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 4

Patience, sacrifice and diligence: these three distinguishing qualities are helpful in any endeavor in life. When trying to unravel the enigma surrounding migraines … patience, sacrifice and diligence are indispensable. Don’t rule out anything as a possible trigger. There are some excellent articles on triggers on this website.

The only thing I would add in regards to triggers is that sometimes there is a synergistic pattern of not just one, but multiple triggers that exacerbates the onset and duration of a migraine. For example maybe chemical changes could sometimes trigger a mild migraine or no migraine at all – while the addition physical stress or emotional triggers in conjunction with certain foods would guarantee the onset of a migraine.

This is where the daily use of a journal to identify possible triggers is invaluable. Not only do you want to include your diet and medications but anything that is going on and how you feel about the events occurring in your life – especially when you start your doctor’s prescribed medication to treat your migraines. As a woman you might discover that while on a certain type of birth control medication attributes to the onset of your migraine. However, when you add in the stress of children (yours or others’), divorce, family problems, work, etc. to birth control pills you have a “whopper-doozie” migraine cocktail.

The Headaches of Family Life with a Migraine – Part 4

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 2

While my wife was recuperating from her migraine I searched the internet. Upon further investigation I discovered that the onset or cause of migraines is idiopathic, meaning that triggers can be spontaneous and unknown or obscure at best.

In addition to triggers there are four phases of a migraine: the prodrome phase; the aura phase; the pain phase and the postdrome phone. Even though there are four phases not every person that suffers from a migraine experiences each one.

In my wife’s case we later discovered she does not typically experience the prodrome phase, but during the aura phase she feels a dull pain behind her left eye. Also, migraines can last from a few hours to as long as 3 days during the pain phase and be accompanied with a migraine hangover also know as the postdrome phase.

My wife gingerly emerged from the bedroom around dinnertime, which was eight hours later. We discussed her migraine and I found out that she has a history of migraines since she was very little. We agreed to schedule a doctor’s visit to see if help was available.

The Headaches of Family Life with a Migraine Part 2

Cluster headaches affect approximately one in one thousand people and are among the most painful types of headaches.

cluster headache

Sufferers of chronic cluster headaches have been known to have nine or more headaches in a day. The pain is located around the eye socket and temple and is so severe that the condition is considered a neurological disease since many chronic cluster headache sufferers eventually kill themselves.

The exact causes of cluster headaches are not known and therapies vary according to the patient. Over the counter medications often prove ineffectual so many cluster headache sufferers take any number of medications including ranging from inhaling pure oxygen, to taking beta-blockers and anti-depressants. Some more traditional methods that have worked include inhaling pure oxygen, caffeine, exercise, taking hot showers, and even sex.

Relieving Cluster Headaches

A recent study suggests that obese children may be at a much higher risk of experiencing headaches than their peers. The study of over 900 children and teens revealed that as the body mass index of the children lowered, the occurrence of headaches decreased.

BMI, or body mass index, has long been linked to increased frequency in chronic headaches among adults.  The study, conducted by the Headache Center at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, concluded that although there has been no causal link established between obesity in children and headaches there may be substantial environmental conditions that are common in both conditions. In other words, poor lifestyle choices are likely to effect health even at an early age.

Overweight Children at Risk for Headaches

There are several different kinds of headaches. The most common type of headache is the tension headache.

The exact cause of these types of headaches is unknown, but there are several factors that have been shown in many cases to cause or at least play a part in tension headaches. This includes things like caffeine withdrawal, eye strain, and stress. Other things like teeth clenching, which results in muscle tension, and other strains on the muscles, has been also been shown to play a part in these types of headaches.


Even though the exact cause of a tension headache is unknown, the pain is real. It is often described as a steady throbbing or pressure on the head. The pain is generally less severe than a migraine. They also vary in duration, with some only lasting for only a few minutes. While most tension headaches only last a few hours, they can last for several days.

Many people report having 1 or 2 headaches a month. At this frequency the headaches are referred to as episodic tension headaches. People that experience more than 15 headaches a month are said to suffer from chronic tension headaches. Chronic tension headaches are harder to treat than traditional headaches, which generally respond well to over the counter headache medicines.

While caffeine withdrawal has been shown to be a factor in tension headaches, it can also be used to help cure them. Tension headaches are known to respond well to a combination of over the counter medicine, like aspirin or ibuprofen, and caffeine. There are several over the counter medicines available that include a combination of aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol), and caffeine. Generally, they use a little bit less caffeine than is found in a brewed cup of regular coffee. Aspirin can have some negative side effects, so make sure to consult your doctor.

Tension Headaches

Headaches can be caused by a variety of factors. One of the more common causes of headaches is as a result of dehydration. Dehydration is when the body looses water, which is not replenished. Things like heavy exercise or extreme heat can overheat the body and cause dehydration. In some instances dehydration can cause death or serious illness, but this is only if it goes untreated.One of the early signs of dehydration is a headache. When your body is not properly hydrated, it begins to pump blood to the brain to compensate for the loss of fluids. This causes the blood vessels that are closest to your brain, specifically the ones near the eyes and temples, to expand with blood. This expansion causes the area in and around the temples to begin to throb, and often signals the beginning of a bad headache.

It is very important to stay properly hydrated, and by doing so you can prevent headaches that are caused by dehydration. One common misconception is that caffeinated soda and coffee is hydrating, but this is anything but true. Caffeine is actually a diuretic, which increases the release of urine from the body. As you loose water without replenishing it, your body begins to become dehydrated.

Water is by far the best fluid to hydrate your body. There are plenty of other drinks available that can help with dehydration, and many include extra nutrients and vitamins. When you start to feel a headache, or that familiar throb, it is a good idea to begin hydrating your body with water.

Dehydration and Headaches

Headaches are one of the most common physical ailments and are experienced at some point by nearly everyone. 1 in 6 adults suffer from chronic headaches and nearly 50 billion dollars a year is spent in treating headache related symptoms, much of which is covered by http://www.allaboardbenefits.net/ plans.

Eye strain is a major trigger of headaches for a large percentage of the population. Much of the problem is no doubt due to the amount of time that we all spend in front of television and computer screens both on the job and at home. Although not usually a long term problem, the resulting pain can be very uncomfortable and may effect your productivity.

A few ways to avoid computer related eye strain:

• Take frequent breaks – Look away from the computer screen frequently and focus at object at different distances.
• Blink as much as possible – This will prevent dry eyes. Eyes require lubrication from the tear ducts to work efficiently.
• Use appropriate eyewear – Make sure your prescription is right for computer work. This includes glare resistant coatings and getting yearly eye exams.

If you experience eye strain related headaches frequently and over a long period of time, this could be a indicator of a more serious condition. A more intensive test, such as a CAT scan, may be in order. Be aware that many http://www.allaboardbenefits.net/insurance-library/vision-insurance.html will not cover the cost of this, so it may be necessary to seek a referral to a specialist if you suspect that your headache is the result of more than just tired eyes.

Preventing Headaches Due to Eye Strain

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

A migraine headache may make you think that you have come to the end of the world. Nothing seems to make it better, and everything seems to make it worse. Some people have migraine headaches that last for days without relief. If you are prone to migraines, then there are a few tips that you can do to help relieve the pain associated with a migraine headache. While all things will not work for all people, there just may be something that will help you individually. Just as all people are different, all migraines are different also, and something that helps one person, may not necessarily help others. However, there are several methods for instant relief that you can try, and one of them is bound to work for you.

• Migraines may be caused by fluctuating levels of serotonin in the bloodstream. When levels decrease, blood vessels swell. This causes the characteristic throbbing pain generally associated with migraines. Constricting the blood vessels to decrease this swelling will often help. Often, applying a cold compress to your forehead and the back of your neck at the onset of a migraine will lessen or alleviate the pain.
• Another idea is to dip your fingers into ice cold water and apply pressure to your temples. You can try an ice massage, by dipping your fingers into cold water, and simply massaging your temples to help lessen the pressure and relieve some of the pain.
• Migraines are often triggered by stress. Explore stress management techniques as a preventative measure or remove yourself from stressful situations that routinely trigger the onset of a migraine.
• Engage in regular aerobic exercise. Exercising will help to regulate the blood flow throughout your body and help you reduce stress. Even 15 minutes of brisk walking can drastically reduce the number and severity of migraine headaches.
• Migraine sufferers know that lights and sound are a migraine headaches worst enemy. If you are suffering from a migraine, then pull your curtains, turn out the lights, and keep all noise to a minimum. Having just a simple dark, quiet rest will often relieve the pain, and the relaxation may make the migraine dissipate much sooner.
• Migraine medication – There are medications that can prevent or reduce the severity of migraines. If you are experiencing more than 1 or 2 migraines a week, you should see your physician.
• Know your triggers and avoid them – There are many foods that may trigger migraines and they are different for different people. Keep a meal journal and document everything you eat for the next 2 weeks. Whenever you experience a migraine, look at the foods you have eaten in the last 4 hours and consult our headache trigger chart to see which headache triggers to avoid. Chances are, you have eaten at least one of the foods on this list.

7 Ways to Relieve Migraines Headaches