Headache

[Guest guest]

Hi, When I had these types of headache, craniosacral massage helped

tremendously. Cheryl Smith--- On Fri 08/09, Manuela Federella & lt;

manu.fdr & gt; wrote:Manuela Federella [ manu.fdr]To:

: Fri, 9 Aug 2002 20:55:13 +0200Subject:

headache & gt; Hello, & gt; & gt; a friend's father (pitta-vata

constitution, not a vegetarian, no & gt; serious health problems, active man,

practices sport etc) & gt; suffers from sever headaches since he was a child.

Nothing seems & gt; to work but pain killers, which of course are not a solution.

He & gt; did all sorts of med analysis, head and brain included, nothing is

wrong. & gt; This seems like a mistery but now it's almost daily he has to & gt;

stop doing what he's doing and just lay in the dark and takes the & gt;

painkiller. My friend asked me for suggestions. & gt; Any suggestion I could

give? & gt; & gt; thanks & gt; Manuela

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

, " Manuela Federella " <manu.fdr@i...> wrote:

> > Hello,

> >

> > a friend's father (pitta-vata constitution, not a vegetarian, no

> > serious health problems, active man, practices sport etc)

> > suffers from sever headaches since he was a child. Nothing seems

> > to work but pain killers, which of course are not a solution. He

> > did all sorts of med analysis, head and brain included, nothing is

wrong.

> > This seems like a mistery but now it's almost daily he has to

> > stop doing what he's doing and just lay in the dark and takes the

> > painkiller. My friend asked me for suggestions.

> > Any suggestion I could give?

> >

> > thanks

> > Manuela

 

My dad used to get headaches like this. It was

years before he found out that it was an allergic

reaction to preservatives that are commonly added

to commercial foods.

 

I'm not expert here, but you might want to research

his diet. Food additives and preservatives can cause

headaches like this if he is allergic to them.

It may not be food and could be something that is

around his environment.

 

People's bodies react differently to different things.

I get sinus infections and headaches just from

synthetic fragrances.

 

Good luck,

 

Lynn

[Guest guest]

Headache

 

Almost everyone gets headaches. A lot of the time, they're caused by something

simple — such as staying up too late, running around in the sun too long, or the

stress of a big exam. But some people get headaches that come often or last for

a long time.

 

So how do you know if a headache is just a passing pain or something more? And

what should you do about it?

Anatomy of a Headache

Although it may feel like it, a headache is not actually a pain in your brain.

The brain tells you when other parts of your body hurt, but it can't feel pain

itself.

Most headaches happen in the nerves, blood vessels, and muscles that cover a

person’s head and neck. Sometimes the muscles or blood vessels swell, tighten,

or go through other changes that stimulate the surrounding nerves or put

pressure on them. These nerves send a rush of pain messages to the brain, and

this brings on a headache.

Different Kinds of Headaches

The most common type of headache is a tension, or muscle-contraction, headache.

This happens when stressed-out head or neck muscles keep squeezing too hard.

With this kind of headache, the pain is usually dull and constant. It might feel

as though something is pressing or squeezing on the front, back, or both sides

of your head.

 

Sometimes people also get headaches when they are sick — you may have had a

sinus headache when you've had a cold, flu, or allergies, for example.

People who drink a lot of caffeinated drinks might get caffeine-withdrawal

headaches. And some headaches are the side effect of taking a particular

medication.

 

Pain that's especially sharp and throbbing can be a sign of a migraine headache.

Migraine headaches aren't as common as tension headaches. But for teens who do

get them, the pain can be strong enough to make them miss school or other

activities if the headaches aren't treated. Fortunately, doctors know more about

what causes migraines and have better ways to treat them than they did just a

few years ago.

 

One big difference between tension headaches and migraines is that migraines

sometimes cause people to feel sick or even to throw up. Tension headaches

typically don't cause nausea or vomiting, and they're usually not made worse by

physical activity — which is another thing that can happen with migraines. Most

migraines last anywhere from 30 minutes to 6 hours. Some can last as long as a

couple of days.

 

Strong headache pain can be frightening for people who haven't had it before.

But it's rare that a headache is a sign of something serious. If something is

wrong — like a brain tumor or meningitis — the person will most likely notice

other signs as well.

What Causes Headaches?

Lots of different things can bring on headaches. Most headaches are related to:

stress

dehydration

computer or TV watching

loud music

smoking

alcohol

caffeine

skipping meals

lack of sleep

a bump to the head

taking a long trip in a car or bus

The following kinds of infections can also bring on headaches in some people:

flu

sinus infections

strep throat

urinary tract infections

ear infections

Lyme disease

For some teens, hormonal changes can also cause headaches. For example, some

girls get headaches just before their periods or at other regular times during

their monthly cycle.

 

Migraine headaches often are hereditary. So if a parent, grandparent, or other

family member gets them, there's a chance you may get them too (but that doesn't

mean you will get them). Certain things (called triggers) are known to bring on

migraine headaches in people who are predisposed to getting them. Some of the

things that can trigger migraines are certain foods, stress, changes in sleep

patterns, or even the weather.

Getting Relief

Most headaches will go away if a person rests or sleeps. When you get a

headache, lie down in a cool, dark, quiet room and close your eyes. It may help

to put a cool, moist cloth across your forehead or eyes. Relax. Breathe easily

and deeply.

 

If a headache doesn't go away orit'sreally bad, you may want to take an

over-the-counter pain

reliever like acetaminophen or ibuprofen. You can buy these in drugstores under

various brand names — and your drugstore may carry its own generic brand. It's a

good idea to avoid taking aspirin for a headache because it may cause a rare but

dangerous disease called Reye syndrome.

If you are taking over-the-counter pain medications more than twice a week for

headaches, or if you find these medicines are not working for you, it's a sign

that you should talk to your doctor.

When to See a Doctor

If you think your headaches may be migraines, you'll want to see a doctor to

treat them and learn ways to try to avoid getting the headaches in the first

place. Sometimes relaxation exercises or changes in diet or sleeping habits are

all that's needed. But if necessary, a doctor also can prescribe medication to

control headaches.

 

It's very rare that headaches are a sign of something serious. But see a doctor

if you have headaches more than three times a month or have a headache that:

is particularly painful and different from the kinds of headaches you've had

before

doesn't go away easily

follows an injury, such as hitting your head

causes you to miss school

You'll also want to see a doctor if you have any of these symptoms in addition

to a headache:

changes in vision, such as blurriness or seeing spots

tingling sensations along with the headache (for example, tingling sensations in

the arms or legs)

skin rash

weakness, dizziness, or difficulty walking or standing

neck pain or stiffness

fever

If you do see a doctor for headaches, he or she will probably want to do a

physical examination and get your medical history to help figure out what might

be causing the headaches.

 

Sometimes family doctors will refer people with headaches they think might be

migraines or a symptom of a more serious problem to a specialist like a

neurologist (pronounced: nyoo-rah-lu-jist, a doctor who specializes in the brain

and nervous system).

 

The doctor may ask you about:

how severe and frequent your headaches are

when they happen (this helps decide if the headaches have a pattern or are

connected to any specific foods or events)

any medications you're taking

any allergies you may have

any stress you might be experiencing

your diet, habits, sleeping patterns, and what seems to help or worsen the

headaches

A doctor may also take blood tests or imaging tests, such as a CAT scan or MRI

of the brain, to rule out medical problems.

 

Most headaches are not a sign that something more is wrong. But if you are

bothered by frequent or intense headaches, there are lots of things a doctor can

do — from recommending changes in your diet to prescribing medication — so you

don’t have to put up with the pain!

 

Reviewed by: Michael H. Goodman, MD

Date reviewed: May 2006