Headaches, Migraines, and Other Pains
in the Head
Headaches are unpleasant pains in
your head that can cause pressure and aching. They can range from mild to
severe pain and usually occur on both sides of your head. Some specific areas
where headaches can occur include the forehead, temples, and back of the neck.
A headache can last anywhere from 30 minutes to a week. Tension headaches
aren’t the only type of headaches that occur. Other headache types include:
Cluster headaches are severely painful headaches that occur on one side of the
head and come in clusters. This means you experience cycles of headache
attacks, followed by headache-free periods. Often confused with migraines,
sinus headaches co-occur with sinus infection symptoms such as fever, stuffy
nose, cough, congestion, and facial pressure. These headaches are intense or
severe and often have accompanying symptoms in addition to head pain. Symptoms
associated with a migraine headache include nausea, pain behind one eye or ear,
pain in the temples, seeing spots or flashing lights, sensitivity to light
and/or sound, temporary vision loss, and vomiting. A migraine headache will
cause intense pain that may be throbbing and will make performing daily tasks
very difficult.
A migraine headache will cause
intense pain that may be throbbing and will make performing daily tasks very
difficult. Fortunately, most tension headaches will go away with
over-the-counter treatments. These include acetaminophen, aspirin, and
ibuprofen. Because most headaches are stress induced, taking steps to reduce
stress can help relieve headache pain and reduce the risk for future headaches.
These steps may be heat therapy––such as applying warm compresses or taking a
warm shower––massage, meditation, neck stretching, and relaxation
exercises. And sometimes for eye strain, cold is effective.
Doctors are not always sure what
causes migraines but there is a lot of help for the sufferer. First of all, some physicians believe that
headaches and migraines are inherited. Gluten,
dairy, and nitrates cause headaches and migraines. Artificial sweeteners can
not only cause headache and migraines but also lead to congestion and sinus
problems. Histamine intolerance caused by processed foods can cause low
levels of diamine oxidase in the bowels. Environmental allergies and
immune reactions not only cause those problems and gas, they can also lead to
headaches. Eliminating these products one at a time for a period
of two weeks can be the cure to a lot of your headaches. Charting how you
feel such as fogginess or other problems can also be helpful. And weather can be another factor. You may experience migraines when there are any
hormonal changes during menopause as well as any time during your menstrual
cycle or pregnancy. Some foods
and drinks––such as aged cheese, alcohol, and food additives like
nitrates (in pepperoni, hot dogs, lunchmeats) and monosodium glutamate (MSG)––may
be responsible for up to 30 percent of migraines.
Low magnesium levels have been
linked to migraines. Magnesium can affect the blood vessels in the brain, which
are a major cause in migraine headaches. Magnesium is also great for smooth
muscle relaxation. Cutting back on high histamine foods definitely decreases
migraine and headache occurrences. These foods include pickled items, vinegars,
fermented foods, leftover items, alcohol, and naturally occurring histamine
foods like avocado and tomato.
Stress can cause headaches for a
number of reasons. It disrupts our hormone balances and causes blood/sugar
problems and muscle tension. Chronic stress defaults the body into fight or
flight mode and we are never at a relaxed state to repair and regrow. Seeking
out times to relax and unwind is so important.
Many people have had success with meditation, prayer, and yoga. When we focus
on a positive and let all the other worries melt away, our bodies begin to
relax and repair.
Some pressure points for headaches and migraines include rubbing
the skeleton socket under the eyes, sides of the socket of the eyes, above the
forehead, behind the ears, on the upper sides of the head, back of the neck,
right above the shoulder blades, and the space between your fingers and your
feet. Taking your body and putting your
legs against the wall or a chair helps bring blood back to the brain and away
from your feet, legs, and upper torso.
There are many yoga moves that can help
with relaxation. Child’s pose calms the nervous system and is a great stress
buster. The standing forward bend calms
the mind. It also boosts blood supply to
the brain. The bridge poser calms the
brain and decreases anxiety. The two-legged
forward bend relieves a headache sensory overload. The lotus pose and twist as well as the cat-and-cow
downward dog pose brings blood circulation to the head and calms the mind.
Lastly, don’t feel afraid to talk to
your doctor. There are many types of
things you can do that can help, without a lot of medicine, including massages,
chiropractic care, and using a foam roller to eliminate pain. Remember, more than one-third of all
Americans have to deal with a headache or migraine often. You are not alone.
References:
Migraines Pinterest Board
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