Posts Tagged ‘Headaches everyday’
Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011
If you suffer from headaches everyday, then you need to see a doctor for migraines immediately- you might be having migraine attacks, or another form of chronic headaches, like cluster headaches or rebound headaches. If you’ve already seen a primary physician and are not happy with the results, it might be time to find a neurologist for migraine headaches.
What is a neurologist?
A neurologist is a physician who specializes in disorders of the brain, particularly the nervous system. A competent neurologist treats patients who suffer from a wide range of conditions, including dementia, epilepsy, brain tumors, amnesia, and migraine disorder.
What are the advantages to seeing a neurologist for migraines?
For many migraine sufferers, visiting a neurologist that specializes in chronic headaches is an effective way to stay on top of their migraine symptoms and find out about new advances in migraine treatments.
- By limiting his practice to the treatment of migraines, your neurologist has an in depth understanding of the neurological factors involved in migraine illness.
- A migraine neurologist has the most up-to-date news in migraine treatments, coping mechanisms, and other resources.
- Your neurologist is better able to diagnose migraine symptoms and comorbid conditions.
- By establishing a patient-doctor bond with your neurologist, you will be in a good position to control your migraine triggers, learn how to manage your migraines on your own, make better lifestyle choices, and develop a strategy for preventing migraines that works.
- In addition to prescribing migraine medications, your neurologist might suggest natural migraine ingredients, such as vitamins, and herbs like butterbur, magnesium, riboflavin, and coenzyme Q10.
Are there any disadvantages to choosing a neurologist?
Choosing the right doctor is always hit or miss; you might find an excellent neurologist that understands your feelings and addresses your needs on the first visit, but it’s more likely that you will have to shop around.
- First, ask up front if your neurologist treats migraine patients. Many neurologists reserve their time for individuals with other brain disorders, but not migraine disorder.
- It’s possible that after the first visit, your doctor will tell you that your symptoms are not severe enough, and that he only treats migraine patients who experience migraine attacks on a more regular basis- assuming you get an initial appointment at all.
- There are millions of migraine patients in the US, but only a handful of neurologists specializing in the field of chronic headaches and facial pain. This is likely because there is very little government funding devoted to migraine research; as a result, there is little incentive for a doctor wishing to advance himself in medicine to choose migraine illness as his specialty.
Where can I find a headache specialist or neurologist in my area?
The internet is a great place to connect with other migraine sufferers and migraine advocacy groups. Here are a few sites that have search engines for locating a doctor to treat your migraines:
U.S. Regional Migraine & Headache Clinics
Find a Healthcare Professional
National Headache Foundation
Patient Recommended Migraine and Headache Specialists
Read more about migraine treatments:
What kind of Doctor should I see for Migraines? Headache Specialists
What kind of Doctor should I see for Migraines? Primary Care Physicians
Avoiding Migraine Triggers- Here, There and Everywhere
Sources:
Johns Hopkins Neurology/Neurosurgery- Headache Center- Migraine Headache
Which Doctors Provide Migraine Treatment?
Image credits, from top:
jepoirrier, ShutterMoth
Tags: butterbur, chronic headaches, cluster headaches, coenzyme q10, Doctor for migraines, Headaches everyday, magnesium, migraine disorder, migraine headaches, natural migraine treatments, neurologist migraines, neurology, rebound headaches, riboflavin
Posted in Migraine Treatments | No Comments »
Thursday, November 17th, 2011
If you suffer from frequent headaches, then you need to see a doctor for migraines right away- You might have migraine headaches, or another form of chronic headaches. Knowing which kind of doctor to see for migraines depends on your migraine headache symptoms, and specific needs for migraine treatment.
What kind of Doctor should I see for Migraines?
Part I: Primary Care Physicians
Most chronic headache sufferers begin migraine headache treatment by visiting their primary care physician, or family doctor. This is because they have established a patient history with them, and because they feel comfortable visiting a doctor whose advice they already trust. If your primary care doctor is unable to treat you for migraine headaches, then he will refer you to a specialist.
Even if your family doctor has not received training in migraine illness, he does have a basic set of principles to refer to in diagnosing your condition. These 12 principles for migraine management in primary care are as follows:
- Most headaches are benign, and can be treated by any competent physician.
- By supplying a questionnaire, you can determine to what extent chronic headaches have affected the patient’s quality of life (daily activities, work, etc.). This information is crucial for diagnosing illness and prescribing treatment.
- A physician-patient bond is necessary for providing migraine management.
- Migraine management should be specific to the patient, and tailored to meet his/her needs. Patient should be able to manage migraine treatments self-sufficiently.
 Physicians should routinely check up on their patient by reviewing a migraine diary in which the patient records migraine triggers, headache symptoms, foods eaten, and other relevant everyday headache information.
- Schedule re-evaluation check-ups, with special attention given to frequency of migraine drug use, and relative success in providing migraine headache relief.
- Migraine treatment should be adapted continuously to meet the changing needs of the migraine headache patient.
- Urge patients to use prescribed acute migraine medications responsibly, as indicated.
- Prescribe a pain reliever or other rescue treatment as a backup for when standard migraine treatments fail.
- For patients who don’t respond well to migraine medications, or who suffer more than four migraine attacks in one month, prescribe preventative migraine medications, in addition to suggesting certain lifestyle changes that are conducive to better migraine management.
- When prescribing preventative migraine treatments, take into account any comorbid conditions the patient might have.
- Develop a healthy professional relationship with your patient based on trust, mutual agreement, and consideration for the patient’s lifestyle.
When is it time to switch headache doctors?
If you feel that your primary care physician is not meeting your needs, then it might be time to shop around for a doctor that specializes in the field of migraine headaches.
Parts II and III discuss headaches specialists and neurologists.
Read more about migraine treatment:
How to make your own Emergency Migraine Attack Survival Pack
Top 20 Simple Lifestyle Modifications to Prevent Migraines
Improve your Memory while taking Topamax for Migraines
20 Best Blog Sites for Migraine Information and Inspiration
Top 20 Websites for Migraine Headache Patients
35 Things you should never tell a Chronic Migraine Sufferer
Sources:
Which Doctors Provide Migraine Treatment?
Establishing principles for migraine management in primary care- PubMed NCBI
Image credits, from top:
Ambro, cohdra, photostock, scottchan
Tags: chronic headaches, constant headaches, Frequent headaches, headache relief, Headaches, Headaches everyday, Migraine, migraine headache treatment, migraine headaches, migraine medications, migraine relief, migraine symptoms, migraine treatment, Primary care physicians, what kind of doctor to see for migraines
Posted in Migraine Treatments | No Comments »
Monday, November 14th, 2011
Migraine aura can cause strange migraine headache symptoms like visual distortions, speech slurring, nausea…and hot flashes. With or without throbbing headaches, migraine with aura can be disconcerting. Learn about what causes migraines with aura, and how you can find headache relief.
Migraine headache symptoms
Migraine headaches strike millions of Americans, but overwhelming majorities of migraine sufferers are women, about three to one. Migraine symptoms include throbbing headaches on one side, in addition to other symptoms like sharp eye pain, neck and shoulder pain, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, extreme sensitivity to light, noise, and smells, and vertigo. Comorbid conditions of migraine illness are depression, chronic fatigue, anxiety, and sleep problems.
Also, read What are the Signs of Migraine Attack? 30 Migraine Symptoms
Migraine aura- with or without headache symptoms
A migraine aura happens about fifteen minutes before a migraine attack. Migraines with aura may or may not result in severe headache, but they are still migraines. Migraine aura symptoms include sudden distorted speech patterns (talking gibberish), distorted sense of spatial awareness, visual hallucinations, temporary partial blindness, olfactory hallucinations, temporary partial paralysis, muscular feebleness, loss of consciousness, dizziness, and nausea. Migraine aura symptoms are often confused with epileptic seizure or stroke.
Migraine auras separate from the migraine prodrome phase, which occurs a few days before a migraine attack. For more info on migraine phases, read The Four Phases of Migraine Headache Attacks
Hot flashes and migraine aura- studies confirm a link
Another migraine aura symptom that sometimes shocks many migraine patients is sudden hot flashes, similar to those experienced during menopause. Migraine “vasomotor” symptoms are hot face, including cheeks, nose, and ears, sweating from the face, and red, flushed cheeks. The vasomotor reaction to migraines is part of migraine aura.
- In 2009, a German study focusing on vasomotor reactivity in migraine with aura found a higher incidence of vasomotor changes among migraine with aura (MA) patients than those who did not experience aura with their migraines.
- In 2008, a study conducted by an Italian university focused on increased cerebral vasomotor reactivity and cerebral blood flow among migraine with aura patients. Scientists noted a significant alteration of cerebral autoregulation, including vasomotor reaction, among migraine with aura sufferers
What to do about migraine aura hot flashes:
Women, determine that your hot flashes are not menopausal, or perimenopausal. If your hot headedness is part of migraine aura symptoms, then your best bet is to respond immediately with migraine medication, in addition to natural migraine ingredients , such as magnesium, and butterbur, and riboflavin.
Read more about migraines with aura:
Go Ask Alice: Migraine Auras in Wonderland
Why do Migraines cause Nausea and Vomiting?
Sources:
Changes in functional vasomotor reactivity in migraine with aura- PubMed NCBI
Increased cerebral vasomotor reactivity in migraine with aura: an autoregulation disorder? A transcranial Doppler and near-infrared spectroscopy study- PubMed NCBI
Migraine with aura- Mayo Clinic
Photo credits, from top:
justDONQUE.images, cohdra
Tags: Causes of migraines, chronic headaches, Complex migraine symptoms, constant headaches, Frequent headaches, Headache back of head, headache causes, headache relief, Headaches everyday, Hot flashes, Migrain, Migraine, migraine aura, migraine headache, migraine headache symptoms, migraine headache treatment, migraine headaches, Migraine headaches symptoms, migraine medications, migraine relief, migraine treatment, migraine triggers, migraine with aura, migranes, Natural Headache Remedies, prodrome, severe headache, stress headaches, Throbbing headache, Vasomotor, What causes migraines
Posted in Migraine Headache Symptoms | No Comments »
Friday, November 11th, 2011
Not all chronic headaches are migraine headaches- many types of headaches require special care beyond Excedrin for migraine headaches. With cluster headaches, specific treatment is required in order to avoid suffering rebound headaches.
Even if you suspect your headaches are not symptoms of migraines, it is still crucial to see a doctor before attempting to treat your head pain. Taking the wrong type of pain medication could make your headache symptoms worse.
Parts 1 and 2 dealt with migraine headaches and other headache types, including sinus headaches, and tension headaches. Part 3 addresses cluster headaches and rebound headaches, including symptoms and treatment.
Cluster headaches
Cluster headaches are recurring headaches that come in a set, or “cluster.” Cluster headache periods may be sporadic- you might go weeks, months, or even years without suffering even one episode of cluster headaches. When they do strike, cluster headaches are excruciatingly painful and disabling. Cluster headache patients often describe them as “the worst headaches of their life.” One cluster headache phase can last for approximately one month.
 Symptoms of cluster headaches are:
- Sharp, burning pain on one side of the head
- Pain that emanates from the temple or eye region on either side of the head
- Pain that strikes suddenly and intensifies quickly in a few minutes’ time
- Pain that happens at a consistent time of day
- Puffy, reddened watery eyes
- Droopy, sagging eyelid
- Nasal congestion
Treatments for cluster headaches are:
- Oxygen inhalation therapy
- Triptan medications
- Octreotide
- Lidocaine
- Ergotamine preparations
- Preventative medications include anti-seizure drugs, corticosteroids (short-term), verapamil, and lithium.
Rebound headaches
If your first reaction to headache symptoms is to reach for a bottle of OTC analgesic pain relievers, then you increase your chances of becoming addicted and experiencing rebound headaches. Particularly at risk are headache sufferers who take more pills than recommended on the package label or by their physician. You might feel temporary pain relief, but the withdrawal symptoms you experience later will include recurring headache pain, creating a cycle of addiction that is difficult to break. Prolonged usage of analgesic pain relievers causes a neurological malfunction that interrupts pain signals in the brain.
Medications that cause rebound headaches are:
- Aspirin
- Acetaminophen
- Sinus medicine
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs)
- Sleeping pills
- Prescription narcotics
- Codeine
- OTC pain relievers that contain caffeine
- Ergotamine medications
- Triptan medications for migraines, if taken more than twice per week
Treatments for rebound headaches include:
- Quitting “cold turkey”
- Weaning off medication through supervised detoxification in a hospital setting
- For prevention of rebound headache, heeding package labels on medications, limiting OTC pain relievers to the smallest possible dose, and no more than twice in one week, unless advised otherwise by your physician
Read more about different types of headaches:
Migraines and other Types of Headaches- How many are there? Part 1
Migraines and other Types of Headaches- How many are there? Part 2
Is it a Cluster Headache or a Migraine?
Are You on the Rebound with Your Headache?
Rebound Headaches, Anyone?
Sources:
Is It a Cluster Headache and What Can Ease the Pain? – Headaches and Migraines – Health.com
Medicines for Cluster Headaches- Health.com
Rebound Headaches- Cleveland Clinic
Image credits, from top:
ToastyKen, aerodesign.pl, Maggie Smith
Tags: chronic headaches, chronic migraines, cluster headaches, constant headaches, Daily headaches, Excedrin headaches, Excedrin migraines, Frequent headaches, headache causes, headache relief, Headaches everyday, migraine headache, migraine headaches, Neck pain and headaches, rebound headaches, severe headache, Shoulder and neck pain, sinus headaches, symptoms of migraines, tension headaches, types of headaches
Posted in Types of Migraines | No Comments »
Wednesday, November 9th, 2011
Not all chronic headaches were created equal- there are many types of headaches besides migraine headaches, such as sinus headaches, tension headaches, and rare cluster headaches. How many types of headaches are there? Learn more about constant rebound headaches, common migraine triggers, and headache relief remedies.
This is part one, which discusses migraine headaches.
Migraines- Could a headache by any other name be just as severe?
Millions of people suffer from excruciating symptoms of migraines, such as debilitating, severe headaches, extreme nausea and gagging, hypersensitivity to lights, noises, and scents, and unusual visual and olfactory hallucinations. But migraine sufferers aren’t alone in their frequent headache pain; other chronic headache patients experience everyday headaches that don’t classify as “migraine headaches.”
How long will my Migraine Headache Last? A Migraine Symptom Chart
What causes migraines?
It is unproven exactly what causes migraine attacks, but scientists understand that it has to do with blood vessel contractions, various fluctuations in the brain, and inherited brain defects. With migraine headaches, pain occurs on one side of the head, and is often so agonizing that sufferers are unable to work, drive a car, or do much of anything until the pain subsides, which could take anywhere from a couple of hours…to a couple of days.
What are the Signs of Migraine Attack? 30 Migraine Symptoms
How many types of migraines are there?
There are many kinds of migraine headaches, but most generally fall into two categories- migraines with aura, and migraines without aura. An aura is a phenomenon that occurs minutes before a migraine attacks. It serves as a 15-minute warning of an approaching migraine, but doesn’t allow much time to prepare. Occasionally, an aura may occur 24 hours in advance, but that much rarer.
4 Headaches that Require Emergency Intervention
What is a migraine aura?
Symptoms of migraine aura include visual hallucinations described as bright fairy lights, zigzag rainbow squiggles, sparkly “fireflies,” crescent-shaped glowing figures, tunnel vision, and voids- dark blind spots on the edge of one’s field of vision, sometimes causing temporary partial blindness. Other signs of a migraine aura are stroke-like in nature- muscular feebleness, sudden garbled speech behavior, loss of consciousness, and numbness or paralysis on one side of the body. It is important to note that migraines with auras don’t always lead to head pain.
Go Ask Alice: Migraine Auras in Wonderland
Migraine treatments- prescription and natural remedies
Currently, medications for migraine headaches include a variety of treatment types, sometimes prescribed in combinations. Migraine remedies include triptans, which halt an attack, abortive drugs that prevent migraine attacks, narcotic pain relievers, and anti-nausea medications. However, many of these prescription migraine drugs come with adverse side effects.
Improve your Memory while taking Topamax for Migraines
Natural ingredients and exercises for migraines include magnesium, butterbur herbs, riboflavin, acupuncture, aromatherapy, biofeedback, and exercises such as yoga and tai chi. These alternative approaches cause no side effects, and treat the body as a whole.
Read more about migraines and other types of headaches:
6 Migraine Myth-conceptions
Can Anxiety Attacks cause Migraines?
Relieve Your Headaches With Yoga: Try These Moves!
Sources:
5 Types of Headaches- Health.com
Headaches – different types of headaches – WebMD
Migraine: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia
Image credits, from top:
Alex E. Proimos, mislav-m, dream designs, Salvatore Vuono, en:Peter Newell, Ambro
Tags: Bad headache, chronic headaches, cluster headaches, constant headaches, Daily migraines, Frequent headaches, headache causes, headache relief, Headaches everyday, Magnesium migraine, migraine headache, Migraine Headache Causes, migraine headache triggers, migraine headaches, migraine remedies, migraine triggers, migraines with aura, Natural remedies for migraines, Neck pain and headaches, Persistent headache, Rebound headaches Chronic migraines, severe headache, sinus headaches, symptoms of migraines, tension headaches, types of headaches, What causes migraines, what is a migraine headache
Posted in Types of Migraines | No Comments »
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