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May 15, 2010

The Different Types Of Headaches

There are quite a number of well-known sort of headache. These include pressure headaches, migraine headaches, tension headaches, chronic daily headaches, cluster headaches, ice pick headaches and sinus headaches.

A migraine headache is a very severe, debilitating headache. This kind of headache has a profound impact upon the daily lives of its sufferers. The pain can be a pulsating sensation or sometimes a throbbing kind of head pain. This throbbing pain can vary from moderate to severe. The symptoms of migraine headaches include nausea with high audio-visual sensitivity. The migraine type of headache often comes with a precursory warning sensation called an aura.

The aura is experienced in the form of alterations in visual perception. You may see bright flashes, swirls or blurs and sometimes you may even lose a part of your sight. You could also experience a numbness or a tingling in your arms. These precursory warning symptoms will dissipate a while before the migraine attack begins. A migraine headache can last for up to three days without any treatment, before it subsides.

The kinds of tension headache cause a dull, constant pain in the forehead, the sides or back of the head. Some people liken a tension headache to a tight band wrapped around the head and it is considered to be one of the most common kinds of headache. A tension headache does not create symptoms like light sensitivity, loss of sight, nausea and vomiting.

Tension headaches are known as episodic or chronic kinds. Usually, most sufferers of this kind of tension headache, get chronic headaches. It is thought that about 40% of the population suffers from tension headaches at some time or another in their lives. Another of these sorts of headache is the Chronic daily headache.

Most chronic daily headaches are tension headaches or headaches that result from ingesting too much pain medication. With these sorts of headache, the pain is of a constant, dull nature – there can also be a feeling of tightness like a rubber band around the head. A chronic daily headache is diagnosed by its duration: the pain must last for at least 15 days per month during a three month period of time.

Another sort of headache is the Cluster headache group, which is a rare but very painful kind of headache. The name of this headache comes from the fact that the headache produces clusters of pain. Periods of continuous Cluster headaches may last weeks or months, but this is then followed up by long periods of no headaches at all.

Cluster headaches are usually to be found on one side of the head only. Usually the sharp, penetrating pain begins behind one eye. Cluster headaches cause red, teary eyes, a stuffy nose and sometimes symptoms like nausea and sensitivity to light may occur too.

These are just a few of the many kinds of headaches that can be experienced. The pain from the headache can be mild or it can be excruciating in its severity. To find relief from these headaches you should talk with your doctor about treatment or you can buy some over the counter headache pain tablets.

If you suffer from migraine or headaches, you ought to definitely go to our website on Stopping Headaches.

categories: headaches,migraines,cluster,tension,frustration,moods,emotions,anger,mental health,depression,anxiety,self help,advice,other

May 8, 2010

Treatments For Headaches

When we are suffering from a headache we generally try to think of ways to stop the pain. However, because there are various sorts of headaches, the treatments may be effective for only a some of the headache types. There are two different ways of curing the pain caused by headaches. These types of headache treatment are called prophylactical and abortive headache treatments.

The prophylactic treatment needs to be taken everyday in order to reduce the frequency of the attacks and to control the severity of the headache. Abortive headache treatment is begun only when the headache starts.

You must understand that your doctor will not prescribe any prophylactic headache treatment unless you are suffering from several, frequent headache attacks per month. Furthermore, when you take the prophylactic medication you will be checked for side effects like weight gain, water retention, lethargy, memory impairment and hallucinations.

The treatment of headaches with prophylactic medication begins with a low dose. The dose is then increased regularly. You will also be checked every month or so to find out if the treatment is taking effect. Your doctor will also make sure that you are not on any other types of medication or vitamin supplements during this early phase of your headache treatment.

It is very important for the doctor to know whether the patient is or becomes pregnant. If you do become pregnant, then your doctor should be informed, so that checks can be done to uncover any possible side effects to the unborn baby.

The main prescription drugs given for stopping headache are beta blockers like Tenormin and Lopressor. Calcium channel blockers such as Cardizem, Dilacor, and Procardia are also used. Doctors can also prescribe anti-depressants such as Elavil and Zoloft. You may also be given serotonin antagonists like Sansert.

Usually, anti-convulsants such as Tegretol, Depakote, and Dilantin are also given for headache treatment. Cafergot and Sansert (ergot derivatives) could also be given by your doctor. The ‘abortive’ headache treatment types available for your headache pain are usually the ‘over the counter’ (OTC) type. These include Paracetamol, Aspirin, Tylenol, Panadol, Motrin, and Advil to mention only a few. Tylenol and Panadol are known as Acetaminophen drugs. Motrin and Advil belong to the family of drugs known as Ibuprofen.

Further to these headache treatments there are also non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs. The side effects of NSAIDs like Naprosyn and Meclomen include nausea, gastrointestinal pain, dizziness, diarrhea, light-headedness and constipation. These headache treatments can also cause some people to get side-effects in the form of a different type of headache.

Since these drugs can cause side effects, you should consult your doctor in order to find out whether they are suitable for you or not. People who prefer an ‘alternative’ headache treatment should ask their doctor whether he thinks the alternative medicine, such as aromatherapy, will be efficacious.

If you suffer from migraine or headaches, you ought to definitely go to our website on Stopping Headaches.

categories: headaches,migraines,men,women,frustration,moods,emotions,medicine,treatment,anxiety,self help,advice,tension,other

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