Posts Tagged ‘headaches’

Relieving Cluster Headaches

Saturday, October 11th, 2008

Cluster headaches affect approximately one in one thousand people and are among the most painful types of headaches.

cluster headache

cluster headache



The two types of cluster headaches include episodic and chronic. Episodic headaches are more prevalent, affecting over 90 percent of cluster headache sufferers. Episodic headaches can occur once or twice a day during periods of activity and then not at all for months or even years between bouts.

Sufferers of chronic cluster headaches have been known to have nine or more headaches in a day. The pain is located around the eye socket and temple and is so severe that the condition is considered a neurological disease since many chronic cluster headache sufferers eventually kill themselves.

The exact causes of cluster headaches are not known and therapies vary according to the patient. Over the counter medications often prove ineffectual so many cluster headache sufferers take any number of medications including ranging from inhaling pure oxygen, to taking beta-blockers and anti-depressants. Some more traditional methods that have worked include inhaling pure oxygen, caffeine, exercise, taking hot showers, and even sex.

Overweight Children at Risk for Headaches

Saturday, October 4th, 2008

headache kidsA recent study suggests that obese children may be at a much higher risk of experiencing headaches than their peers. The study of over 900 children and teens revealed that as the body mass index of the children lowered, the occurrence of headaches decreased.

BMI, or body mass index, has long been linked to increased frequency in chronic headaches among adults.  The study, conducted by the Headache Center at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, concluded that although there has been no causal link established between obesity in children and headaches there may be substantial environmental conditions that are common in both conditions. In other words, poor lifestyle choices are likely to effect health even at an early age.

Tension Headaches

Wednesday, May 7th, 2008


There are several different kinds of headaches. The most common type of headache is the tension headache.

The exact cause of these types of headaches is unknown, but there are several factors that have been shown in many cases to cause or at least play a part in tension headaches. This includes things like caffeine withdrawal, eye strain, and stress. Other things like teeth clenching, which results in muscle tension, and other strains on the muscles, has been also been shown to play a part in these types of headaches.

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Dehydration and Headaches

Tuesday, April 29th, 2008

Headaches can be caused by a variety of factors. One of the more common causes of headaches is as a result of dehydration. Dehydration is when the body looses water, which is not replenished. Things like heavy exercise or extreme heat can overheat the body and cause dehydration. In some instances dehydration can cause death or serious illness, but this is only if it goes untreated.One of the early signs of dehydration is a headache. When your body is not properly hydrated, it begins to pump blood to the brain to compensate for the loss of fluids. This causes the blood vessels that are closest to your brain, specifically the ones near the eyes and temples, to expand with blood. This expansion causes the area in and around the temples to begin to throb, and often signals the beginning of a bad headache.

It is very important to stay properly hydrated, and by doing so you can prevent headaches that are caused by dehydration. One common misconception is that caffeinated soda and coffee is hydrating, but this is anything but true. Caffeine is actually a diuretic, which increases the release of urine from the body. As you loose water without replenishing it, your body begins to become dehydrated.

Water is by far the best fluid to hydrate your body. There are plenty of other drinks available that can help with dehydration, and many include extra nutrients and vitamins. When you start to feel a headache, or that familiar throb, it is a good idea to begin hydrating your body with water.

Preventing Headaches Due to Eye Strain

Thursday, February 21st, 2008

Headaches are one of the most common physical ailments and are experienced at some point by nearly everyone. 1 in 6 adults suffer from chronic headaches and nearly 50 billion dollars a year is spent in treating headache related symptoms, much of which is covered by individual medical health insurance plans.

Eye strain is a major trigger of headaches for a large percentage of the population. Much of the problem is no doubt due to the amount of time that we all spend in front of television and computer screens both on the job and at home. Although not usually a long term problem, the resulting pain can be very uncomfortable and may effect your productivity.

A few ways to avoid computer related eye strain:

  • Take frequent breaks – Look away from the computer screen frequently and focus at object at different distances.
  • Blink as much as possible – This will prevent dry eyes. Eyes require lubrication from the tear ducts to work efficiently.
  • Use appropriate eyewear – Make sure your prescription is right for computer work. This includes glare resistant coatings and getting yearly eye exams.

If you experience eye strain related headaches frequently and over a long period of time, this could be a indicator of a more serious condition. A more intensive test, such as a CAT scan, may be in order. Be aware that many individual vision insurance plans will not cover the cost of this, so it may be necessary to seek a referral to a specialist if you suspect that your headache is the result of more than just tired eyes.

Headaches and Depression: Common Causes and Treatments

Saturday, February 2nd, 2008

Many people suffering from depression also report suffering from chronic headaches as well. This is not surprising since many of the same triggers for depression are also known triggers for cluster and migraine headaches. These include stress, lack of sleep, improper diet, and a lack of physical exercise. Luckily, many drugs prescribed for anxiety disorders and depression also relieve the symptoms of headaches. In some cases, physicians may even prescribe anti-depressants for headache treatment even though the patient is not suffering from depression.

There is no doubt that your state of mind can effect your health. A recent study on the correlation of abuse and headaches in women by the University of Toledo reported that, of the women who participated in the study, 42% of women who suffered migraines had recently experienced emotional abuse. The study suggested that physicians screen headache patients for a history of emotional and physical abuse before recommending a course of treatment. In addition, if a patient does not show improvement over the course of treatment, then the problems may be psychological rather than physiological.

7 Ways to Relieve Migraines Headaches

Monday, December 24th, 2007

headache girlA migraine headache may make you think that you have come to the end of the world. Nothing seems to make it better, and everything seems to make it worse. Some people have migraine headaches that last for days without relief. If you are prone to migraines, then there are a few tips that you can do to help relieve the pain associated with a migraine headache. While all things will not work for all people, there just may be something that will help you individually. Just as all people are different, all migraines are different also, and something that helps one person, may not necessarily help others. However, there are several methods for instant relief that you can try, and one of them is bound to work for you.

1. First, you should know that migraines are the result of a blood rush to your head. Constricting the blood vessels to slow the rush of blood will often help. Try applying cold compresses to your forehead and the back of your neck to see if the cold helps to slow down the blood, thus slowing down the pain.
2. Another idea is to dip your fingers into ice cold water and apply pressure to your temples. You can try an ice massage, by dipping your fingers into cold water, and simply massaging your temples to help relieve the pain caused from the sudden rush of blood.
3. Everyone knows that migraines are often the result of stress. If you are feeling stressed out, then try changing your scenery. Watch a funny movie, or take a long hot bath. Try to relax and let the stress wash off you.
4. Exercise is also a great pain reliever, specifically aerobic exercise. Exercising will help to regulate the blood flow throughout your body, thus relieving the pressure from the blood rush in your head which caused the migraine to begin with.
5. Migraine sufferers know that lights and sound are a migraine headaches worst enemy. If you are suffering with a migraine, then pull your curtains, turn out the lights, and keep all noise to a mute volume. Having just a simple dark, quiet rest will often relieve the pain, and the relaxation may make the migraine dissipate much sooner.
6. Migraine medication that comes over the counter holds one of the most effective ingredients for relieving migraines. Caffeine, although it can trigger a migraine, can also relieve it. Many over the counter medicines that are specifically geared for migraines hold caffeine, so grab a cup of coffee or tea and it should help to alleviate the pain.
7. Change your scenery. You can try a quick change, like moving from the room that may hold the smell or trigger of your migraine. If you are in the kitchen, try sitting in the bedroom for a spell.