| What is headache?Headache is a term used
| |
| | daily. Women who have migraines often
|
| to describe aching or pain that occurs in
| |
| | find that their headaches occur or worsen
|
| one or more areas of the head, face,
| |
| | around the time of their menstrual
|
| mouth, or neck. Headache involves the
| |
| | periods.One unique feature of migraines
|
| network of nerve fibers in the tissues,
| |
| | is an unusual sensation that a migraine
|
| muscles, and blood vessels located in the
| |
| | is about to occur. This sensation is
|
| head and at the base of the skull.Almost
| |
| | called a prodrome. Prodrome symptoms can
|
| everyone has occasional headaches,
| |
| | include fatigue, hunger and nervousness.
|
| especially when they are sick, tired or
| |
| | Not all people who get migraines have
|
| otherwise under stress. Headache is the
| |
| | prodromes.An aura is a complex of
|
| result of pain signals caused by
| |
| | neurological symptoms that occur just
|
| interactions between the brain, blood
| |
| | before or at the onset of migraine
|
| vessels, and surrounding nerves. During a
| |
| | headache. An aura involves a disturbance
|
| headache, the pain comes not from the
| |
| | in vision that may consist of brightly
|
| brain. It comes from specific nerves
| |
| | colored or blinking lights in a pattern
|
| surrounding the skull, head muscles, and
| |
| | that moves across the field of vision.
|
| blood vessels that are activated and send
| |
| | Most patients with migraine have attacks
|
| pain signals, interpreted by the brain as
| |
| | without aura. About one in five migraine
|
| a headache. The reasons why these nerves
| |
| | sufferers experiences an
|
| are activated are not clearly understood.
| |
| | aura.TreatmentHow your migraines are
|
| Most headaches go away on their own or
| |
| | treated will depend on the frequency and
|
| are easily treated with over the counter
| |
| | severity of attacks. People who have a
|
| (OTC) drugs.Headache typesThere are two
| |
| | headache several times per year often
|
| main categories of headache: primary and
| |
| | respond well to nonprescription pain
|
| secondary.The major types of primary
| |
| | relievers.There are two types of
|
| headaches include:
| |
| | medications to treat migraines:
|
|
| |
| |
|
| Tension headache
| |
| | abortive medications - drugs that are
|
| Cluster headache
| |
| | taken when a headache starts
|
| Migraine
| |
| | preventive medications - drugs that are
|
| Primary headaches are not caused by
| |
| | taken every day to prevent migraines
|
| other underlying medical conditions. More
| |
| | Abortive MedicationsMigraine-specific
|
| than 90% of headaches are
| |
| | abortive medications usually are
|
| primary.SecondarySecondary headaches
| |
| | necessary for moderate to severe migraine
|
| result from other medical conditions,
| |
| | headaches. When possible, an abortive
|
| such as cerebrovascular disease, head
| |
| | medication should be taken immediately
|
| trauma, infection, tumor, and metabolic
| |
| | after an aura or migraine headache
|
| disorder. These account for fewer than
| |
| | starts. However overusing abortive
|
| 10% of all headaches. Head pain also can
| |
| | medications can lead to chronic
|
| result from syndromes involving the eyes,
| |
| | headaches, that occur day after day
|
| ears, neck, teeth, or sinuses. In these
| |
| | without a specific cause or diagnosis.
|
| cases, the underlying condition must be
| |
| | Several prescription and nonprescription
|
| diagnosed and treated. Also, certain
| |
| | drugs are used as abortive medications:
|
| types of medication produce headache as a
| |
| | aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Apsifen,
|
| side effect.Many people have occasional
| |
| | Motrin, Nuprin and other brand names) or
|
| headaches that get better on their own or
| |
| | naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox,
|
| go away with OTC drug treatment. Most of
| |
| | Naprosyn)Effective agents available by
|
| these people never see a healthcare
| |
| | prescription include:
|
| provider for their headaches, however,
| |
| |
|
| there are several circumstances in which
| |
| | Triptans - sumatriptan (Imitrex),
|
| an evaluation by a physician may be
| |
| | naratriptan (Amerge), zolmitriptan
|
| useful or important:
| |
| | (Zomig) and rizatriptan (Maxalt). Triptan
|
|
| |
| | drugs are effective in 60% to 65% of
|
| Headaches that are getting worse over
| |
| | patients, completely or significantly
|
| time
| |
| | relieving migraine pain and associated
|
| Severe headaches that start suddenly
| |
| | symptoms within 2 hours of
|
| Headaches that start after a head injury
| |
| | administration. Triptans reduce
|
| Headaches that always occur on the same
| |
| | inflammation and constrict the blood
|
| side of the head
| |
| | vessels. The triptan with the longest
|
| Headaches that are not responding to
| |
| | history of use is sumatriptan (Imitrex).
|
| treatment
| |
| | Ergots - sublingual ergotamine (Ergomar)
|
| Severe headaches that interrupt work or
| |
| | and dihydroergotamine (Migranal). Ergots
|
| the enjoyment of daily activities
| |
| | cause constriction of blood vessels, but
|
| Daily headaches
| |
| | ergots tend to cause more constriction of
|
| Aggravated by exertion, coughing,
| |
| | vessels in the heart and other parts of
|
| bending, or sexual activity
| |
| | the body than the triptans, and their
|
| Tension HeadacheTension headaches are
| |
| | effects on the heart are more prolonged
|
| the most common type of headaches. They
| |
| | than the triptans. Ergots are not as safe
|
| affect up to 75% of all headache
| |
| | as the triptans.
|
| sufferers. Tension headache is usually
| |
| | Midrin. It is a combination of
|
| episodic but may be chronic, occurring
| |
| | isometheptene (a blood vessel
|
| daily or almost daily for more than 15
| |
| | constrictor), acetaminophen (a pain
|
| days a month. This type of headache is
| |
| | reliever), and dichloralphenazone (a mild
|
| linked with tension in neck and scalp
| |
| | sedative)
|
| muscles, affecting blood flow within the
| |
| | Preventive MedicationsPreventive
|
| skull.Tension headaches often start in
| |
| | medication are prescribed when migraine
|
| the afternoon or early evening. The pain
| |
| | attacks that don't respond well to
|
| is typically on both sides of the head,
| |
| | abortive medications or adverse reactions
|
| pressing or tightening. Some people get
| |
| | to abortive medications occur, migraine
|
| tension headaches in response to
| |
| | attacks occur too often, complicated
|
| stressful events. Tension headaches
| |
| | migraines. Many drugs are listed as
|
| usually do not get worse with physical
| |
| | potentially useful to prevent recurrent
|
| activity (such as walking or climbing
| |
| | migraine attacks. The drugs in the
|
| stairs).TreatmentThe occasional tension
| |
| | following classes are useful to prevent
|
| headache can be alleviated by a hot
| |
| | recurrent migraine attacks:
|
| shower, massage, sleep, and through
| |
| |
|
| patient recognition and avoidance of
| |
| | Beta-blockers. Propranolol (Inderal) and
|
| stress factors.For episodic tension
| |
| | nadolol (Corgard) have a good track
|
| headaches that occur less than three
| |
| | record of being safe and effective.
|
| times per week, OTC pain relievers such
| |
| | Metoprolol (Lopressor) and atenolol
|
| as aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol) or
| |
| | (Tenormin) are reasonable alternatives.
|
| ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) are convenient
| |
| | Beta-blockers have been used for many
|
| and effective. Combination products of
| |
| | years to prevent migraine headaches. It
|
| pain medication with caffeine may help
| |
| | is not known how beta-blockers prevent
|
| some people, but also may be habit
| |
| | migraine headaches.
|
| forming. Use of any OTC pain reliever
| |
| | Tricyclic antidepressants. These
|
| should be limited to no more than two or
| |
| | medications are very effective, but often
|
| three days per week. If pain medications
| |
| | have troublesome side effects such as
|
| are overused, rebound headaches may occur
| |
| | sedation, blurred vision, dry mouth and
|
| on the days that medications are not
| |
| | constipation. The first choice is often
|
| taken.Chronic tension headaches are more
| |
| | amitriptyline (Elavil). Nortriptyline
|
| difficult to treat, because rebound
| |
| | (Pamelor, Aventyl), doxepin (Sinequan),
|
| headaches are common when pain relievers
| |
| | imipramine (Tofranil) also can be tried.
|
| are stopped. The most effective
| |
| | Anticonvulsants. Of the drugs in this
|
| medications for treatment of chronic
| |
| | class, valproate (Depakote, Epival) has
|
| tension headaches are tricyclic
| |
| | the best evidence to support using it for
|
| antidepressants (amitriptyline HCl,
| |
| | prevention. Gabapentin (Neurontin) and
|
| doxepin HCl, nortriptyline HCl). However,
| |
| | topiramate (Topamax) also are effective.
|
| it is often more effective to prevent
| |
| | It is not known how anticonvulsants work
|
| these headaches than to treat them.Some
| |
| | to prevent migraine headaches.
|
| people are able to treat their tension
| |
| | Serotonin antagonists. Methysergide
|
| headaches without medications. An ice
| |
| | (Sansert) has been available for many
|
| compress, a heating pad or a massage to
| |
| | years and is very effective. Methysergide
|
| any tight areas in the neck and shoulders
| |
| | prevents migraine headaches by
|
| can be extremely helpful. Relaxation
| |
| | constricting blood vessels and reducing
|
| techniques, such as deep breathing
| |
| | inflammation of the blood vessels.
|
| exercises or acupuncture, may help to
| |
| | However, this medication has side effects
|
| decrease the frequency of
| |
| | that are potentially very serious and
|
| headaches.Cluster HeadacheCluster
| |
| | therefore is not widely used.
|
| headaches are relatively rare, affecting
| |
| | Rebound HeadacheIncreasing headache over
|
| about 1% of the population. They are
| |
| | time with repeated use of pain medicines
|
| distinct from migraine and tension
| |
| | can lead to a rebound headache. The
|
| headaches. Cluster headaches primarily
| |
| | headache is typically located on both
|
| affect men between the ages of 20 and 40.
| |
| | sides of the head and is described as a
|
| Attacks usually occur in a series, or
| |
| | pressing or tightening type of pain. When
|
| "clusters" of 1 - 8 headaches per day
| |
| | headache sufferers use too much pain
|
| over a period of several weeks to months.
| |
| | medicine, their headaches often recur.
|
| The pain is extremely severe but the
| |
| | This leads to a repeated cycle of taking
|
| attack is brief, lasting 15 minutes to 3
| |
| | more medicines and still having
|
| hours. The pain of cluster headache
| |
| | headaches. Rebound headache may appear
|
| almost always occurs on one side of the
| |
| | if:
|
| head. During cluster headaches, the eye
| |
| |
|
| on the same side as the pain may become
| |
| | taking analgesics on 15 or more days per
|
| teary or droopy or develop a small pupil.
| |
| | month for more than 3 months
|
| There may also be nasal congestion on the
| |
| | taking opioid or combination medication
|
| affected side of the face.About 80% of
| |
| | 10 or more days per month for more than 3
|
| cluster headaches occur at night, and in
| |
| | months
|
| about 70% of patients, drinking alcohol
| |
| | When analgesics are discontinued, the
|
| can trigger a cluster headache. Unlike
| |
| | headache may get worse for several days
|
| migraine sufferers, those with cluster
| |
| | and it may take up to 30 days to recover
|
| headache often feel better if they keep
| |
| | from the rebound process. Non-drug
|
| moving during the headache.TreatmentIt is
| |
| | approaches, such as biofeedback,
|
| difficult to stop the pain of a cluster
| |
| | relaxation therapy, and exercise, can be
|
| headache that is in progress, because the
| |
| | helpful in reducing both headache
|
| headache usually disappears by the time
| |
| | frequency and need for
|
| the patient reaches the emergency room or
| |
| | medication.Headache TriggersTriggers are
|
| doctor's office. Because the onset of
| |
| | not direct causes of the headache, but
|
| cluster headache attacks is rapid and may
| |
| | they facilitate or provoke the beginning
|
| occur several times a day, the best
| |
| | of an attack. Anything that stimulates
|
| approach to treatment is with daily
| |
| | the pain receptors in the head and neck
|
| preventive drugs to decrease the severity
| |
| | can cause a headache. Some of the more
|
| and frequency of headaches. Lithium
| |
| | common triggers for headache:
|
| (Carbolith, Duralith, Lithane, Lithobid,
| |
| |
|
| Lithonate and others) and verapamil
| |
| | Emotional triggers: problems at work,
|
| (Isoptin, Calan, Chronovera, Verelan,
| |
| | success at work or school, anticipation,
|
| Novo-Veramil) are the two drugs that are
| |
| | anxiety, an emotional crisis, a new job.
|
| most effective at accomplishing this.
| |
| | Emotions can bring on headaches, keep
|
| Other drugs used for this purpose include
| |
| | them going, and make them worse. Emotions
|
| prednisone (Deltasone, Meticorten,
| |
| | don't cause your headaches, they just
|
| Orasone 1, Winpred and others),
| |
| | make you more vulnerable to them.
|
| cyproheptadine (Periactin) and
| |
| | Environmental triggers: bright light,
|
| methysergide (Sansert). Prophylactic
| |
| | different kinds of aromas like perfume,
|
| medications usually are begun early
| |
| | tobacco, odors (such as gasoline), loud
|
| during a cycle of cluster headaches and
| |
| | noises, altitude, barometric pressure
|
| continued for two weeks longer than the
| |
| | changes.
|
| usual cycle.Abortive treatments include
| |
| | Stress triggers: strenuous exercise,
|
| inhalation of 100% oxygen. Inhaling 100%
| |
| | excessive physical work at the work place
|
| oxygen for about 15 minutes through a
| |
| | or at school, physical sickness, not
|
| facemask has proven to be helpful when it
| |
| | enough sleep or too much sleep
|
| is done at the first signs of an attack.
| |
| | Chemical triggers: changes in hormone
|
| This oxygen must be prescribed by a
| |
| | levels (that occur during the
|
| doctor and obtained through a medical
| |
| | premenstrual period, during the
|
| supplier. Other types of drugs that may
| |
| | post-menstrual period), low blood sugar.
|
| be effective when used at the outset of
| |
| | Food and beverage triggers: caffeine,
|
| cluster pain include the triptans
| |
| | alcohol (especially red wine), hard
|
| (Imitrex, Maxalt, Zomig, Axert, Amerge),
| |
| | cheese, vinegar, hot dogs, chocolate,
|
| ergotamine (Cafergot) and indomethacin
| |
| | nuts, MSG (monosodium glutamate), pizza,
|
| (Indocin).Migraine HeadacheMigraine
| |
| | pork. Foods containing nitrites as
|
| headaches are less common than tension
| |
| | preservatives can also trigger headaches.
|
| headaches. About 6% of all men and 18% of
| |
| | Fasting or missing meals is a major
|
| all women experience a migraine headache
| |
| | headache trigger.
|
| at some time. Migraine headache occurs on
| |
| | Changes in the weather can change body
|
| one or both sides of the head. The pain
| |
| | chemistry, and have been known to trigger
|
| is typically pulsating or throbbing in
| |
| | headaches.
|
| nature. Nausea, with or without vomiting,
| |
| | Heavy cigarette smoking.
|
| as well as sensitivity to light and sound
| |
| | Yury Bayarski is the author of - a
|
| often accompany migraines. Migraines are
| |
| | prescription drug price comparison
|
| made worse by activity, bright lights and
| |
| | website. Please follow this link if you
|
| bright noises. In most cases, migraine
| |
| | would like to read more about headache
|
| attacks are occasional, or sometimes as
| |
| | relief prescription drugs.
|
| often as once or twice a week, but not
| |
| |
|
