Most of the time we have headaches and some people think that they are just some small pain in the head. However, this is never the case. Whenever you feel that you are having some pain in the head, the best thing is usually to assume it is a headache and seek the best help possible. There are a lot of people that have gone on to assume them, only for them to realize later on when there is nothing more they can do to help themselves that the headache has manifested itself into something worse.
It is a fact that daily chronic headaches will definitely restrict many people from behaving and acting in the way they would love to do. There are times when you cannot even afford to go to work because of the headache, not even being able to spend quality time with family and friends. When the pain is such intense, at times it is simply a migraine. Contrary to popular belief, the answer to such headaches is not always drugs, especially since drugs usually are a way of building up dependence and addiction. Let us see how you can go about this without using drugs.
Research has revealed that migraines typically occur for a number of reasons, of which it is very easy to monitor and control them before they take control of your life. Basically, migraines are usually a resultant effect of either eating the wrong food, stress and drastic change in sleep pattern. These are some simple things that we do in our lives at times in our subconscious, but we are able to monitor and stop them. Once you are able to control yourself in such a way that you know when you are altering the normal body system, you will therefore be able to understand yourself better and as a result learn to deal with those pesky headaches.

Chronic Daily Headache

This is a series of articles that deals with Migraines and the challenges a family faces to find a cure. Migraines can have a hugely negative impact not only on the person suffering but also everyone involved. Hopefully other migraine victims will find helpful relief … if not within these articles from the resources available to date.

Part 1

My wife has a lifelong history of migraine headaches. Before meeting her I never knew anyone that suffered from migraines. But I still remember the first time I witnessed my wife with a full-blown migraine. We were just starting our day and I came into the bedroom to let her know that breakfast was ready.

At first I thought that she had stroke and was aphasic. Her speech was slurred and she had lost some muscle control on the left side of her face. Both my grandmother and mother had strokes. “What can I do to help?” “Are you having a stroke?” I asked franticly.

She slowly lifted her finger to her lips as she looked up. “Shhh … I’ve got a migraine.” I remembered hearing that people with migraines were very sensitive to light (photophobia) and sound (phonophobia). I quietly closed the Venetian blind and snuck out of the bedroom.

The Headaches of Family Life with a Migraine – Part 1

There are many different kinds of triggers, and every person has different ones.

You may have some triggers that start your headache attack at one time, and then these triggers can change. Triggers can be divided into different groups, including:

Emotional triggers: These are triggers that have to do with emotions and your state of mind. Some examples of emotional triggers are: family problems, problems at work, success at work or school, anticipation, anxiety, an emotional crisis, the post-crisis period, a new job, a new school, weekends, and so on.

Stress triggers: These have to do with physical effort, such as strenuous exercise, excessive physical work at the work place or at school, physical sickness, not enough sleep, too much sleep, and so on.

Environmental triggers: These triggers are responses to our surroundings. For example, bright lights, different kinds of aromas like perfume, tobacco, or any kind of odor. We can also include loud noises, altitude, weather, and barometric pressure changes. I have a patient who can predict rain two hours before it starts because of the barometric pressure change that triggers her headaches.

Chemical triggers: The most common chemical triggers are hormonal changes that occur during the premenstrual period, during a woman’s period, or during the post-menstrual period. These triggers are extremely common in women who suffer headache. But there are a variety of chemical triggers, such as low blood sugar that results after not having eaten for many hours. This is a very common trigger for headache.

Food and beverage triggers: Rarely do we connect our eating habits with headaches, but there is a strong relationship that often goes unnoticed. Some foods are commonly related to headaches.

• Some of the most common trigger foods are:
  • Hard cheese
  • Hot dogs
  • Chocolate
  • Nuts
• Less common food triggers are:
  • Smoked fish
  • Vinegar
  • Fermented food (cream, yogurt)
  • Freshly baked yeast products
  • Peanuts (and peanut butter)
  • Monosodium glutamate (commonly found in Chinese food)
  • Soybean
  • Onion
  • Canned figs
  • Citric food
  • Bananas
  • Pork
  • Caffeinated beverages
  • Avocado
  • Liver

I have noticed that a few of the above-mentioned triggers are more common than others. Bananas, pork, and Chinese food seem to be high on the list. You have to take into account that certain foods may serve as intermittent triggers, but once a food has affected you once, it becomes a risk factor. In addition, almost any alcohol drink may trigger a headache, but red wine is the most common culprit.

How Can You Recognize Your Triggers?

One of the most important aspects of headache treatment is your own control over your headache, and control starts with identifying your own triggers, and learning to avoid them.

I recommend writing down your triggers in a trigger diary. Each time you have a headache, try to relate it to one or more of the triggers that are listed above. At the end of the month you can sit down and analyze your results to see which are the most common triggers in your case.

Headache Triggers Revisited

When a drug is used for long periods of time and then suddenly discontinued, a person may suffer from withdrawal syndrome.  Drugs most commonly associated with withdrawal are those that produce a euphoric feeling for the user and include illegal drugs such as cocaine and heroine. Over the counter drugs can also produce withdrawal symptoms if used for prolonged periods of time or in improper dosages.

Withdrawal symptoms can include:

• Dysphoria or depression
• Severe Headaches
• Nausea
• Paranoia
• Weight Loss
• Changes in Blood Pressure
• Diarrhea
• Anxiety
• Abdominal Pain

Withdrawal symptoms vary depending on the individual and the drug that has been abused.  Opiate withdrawals can be radically different from alcohol withdrawals. The length of time that the individual has consumed the drug and their current state of physical health also play a critical role in the degree of withdrawal symptoms that manifest.
Withdrawal from opiates or alcohol should only be conducted under the supervision of trained professionals in a reputable center. Never attempt to assist an addict with withdrawal on your own.

Treating Drug Withdrawal Syndrome

Migraines are the number one side effect reported by women who use oral contraception. This is generally attributed to the fluctuation of estrogen levels in the body and occurs most frequently in women that are using combination estrogen-progestin pills. Although 20% of women who use contraceptives report migraine headaches, it can be difficult to diagnose the exact cause since women are more prone to migraine headaches and tend to fall into multiple risk profiles.

A study by the http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16150254 concluded that headaches that occur in the early cycles of contraceptive use tend to improve or disappear with continued use. The study also suggests that manipulating the extent or duration of estrogen withdrawal may provide some benefit as well.

If you believe that your migraine headaches are a side effect of oral contraceptives, then it is important that you consult with your physician to make sure that all of the risk factors are considered. You should also let your doctor know if you have a history of migraines prior to using any type of oral contraceptive. Many women who suffer from severe migraine headaches use not estrogen based forms of contraception.

Migraine Headaches Caused by Oral Contraceptives

Many people suffering from depression also report suffering from chronic headaches as well. This is not surprising since many of the same triggers for depression are also known triggers for cluster and migraine headaches. These include stress, lack of sleep, improper diet, and a lack of physical exercise. Luckily, many drugs prescribed for anxiety disorders and depression also relieve the symptoms of headaches. In some cases, physicians may even prescribe anti-depressants for headache treatment even though the patient is not suffering from depression.

There is no doubt that your state of mind can effect your health. A recent study on the correlation of abuse and headaches in women by the University of Toledo reported that, of the women who participated in the study, 42% of women who suffered migraines had recently experienced emotional abuse. The study suggested that physicians screen headache patients for a history of emotional and physical abuse before recommending a course of treatment. In addition, if a patient does not show improvement over the course of treatment, then the problems may be psychological rather than physiological.

Headaches and Depression: Common Causes and Treatments