Headaches

Suffering from headaches could be a sign of a traumatic childhood

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 A traumatic childhood can lead to a whole lot of pain later in life, as troubling new research finds people who dealt with traumatic events as kids may be more likely to experience painful headaches as an adult.

To be clear, the research team from Harvard University stress their work does not prove that childhood trauma causes headaches as an adult, but it does show an association.

“Traumatic events in childhood can have serious health implications later in life,” says study author Catherine Kreatsoulas, PhD, from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, in a media release. “Our meta-analysis confirms that childhood traumatic events are important risk factors for headache disorders in adulthood, including migraine, tension headaches, cluster headaches, and chronic or severe headaches. This is a risk factor that we cannot ignore.”

In total, this analysis included 28 prior studies featuring 154,739 participants in 19 countries. Among all of these people, 48,625 (31%) reported at least one traumatic childhood event, and 24,956 people (16%) were diagnosed with primary headaches. Among participants who reported at least one traumatic childhood event, 26 percent were diagnosed with a primary headache disorder. Only 12 percent of those with no childhood traumas were diagnosed with the same disorder.

Depressed, sad child or teen
(© New Africa – stock.adobe.com)

Study authors uncovered that people who had dealt with one or more traumatic childhood event were 48 percent more likely to have a headache disorder than those who hadn’t experienced such events.

Additionally, researchers found that as the number of traumatic childhood events increased, the odds of having headaches also increased. When compared to those who hadn’t dealt with childhood trauma, patients who did were 24 percent more likely to have a headache disorder. Conversely, those who experienced four or more types of traumatic events were more than twice as likely to have a headache disorder.

The study also assessed the association between types of traumatic childhood events. Events categorized as threat traumas included:

Events categorized as deprivation traumas included:

Threat traumas displayed a connection to a 46-percent uptick in headaches. Meanwhile, deprivation traumas were associated with a 35-percent increase in headaches. Notably, experiencing either physical or sexual abuse was linked to a 60-percent higher chance of headaches, and dealing with childhood neglect was associated with a near three-fold increased risk of headache disorders.

“This meta-analysis highlights that childhood traumatic events categorized as threat or deprivation traumas are important and independent risk factors for headache disorders in adulthood,” Dr. Kreatsoulas explains. “Identifying the specific types of childhood experiences may help guide prevention and treatment strategies for one of the leading disabling disorders worldwide. A comprehensive public health plan and clinical intervention strategies are needed to address these underlying traumatic childhood events.”

“It is important to note that the true estimate of the association is likely higher due to the sensitive nature of reporting childhood traumatic events.”

5G antennas cause children to suffer headaches, stomach pain and sleeping problems

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New peer-reviewed research has found that children who get too close to 5G wireless towers develop serious health problems such as chronic headaches, stomach pain, and difficulty sleeping.

Three children and their parents came down with these and other symptoms after vacationing at a summer home located just 125 meters away from a mobile phone tower with multiple 5G antennas.

Published in the journal Annals of Clinical and Medical Case Reports, the study reveals that the family members’ symptoms quickly subsided after they left the summer home and went back to their regular home, which is not located as close to 5G antennas.

The children, who ranged in age from four to eight, also developed emotional symptoms from being in close proximity to the 5G antennas. These include heightened irritability as the radiation inflamed their senses.

(Related: Both 5G and 4G wireless technology are linked to cell tissue damage and DNA destruction.)

5G is a possible death sentence for humans

Dr. Lennart Hardell, a leading scientist on cancer risks from radiation, and Mona Nilsson put together their own report about how 5G affects the health of young children, with Hardell, an oncologist and epidemiologist, telling The Defender the following:

“It is well known in medicine that children are more sensitive to toxic agents than grownups. Moreover, they have a longer life expectancy so chronic health issues may develop over a longer time.”

According to Hardell, 5G is still “quite new,” which means there is very little study into its effects. It is almost as if government regulators gave the telecommunications industry rubber stamp approval for the wireless technology without having first proven that it is safe.

Miriam Eckenfels-Garcia, director of the Children’s Health Defense (CHD) Electromagnetic Radiation & Wireless program, stated that the 5G rollout is “another example of financial and industry interests trumping the protection of our children’s health.”

“As in this case study, we see the negative health impacts of this technology and instead of applying the precautionary principle until we can determine the full scope of health and environmental impacts, our government agencies – captured by industry – are allowing 5G to be installed anywhere and everywhere,” Eckenfels-Garcia told The Defender.

“CHD is doing all it can to push back against this dangerous development through litigation, education and advocacy, and we are grateful to scientists like Dr. Hardell and Mona Nilsson for shining light on these cases.”

For the vacation home study, the family who went there was asked to fill out a questionnaire following their visit about the symptoms they and their children suffered while on holiday. They were asked to rank the severity of each symptom on a scale from one to 10.

All three of the children, aged four, six and eight, reported having trouble sleeping and suffering emotional symptoms that included “irritability” and “emotive,” both of which ranked at a level 10, the highest level.

“Two of the children got diarrhea, pain in the stomach and headache graded between 8 and 3 on the severity scale,” the study states. “The child aged 6 years who did not get pain in the stomach and diarrhea, got skin rashes graded 8 on the severity scale.”

“The symptoms appeared soon after the arrival to the house and disappeared after they came home, where radiation levels were considerably lower.”

Responding to the findings, Nilsson, who manages the Swedish Radiation Protection Foundation, said that she finds them “very concerning,” adding that children of that age should not yet be suffering from such symptoms, though they increasingly are as the “expected effects from increasing exposure to RF radiation.”

Do you get rain pain? Weather-related aches really do alter people’s lives

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A Chronic pain is bad enough on a normal day, but crummy weather can make already achy joints and hips that much more painful. Tied to changes in the barometric pressure resulting from storms, the cold, and dreary forecasts, pain-based weather is a significant concern on a day-to-day basis for millions of people. Now, researchers from the University of Georgia report that roughly 70 percent of respondents in a recent poll would change their daily behavior based solely on weather-based pain forecasts.

“We’re finding more consistent relationships between weather patterns and pain, so it seems more possible to make weather-based pain forecasts,” says lead study author and geography/atmospheric sciences lecturer Christopher Elcik in a media release. “This study was to survey and see what the audience was for this type of forecast.”

In all, researchers surveyed over 4,600 people. Among respondents who identified as migraine sufferers, 89 percent pointed to weather as something that impacts their pain level, and another 79 percent cited weather as a trigger for their pain. Meanwhile, among respondents with other conditions, 64 percent also said weather patterns could trigger pain and an astounding 94 percent identified weather as an influential pain factor.

This latest report builds on previous research that focused on specific weather patterns and pain-related conditions in an attempt to measure public interest in a weather-based pain forecast, as that may be indicative of high or moderate risk for migraines or chronic pain.

“I see how much people can be affected by these types of pain, so if I can provide someone with insight into the level of risk for a day, maybe people can take steps to prevent the pain from happening,” Elcik comments. “There are preventative measures people can take if risks are higher.”

Man suffers leg injury or cramp while running

Hypothetically, if the risk of weather-related pain were high, more than half of respondents said they were likely to take preventive measures (medication, rest, avoiding compounding triggers). Another 47 percent with migraines and 46 percent of those with pain-related conditions were also “extremely likely” to take the same measures.

Notably, desire for a forecasting tool was very high; 72 percent of those living with migraines and 66 percent with pain-related conditions said they would alter their behavior by canceling plans or taking preventive measures in the event of a weather-based pain forecast. Some respondents even said they already use online tools to predict weather-related pain.

One example is AccuWeather’s arthritis or migraine forecast, which predicts low-to-high pain risk according to atmospheric conditions. These existing tools, however, offer few details regarding the variables considered or how the predictions are actually produced.

A person’s likelihood to continue with plans also depended heavily on the length of the activity in question. If plans were roughly 30 minutes long, 57 percent of respondents with migraines and 52 percent of those with pain-related conditions said they would be “extremely likely” to continue plans even if there were a moderate risk of pain. About 43 percent from each group said they would continue even with the highest risk forecast.

Older man battling shoulder pain, back pain, arthritis

When it came to an activity lasting more than three hours, on the other hand, that number declined to roughly 23 percent for moderate risk and 18 percent for high risk among those with migraines. For people living with other pain-related conditions, 23 percent would follow through with a three hour plus activity in the face of a moderate risk of weather pain and 21 percent would continue despite the highest risk. Generally speaking, as the level of risk increased, so did the likelihood to alter plans.

“This was across the board,” Elcik notes. “Everyone was more likely to cancel plans if the forecast risk was higher.”

While additional research and studies are necessary in order to create a reliable pain-based weather forecast, Elcik believes this study highlights the urgent importance of developing such a resource.

“This publication shows there’s an audience that’s willing and eager to try something new, and there are probably many more people who would benefit—more than we even thought,” the researcher concludes. “I think these results can push other researchers to also look at similar, larger-scale weather phenomena and help the community better understand how the atmosphere does impact pain.”

What to know about cyclic migraine

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Cyclic migraine is when a person only experiences migraine symptoms during certain periods or cycles. They do not have migraine episodes outside these periods.

Migraine is a condition that involves experiencing headaches or episodes with specific characteristics. Migraine symptoms include throbbing and pulsating pain on one side of a person’s head. They can be very painful and interfere with a person’s daily activities.

With cyclic migraine, people experience migraine symptoms in cycles. They may have symptoms that occur daily for a few weeks before being symptom-free for weeks or months at a time. Some treatments may help with cyclic migraine.

This article discusses the symptoms, causes, and triggers of cyclic migraine. It also discusses a person’s risk factors and how doctors diagnose and treat the condition.

What are the symptoms of cyclic migraine?

Alexander Kalinin/Stocksy

CommonTrusted Source migraine symptoms include:

  • moderate or severe pain that throbs and pulsates on one side of a person’s head
  • sensitivity to:
  • nausea and vomiting

People with cyclic migraine have symptoms during recurring periods. They have symptoms of migraine episodes that occur in patterns similar to cluster headaches.

According to the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS), people may experience other symptoms before a migraine, including:

The NHS also discusses how people may also have warning signs, called auras, just before they have a migraine. These signs can include:

  • issues with sight, such as seeing:
    • flashing lights
    • zig-zag lines
  • dizziness
  • difficulty speaking

People with different kinds of migraine may have different symptoms. People with cyclic migraine usually have 10 or more episodes of migraine symptoms every month. These episodes occur daily or almost daily for several weeks. They then ease off for a few weeks or months at a time.

What causes cyclic migraine?

Scientists do not understandTrusted Source exactly why people get migraine.

Most scientists believe that abnormal changes in a person’s brain cause it to become inflamed. This inflammation causesTrusted Source the activation of nerves and the release of neurochemicals, including serotonin and CGRP, which mediate pain. Migraine may also have a genetic cause.

At present, there is little scientific research into the causes of cyclic migraine specifically.

What can trigger cyclic migraine?

Several factors or events may trigger a migraine. These triggers can vary from person to person, and they may not always lead to migraine.

Multiple triggers together are more likelyTrusted Source to cause a person to have migraine. Some possible triggers include:

  • sleep disturbances
  • hormonal changes during a person’s menstrual cycle
  • missed meals
  • bright lights
  • loud noises
  • strong smells
  • stress
  • anxiety
  • relaxation after stress
  • changes in weather
  • alcohol, often red wine
  • excess caffeine or caffeine withdrawal
  • foods containing:
    • nitrates, compounds added to meats as preservatives or naturally occurring in several vegetables
    • monosodium glutamate (MSG), a flavor enhancer
    • tyramine, a naturally occurring substance present in certain foods
    • aspartame, an artificial sweetener

However, scientists have not published recent research into cyclic migraine triggers.

Read more about migraine triggers.

What are the risk factors for cyclic migraine?

Although scientists do not yet know what causes migraine, there are some common riskTrusted Source factors for the condition. Migraine is more common among females and people between the ages of 15 and 55 years. Migraine may often become less severe and less frequent as a person gets older.

People are more likely to have migraine if they have a close family member who has the condition. There is little formal research into the specific risk factors for cyclic migraine.

How do doctors diagnose cyclic migraine?

Doctors diagnose migraine using the following strategiesTrusted Source:

  • asking a person about:
    • their medical history
    • their migraine symptoms and location
    • how often they have migraine pain
    • how long have they had migraine pain for
    • whether their migraine pain occurs at any time of day
    • whether their migraine episodes have changed over time
    • any possible migraine triggers
    • any medication they take for it and how often
    • whether their migraine episodes seem related to sleep
    • any other symptoms
  • performing a physical examination
  • using imaging scans to rule out other conditions, under certain circumstances

For cyclic migraine, doctors would diagnose a person based on the frequency and patterns of their migraine.

What are the treatments for cyclic migraine?

There is little formal guidance on treatments for cyclic migraine specifically.

Older sources claim treatments for cyclic migraine include lithium. More current sources also state that lithium may help people with cyclic migraine. However, people taking this medication need careful professional monitoring of their blood level and thyroid function.

Other treatments for cyclic migraine may include some or all standard migraine treatments. These includeTrusted Source:

  • preventive medication to stop migraine episodes from occurring
  • acute medication to relieve migraine symptoms
  • steps to ease symptoms at home, such as:
    • resting with closed eyes in a quiet, darkened room
    • drinking lots of fluids, particularly when a person is also vomiting
    • placing a cool cloth or ice pack on a person’s forehead

Read more about migraine treatments.

Summary

People with cyclic migraine have migraine symptoms that occur in periods of weeks or months at a time. Outside of these cycles, they do not have migraine.

There is little recent formal research into cyclic migraine. Treatments and diagnosis methods for migraine may help people with cyclic migraine.

If the brain doesn’t feel pain, why do headaches hurt?

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The brain doesn’t have its own pain receptors, so why do headaches hurt so much?

Young african american man, sitting on the sofa at home, having a fever and headache and touching his forehead to check his temperature.

Why do our heads ache?

Headaches are extremely common and they can take many forms, ranging from mild to debilitating and lasting minutes to days. When your cranium is in pain, it’s easy to think your brain tissue itself must be hurting. But that’s not likely. 

Ironically, the brain senses pain throughout the body, but doesn’t actually have its own pain receptors. So why, then, do headaches hurt?

Headaches can stem from an underlying medical condition, for instance, swollen sinuses, low blood sugar or a head injury. But broadly speaking, most headaches arise due to “referred pain,” meaning you feel the pain in a different place than where it’s actually occurring, Dr. Charles Clarke (opens in new tab),  a neurologist and headache specialist at Vanderbilt Health in Tennessee, told Live Science. It’s similar to how a herniated disk in your back can cause sciatica, a pain down your leg. For most headaches, an issue somewhere else in the body — like the jaw, shoulders and neck — causes pain in the muscle and nerves around the brain, he said. 

Take tension headaches, which according to the World Health Organization (opens in new tab), are the most common type of recurring headaches. Tension headaches often occur as pain in the muscles across the top of your head or forehead, where a sweatband or a headband would sit, Clarke said. The pain is caused by tightened muscles in the face, neck and scalp and can be stress-related, according to the National Institute of Health (opens in new tab) (NIH). But the head pain and the tightening of cranial muscles can be secondary to another stress response, like tight shoulders or a clenched jaw, Clarke said. 

According to the NIH, pain-sensing nerves in the muscles and blood vessels around the head, neck and face can be triggered by different processes, such as enlarged blood vessels, stress or muscle tension. Once activated, these nerves send messages to the brain, but it can feel as if the pain is coming from deep within the brain tissue. 

Migraines are another type of headache, although technically, headache is just one symptom of the neurological disorder. Migraine headaches can be felt in a variety of ways and places: deep pain, surface pain; the back, left or right of the head; or behind the eyes. What sets migraines apart, Clarke said, is their severity. 

Migraine pain is more intense than other headaches and can be longer lasting. The disorder is often genetic and can cause additional symptoms, such as nausea. The underlying causes of migraines are not completely understood, but one theory is that the pain is linked to the trigeminal nerve, the sensory nerve for the head and face; and the dura, the brain’s protective layer where blood vessels expand and contract.

Concept illustration of brain analysis.
Pain-sensing nerves send messages to the brain. (Image credit: MR.Cole_Photographer via Getty Images)

One possible explanation for migraine pain is that an electrical event in the brain stimulates the trigeminal nerve pathways and sets off an inflammatory reaction (opens in new tab). The inflammation spreads through the dural blood vessels and the trigeminal nerve fibers send signals back to the brain stem (opens in new tab). The inflammation then spreads to pain-sensitive meninges — protective tissue around the brain — triggering a headache.

This cascade of inflamed blood vessels and irritated nerves is “a fire that’s burning out of control,” Clarke said. It’s like a feedback loop that becomes more and more irritated, causing the experience of a migraine to build, he said. This is why many migraine treatments work better if deployed earlier. 

While the relationships between pain around the body and head pain are well established, the mechanisms that cause headaches still aren’t fully understood, Clarke said. But the good news is that “we are very good at treating these,” he said. For instance, lifestyle changes, such as practicing yoga; over the counter medications, such as ibuprofen and aspirin; and prescription medication for more severe headache disorders can go a long way to reduce headache severity and frequency.

“If people need help [with headaches] we can often make them a lot better,” Clarke said.

7 Natural Remedies for Headaches

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(goodluz/Shutterstock)

Headaches are an extremely common complaint in our society and are often treated with “quick fix” pain medication. In fact, over half a billion dollars is spent annually on this type of remedy. What is in these drugs and are they doing us more harm than good? Are there more effective and natural remedies we can use to alleviate headaches?

Ingredients in Conventional Headache Medication

There are two main ingredients in the leading headache medications. These are acetysalicylic acid (aspirin) and acetaminophen (Tylenol). Today, an estimated 80,000 tons of these two ingredients are consumed each year.

The main side effects of acetysalicylic acid include gastrointestinal ulcers, stomach bleeding, severe abdominal or stomach cramps/pain/discomfort, heartburn or indigestion, bruising, confusion, dizziness, fainting, nausea or vomiting, buzzing or ringing in ears, tiredness or weakness, loss of hearing, allergic reaction, bleeding, etc.

The main side effects of acetaminophen include nausea and vomiting, appetite loss, sweating, diarrhea, irritability, abdominal pain, yellow eyes or skin, liver failure, kidney failure, heart problems, ulcers, bleeding in the digestive tract, coma, seizures, death, etc.

Please also note that these symptoms do not necessarily have to manifest instantly after taking these medications. Continuous use of these products can slowly wreak havoc on your system.

Causes of Headaches

In some cases, a headache may be a symptom of a more serious underlying disorder, but often headaches are caused by stress, dehydration, tiredness, poor posture, caffeine, alcohol, drugs, food allergy, eyestrain, sinusitis, poor nutrition, or low blood sugar.

Alternative Remedies

Ginger

Traditional Chinese herbal medicine recommends ginger for headaches. Eat a small piece of fresh ginger root or make ginger tea from the fresh root or tea bags.

Ginger tea in a white cup on wooden background

Coriander Seeds

An Aryuvedic treatment for sinus-related headaches is the steam inhalation of coriander seeds. Put the coriander seeds into a small bowl. Pour on some boiling water, drape a towel over your head and the bowl, and inhale the steam.

Celery

Celery contains phthalide which helps you to relax and be less anxious, which helps with pain. It is also rich in potassium in which many headache sufferers are deficient. Celery seeds can be used in smoothies/juices or soups. Taking 2 ounces of celery juice and then laying down for 30 minutes has proven to be a very effective remedy for headaches.

Herbal

Sitting down with a relaxing cup of mild herbal tea is often good for a tension headache. Good choices are peppermint, spearmint, chamomile, rose hip, lemon balm, or valerian root (which may induce sleep). Additionally, adding cayenne pepper to your tea can help.

Vitamins and Minerals

Frequent headaches could be a sign that you are low in some important vitamins and minerals. Low levels of niacin and vitamin B6 can cause headaches. For example, all the B vitamins are needed to help combat stress and avoid tension headaches. The minerals calcium and magnesium work together to help prevent headaches, especially those related to women’s menstrual cycles. Good sources of calcium are dark green leafy vegetables, such as kale or broccoli, and beans and peas. Magnesium is found in dark green leafy vegetables, cacao, nuts, bananas, wheat germ, full spectrum salts, beans, and peas.

Epoch Times Photo

Aromatherapy

The relaxing qualities of lavender oil make it a good treatment for a tension headache. This essential oil is very gentle and can be massaged into your temples, the base of your neck, or the base of your nostrils. Taking a bath with relaxing oils such as chamomile or ylang-ylang will also help to soothe and relieve pain.

Emotional Freedom Technology (EFT, aka Meridian Tapping)

The EFT tapping points align with particular acupuncture points along the meridians. EFT tapping techniques can help to remove emotional blockage in your body’s electrical or subtle energy system. EFT is referred to as “acupuncture without needles.” For more information on EFT and where to find your meridian points, please visit The Tapping Solution.

Breathing

To learn how to relax and cope with headaches, you need to become familiar with your own breathing patterns and change them in ways that will help you relax. We tend to hold our breath when we are anxious, stressed, or in pain. Below are a few relaxation exercises:

  • Rhythmic breathing: If your breathing is short and hurried, slow it down by taking long, slow breaths. Inhale slowly then exhale slowly. Count slowly to five as you inhale, and then count slowly to five as you exhale. As you exhale slowly, pay attention to how your body naturally relaxes. Recognizing this change will help you to relax even more.
  • Deep breathing: Imagine a spot just below your navel. Breathe into that spot, filling your abdomen with air. Let the air fill you from the abdomen up, then let it out, like deflating a balloon. With every long, slow exhalation, you should feel more relaxed.
  • Visualized breathing: Find a comfortable, quiet place where you can close your eyes, and combine slowed breathing with your imagination. Picture relaxation entering your body and tension leaving your body. Breathe deeply, but in a natural rhythm. Visualize your breath coming into your nostrils, going into your lungs, and expanding your chest and abdomen. Then, visualize your breath going out the same way. Continue breathing, but each time you inhale, imagine that you are breathing in more relaxation. Each time you exhale, imagine that you are getting rid of a little more tension.

These are just a few natural remedies. There are many more. However, prior to any of these recommendations, we should always ensure that we are getting enough pure water throughout the day. It seems simple, but dehydration is the leading cause of headaches. By simply drinking more water during the day, we may reduce the frequency of headaches and their debilitating effects. Please note that some of the food items mentioned, such as bananas, cacao, and nuts, can actually trigger headaches in some individuals. If this happens to you, don’t give up. With a little research, you will definitely be able to find the remedy that works best for you.

Trusting in Our Natural Ability to Heal

Our bodies are amazing designs. If we allow ourselves to trust the body’s ability to heal itself, the results will be astounding. Let’s treat our bodies with the respect and loving care they deserve. If we do, symptoms such as headaches will occur much less frequently.

Here’s When You Should See a Doctor About Your Headaches

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Headaches are a common ailment – so common, perhaps, that many of us just accept them as part of life.

“When I do routine physicals, I’ll ask about headaches,” says Michael Munger, a primary-care physician in Overland Park, Kan.

He is always surprised that many of his patients report frequent headaches when asked but never bring them up otherwise.

“Some people just live with it.”

Tension headaches, sinus headaches and migraine headaches are among the most common varieties.

Tension headaches affect 30 to 70 percent of the population, says Nauman Tariq, director of the Headache Center at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore.

These are usually mild and can be alleviated with nonprescription pain relievers.

Migraine headaches affect 12 to 27 percent of people, Tariq says.

These range in severity and frequency, “from two headaches a year to daily headaches,” he says.

Over-the-counter drugs are used for migraines, as are prescription drugs such as the triptan group of medications including Imitrex, Zomig and Maxalt.

Sinus headaches are a result of excess mucus in nasal passages and are typically associated with allergies, colds or flu. Antihistamines or decongestants can relieve the pressure and pain.

Munger, who is also the president of the American Academy of Family Physicians, says headaches often are innocuous, but they can be symptomatic of more-serious conditions such as brain tumors or aneurysms.

“You don’t want people to overreact, but you also don’t want them to underreact.”

So, should you see a doctor for your headaches?

It depends, of course, on frequency and severity – how much they interfere with your life and whether you can manage them through self-care or by taking over-the-counter analgesics such as aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen and naproxen.

However, these drugs come with their own risks.

“Over-the-counter drugs seem safe, but not so when they’re taken frequently,” Tariq says.

“Long-term or frequent use can be more damaging than the headache itself.”

For instance, aspirin and ibuprofen can cause gastrointestinal bleeding, ulcers and kidney problems with long-term use; Tylenol can cause liver damage with high doses.

When to see a doctor? Munger advises the rule of twos: “More than two headaches a week for more than two weeks.”

That rate of occurrence doesn’t mean it’s an emergency, he says, but it’s worth checking out.

A doctor’s visit is likely to include questions about the individual’s headaches – when they happen, what they feel like and what triggers them.

When headaches happen can lead to indications about triggers. Munger says patients often have some clue about these already.

“The goal is to avoid triggers,” Tariq says, citing some common ones (not all of which can be avoided): certain foods, dehydration, alcohol, sleep deprivation, weather changes, menstrual cycle, work and stress.

The location of pain on a patient’s head gives clues as to the type of headache. Tension headaches derive from muscle tension, and they “start at the back of the head, then radiate up and over the crown,” Munger says.

Sinus headaches, in contrast, tend to affect people on the face, commonly above or below the eyes. Migraine or vascular headaches often are localised to one side of the head and can be accompanied by nausea and visual oddities such as flashes and blind spots.

Munger says some patients report very specific locations for their migraines, such as “on the left side of my head over my ear”.

Doctors will look for red flags, too, asking about numbness or tingling, nausea, speech disturbances or memory problems. Such symptoms may indicate – or rule out – a more serious condition.

They may ask about conditions associated with headache. For instance, “50 percent of people with chronic headache also have anxiety and depression,” Tariq says.

“Addressing those issues, with psychotherapy and/or meds, can help headache.”

Your doctor may suggest a prescription medicine, such as a muscle relaxant for tension headaches or one of the migraine drugs. Steroid or antihistamine nasal sprays may be recommended for sinus headaches.

Drugs are not the only solution. Tariq says certain procedures interfere with the transmission of pain.

With a treatment called nerve block, an injected deadening agent – anesthetic, steroids or Botox – can quiet nerve activity.

Alternatively, neurostimulation techniques use vibration or cold to compete with pain messages, he says.

For tension headaches – or, as Munger calls them, muscle headaches – neck and shoulder massage can help, as can changing the position at your desk. Studies have shown the benefits of certain physical therapy techniques in easing headaches.

Stress relief plays a role, too, Munger says.

“If you’re under an inordinate amount of stress, try relaxation techniques such as yoga or meditation.”

Traumatic events increase headaches and migraines

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https://speciality.medicaldialogues.in/traumatic-events-increase-headaches-and-migraines/

Fabric softener is the #1 cause of indoor air pollution.

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Fabric softener ads often portray an image of comfort, freshness and sweetness. Yet most fabric softeners contain a grim list of known toxins which can enter your body through the skin and by inhalation, causing a wide range of health problems, particularly for young children.

Here are some of the harmful ingredients commonly found in liquid or sheet fabric softeners include:

• Chloroform: This substance was used as an anesthesia in the 1800s up through the early 1900s when its potential for causing fatal cardiac arrhythmia was discovered. A carcinogenic neurotoxin, it is on the EPA’s Hazardous Waste list. Inhaling its vapors may cause loss of consciousness, nausea, headache, vomiting, and/or dizziness, drowsiness. It may aggravate disorders of the heart, kidneys or liver. Its effects worsen when subjected to heat.

• A-Terpineol: Causes Central Nervous System (CNS) disorders, meaning problems relating to the brain and spine such as Alzheimer’s disease, ADD, dementia, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, seizures, strokes, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Early symptoms of CNS problems include aphasia, blurred vision, disorientation, dizziness, headaches, hunger, memory loss, numbness in face, pain in neck and spine. A-Terpineol also irritates the mucous membranes and, if aspirated into the lungs, can cause respiratory depression, pneumonia or fatal edema.

• Benzyl Alcohol: This upper respiratory tract irritant can cause central nervous system (CNS) disorders, headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and dramatic drops in blood pressure.

• Benzyl Acetate: This substances has been linked to pancreatic cancer. Its vapors can be irritating to eyes and respiratory passages and it can also be absorbed through the skin.

• Ethanol: Another fabric softener ingredient which is on the EPA’s Hazardous Waste list and linked to CNS disorders.

• Pentane: A chemical known to be harmful if inhaled.

• Ethyl Acetate: This substance, which is on the EPA’s Hazardous Waste list, can be irritating to the eyes and respiratory tract. It may also cause severe headaches and loss of consciousness, as well as damage to the liver and kidneys.

• Camphor: Another substance on the EPA’s Hazardous Waste list. It is easily absorbed through body tissue, causing irritation of eyes, nose and throat. Camphor can also cause dizziness, confusion, nausea, twitching muscles and convulsions.

• Linalool: A narcotic known to cause respiratory problems and CNS disorders. In animal testing, exposure to linalool has resulted in death.

• Phthalates: Used in scented products to help the scent last longer, phthlates have been linked to breast cancer and reproductive system problems.

• Limonene: This known carcinogen can cause irritation to eyes and skin.

• Also, if you follow a vegan lifestyle, you should be aware that many fabric softener sheets are made using tallow, a form of animal fat.

Manufacturers are aware that the products contain toxic chemicals. The packaging on many brands include a warning that the product should not be used on children’s sleepwear. Since some of the same brands also have large images of children and toys, however, consumers may miss the small print message.

Making your own fabric softener is very easy and cost effective . Additionally, using   homemade cleaning products helps keep harmful chemicals away. Vinegar is cheap and nontoxic. It naturally removes soap residue, and helps with static reduction during drying. Vinegar contains small amounts of sodium and  potassium, which help soften hard water. Homemade fabric softener ingredients are combined with water to make a solution you can store in a container and use each time you do the wash.

Natural  Homemade Fabric Softener

Ingredients

Mix ingredients together and pour into a storage container.

Migraines May Signal Vitamin Deficiency; What You Should Eat To Fortify Yourself Against Headaches

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Migraines symptoms strike like lightening in the heads of 38 million men, women, and children in America. The causes can be mysterious. But recent research presented at the 58th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Headache Society revealed that screening for vitamin deficiencies may be the key to unlock a quieter, calmer brain. Migraines can be debilitating. Every 10 seconds someone in the United States goes to the emergency room because of throbbing head pain, adding up to 1.2 million visits a day. When researchers tested 7,691 patients for vitamin deficiencies, they found those who suffered from frequent migraines were significantly more likely to have low levels of vitamin D, vitamin B2, folate, and co-enzyme Q10. Because each vitamin plays an integral role in producing energy in cells, researchers theorize that not getting enough needed vitamins could trigger a migraine, prompting the brain for help. Migraine “Further studies are needed to elucidate whether vitamin supplementation is effective in migraine patients in general, and whether patients with mild deficiency are more likely to benefit from supplementation,” said the study’s lead author Dr. Suzanne Hagler, a research fellow at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, in a statement.   Previously, a 2012 study linked magnesium deficiency to migraine. Those who suffer from migraines regularly have been found to have low levels of magnesium compared to those who don’t experience any migraines or headaches at all. Since then, doctors have recommended combining magnesium with a multivitamin when migraine symptoms first appear. These new findings may add to the list of necessary vitamins. It’s difficult to consume all of the dietary vitamins necessary to keep their body running efficiently, which is why many people turn to vitamin supplements for help. However, it’s best to try to weave in vitamin-rich food items in order to help stave off looming migraines. According to The National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements, vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium and is plentiful in salmon, tuna, swordfish, and also cheese and eggs. But the best options to turn to are either milk or orange juice fortified with vitamin D. Vitamin deficiencies could be the reason behind why millions of people suffer from migraines.Photo courtesy of Pixabay, public domain When it comes to vitamin B2, soybeans, spinach, turkey, almonds, and yogurt are ideal foods to incorporate into the diet. Folate is also found in many dark green vegetables like broccoli and spinach, along with chickpeas, beans, and lentils. Co-enzyme Q10 can also be found in broccoli, dark leafy greens, but also nuts, fish, shellfish, pork, chicken, and beef. Lastly, for a boost of magnesium, eat almonds, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, bananas, cashews, and flaxseed, and drink milk.