Health

What diseases cause secondary headaches?

2007-06-15T17:07:00.000+08:00

Important examples of diseases causing secondary headaches include:

Tumors in the brain, including tumors that have spread (metastasized) to the brain from another organ such as the lung or breast

Subdural hematomas, which are collections of blood underneath the dura (the covering of the brain) due to bleeding from ruptured veins. Subdural hematomas typically occur in elderly individuals after a fall or other trauma to the head. Sometimes the fall can precede the visit to the doctor by weeks, and the elderly patients may not even recall the fall. Symptoms of subdural hematomas include chronic headaches, change in personality, and weakness of the extremities.

Epidural hematomas, which are rapid collections of blood due to the rupture of arteries that run on the inner surface of the skull. Epidural hematomas usually are the result of skull fractures. The typical story is a head injury that causes a concussion with loss of consciousness and a skull fracture. The return of consciousness is followed by the sudden development of coma caused by an expanding hematoma.

Infections such as meningitis caused by bacteria (meningococcus and pneumococcus), tuberculosis, Lyme disease, or cryptococcus

Strokes due either to blood clots within the arteries of the brain or rupture of the blood vessels in the brain

Subarachnoid hemorrhages which are caused by bleeding into the space between the brain and its outer arachnoid lining. The most common source of subarachnoid hemorrhage is an aneurysm, a ballooning of the weakened wall of an artery inside the head.

Sudden onset of severe high blood pressure. (Chronic mild to moderate high blood pressure is not a common cause of headache).

Temporal arteritis, a vasculitis (inflammation) of the temporal artery which runs beneath the skin of the temple. Temporal arteritis occurs primarily in older people and may be associated with fatigue, body aches, and anemia. Without proper treatment, temporal arteritis may lead to blindness and strokes.

Acute angle glaucoma with sudden elevation of pressures inside the eyes

Infections of the sinuses (sinusitis), ear (otitis), and teeth

Hypothyroidism, a condition in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone

Repeated carbon monoxide poisoning

Parkinson's disease

Medications such as indomethacin, estrogen, progestins, calcium channel blockers (commonly used for treating high blood pressure), and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (commonly used to treat depression)

Overuse of over-the-counter or prescription pain relievers. Overuse of pain relievers causes the pain relievers to become less effective. As the effect of the pain reliever wears off, headaches recur (rebound headache).

Cardiac ischemia (lack of blood supply to the muscles of the heart caused by coronary artery disease). Although cardiac ischemia is best known as a cause of either heart attacks or angina, it also may cause a headache. The headache may occur with or without the accompanying chest pain of a heart attack or angina. As with angina, in some individuals the headache may occur with exertion and subside with rest.

Top 5 Lifestyle Modifications to combat migraine

2007-06-15T16:23:00.000+08:00

It has been observed that women tend to suffer more from migraine than men. There is completely no reason to believe that women who suffer from migraine live a life in constant dread of the symptoms Try incorporating these general nutritional guidelines to combat or even overcome migraine:

1) Correcting and preventing low blood sugar level:

One of the most common triggers of migraine is a low blood sugar level. This in other words is called Hypoglycaemia, a health state in which the blood sugar level in your body drops below the normal range, which is not safe and comfortable for your body. This however does not indicate that you should end up eating something sugary, for a increase in sugar level will lead to production of more insulin, which in turn will cause the sugar level to fall again. The symptoms may vary from weakness, shaking, irritability, nausea, fatigue and pallor. The good news is that sensible snacking and adopting good eating habits both high in fibre and sweet can prove beneficial. This could be fruit, a slice of wholemeal bread with a topping of banana, honey, biscuit, etc. Always keep healthy snacks readily available at work and at home.

2) Try sticking to fresh foods:

Focus your eating plan on fresh vegetables, fruits and whole gram cereal foods, with lean proteins, small amounts of fat and plenty of water. Avoid processed meats such as salami and other sausages, mangetout and the flavor enhancer "Monosodium glutamate" (MSG). MSG is found in a lot of ready-made meals, bottled sauces, crisps and often in Chinese restaurant food. Stick to fresh foods and avoid MSG intake. Eat a variety of foods to keep your body well nourished and disease free.

3) Try maintaining a regular sleep pattern:

Irregular sleep pattern can often contribute to migraines. Oddly enough, oversleeping at weekends can induce migraines as much as under sleeping due to stress. Try to get regular amount of sleep each night.

4) Take out time to relax:

It is vital to reduce both physical and emotional stress and take out time, even if it's only 15 minutes a day, to relax. Make a serious date with yourself everyday to relax and Just do it! Even if you can't identify that it's stress that provokes your migraines, you should still take the stress/relaxation aspects of your life seriously. Focus on deep breathing number of times throughout the day to nourish every part of your body with an essential nutrient - Oxygen.

5) Avoid excess of caffeine, alcohol and desserts:

Most people regard that having caffeine, strong red wine and an irresistible chocolate dessert makes up for a good dinner-but they hardly come to realise that after over-feeding on these foods, they fall into the bed tired and wake up feeling awful, head heavy, eyes cloudy, neck stiff and stomach nauseous. You need to remember that caffeine, strong red wine, aged cheese, and chocolate are classic migraine triggers. Try working out on a personal 'damage limitation' plan? By maintaining a diary and writing down what you are eating that might have triggered off migraine. Triggers such as eating cheese can cause a migraine within 20 minutes. If you think estrogen might be a trigger, consult your doctor regarding oral contraceptives or ask for an alternative hormone therapy.

What are the causes and risk factors of migraine?

2007-06-15T16:02:00.001+08:00

Migraine awareness is high, and recent medical research indicates that migraines are caused by inherited mutations in genes which control brain activity. Migraines usually develop before the age of 40 and occur more commonly in women than men and in Caucasians more than in African Americans or Asians. Migraine incidence in children is equal in boys and girls, but migraines become three times more common in girls than in boys during adolescence, possibly due to hormonal effects.

Migraine onset begins with the release of serotonin, which can be triggered by stress, particular foods, sensations, medications, or hormone levels. For instance, migraines are induced in some people by glaring light, smells, or noise, or by emotional stress. In addition, lack of sleep, hypoglycemia caused by skipped meals, alcohol (especially red wine), excessive exercise, changes in altitude or weather, or MSG, nitrate, or tyramine-containing foods trigger migraine headache onset in some people. Women's issues of heightened stress perception and cyclic hormonal fluctuations may account for the increased incidence in women. Medications such as birth control pills, drugs that dilate blood vessels or alter brain blood flow (for example, nitroglycerin, antihypertensives, anti-inflammatories, or bronchodilators), or chronically used head pain remedies can cause migraine headache

Migraine

2007-06-15T15:58:00.000+08:00

A migraine is a severe form of recurring headache. The pain is generally concentrated on one side of the head.

Although much about headaches still isn't understood, a key cause of a migraine is changes to the blood flow within the brain.

Blood vessels of the brain supply it with oxygen and nutrients.

Nerves, which are sensitive to pain, terminate in these vessels.

Certain triggers dilation and constrict these vessels.

The repeated dilation and constriction causes the nerve walls to stretch resulting in the discomfort of a migraine.

Triggers that can cause a migraine

1. Stress and anger

2. Certain smells, fumes, tobacco smoke, light glare, weather changes.

3. Monthly periods, birth control pills, estrogen therapy.

4. Too much, too little or interrupted sleep.

5. Hunger, fasting, specific foods or beverages.

6. Certain medications

Treatments include the symptomatic use of Aspirin, beta-blockers, tricyclics antidepressants, ergotamine derivatives, and selective-serotonin receptor agonists