Monday, 17 October 2011

Understanding Possible Triggers and Treatment of Headaches

By Dr. James Kontaratos, DC


Dr. James Kontaratos, Plano Chiropractor Doctor, of Advanced Comprehensive Medical provides family practice and Plano physical therapy. Here he offers information and facts concerning the cause and about treating recurrent headaches.

Globally, in a lifetime only 1% of the population won't experience headaches. 90% suffer at least one headache yearly and over 16- 17% of the world's population will have the most severe type of headache. That is more than one billion people worldwide! According to the World Health Organization, 303 million people are prone to migraine headaches and approximately 20 million attacks occur every day.

So, precisely what is a headache? Many medical professionals used to think it was actually the result of a variety of other symptoms. These conditions can include mild to intense head pain that is localized behind one or both eyes, head pain that migrates laterally, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, a sick stomach, vomiting, a loss of appetite, tiredness, light-headedness, and auditory sensitivity, and many more.

It is very important to recognize the " triggers " which can cause a headache. These "triggers include withdrawal from caffeine, the over-consumption of alcohol, sunlight, monthly periods, sinusitis and changes in barometric pressure. Lifestyle factors like stress, irregular sleep habits, skipping meals (low blood glucose), and obesity can also boost your chances of having a migraine headache.

Over-the-counter drugs is the remedy used by most people. On the other hand, excessive use of the such drugs can cause them to be less effective as a treatment. And while these medicines may provide temporary relief, they rarely cure the problem completely. Due to the ineffectiveness of such drugs, many individuals typically increase the dose over eventually. This can lead to what is referred to as "rebound headaches". These types of headaches are usually more frequent as well as more severe, making the medications all the more ineffective. Prescription medications are generally more effective than non-prescription treatments although they may take as much as 8 to 12 weeks for a course of treatment. Prescription medications can also cause side effects including nausea or vomiting and weight gain. If medications aren't the solution, what is?

You need to begin by having a qualified physician to rule out the most serious medical conditions like brain hemorrhage, meningitis, encephalitis, etc. After that, you'll need to have an x- ray taken of your neck. Cervicogenic headaches which originate in the neck are widely believed to be the primary cause of severe headaches. In my nearly 22 years of practice, I have found that deficiencies in the regular curve in the spine often causes pressure on the nerves. Recurring headaches can occur if the pressure is not removed. The less the curvature of the neck, the worse the headaches. Whenever we have corrected this problem, the headaches typically disappear.

Is there anything else that you can do on your own? There are a couple of things - cryotherapy and Feverfew. Cryotherapy, often referred to as ice does fundamentally what migraine headaches medicines do and has no side effects. Ice constricts the blood vessels, which lowers inflammation, which causes the pounding feeling and also relaxes the nerves. An ice pack resting at the base of the skull to the length of the neck is typically sufficient for up to about half an hour at a time. Feverfew is an herb that research has confirmed is reliable as a prophylactic for migraine complications if used every day as instructed. Ask your local supplement expert to find the best brand since vitamins and minerals aren't regulated by the FDA.




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