches
- Determining the Causes of Headaches
- Frequent Headaches Make Life More Difficult
- Headache Clinics: Help for People with Severe and Chronic Headaches
- Headache Medicines Available for Treating Headaches
- Learning About the Different Headache Types
- Pinpointing the Causes of Migraine Headaches
- What are Cluster Headaches and How are they Treated?