Monday, February 6, 2012

Suffering From Constant Headaches - 3 Proven & Effective Ways For Relief

Are you suffering from constant headaches? Headaches are a common
ailment, but research has uncovered treatments that may help your
problem almost disappear.

According to the National Headache Foundation (NHF) tension
headaches affect nearly 78% of the adult population. 13% of the
population suffers from migraines. Because the causes of
migraines varies greatly, what relieves a migraine in one person
may trigger an attack in another. The suggestions here are
guidelines for those who suffer regularly from tension headaches
which may have an identifiable physical cause.

Migraine Relief Information

WATCH WHAT YOU EAT

Some headache sufferers notice a connection with eating or
drinking foods with aspartame. For those who are sensitive to the
chemical it may cause blood vessels to expand in the brain and
trigger a headache.

Caffeine is used to treat headaches. It's proprieties can assist
pain medication in providing relief and can be found in
medications to treat migraines. However, too much caffeine can
have a 'rebound' effect and actually cause headaches. If you
suffer from regular headaches you should avoid daily use of
caffeinated beverages such as coffee and certain sodas.

According to the McKinley Health Center, avoiding tobacco can
also reduce headaches.

Skipping meals may cause headaches in some people, so eating
regular meals may prevent headaches in these individuals.

REDUCE THE STRESS

Getting enough sleep is important for everyone. If you suffer
from tension headaches you may find getting your eight hours
every night reduces the amount or intensity of your headaches. On
the other hand, oversleeping can bring on a headache if you don't
get up at your regular time (such as on the weekend or during
holidays).

Some headaches also seem to be aggravated by too much sun.
Excessive exercise outdoors and lack of hydration can lead to
headaches. Keep eyes shaded and be sure to drink plenty of water
when outdoors.

Not surprisingly it was recently found that women wearing tight
ponytails had an increased risk of tension headaches. Releasing
or loosening the hair and performing a brief massage to the head
can bring almost immediate relief.

MEDICATE

What you may think is a sinus headache may actually be a
migraine. A consultation with your doctor may determine if you
should switch to a migraine medication.

According to the NHF, tension headaches caused by stress should
respond to reducing the stress or use of over-the-counter
analgesics. However, if headaches occur almost daily you need to
look for ways of dealing with the stress and discuss other
options with your doctor.

As with caffeine, regular daily use of over the counter
medications can actually cause headaches.

If headaches occur for long periods, are unusually intense or do
not respond to pain medication after several days you should seek
treatment and diagnosis from a health care professional.

Leading a healthy and active lifestyle has many health benefits,
including a reduction of tension-type headaches. Combining a
healthy lifestyle with avoidance of triggers may help you find
relief from tension-type headaches.

The information contained in this article is for educational purposes
only and is not intended to medically diagnose, treat or cure any
disease. Consult a health care practitioner before beginning any
health care program.

Suffering From Constant Headaches - 3 Proven & Effective Ways For Relief

Migraine Relief Information

Migraine Ocular - The Eye Migraines

Vascular headaches are also known as migraines. There are different types such as ocular migraines. Although the specific reason why migraine occurs has yet to be known, migraines are thought to be caused by the dilation and constriction of arteries in the brain. These headaches can start early in the morning and may be extremely painful. The pain is often limited to one side of the head and becomes more severe after about an hour or two. It may also gradually spread and may eventually be accompanied by nausea and vomiting.

A variation of migraine is the ocular migraine or opthalmoplegic migraine. It is believed to be caused by dilations and constrictions of arteries but the most affected ones are the ocular blood supply to the vision center of the brain. It is also believed to be due to nerve palsy or problems with the internal carotid artery. Although this condition is rare, it can still be extremely painful and is often accompanied by double vision and other types of visual disturbances, nausea and vomiting. Other symptoms include sensitivity to light, glare or haloes around lights, burning eyes, etc. In some extreme cases, the person experiencing ocular migraine can have a permanent neurologic deficit due to low blood flow and oxygen in the brain. However, most of the symptoms vary and depend on what triggered the migraine.

Migraine Relief Information

Some external factors are believed to be the start for the occurrence of migraine. Some primarily involve overtiredness. Ocular migraines typically occur after long periods of reading, watching television, using the computer work, and other activities that may stress the eyes. Food may also serve as external factors that bring on the onslaught of ocular migraine. These foods may include red wine, chocolate, milk, chicken livers, preserved meats foods prepared with monosodium glutamate and others. Biological factors can also be causes of migraines such as stress, alcohol consumption, hunger, or the use of oral contraceptives. It also includes serious body conditions such as sinus conditions, hypertension, allergies, tumors, angle-closure glaucoma and others.

Treatment for ocular migraine starts with a doctor. A doctor will routinely obtain a thorough and complete medical history. He will also perform a thorough physical exam to rule out several causes for ocular migraine such as systemic ones. Ophthalmologists often also play a role since they will be the ones to verify that no eye-related problems that are bringing on the ocular migraine.

In cases wherein a doctor is not easily accessible or is unavailable at the moment, stress relief, control of blood pressure, or medication to maintain may also help. Management of a migraine also includes avoiding any triggering factors, together with prophylactic or preventive treatment, if necessary. In some cases, it is best to rest in a quiet, darkened room until symptoms subside. Medications such as simple analgesic can be taken right away. These provides some immediate relief, but may not completely get rid of the migraine. Treatment options can be discussed with a doctor during check-up, especially in cases of acute migraine attacks.

Migraine Ocular - The Eye Migraines

Migraine Relief Information