Sunday, 30 March 2014

Migraine Headache Relief - Learn to Stop the Pain For Good

Permanent migraine headaches relief involves more than just taking medications. Medication is only meant as a short-term solution for when your symptoms become too intolerable.
But putting an end to these painful and disabling headaches can be accomplished. But it will take some persistent effort and a willingness to listen the signals your body is giving you.
Migraine Headaches Relief - Treatment
IDENTIFY TRIGGERS
Learning to identify your triggers is by far the most important step in learning to live a life free of the pain of migraines. Too many people find this task too daunting and head back to their doctor for relief.
The doctor's answer is always more medication and then the sufferer is back in the cycle of rebound headaches. The usefulness of medication for migraine headaches lies in its ability to abort migraine headaches IN PROGRESS. But this needs to be used sparingly and with more than a fair share of caution.
If you are banking on drugs to be your principal treatment for migraine headaches relief, you are setting yourself up for endless migraines.
Doctor prescribed and over-the-counter medications, if used more than a few times a month, will hurl you smack dab in the middle of a horrible cycle of rebound headaches that may be very hard to free yourself from. Many people who are reading this article right now may be suffering from rebound headaches without even being aware of it.
Don't get too stressed out if this is the case.
This treatment for migraine headaches relief will safely take you out of that cycle.
You MUST identify your migraine headache triggers before embarking on any effective treatment for migraine headaches relief.
Of course, this is easier to say than it is to actually do it.
This is precisely why so many migraine sufferers have such a difficult time finding an effective treatment for migraine headaches relief.
You need to write a list of all of your possible migraine headache triggers and eliminate them ALL at once.
I know, this is a very difficult task.
Some of the possible triggers you may find hard to live without. But, here's the good news: you don't have to live without all of these potential triggers forever.
As soon as you are CERTAIN that a particular potential trigger is not an ACTUAL trigger, you can add it back it into your life. You can slowly start adding items back into your life using this method.
But, before anything, you MUST ELIMINATE ALL OF THEM - at once. This is the only way you can begin a treatment for migraine headaches relief that is going to be truly effective.
WHY DO ALL THE POTENTIAL TRIGGERS NEED TO BE CUT OUT AT ONCE?
The answer to this question is that if you don't cut out all the triggers at once, there is a great likelihood you will leave out some of the triggers.
This will mean more migraine headaches, and it's very likely you will abandon the migraine headache treatment thinking it completely failed.
The reason I say this is because this was my experience for over 10 years.

Resolving the Mystery of the Migraine Headaches

About Migraines
A migraine is a severe headache that tends to recur with symptoms like nausea and vomiting. The pain is usually on one side of the head and there is an added sensitivity to bright lights and noises. Moving around can make the headaches feel worse. Although, there are many forms of migraine headaches, classic and common are the two major varieties. People with migraines are called migraineurs. About 15% of the population is affected by migraines. Three times more women than men are affected. Over 80% of migraineurs have family members who are regularly afflicted with migraines. Prominently migraines are of three types. They are:
Migraine without aura (common migraine): Accounting for 80% of all migraine headaches, no aura is seen before this common migraine affects an individual.
Migraine with aura (classic migraine): Usually preceded by an aura, this type of migraine is generally much worse than a common migraine. Usually, an aura is said to be a visual disturbance, that is, outlines of lights or jagged light images.
Status migrainosus: Generally, a long-lasting migraine, it does not go away by itself.
Causes of Migraine headaches
The medical fraternity thinks that the migraines are caused by a chemical or electrical problem in certain parts of the brain. A key element of a migraine headache is blood flow change in the brain. According to hypothesis, the nervous system responds to a trigger such as stress by creating spasms in the nerve-rich arteries at the base of the brain. The spasms constrict several arteries supplying blood to the brain, including arteries from the scalp and the neck. As these arteries tighten, the flow of blood to the brain is reduced. At the same time, platelets clump together and release a chemical called serotonin which also acts as a powerful constrictor of arteries. This further reduces blood and oxygen supply to the brain. In reaction to this, some arteries in the brain expand to meet the brain's energy needs. This dilation is believed to cause migraine headaches. Because, migraine headaches tend to run in families, it can be assumed that genetic factors may also contribute to a person's susceptibility to migraines.
Headache triggers can be things that are eaten, smelt, heard or seen. They are:
o Stress and time pressure, major hassles and losses, anger and conflict
o Smells and fumes, tobacco smoke, light glare or dazzle and weather changes
o Monthly periods, birth control pills, estrogen therapy and too much, too little or interrupted sleep
o Hunger, fasting and specific foods or beverages
o Excessive activity
o Certain medications
Certain foods that might trigger a migraine:
o Aged Cheese
o Bananas, figs and raisins
o Beer, wine and hard liquor
o Caffeine as well as caffeine withdrawal and chocolates
o Dairy products such as ice cream, milk, yogurt, cheese, whipped cream and sour cream
o Fermented and pickled foods
o Monosodium glutamate (MSG), seasoned salt, canned soups, TV dinners, processed meats, and some processed nuts and snack chips
o Most citrus fruits like oranges, grapefruit and lemons
o Nuts and peanuts
o Onions
o Pea pods or lima beans
o Processed meats, deli sandwich meats, hotdogs and other nitrite-containing meats
o Saccharin or aspartame in diet foods or diet sodas and drinks
o Sulfites in shrimp and processed potatoes, like boxed mashed potato mix
o Yeast-containing products, such as fresh breads and donuts
Medicines that might trigger a migraine headache are:
o Cimetidine (brand name: Tagamet)
o Estrogens (including birth control pills)
o Fenfluramine (brand name: Pondimin)
o Indomethacin (brand name: Indocin)
o Nifedipine (brand name: Adalat, Procardia)
o Nitroglycerin (brand name: Nitrostat)
o Pain killers (either overuse or withdrawal from them)
o Reserpine containing medicines (brand names: Ser-ap-Es, Hydropres, Regroton)
o Theophylline (brand name: TheoDur, Theo-24)
Migraine Guide
Having ridden the migraine train on several occasions, you may have an aura the acts like a warning whistle of the approaching headache. The pain builds slowly and steadily until you are in no position to tolerate the bright light and loud noises. You may even feel nauseated or end up vomitting. Lying down in a dark, quiet room is the only means that will help you ride it out.
While scientists still debate the exact mechanisms in the brain that cause migraines, there progress has helped them find treatment medications that may either be taken as soon as a migraine comes on or taken on a daily basis to help prevent migraines.
This guide will help you weigh the pros and cons of a variety of treatments, to help determine the best course of action for your migraine.
Although, much can be done to prevent the onset of migraines like avoid triggers, exercise regularly and keep stress under control - most people with migraines will need medication. Providentially, medication options for migraines have expanded greatly in the last decade which helps keep migraine disruption to a minimum.

Migraine Headaches - Why You Should Ignore Them

I'm guessing that if you've read this far, you're either hopping mad, totally confused, or very curious. After all, how on earth can I suggest that you ignore the horrible disabling pain of a migraine attack? Am I one of these people that think that if you just ignore the pain, it will go away?
Rest assured, I'm not going to suggest that your migraine headache is imaginary. Migraine is, after all, a real disease. As research has progressed, we've been able to see that the brain of someone with migraine is actually different. There is a growing consensus that migraine is at least partially genetic.No, migraine is real, and your headache is not going to vanish just because you want it to.But I do really believe that a lot of people are missing out on the treatment they really need because they're paying too much attention to their migraine headaches. Doctors are doing the same thing. The prescribe painkillers, tell you to use an ice pack and call them in the morning.The problem is, migraine disease and migraine headache are two very different things.
Yes, headache is one possible symptom of migraine. But there are many people who have migraine attacks with no headache at all. Migraine is a disease that goes far beyond a bad headache.Treating the headache in someone with migraine is kind of like trying to kill a weed by pulling off a leaf. Sure, it might help, but it's not getting to the root of the problem.People with migraine will tell you that painkillers may, at best, dull a bit of the pain. Sometimes that's what you need. But far better to get to the root of the problem. To stop the migraine chain reaction before it even gets to the headache phase.Now you see what I'm getting at, don't you? When doctors (or patients, for that matter) treat migraine like just another headache (a bad one, but still just a headache), they're missing the point. Not only will you get poorer treatment with this attitude, it could actually make matters worse. Many patients have been prescribed painkillers so many times that their bodies get used to them. They may stop being effective - they may even start to cause more headache symptoms!Studies have suggested that there are many, many people with migraine who aren't properly diagnosed in the first place. When they are diagnosed, they are still far too often given drugs designed to mask pain, instead of treatment (drugs or other treatment) designed to halt the migraine attack itself.
A migraine study in 2006 found that 20% of migraine sufferers were given migraine-specific triptan drugs (an abortive drug for migraine), but over 50% were given narcotics and opioid analgesics! These are drugs that may temporarily mask the pain, but they are a long way from a solution, and may make matters worse.Don't get me wrong. If you have the pain of a migraine headache, you want to get rid of the pain. But if you're getting migraine attacks on a regular basis, you don't need a temporary solution. You need to get rid of the whole migraine attack, and if possible stop it from starting.There are many, many options out there. Don't let your doctor keep you in the dark - find out about the many treatments, medications, supplements and lifestyle changes that can fight migraine disease. You deserve better than the old fashioned "take two aspirin" approach.The best way to get rid of migraine headache pain is by ignoring the migraine headache and attacking the root of the problem. Find a specialist that won't give up on you, and you'll be helping yourself and others that come after you.

Causes Of Migraine Headaches

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Headaches in any form are very unspeakable to the sufferer. Some headaches like migraines can cause more problems than just a headache. These problems could be nausea, light sensitivity and a throbbing pain in the head. Sometimes the headache pain is felt on one side of the head.
At others you can feel the hurting on both sides of your head. The factual causes of migraine headaches has not been found as of yet.There are a few theories as to why we experience migraine headaches. The most common possibility is that a change in the blood flow within the brain is one of the trip causes of migraine headaches. The other theory about migraine headache is thought to be a pain sensing nerve releasing chemicals named neuropathies. Many medical checkup professionals speculate that the neuropathies relaxes the smooth muscle that surrounds the cranial blood vessels.
This rest causes the blood vessels to dilate or get constricted. This blood vessel relaxation increases the flow of blood and other cranial fluid to the brain.
These fluids are thought to be the causes of migraine headaches. These cranial fluids cause inflammation, painfulness sensitivity, weave and blood vessel swelling during the time of migraine headaches. Some people think that the aura that is seen during a migraine headache is caused by the constriction of blood vessels that became dilated during the beginning phase of migraine headaches. Another possibility as to the causes of migraine headaches has been linked to genetics and inheritance.
These theories state that a child of migraine sufferers will have a 50% chance of acquiring migraine headaches. The chances go even greater of inheriting migraine headaches if both parents are known to sustain from this afflictive headache.Should both parents be known to have frequent migraine headaches the chances of the child inheriting migraine headache symptoms is about 70%.
Now even though some professionals think that inheritance plays a large part in migraine headaches the genes that may be wise as the causes of migraine headaches have not been identified or even isolated.
When we begin to experience migraine headaches the only word of advice signs that we may receive are a throbbing hurting in the temple area and light nausea. As the migraine symptoms pass on the pain of the headaches become much worse.
Unfortunately since the causes of migraine headaches [http://www.causes-of-headache-treatment.com/Causes-Of-Migraine-Headaches.php] have not been found and we don’t know what can trip these attacks, the medications to address these headaches have not been developed.

Who Can Benefit From The Wurn Technique?

Wurn technique is a form of bodywork that specializes in abdominal disorders, infertility, relaxation, and in the relief of body pain. This technique sets its focus and goal in taking care of adhesions that are present all over the body of a client.
The benefits of the technique were first experienced by the Wurn family. Larry and Brenda Wurn are both educated in massage therapy and physical therapy respectively. However, due to the wife's physical problems due to surgeries after surgeries and pelvic radiation, Larry Wurn began to develop natural methods using massage therapy in order to heal and correct the disorders of his wife.
The question of who can benefit from this wonderful technique can be answered with many good answers. Although the technique was developed for the treatment of problems among women, almost anyone can enjoy the therapy especially as a form of relaxation. The female population is usually the client in a Wurn therapy session due to the issues relating to infertility. The problem with fertility is fast becoming a major problem in our societies today due to many factors affecting the conception of a child. Stress, tension, fatigue, accidents and other causes can contribute to the reduced chance of conceiving children among couples. Women are prone to this condition due to the fact that the uterus plays an important role in conception. Any problem in the uterus such as tilted or displaced uterus, poor blood, lymph, and oxygen circulation, problems in the pelvic region, and other conditions in that area can add up to the burden of being able to have children.
Aside from women with fertility issues, mothers can even enjoy the Wurn technique as the methods used in this therapy can help condition the body of a woman. The gentle massage performed on the abdomen and internal organs are vital in providing a good overall condition. The deep massage is conducted as a site-specific therapy that works better in addressing problems in specific areas of the body. This process gives faster results and significant benefits with every session.
Men can also enjoy the benefits and wonderful effects that they can attain from having this therapy in their medical care. It is effective for the prevention of early stage of prostate cancer, and other reproductive diseases and disorders. It can also be enjoyed as a form of relaxing therapy.
Anybody who is suffering from body pains can benefit and gain comfort from the Wurn technique. The therapy is created as a countermeasure against adhesions that can damage any part of the body. These small formations in the tissues can cause massive damage to the body when left untreated. These may result to neck, back, and hip pain, headaches and migraines, painful experience during sexual intercourse among women, digestion disorders, menstrual problems, loose bowels, and other conditions.

Headaches and Migraines - A Pain Relieving Guide For Prevention and Cure

If there is one malady that has affected almost every human - it's a headache. Commonly, a headache is a general term for any pain felt in the head. This pain usually arises due to a combination of factors and therefore, it is essential that one understands these factors before looking for a cure. Understanding the origins of a headache or migraine can usually help one in curing and preventing them till a certain extent.
Broadly speaking, there are four categories of headaches -
1.    Myogenic - Muscular headache which arises due to strain and tension in muscles.
2.    Vascular - These are caused due to an unbalanced blood flow near the head or brain. Fever headaches and migraines are common vascular headaches.
3.    Inflammatory - These headaches usually result in a swelling of the head and are caused by allergies such as common cold, flu, etc.
4.    Traction - Such headaches are rare as they are caused when nerve fibres are pulled or stretched. Brain tumours, cysts, aneurysms, etc are common reasons for traction headaches and surgery is necessary for effective treatment.
 
Migraines - A severe type of Headache
Migraines are a mysterious class of headaches and science advocates a large number of different factors which usually lead to one. A migraine typically consists of other problems such as extreme sensitivity to light or sound (or both), blurry vision, nausea and general bodily discomfort. Though the exact cause of Migraine headaches is still not clear, the general consensus is that they are caused by chemical imbalances in the brain. However, there are several other factors too which lead to migraine problems such as -
·         Dietary, Hormonal or medicinal factors - Irregular eating patterns, certain citrus foods, cheese and even chocolate have been noted to trigger migraine symptoms in sensitive people. Certain people experience such headaches when they are undergoing hormonal changes or when certain medicines react to their natural body processes.
·         Lifestyle or Environmental factors - Watching too much television, listening to loud music consistently, change of place or weather, etc can also lead to severe migraine problems.
 
Cure for Headaches and Migraine
 
There are plenty of cures available today that can effectively treat all kinds of headaches (over 200!) and even Migraines. These treatments come in the form of natural therapies such as oil massages, acupuncture techniques and various stress-busting exercises or prescription drugs that are sold over-the-counter. Medicinal pills work best if the pain is mild and not frequent as they provide quick relief.
However, relying on tablets for recurring headaches can be dangerous as they can alleviate strong side-effects. In such cases, relying on natural therapy is advisable as they help in bringing a positive change to one's lifestyle in the long run. Acupuncture is a popular remedy for common headache and migraine issues. It is believed that certain points in the body such as the temple are known for controlling headaches and migraines. Calming these points can instantly cure them.
Nevertheless, if a headache is deep-rooted, it is sensible to consult one's personal physician because sometimes, even the most minor symptoms are indicative of major interior issues.

Monday, 17 March 2014

Look to Neck Problems As the Source of Most Headaches & Migraines

Most of us have experienced a headache at least once in our lives. But for tens of millions of Americans, headache and migraine pain is a part of their daily lives. It is such a widespread problem that billions of dollars each year are spent in research and prescription drug sales (all in an attempt to try to help people get out of pain and get their lives back).
But despite all of the work and money being thrown at the problem, the bottom line is that pharmaceuticals (be it over the counter or prescription strength medications) do not cure the root cause of headaches & migraines. They merely mask symptoms offering temporary relief.
Current biomechanical research has found a common thread with most headache sufferers. This commonality is that those people who experience ongoing headaches and/or migraines have problems in the cervical (neck) part of their spine. The cervical spine has seven vertebrae (the bones which surround and provide some protection to the spinal cord). The vertebrae are moveable and can twist, bend, flex and extend. This motion allows us to move our necks with a considerable amount of freedom.
The mobility of the cervical vertebrae comes with a price. Sometimes the vertebrae can get suck out of alignment (in relation to the other bones). When this happens, it is called a "subluxation". "Sub" means less than. "Luxation" means dislocation. So a subluxation is an abnormal position of a bone, but not so much so that it's dislocated. Vertebral subluxations can occur with as little as one degree of misalignment. They can also occur when the vertebrae is suck, and isn't able to move correctly. Instead of the joints gliding on each other freely, they feel like a rusty old hinge that needs a squirt of WD-40.
When vertebrae become subluxated, it sends off a cascade of abnormal sensory signals to the brain. At first, the problem is at a sub-perception level (meaning you can't feel it). But after enough time passes, the abnormal sensory signals to the brain grows in intensity, and eventually is perceived as pain.
So how does this have anything to do with headaches an migraines? The nerves which branch up into the head stem from the cervical spine. When you irritate a cervical spinal nerve (which travels to the head), it eventually is perceived as a headache. The source of the problem is a hard bone pressing on a soft nerve - all in the neck area.
When a chiropractor adjusts the cervical spine, he gently re-aligns the cervical vertebrae, taking pressure off the nerves. If those nerves happen to be the ones which travel up into the head, the result is elimination of headaches & migraines. The results can often be fast and surprisingly powerful.

When to Call the Doctor About Your Child's Headache Migraine

Most parents are well aware that children get headaches, in fact, studies have shown that more than 90% of school aged children get some type of headache.  In most cases these are nothing to be worried about, and a little aspirin or similar type of medications is all that is needed for treatment.  However, there are times when headaches in children are more severe and it is important for parents to know when to call the doctor about your child's headache migraine.
How Common Are Child Migraines?
While most parents are aware that kids get headaches, what they might not know is that a migraine headache in children is more common than most people realize.  It is estimate that somewhere between 4% and 10% of children experience a child headache migraine, and research has shown that approaching 6% of the population has at least on migraine attack before the age of 15.  Many adults with headaches started having their headaches as children, with 20% reporting the onset before age 10.
Knowing whether a baby gets a migraine is obviously difficult, but there is some evidence gathered from parents of older children diagnosed with migraines that remember the same pattern of behavior in the children during a migraine attack when the child was younger.  This research suggests that infants as early as 4 months might experience a child migraine headache.  So all of this research suggests that migraines in children are similar to the statistics of the adult population.  Children are also susceptible to the same types of headaches as adults, and migraine headaches, tension-type headaches, and cluster headaches are all documented as possible childhood headaches.
The impact of a child headache migraine on the lives of adolescents can be as dramatic as it is for an adult, and may impeded their participation in school or interfere with their participation in after school activities.  For these reasons you will want to address these issues as soon as possible and seeking proper treatment.
When to call the doctor?
So, how does a parent know when to call the doctor about their child's headache migraine?  This article presents some general guidelines you can use that are recommended by medical professionals.  Always err on the side of caution and when in doubt call your family pediatric doctor for their recommendations.
If a childs headache symptom continues for more than a couple of hours you should consult your family doctor.  Also if your child complains of severe pain or any other unusual symptoms it is best to call your physician immediately.  You should also call your doctor if your child's migraine symptoms include any of the following: Occur at least once a month Headaches that wake a child from sleep. Keep him or her out of school
  •      Personality changes.
  •      Follow an injury, such as a blow to the head
  •      Worsening or more frequent headaches.
  •      Complaints that "this is the worst headache I've ever had!"
  •      The headache is different than previous headaches.
  •      Feature persistent nausea, vomiting or visual changes
  •      Are accompanied by fever, along with neck pain or stiffness
Knowing the type of headache is important for an accurate diagnosis.  To this end your doctor will ask for some basic information to help them determine the type of headache and the proper course of treatment.  Your family doctor will ask you to describe your child migraine symptoms in detail to try and determine if there is a pattern or specific triggers.  It is advisable for the parent to keep a headache diary of each episode to assist you and your doctor with a proper diagnose.
A headache diary will describe the symptoms of your child headache migraine, when it occurred, the specific symptoms shown, how long it lasted, whether there was an aura element, and any causes or triggers that you might have identified.  This information will prove very valuable for a proper diagnosis.  Your can find examples of headache diaries online that are free to download.

Chronic Headache Migraine - Preventative Ways to Keep Them From Happening

hronic headache migraine is just no fun at all. If you suffer from migraines, there is bad news and good news.
The bad news is that there is no cure for migraines. Despite what you may have seen on TV or heard on some radio infomercial, migraines just cannot be cured.
The good news is that in some cases you can head them off (preventative treatments) or at least modify their severity (abortive treatments).
Foods that can trigger migraines
The first form of preventative treatment is to cut out foods that can trigger headaches such as those that contain tyramines, nitrites or monosodium glutamate.
In fact, one fourth of headache sufferers say that certain foods trigger their head pain. This is because many foods contain substances that can provoke the release of the neurotransmitters implicated in causing headaches.
Food with tyramines
Headaches can be triggered by foods containing the substance tyramine, which is a member of the amines group of organic chemical compounds. As such, it may influence the release of the neurotransmitter serotonin - which, in turn, can trigger a headache. Common foods that contain tyramine include:
Chocolate
Aged cheese
Vinegar (relish, salad dressings, sauces, catsup)
Organ meats (kidney liver)
Alcohol (especially red wine)
Sour Cream
Soy sauce
Yogurt
Yeast extracts
Food with nitrites
Headaches can also be triggered by foods containing nitrates as preservatives. It is estimated that in the United States there are 12,000,000,000 pounds of nitrite currently used to give meats a pink color and enhance their taste. Foods containing nitrite include:
Smoked fish
Corned beef
Bologna
Pastrami
Pepperoni
Canned ham
That old devil, monosodium glutamate
Monosodium glutamate (commonly called MSG) may also cause headache pain. It is a flavor enhancer that is often sold under the trade name Accent. An estimated 20,000 tons of monosodium glutamate are used yearly to add flavoring to foods.
Preventative medications
NSAIDs. NSAIDS are most often used in preventative treatment of those who suffer from chronic migraine. Typical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin and others) or aspirin can help relieve mild migraines. There are also drugs in this family marketed specifically for migraine headaches. These are typically a combination of acetaminophen, aspirin and caffeine. One example of a combination drug sold over-the-counter is Excedrin Migraine.
Prescription medications
The Food and Drug Administration have approved a number of prescription drugs for use in preventing migraines. This includes cardiovascular drugs, antidepressants and alpha blockers.
The most popular of the cardiovascular drugs used to prevent migraine headaches are Inderal, Depakote and Sansert. Some migraine sufferers have also found they can prevent the onset of headaches with calcium channel blockers such a Verapamil, Wellbutrin and Nimotop.
Tricyclic antidepressants
Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) do have an anti-migraine effect, but are not usually considered to be the first choice in preventing migraines. However, they may be of help to some migraine sufferers, especially those who have both migraine and tension-type headaches. The antidepressants used most often in the treatment of migraines are Elavil, Sinequan, Vivactil. Norpramin and such SSRIs (Serotonin Update Inhibitors) as Prozak, Xoloft and Paxil.

What is the Cause of a Headache Migraine? - Find Out Here!

Headache in a migraine is simply worse than just being a simple headache.

I have been suffering from migraine headache attacks from as long as I can remember, and I think I have had migraine headaches regularly at least once a month, which usually used to last for a few days, even sometimes a week when I suffered the most.

If you have migraine then you surely would be aware of the kind of severity its headache can unleash on your head, which can simply cause all the activity in your life to come to a halt.

But have you ever wondered what the cause headache migraine is? Although the actual cause headache migraine is not clearly understood by science, but it is clearly recognized as a neural syndrome.

The Cause

Certain nerve cells with some extraordinary and activity could cause certain blood vessels to constrict and dilate successively, which causes a disturbance, further aggravated by the release of certain materials like serotonin and prostaglandins, which can cause headache migraine.

But I can easily recall how stress can add to your pain. In fact for a person suffering from migraine, nothing can cause headache migraine like the emotional stress. The pain is also increased or initiated by certain sensory perceptions. Those who suffer from migraines become very sensitive to bright light, sounds and smells, and become very irritable.

My migraine headache kills me when I go out in the sun, which can be very difficult as you need to do it every day to move around and most importantly, to get to work. Certain perfumes also cause headache migraine. If you are suffering from migraine headaches as well, then the best way to control and prevent them is to learn about what can cause them to occur.

What you Can Do Now To Prevent Migraines From happening Ever Again!

Want to learn more about migraines and how to deal with them? Pick Up This Free Migraine Relief Mini Course.

What People don't want you to know is that there are many natural methods out there which will work much better than medicine and surgery combined. See Migraine Relief Solution a super guide which will give you back the life you deserve using only natural methods.

Headaches and Migraines - A Pain Relieving Guide For Prevention and Cure

If there is one malady that has affected almost every human - it's a headache. Commonly, a headache is a general term for any pain felt in the head. This pain usually arises due to a combination of factors and therefore, it is essential that one understands these factors before looking for a cure. Understanding the origins of a headache or migraine can usually help one in curing and preventing them till a certain extent.
Broadly speaking, there are four categories of headaches -
1.    Myogenic - Muscular headache which arises due to strain and tension in muscles.
2.    Vascular - These are caused due to an unbalanced blood flow near the head or brain. Fever headaches and migraines are common vascular headaches.
3.    Inflammatory - These headaches usually result in a swelling of the head and are caused by allergies such as common cold, flu, etc.
4.    Traction - Such headaches are rare as they are caused when nerve fibres are pulled or stretched. Brain tumours, cysts, aneurysms, etc are common reasons for traction headaches and surgery is necessary for effective treatment.
 
Migraines - A severe type of Headache
Migraines are a mysterious class of headaches and science advocates a large number of different factors which usually lead to one. A migraine typically consists of other problems such as extreme sensitivity to light or sound (or both), blurry vision, nausea and general bodily discomfort. Though the exact cause of Migraine headaches is still not clear, the general consensus is that they are caused by chemical imbalances in the brain. However, there are several other factors too which lead to migraine problems such as -
·         Dietary, Hormonal or medicinal factors - Irregular eating patterns, certain citrus foods, cheese and even chocolate have been noted to trigger migraine symptoms in sensitive people. Certain people experience such headaches when they are undergoing hormonal changes or when certain medicines react to their natural body processes.
·         Lifestyle or Environmental factors - Watching too much television, listening to loud music consistently, change of place or weather, etc can also lead to severe migraine problems.
 
Cure for Headaches and Migraine
 
There are plenty of cures available today that can effectively treat all kinds of headaches (over 200!) and even Migraines. These treatments come in the form of natural therapies such as oil massages, acupuncture techniques and various stress-busting exercises or prescription drugs that are sold over-the-counter. Medicinal pills work best if the pain is mild and not frequent as they provide quick relief.
However, relying on tablets for recurring headaches can be dangerous as they can alleviate strong side-effects. In such cases, relying on natural therapy is advisable as they help in bringing a positive change to one's lifestyle in the long run. Acupuncture is a popular remedy for common headache and migraine issues. It is believed that certain points in the body such as the temple are known for controlling headaches and migraines. Calming these points can instantly cure them.

Interior Home Lighting Precautions

Households didn't seem to know the possible hazards lighting can do if installed and placed improperly and inappropriately. Reading the paragraphs below will enlighten households the importance of proper interior lighting.

Insufficient or excessive lighting can harm our eyes and cause migraines.

There is a common misconception that reading in dim light can damage your eyes. Eyes, in fact, are hardier than that. The absence of light isn't likely to do any permanent damage, nor is reading in too much light. Rather, insufficient or excessive light can cause eyestrain, a problem the Mayo Clinic describes as temporary. Eyestrain manifests itself by way of several symptoms including aching eyes, dry eyes, itching eyes, watering eyes, headaches and/or a sore neck

Insufficient or excessive lighting can result in serious accidents

Dark rooms or rooms with not enough light are conducive to accidents. A simple misstep because of dim light in a long flight of stairs can cause serious injuries. While too much glare coming from a source of light can have a blinding effect which can greatly affect the vision.

Insufficient or excessive lighting can lead to depression and other psychological complications

During winter, because of the absence of the sun, the surroundings look heavy, dull, sad and bleak. Thus the term hibernation is always associated during winter time when people tend to locked up in their rooms and spent the rest of the day laying around and inactivity.

Insufficient or excessive lighting can spoil the beauty of interiors

A perfectly interior decorated room with all of its decors, the colors breath synchronicity and oneness will be futile without a lighting system to accentuate it. As we all know that lighting, no matter how simple it is has the power to create a different look, has the power to turn a dull looking space into a relaxing and cozy one.

The Benefits of Reflexology Treatment

Western medicine ideology is rooted in the language used by doctors and researchers. Their choice of words reveals their belief systems and the models they use to understand the way they think medicine works.
Western medicine perceives the human body as a battleground on which wars are waged against invaders and tumors. What they fail to realize is that diseases are not separate from the person. In fact every disease can be more accurately called an expression of the patient's lifestyle, beliefs, and energies. Cancer is not a tumor, for example: it is a systemic disorder that can only truly be cured by helping to support the body, not by attacking it with chemical bombs. The tumor is merely one physical expression of the systemic disorder, and simply removing the tumor does nothing to cure the disease.
Western medicine's approach to cancer has focused on getting rid of the physical symptoms -- cutting out tumors with sharp instruments or attempting to shrink tumors with chemotherapy. But a critical analysis of these methodologies shows that treating tumors does little or nothing to actually improve the quality of life or the lifespan of cancer patients.
The body is designed to heal itself provided it has the proper support to do its job.
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is based on a concept of balanced qi (pronounced "chee"), or vital energy, that is believed to flow throughout the body. Qi is proposed to regulate a person's spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical balance and to be influenced by the opposing forces of yin (negative energy) and yang (positive energy). Disease is proposed to result from the flow of qi being disrupted and yin and yang becoming imbalanced. Among the components of TCM are herbal and nutritional therapy, restorative physical exercises, meditation, acupuncture, and remedial massage.
Body malfunction, stress, injury or dis-ease, is the result of the body being in a state of chemical and neurological imbalance, and vital energy pathways are blocked, which prevents the body from functioning effectively. Reflexology is an effective method to restore and maintain the body's natural equilibrium and encourages healing. The practice of Reflexology has been around for thousands of years.
Reflexology is a holistic non-invasive therapy that helps restore and maintain the body's natural state of equilibrium and facilitate healing. In reflexology, the feet, hands and ears are viewed as mirror images of the body, with reflexes corresponding to every part and organ of the body. Stimulating these reflexes encourages natural healing. Reflexology is beneficial for all ages.
Reflex treatment helps to clean the organism by stimulating the natural emunctories : intestines, kidneys, lungs, sinuses, skin...
Reflexology is under the Hering law (American homeopathe): "The natural healing of organ malfunctions, seen through symptoms which evolve from the interior to the exterior, from above to below and from the present towards the past." In this way cures for elimination attacks can be established the next day or shortly thereafter which are of either a physical or psycho-emotional order. These treatments are followed by a great vitality and relaxation.
Benefits:
Reduced stress and deep relaxation,
Improved circulation,
Improved elimination of toxins,
Revitalized energy,
Stregthens immune system,
Creation of an overall state of wellness,
Restoration of the body's equilibrium,
Restoration of the natural functioning of all systems,
Preventative health care
Common ailments relieved:
Headaches, Migraines
Arthritis,
Bronchitis,
Back pain,
Heart problems,
Blood Pressure reduced,
Chronic Pain reduced,
Better Sleep/No Insomnia,
Fatigue,
Diabetes,
Indigestion,
Sciatica,
PMS,
Asthma
What to expect when you visit a Reflexologist:
A regular session lasts for about 60 minutes, with the first session being slightly longer since a thorough case history questionnaire is required. The interview takes about 15 to 20 minutes depending on the client's condition and the indications for Reflexology. The client remains fully clothed throughout the session.

Wednesday, 23 May 2012

Another Supplement Tied to 20% Less Seizures?

In those who suffer from migraine headaches and seizures, anything that can help to reduce the number of attacks they have is a welcome addition. Clearly lifestyle and supplementation play a strong (if not stronger) role in the management of both migraine headaches and seizures along with the mainstream medical approach of pharmacological management. For many sufferers, this information is rarely shared by their physicians.
Before we illuminate today's brain protecting nutrient, we need to cover a little basic physiology. Those of you with very good memories will undoubtably recall that the cells of our organs are made up of a lipid bilayer. Consider our membranes as sort of a fatty moat made up of bunches of molecules that look like a head with legs. On the outsides of both sides of the moat we have the heads, which are soluble in water. The legs that dangle from the heads face toward the center of the moat, meeting each other in the center. These legs are made up of fats that do not dissolve in water.
All by itself, not much can pass through this moat. Things that dissolve in water can make it past the heads, but not the legs in the center. Things that are fat soluble can't make it past the heads to get into the moat at all. A relatively impenetrable moat.
But things still need to get in and out of the cell. The cell needs to get messages in and out, it needs nutrients in and out and things manufactured inside the cell need to get outside of the cell.
The cell does this through the use of pores embedded in the membrane. Some go all the way through the moat, some only go partway. An important factor of how well messages are transmitted, or NOT transmitted, is the health of the cell membrane. Lower quality fats (such as trans fats) will impede healthy cell communication.
On the flip side, higher amounts of healthier fats in the cell membrane ensure that messages that are supposed to be passed along are passed along. Overall, it just makes for a healthier, happier cell.
What does this mean for a condition like epilepsy? Seizures and migraine headaches can occur when a cell is not healthy enough to communicate effectively with its neighbor. This can mean that an inhibitory neuron (that shuts down its neighboring cell) may not be effective at calming a connecting cell. Or, it could mean that an individual brain cell fires before it is supposed to fire, beginning a cascade of wild messages that trigger a headache or a seizure.
A recent study in the March issue of Epilepsy and Behavior demonstrated that the fish oil DHA was able to lower seizure rates. The study was small and non-randomized, but is consistent with our understanding of what triggers seizures as well as prior studies.
Of the ten people in the study receiving 1,000 mg of DHA, 6 had a reduction in the number of seizures. One patient had a marked reduction in seizure activity. Overall, the reduction in seizure activity was 16%. Quite an accomplishment for something as safe and inexpensive as fish oils.
Of course, the big question is, why had fish oils not been a recommendation prior to this study? Even that single patient with the marked reduction in seizure activity could've had a massive impact on his or her quality of life by such a simple intervention long before this study.

Using Chiropractic Treatment For Headache Relief

Researchers and medical professionals have diagnosed 150 categories of headaches. Tension headaches, sometimes called chronic daily headaches, are the most common type among adolescents and adults. Muscles contract, causing mild to moderate pain, and these headaches frequently come and go over a prolonged period. Causes of headaches of the migraine variety are unknown, though doctors believe migraines are related to changes within the brain, including blood vessel contractions.
Migraines are often characterized by throbbing, pounding pain that ranges from moderate to severe in degree. A migraine can last from four hours to as long as three days and typically occurs between one and four times per month. Associated symptoms include nausea or vomiting, appetite loss, and sensitivity to noise, odors, or light. Children suffering from migraines may also feel dizzy, look pale, experience blurred vision, and get a fever. The condition can be so debilitating that sufferers of all ages are willing to try anything to get migraine headache relief.
People suffering from sinus headaches report a constant, deep pain in their forehead, cheekbones, or the bridge of their nose. Sudden movement of the head only intensifies this pain. Other sinus-related symptoms including fever, nasal discharge, and facial swelling often accompany these headaches. Cluster headaches are the least common primary headache types and these are characterized by intense constant or throbbing pain behind one eye or within the eye region that has a piercing or burning quality.
Depending on the type of headache being experienced, pain may be felt in the forehead, around the eyes, in the temples, or in the back of the head. While headaches of the cluster variety occur on one side of the head, other types occur on both sides. Patients may grow so accustomed to experiencing a certain type of headache that they refer to it as "normal." While headache pain may be common, it is never normal and migraine, sinus, cluster, and tension headache relief should be sought as soon as possible.
While exact causes of headaches that fall into some categories are unknown, research indicates that upper neck joints and nerves are the source of pain experienced by many common headache suffers. This area of the body is referred to as the cervical spine and the condition is referred to as a cerviogenic headache, which means "headaches coming from the neck." In its headache classification system, the National Institutes of Health classifies cerviogenic headaches as one of the five major types of headaches.
Spinal manipulations, also called spinal adjustments, are safe and effective remedies for headaches due to irritated upper neck joints and nerves. Within the U.S., Doctors of Chiropractic perform most spinal manipulations. The adjustments they perform safely and gently establish proper movement of the upper neck and its joints. Reported side effects have been few, if any, making spinal manipulation a viable alternative to medication-based headache remedies commonly used by American headache sufferers.
Non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDS, are commonly taken to achieve stress, tension, and migraine headache relief. These medications are available without a prescription, making them easy for headache sufferers to obtain. However, they can also be quite harmful due to their side effects. Every year in the U.S., more than 100,000 people are hospitalized and more than 16,000 die from irritation or bleeding ulcers within the stomach and gastric tract stemming from NSAID side effects.
Another difference between medications and spinal manipulations is the result of the treatment. Medications tend to mask the pain experienced by headache sufferers. Spinal adjustments are designed to correct the cause of the headache. Using spinal manipulation rather than medication treatments for headaches also has major healthcare cost-saving implications. Research conducted by one expert reveals that the U.S. healthcare system could save more than $13 billion dollars a year if chiropractic treatments primarily used as headache remedies.
Whether they are seeking migraine, stress, tension, or sinus headache relief, people should explore all available treatments. Some may come to discover that the most recommended remedies for headaches are not as beneficial as they claim to be, due to their side effects. Chiropractic manipulation represents a safe and effective treatment option.

Health and Fitness: Headaches Migraines Article Category

What Causes a Migraine Headache?

If you are reading this, it is because you may be interested in the subject, or you may be experiencing these headaches yourself. The first thing I would like to share with you is that I know what it feels like, because I've been there for many years, struggling with my own demons breaking my head in two.
But after a lot of research, I learned much about these Migraine Headaches, enough to find the source of my own disorder.
All I can say now is that I consider myself cured from this. Of course I have some headaches sometimes, we all do, but the most important thing I made in my life was to change certain habits that were triggering these headaches, and being powered because of my life style, they were becoming really a danger to my health.
What was my trigger in particular?
STRESS!
Before I realized all this, I had a very stressed life, a stressful job that took me many hours almost every day with overtime hours, and in that moment I was having some issues at home. And not to count that I go to college everyday after work.
Many stressful situations, and being myself a stressed person, I was collapsing. And then I started to experience these painful Migraine Headaches.
I had almost three to four episodes every week, that lasted more than five hours or so. I often woke up at night with my skull in flames, lot of pain behind my eye-balls.
As you can see, It was becoming a really dangerous situation in my life. Of course I seek for Medical advice. And they gave me relief pills, there are tons of them to try, and depending on each person, they really work. They worked for me as well, but the problem was that, the more I took them, the less effect they were giving me.
Then I realized that I had to track the source of it, because it was not normal at all, and it was not pathological as well.
When I discovered all these triggers, I just couldn't believe it, all the information that we don't have if we don't research for it. After taking some action, it took me like six months to make a life style change that suited me better, and guess what? My migraines started to decrease considerably!
So that you already know that STRESS might be one trigger for migraines, I will share some other that are vital in every person life, like:
  • Diets: Diets can be a trouble if not followed correctly, and it can be as well a trigger for headaches.
  • Sleep: Sleeping disorders are a very common trigger for headaches, and the way we live today nowadays, it is very likely almost all of us have some problems here some times.
  • Sex Life: you can find this funny, but this IS a trigger. Emotional feelings are very much related to having headaches, and a mix of emotions and sex, it just can happen!
  • Period time: for women, same as above, feelings play their part here.
  • Weather: Humidity, rain, excessive heat, these are all factors that trigger headaches.
  • Environment: Like cigarettes, smoke, smog in suburbs, perfumes, all triggers as well.
There are more triggers, but I consider these as the most common and the most relevant for all migraine sufferers.

Your Headache May Be Coming From Your Neck, Not Your Sinuses

This, of course, means that many people having headaches are being misdiagnosed and consequently treated inappropriately with antibiotics and possibly with sinus surgery. It is commonly known that antibiotic therapy has side effects: stomach and intestinal irritation, nausea and if one is allergic antibiotics, a potentially life-threatening condition called anaphylactic shock. Also it has been recommended that antibiotics only be prescribed if, and only if, there is a confirmed bacterial infection. This is mainly because it has been found that bacteria are progressively becoming immune to our common antibiotics. If this trend continues, the day may come when we are unable to treat bacterial infections effectively with any medication. None of us want to return to a world where one has to be gravely worried over a small skin cut or scrape. Sinus surgery has the potential risks of complications of anesthesia and operation-caused infections.
If migraine and tension headaches are the true source of the headaches, what is to be done in the way of treatment?
Fortunately a wise choice in the treatment of headaches is chiropractic care. One research publication released in 2010 found that both migraine and tension-type headaches actually come from irritated areas in the upper bones of the neck, called vertebrae, which can irritate nerves and joints which is where the headaches originate. By using various forms of gentle, safe manipulation, chiropractic treatment is also a very cost-effective approach to helping this disabling condition. Chiropractors in the United States are licensed and regulated by the state in with they practice and take on going continuing education classes.
Instead of possible inappropriate treatment of antibiotics or surgery for sinus headaches, the treatment of choice has been found to be best performed by doctors of chiropractic.

Treatment for Migraines: Un-Risky Ideas for Effective Relief

Often, doctors will prescribe any of a variety of medications - from those that are supposed to bring relief by masking symptoms, to those that attempt to prevent the onset of a migraine episode.
There are over 100 medications that a doctor can choose from and nearly endless combinations of them. The list is ever-evolving and a migraine patient can quickly feel like they've become a prescription medicine guinea pig as they are prescribed one thing after another.
However, many of the very medications that are intended to make things better end up making things worse when you consider their side effects - and they can all pose a huge risk to one's health in a many ways.
A person taking these medications can develop rebound headaches - where the medication actually causes migraines. Not only that, if they were to discontinue taking the medications abruptly that can cause migraines as well.
Amidst all of the traditional medications that Western medicine has to offer, even the most savvy and experienced doctor can end up running out of ideas... then what can be done when that happens?
This is no way to live and certainly cannot be the only or best approach to treating migraines. Here are several other ideas, among many, that you can try:
  • Start by knowing what your triggers are and avoid them at all costs

  • Losing weight and becoming just a little more physically active can effectively ward off the next migraine episode.

  • Investigate whether or not you may have a gluten intolerance. Some have found that by avoiding products high in gluten have seen a significant reduction in migraines.

  • Oxygen has been used to treat those who experience cluster headache patients and some specialists believe it can be effective for migraine patients. Speak with your physician, neurologist, or pain specialist and perhaps they can prescribe oxygen on a trial basis to determine if it can make a difference for you.

  • Therapeutic massage has proven to be an effective treatment for migraines as well. Try starting with one massage every one or two weeks.

  • In the midst of a migraine, use ice and heat interchangeably in the areas where you feel the most pain or throbbing sensations.

  • Ask your doctor if you could try a TENS unit - a small battery-operated device that has sticky pads that are strategically placed on the outside of your body. The device emits gentle electrical impulses to stimulate and relax muscles in a target area.

  • The use of dietary supplements - such as coenzyme Q10, magnesium, or vitamin B2 - can be effective in the prevention of migraines.

  • Along with activating specific pressure points on your head, pinching the top of your nasal passage, temple, or behind your ear can relieve pain.

  • Sleeping with a buckwheat hull pillow can help you get better sleep and could support your head and neck in a way that prevents the likeliness of migraines.

  • Don't be afraid to try different neurologist or pain specialist. Ask your primary care physician for a referral if you suspect that a change could be beneficial.

Can a Simple Supplement Protect Memory in Seizures and Migraines?

Memory loss and cognitive decline are very common in migraineurs and epileptics. The progression to dementia is slow but steady. As I've mentioned in previous posts, the mere control of the condition with medication does nothing to fix the underlying problem in the brain. This merely masks the warning signs the brain is giving off as brain cells continue to become progressively more sick and dysfunctional. Multiple research studies support the idea that both epilepsy and migraines are progressive brain disorders, and some medications used to treat these conditions, have actually been shown to increase memory loss and brain damage.
For these reasons, anything that we can do to prevent this decline and protect the brain is of the utmost importance. Good thing there are some good answers. Here are 3 ideas:
1) The modified ketogenic diet is exceedingly powerful. In addition, patients who follow the diet are very likely to stay on it long term. AND, it seems to positively change the long term likelihood of having a seizure even in those who discontinue the diet.
2) GABA, or gamma-amino-butyric acid, is a very powerful neurotransmitter that calms the brain, lowering the risk of brain cells going wild and causing a migraine or seizure. Medications like Valium and Xanax act on GABA pathways. Glutamine is an amino acid that the body uses to make more GABA. Some studies have suggested that using glutamine as a supplement can help calm the brain.
3) Melatonin is a hormone produced deep in the brain by the pineal gland. It's production is shut down by sunlight hitting the retina, thus regulating our sleeping cycle to daylight hours. But in recent years, the power of melatonin to protect the brain has been brought to light (so to speak...). One of melatonin's benefits is as a potent antioxidant that can protect the brain.
A study in the March Epilepsy and Behavior journal further confirms the potential benefit of melatonin on patients suffering with migraines and seizures.
Researchers looked at the effect of melatonin on seizures in rats when the melatonin was given before the seizures. While it had no effect when given after a seizure, there was a benefit on the behavior and memory of the rats who were given melatonin prior to a seizure.
While this is an animal study, given prior research along these lines on the benefits of melatonin, I would not consider it a great stretch to apply this study to a person suffering with migraines and seizures.
A side note on melatonin usage: I have had many patients who start with dosages as high as 10 grams. I am unsure why they would start that high unless it was based on recommendations from wherever the supplement was purchased. I will usually start a patient on.5 mg and, if needed, work up to 3 mg, but will rarely go past this dosage. Too high of a dose can induce nightmares and lead to excessive grogginess in the morning.
Read the recent study here http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S152550501100669X

Health and Fitness: Headaches Migraines Article Category

All of these symptoms are indicative of a jet lag. Known in the medical field as desynchronosis, jet lag is classified all the same as a physiological condition, a mental state and a sleeping disorder. But as a whole, the condition refers to the way your body reacts when it is exposed to a change in time zones. For example, if you leave from Paris on your way to New York, chances are your biological clock is still attuned to the Parisian time. So when you get to New York, which is 6 hours behind the Parisian clock, your body's sleeping pattern and physiological orientation is disrupted.
Medical researchers have attributed to jet lag most of the immunity problems that are experienced by travelers. Immunity problem refers to your susceptibility to be affected by a number of infections. This is because your biological clock helps in the production of a particular type of protein that in turn aids in the detection of harmful bacteria.
Another effect of jet lag is a disturbance in your sleeping pattern. When you travel from one place to another, and effectively cross time zones, your body adapts to a change in climate, temperature level and the surrounding noise. This is why most people who are jet-lagged tend to experience difficulty in falling asleep easily in the new place. This is not to mention the hours you spend awake even if your body already tells you that it should be resting at that time-just because your surroundings are still very much alive.
Finally, jet lag's symptoms affect your social and physiological functions. As your sleeping pattern suffers and your symptoms continue to bother, you would find it more difficult to communicate with people around you as well as perform different tasks that involve physical and mental well-being.
However, you need not worry because as in most conditions, jet lag lasts only for a few days until you have adjusted to your surroundings. If you always experience jet lag, better consult a doctor first before your travel to get the best advice to prevent jet lag.