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 Migraines 

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PAIN - a complex experience consisting of a physiological or bodily response to a noxious stimulus followed by an affective or emotional response to that event.

HEADACHES

Pain is a warning mechanism that helps to protect an organism by influencing it to withdraw from harmful stimuli; it is primarily associated with injury, or the threat of injury, to bodily tissues.

Because it has an affective as well as a sensory component, pain is subjective and difficult to quantify. Although the neuro-anatomic basis for pain reception develops in the foetus, individual pain responses are learned in early childhood and are affected by social, cultural, psychological, cognitive, and genetic factors, among others. This accounts for the apparent difference in pain tolerance among people. Athletes may be able to withstand or ignore pain while engaged in a sport, and certain religious practices require participants to endure pain that seems intolerable to most people. The perception of pain may be exacerbated by non physical factors such as anxiety, and some pain has no physical cause whatsoever.

An important function of pain is to alert the body to potential damage - nociception. The pain sensation, however, is only one part of the nociceptive response, which can include a rise in blood pressure, an increase in heart rate, and a reflexive withdrawal from the noxious stimulus. Acute pain can arise from breaking a bone or touching a hot surface. Two phases are perceived in acute pain: an immediate, intense feeling of short duration, sometimes described as a sharp, pricking sensation, followed by a dull, throbbing sensation. Chronic pain, which is often associated with pathological conditions such as cancer or arthritis, is more difficult to locate and treat. If pain cannot be alleviated, psychological factors such as depression and anxiety can intensify the condition, complicating an already challenging treatment situation.

There are various types of head pains that have been given titles. A Head ache can be just a pain in the head, but it can also be much more. Whilst many pains could be interrelated, they can be caused by a myriad of reasons. Try to consider what the reason might be, when you attempt to self-diagnose, and this might help you find a reason, and a cure for your pain.

Allergy Headaches

Caffeine Headaches

Chemical Induced Headaches

Cluster Headaches

Eye Stain Headaches

Exertion Headaches

Fasting Headaches

Glaucoma Headaches

Hangover Headaches

Hypertension Headaches

Menstrual Headaches

Migraine Headaches - Common

Migraine Headaches - Classic

Nicotine Headaches

Secondary Headaches

Sexual Headaches

Sinus Headaches

Tension Headaches

Allergy Headaches

Head pain over a large area, accompanied by nasal congestion, watery eyes and the feeling of an on-coming cold. Sometimes, if untreated, with Aspirin, Antihistamine,  or even desensitization drugs, can develop into cold-like symptoms. Triggered by seasonal allergens, such as pollen.

Caffeine Headaches

After drinking some beverages in excess , there can be a reaction to these self-induced recreation drugs, and give you a dull, though sometimes pounding headache. Caused by your blood vessels restricting in size, and raising your blood pressure.

Tacking too much caffeine, a stimulant found in coffee, tea, various colas, and some over-the-counter energy boosting drugs, can be good at the time, but could lead to an addiction. Taken on a regular basis, can initially aid your concentration, and alertness, but may also react against you.

In the USA and the UK, drinking regular and copious amounts of Coffee and Tea, has become habitual and additive, and it is hard for people to cut this drug / habit out, especially if it is on tap.

You may find that, if you cut down on your caffeine intake, or even go cold-turkey, you may start to feel much better after a short period of confusion. Drinking pure fresh water is ten-times better for you.

What is Caffeine, or Theine; C8H10O2N4, an alkaloid stimulant in tea-leaves and coffee beans. The substance in coffee and tea that acts as a stimulant. In its pure form it is white and crystalline.

Coffee - noun. A drink made from roasted and ground bean like seeds of a tropical shrub.

Chemical Induced Headaches

Whatever, you take orally will ultimately have an influence on how your body works, and the more you take the bigger the affect. Vascular Headaches - of vessels or veins that convey blood, tree-sap or other integral fluids, are caused by the swelling of these blood vessels in the head; accompanied by a burning sensation around the neck neck and shoulders.

Generally triggered by various compounds, and salt-like Nitrites - preservatives found in many processed meats. Also MSG - Monosodium Glutamate, another salt, commonly called the taste-powder, and used in Far Eastern cooking.

Reduce your salt intake, no matter what it is called. Salt, whilst an essential part of our diet, taking too much, is one of the biggest killers on the planet, mainly through increased blood-pressure. Try not to take salt, what you need is a minute amount, compared to what we all eat every day.

Cluster Headaches 

  -   Periorbital - Pain Around The Eye.

Cluster headaches are characterized by brief but sudden and severe aching around or behind the eye - periorbital, around the eye. Or pain on one side of the face. Men are afflicted more often than women with cluster headaches; they usually occur in persons between the ages of 20 and 60.

Attacks are sudden, with intense throbbing pain, sometimes accompanied by watering of the eyes, nasal congestion, or facial sweating. The pain usually does not persist more than two hours for each episode, but attacks may be daily, weekly, or monthly. Cluster headaches may be triggered by alcohol consumption or stress.

The affected person may not suffer any headaches for months or years before another patterned cluster of headaches arises.

Triggered by Alcohol and heavy smoking. Can be relieved by taking pure oxygen.

 

Eye Strain Headaches

This is head pains around the eyes, in the eyes, accompanied with eye fatigue, and blurred / double vision.

Caused generally by doing close-up intricate work, that overwork the eye muscles, that focus the eye-lens. Or not having spectacles when you need them. Not having sufficient light to work in; light actually aids the focal movement of your eyes, and less strain is required.

For relief, stop what you are doing and relax, preferably with eyes closed and using a cold compress. Take a pain-killer.

Exertion Headaches

Head pains after,  or during some physical exercise. Brought on by increased blood-pressure, through unfitness, age or both. Tumors or blood vessel problems can cause around 15% of these bouts of pain. Take a pain-killer and rest. If in any doubt go and see your doctor.

 

Fasting Headaches

A dull pounding pain, usually inside the forehead; around the eyes. This is caused by vascular pressure through not eating, bringing on the increase of fatty-acids, and a low sugar levels in the blood.

Eat something sensible and take a mild pain-killer. Plan your diet better, eat smaller meals more often.

Glaucoma Headaches

Bad headaches, with the sensation that your eyes feel unhealthy and worn out and that they want to pop. Accompanied with various vision problems. See an eye-doctor as soon as possible, at least go for an eye-test with a reputable organization.  Glaucoma problems can lead to blindness.

A hangover or deferred alcohol induced headache describes the horrible physiological effects following the heavy consumption of alcoholic beverages. The most commonly reported characteristics of a hangover include headache, nausea, sensitivity to light and noise, lethargy, dysphoria, diarrhoea and thirst, typically after the intoxicating effects of the alcohol begin to wear off. Whilst a hangover can be experienced at any time, generally it is experienced the morning after a night of heavy drinking. In addition to the physical symptoms, a hangover may also induce psychological symptoms including heightened feelings of depression and anxiety.

 

An alcohol hangover is associated with a variety of symptoms that may include dehydration, fatigue, headache, body aches, vomiting, diarrhoea, flatulence, weakness, elevated body temperature, hyper salivation, difficulty concentrating, sweating, anxiety, dysphoria, irritability, sensitivity to light and noise, erratic motor functions (including tremor), trouble sleeping, severe hunger, halitosis, and lack of depth perception. Many people will also be repulsed by the thought, taste or smell of alcohol during a hangover. The symptoms vary from person to person, and occasion to occasion, usually beginning several hours after drinking. It is not clear whether hangovers directly affect cognitive abilities.

 

Hangover Headaches

Everyone has had one at one time, especially after a good night out. A Hangover, may be the nearest you may get to a full-blown Migraine attack; with the symptoms of a relentless throbbing pain, and sickness nausea.

Caused through the dilation of the blood vessels of the brain.

Go easy on the booze, even though some of us only need to have just one glass. Try not to mix your drinks; that is, either drink, wine, spirits or beer.

Bad heads are generally down to dehydration as the body copes with pumping around some thick glutinous jell, that used to be blood the night before. Drink plenty of pure water, and sip some warm soup.

Beware of loss of memory that sometimes goes with this pain.

 

Hypertension Headaches

It can be a dull pounding pain that is mainly felt around the head where the rim of a hat would be. Most headaches, it would seem are to do with your blood pressure. This particular headache is attributed to it solely. High blood pressure, say over 200 / 110, especially  a heaviness that has risen quickly, can cause this pain.

See your doctor if this occurs more than you would like, as it may be the sign of something much worse. He may describe tablets to keep your blood pressure under control, but then even this is not truly the answer. Look at your life-style whilst you still have life.

Think about your blood pressure. Think about your blood flowing through your body, and consider that it might be under a pressure that is too high for anyone's general well-being. Think about your arteries clogged with years of eating crap. Think about it like the steam in a steam-engine, so high it is about to blow, and then consider that you should now do something about it.

Try to relax more, tell your body that you are OK and the stress is OK in your life as you can handle it. Think your blood-pressure down. Lie in a darkened cool room and think chill. take deep breaths. Gently stretch your arms, legs and body. Stretch out and hold it for ten seconds.

Avoid animal fats cut down on salts. Introduce Rapeseed Oil into your diet, as it is probably the healthiest food on the planet. Eat more fruit especially bananas and apples.

 

Menstrual Headaches

These can be a migraine type of pain that happens even during menopause but generally before, during or after menstruation. It can even happen when a woman ovulates.

This is mainly due to sudden changes in hormone levels, like estrogens. And is made worse by being too fat and over-eating, combined with taking too much salt.

Taking a mild pain-killer, may help but do not be led into relying on these throughout your life as you may become dependant on them. Lie in a darkened cool room and think chill. take deep breaths. Gently stretch your arms, legs and body. Stretch out and hold it for ten seconds.

Migraine Headaches - Common

Migraine is the granddaddy of headaches. Really bad unrelenting Migraines have caused people to kill themselves. The Common Migraine is usually quite severe, always with a violent throbbing pain that ticks in time to your heart. Generally it only attacks one particular side of the brain, and does eventually subside, leaving you with something like a Tension Headache.

Migraines, are still an enigma, and we do not not know why they happen, but it believed, as is the trend that they are triggered by things you eat, like cheeses, chocolate, alcohol, especially red wine or nuts. Also taking too much salt.

It can be brought on by a myriad of things, and may not be a migraine but just a severe headache. Only if it is regular and does react to the things above, can you call it a migraine.

All you can do is go into a dark cool room, and meditate about it not being there. Use ice-packs on your head, sip iced water, take a pain-killer but be careful as it might be these drugs that are giving you the headache.

Learn what triggers you off and do not take them.

See your doctor.

Migraine Headaches - Classic

This is basically the same as the common migraine but with other problems. Other symptoms, such as numbness in parts of the body, seeing blind-spots, having strange lights go across your vision, nervous disorders, mood-swings, anything that is out of the norm.

This maybe triggered by the same things as the common migraine, or it might be something else, like a tumor.

See your doctor as soon as possible if these persist, though it is said that migraine does subside as you get older.

Nicotine Headaches

After smoking in excess , there can be a reaction to this self-induced recreation drug, and give you a dull, though sometimes pounding headache. Caused by your blood vessels restricting in size, and raising your blood pressure.

Taking too much nicotine, can be good at the time, but could lead to an addiction; a smoker then has to smoke to feel normal, when they believe that the cigarette is helping them.

In the USA and the UK, taking regular and copious amounts of nicotine, has become habitual and additive, and it is hard for people to cut this drug / habit out.

You may find that, if you cut down on your nicotine intake, or even go cold-turkey, you may start to feel much better after a short period of confusion. Drinking pure fresh water is ten-times better for you.

What is Nicotine - an organic compound that is the principal alkaloid of tobacco. An alkaloid is one of a group of nitrogenous organic compounds that have marked physiological effects on humans. Nicotine occurs throughout the tobacco plant and especially in the leaves. The compound constitutes about 5 percent of the plant by weight. Both the tobacco plant - Nicotiana tabacum, and the compound are named for Jean Nicot, a French ambassador to Portugal, who sent tobacco seeds to Paris in 1550.

Try to stop your kids from smoking too early.

Crude nicotine was known by 1571, and the compound was obtained in purified form in 1828; the correct molecular formula was established in 1843, and the first laboratory synthesis was reported in 1904. Nicotine is one of the few liquid alkaloids. In its pure state it is a colourless, odourless liquid with an oily consistency, but when exposed to light or air, it acquires a brown colour and gives off a strong odour of tobacco. Nicotine's chemical formula is C10H14N2.

Nicotine is the chief addictive ingredient in the tobacco used in cigarettes, cigars, and snuff. In its psychoactive effects, nicotine is a unique substance with a biphasic effect; when inhaled in short puffs it has a stimulant effect, but when smoked in deep drags it can have a tranquilizing effect. This is why smoking can feel invigorating at some times and can seem to block stressful stimuli at others. Nicotine is also an addictive drug, though, and smokers characteristically display a strong tendency to relapse after having successfully stopped smoking for a time. When ingested in larger doses, nicotine is a highly toxic poison that causes vomiting and nausea, headaches, stomach pains, and, in severe cases, convulsions, paralysis, and death.

Nicotine is commercially obtained from tobacco scraps and is used as an insecticide and as a veterinary vermifuge. Nitric acid or other oxidizing agents convert it to nicotinic acid, or niacin, which is used as a food supplement.

Secondary Headaches

Maybe the most common reason overall, even though it might be the least considered pain, that we can get. This is what is says, generally a follow on from another incident, injury or bout of symptoms. Especially anything that may affect nerves or nerve-endings. Like a whiplash injury or a bad back, having a bad tooth or some muscular / skeletal pain.

Sexual Headaches

These can be sharp and on one side of the head, brought about by the thought of having intercourse, during and after. Can be induced by many things, like anxiety or nervousness about many aspects of this enjoyable, but trying event. It can be caused by the sudden increase in physical activity, breathing and the raising of your blood pressure.

As you get older, and more used to this act, you should get over the stress of all that it can entail. Having an experienced partner might help, but do not be coerced into anything you are not sure about.

If the pain persists, see your doctor.

But also sometimes you can get a headache after sex.

Sinus Headaches

A persistent tight pain over the nasal areas, which can get worse as the day goes by. A typical symptom when you have a cold.

See your druggist / chemist, and if too bad, your doctor.

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Tension Headaches

The most common cause of headaches, that can cover the whole head, especially on the sides.. Just a dull ache, without the pounding; aches that can spread below the head.

Stress will trigger this, especially long term stress. You may not even though you have it, as you will get used to it and accept that it is the way you feel.

Short term, anxiety and feelings of strong emotion can bring this on. Along with external feeling that may not be usual to you, such as guilt, anger, grief, a pain coming from elsewhere, a stuffy room, or a bad smell you cannot get away from.

Try to rest, in a dark room, and forget what is causing the problem. Take a mild pain-killer, and see a doctor if it reoccurs persistently.

Most people suffer from headaches occasionally, but for some they can seriously affect their quality of life and may even be a sign of a more serious health problem.

Drug treatments for headaches