Smoking And Headaches

Headaches can be triggered by smoking in the following ways:

- Nicotine present in tobacco can enlarge blood vessels in the brain that will press on the nerves, bringing on a headache.

- Headaches can also be caused by enlarged blood vessels due to irritation in the nose and throat, which is true for people who are highly sensitive to smoke.

- The nerves located at the back of the throat can also be stimulated by smoking, which can worsen a headache in progress.

Second Hand Smoke

The smoke from cigarettes, tobacco, cigars and pipes can be considered as even worse than other known types of fumes, mainly because they take some time to dissipate. The longer they take to dissipate, the longer they linger more in the air. The smoke eventually clings to clothes, hair, drapes and furniture. The more time we are in contact with the smoke increases the probability for irritation to occur, and for a headache to be triggered.

What Can Be Done

If you get headaches from smoking, you can request your friends and loved ones not to smoke whenever you are around. Encouraging them to entirely give up smoking is even better, as it will prove beneficial to everyone's health.

Smoking and Cluster Headaches

Cluster headaches seem to be primarily triggered by smoking; it is interesting to note that many cluster headache sufferers are also smokers. One noteworthy improvement as seen in a study of headache sufferers showed that as much as 50% cut their incidence of headaches by just smoking less than a half a pack a day, making improvement possible even without giving up smoking.

Smoking and Stress

Many people think that smoking helps them deal with stress, and they use this reason to justify their smoking. They know that stress is known to trigger migraines or headaches -- so why bother exchanging one trigger for another?

According to Allen Carr, who runs the EasyWay to give up smoking, the cigarettes themselves are actually causing the stress. In order to relieve the stress of waiting, stubbing out one cigarette just creates a need for the next one. Those who have used this method to quit mention that ever since they stopped, they are less stressed out.

Treatment for Headaches Triggered by Smoking

Treatment for smoking-induced headaches can use the same painkillers and medications for other types of headaches, but the best treatment of all is to simply stop smoking.

Smoking is now banned in many places worldwide in an attempt to encourage people to quit smoking. Even restaurants and bars, which were once thought of as safe places to smoke, have now become smoke-free areas.

The smoking ban will make a lot of difference for those who frequently get headaches from cigarette smoke, and maybe even persuade other places to clean up their air. New Jersey, which doesn't impose a ban on smoking, was shown in a recent study to have levels of indoor air pollution that were nine times as much as New York, which has the ban in effect.

Other Methods

If you do not think you can stop smoking cold turkey, their are lots of options available to aid your craving for nicotine, and to gradually ease your way to stopping smoking altogether. You can try out the following methods:

- Nicotine patches
- Nicotine chewing gum
- Nicotine inhalers
- Nicotine microtabs
- Hypnotherapy
- Acupuncture
- Allen Carr’s EasyWay

What Is A Migraine Headache?

A migraine is different from a regular headache. A migraine is usually very severe, with pain on only one side of the head. It is often accompanied by extreme sensitivity to light and nausea and vomiting. Migraines are a recurring condition. Some people may have one several times a month, while some may only have one or two a year. But when a migraine happens, it can be disabling.

It is estimated that 1 in 100 people suffer from migraines. Research on migraines in the past focused on changes in the blood vessels in the brain. However, new research is being done that points to changes in the brain itself. Scientists believe that the cause of a migraine involves a complex mix of chemical changes in the brain with various nerve pathways. They are still not sure what the exact chain of events are that cause a migraine, but believe that it can be triggered by such things as stress, environmental factors, or certain foods.

There are two types of migraines. There are those with auras or those without auras. Most people will have migraines without the auras. This is called the common migraine.

If you have migraines with auras you will see flashes of light, blind spots in your vision, zigzag lines in your vision and sometimes have tingling sensations in your arms or leg. These auras usually start about 15 to 30 minutes before the migraine start and serve as a good warning sign. On occasion, the aura can last throughout the duration of the migraine.

If you have migraine headaches, you probably know what helps the pain. Everyone is different when it comes to pain relief. Some people just want to lie down in a dark, quiet, room and sleep it off. Others will take medication developed especially for migraine headaches. It is important to note, that if you suffer from migraines and haven't been to the doctor for treatment of them lately, it may be a good idea to see your doctor. There are a lot of new medications available for migraines now that weren't available ten years ago.

Children can have migraines, too. Their migraines may have started in adolescence or early adulthood. There have been incidences of migraines in children as young as 1. The good news is, migraines in children don't last as long and they typically grow out of them. With children the migraine will usually cause pain on both sides of the head. Children can also have nausea, vomiting and extreme sensitivity to light and sound, but have no headache pain. This type of migraine is especially difficult to diagnose and can be very frightening for the parents.

If you have migraines talk to your doctor about treatment. Eat healthy and drink plenty of water. Try to get adequate rest and reduce the stress in your life, if possible. Don't let the thought of having another migraine headache interrupt your life.

What You Need to Know About Allergies and Headaches

Migraine sufferers usually think that certain foods like cheese, chocolate, red wine, caffeine and monosodium glutamate (MSG) used in types of Chinese food can trigger an allergic reaction that can bring on an attack. This isn't entirely true, as it's more of a bad reaction than an allergy. While these foods can indeed cause headaches, each individual's bodily make-up is unique, with others having a body chemistry that tends to release irritating substances when some foods are eaten.

In general, allergies by themselves don’t cause headaches, with some notable exceptions like Hay fever, which is one of the worst allergies. Hay fever is a true allergy in the sense that your body launches a massive, aggressive immune response to combat the danger it perceives when pollen is inhaled. The same holds true for dust, mold and animals, which can cause other true allergies.

The truth in all of these situations is that the headache is actually caused by the inflamed nasal passages and sinuses brought on by the allergy, commonly known as sinusitis. People who suffer from sinusitis often lose sleep, are unable to work and just feel too miserable to indulge in leisure activities. And since the problem lies with the sinuses, buying over-the-counter allergy medications won’t really help at all, so it's highly recommended that a doctor should be consulted at this point.

Sinusitis Symptoms

Sinusitis can be properly identified through its various symptoms, which can range from feeling ill with a headache or the presence of nasal discharge that is usually a yellow green color, to a general feeling of stuffiness and tiredness. A fever may also be present if the sinus infection has been going on for some time.

Acute and Chronic Sinusitis

Acute sinusitis is generally short-lived but still very unpleasant to have; acute sinusitis is most likely present in people who suffer from allergies, or can be caused by bacterial infection, such as the ordinary cold. If the source of allergy is removed, acute sinusitis could resolve itself; otherwise, acute sinusitis can persist and eventually become chronic sinusitis, which lasts longer. Chronic sinusitis, a more a difficult condition to treat, tends to recur several times within the year.

Treatment for Sinusitis

It's always a good idea to see your doctor if you think you may have sinusitis. Treatment will generally involve antibiotics, which will usually clear the problem up fast. If your sinusitis becomes chronic, your doctor will recommend seeing an immunologist who is an allergy specialist.

In order to make a proper diagnosis, a complete medical history and appropriate tests will be required to specifically tailor your allergy treatment. Sinusitis should be treated as soon as possible because it can cause further problems with the nose, eyes and middle ear for months, or even years. It is best to consult your doctor if you have any doubts.

Vertigo Treatment

When to Seek Medical Care

Any signs and symptoms of vertigo warrant an evaluation by your doctor. The majority of cases of vertigo are harmless. And although vertigo can be extremely debilitating, it is easily treated with prescription medication. Have your doctor check out any new signs and symptoms of vertigo to rule out any potentially serious or life-threatening causes.

Certain signs and symptoms of vertigo may require evaluation in a hospital's emergency department:

• Double vision
  
• Headache
  
• Weakness
  
• Difficulty speaking
  
• Abnormal eye movements
  
• Altered level of consciousness, not acting appropriately, or difficulty arousing
  
• Difficulty walking or controlling your arms and legs
  

Exams and Tests

The evaluation of vertigo consists primarily of a medical history and physical exam.

• The history is comprised of 4 basic areas. The doctor will ask you about the following areas:
  
  
  • During the exam, the doctor will want to find out if true vertigo exists. The doctor will want to know if you feel any sensation of motion. Report any nausea, vomiting, sweating, and any abnormal eye movements.
    
    
  • The doctor will ask about how long you have had symptoms and whether they are constant or come and go. Do the symptoms occur when you move or change position? Are you currently taking any new medications? Has there been any recent head trauma or whiplash injury?
    
    
  • Are there any other hearing symptoms? Specifically, report any ringing in the ears or hearing loss.
    
    
  • Do you have weakness, visual disturbances, altered level of consciousness, difficulty walking, abnormal eye movements, or difficulty speaking?
  
  
• The doctor may perform special tests such as a CT scan if a brain injury is suspected to be the cause of vertigo. The use of blood tests, specifically to check blood sugar levels, and the use of an ECG to look at the heart rhythm may also be helpful.
  

Self-Care at Home

Home therapy should only be undertaken if you have already been diagnosed with vertigo and are under the close supervision of a doctor.

Medical Treatment

The choice of treatment will depend on the diagnosis.

• Vertigo can be treated with medicine you take by mouth, through medicine placed on the skin (as a patch), or drugs given through an IV.
  
  
• Specific types of vertigo may require additional treatment and referral:
  
  
  • Bacterial infection of the middle ear requires antibiotics.
    
    
  • For Meniere disease, in addition to symptomatic treatment, people might be placed on a low salt diet and may require medication used to increase urine output.
    
    
  • A hole in the inner ear causing recurrent infection may require referral to an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist for surgery.
  
  
• In addition to the drugs used for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, several physical maneuvers can be used to treat the condition.
  
  
  • Vestibular rehabilitation exercises consist of having you sit on the edge of a table and lie down to one side until the vertigo resolves followed by sitting up and lying down on the other side, again until the vertigo ceases. This is repeated until the vertigo is no longer inducible.
    
    
  • Particle repositioning maneuver is a treatment based on the idea that the condition is caused by small stones in the inner ear. Your head is repositioned to move the stones to their normal position. This maneuver should be repeated until the abnormal eye movements are no longer visible.

Vertigo

Vertigo is the feeling that you or your environment is moving when no movement occurs. Imprecisely called dizziness, the term vertigo is the specific term used to describe an illusion of movement. Unlike nonspecific lightheadedness or dizziness, vertigo has relatively few causes.

Vertigo Causes
Vertigo can be caused by problems in the brain or the inner ear.

• Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common form of vertigo and is characterized by the sensation of motion initiated by sudden head movements.
• Vertigo may also be caused by inflammation within the inner ear. This is known as labyrinthitis. This condition is characterized by the sudden onset of vertigo and may be associated with hearing loss.
• Meniere disease is composed of a triad of symptoms: episodes of vertigo, ringing in the ears, and hearing loss. People have the abrupt onset of severe vertigo, fluctuating hearing loss, as well as periods in which they are symptom-free.
• Acoustic neuroma is a type of tumor causing vertigo. Symptoms include vertigo with one-sided ringing in the ear and hearing loss.
• Vertigo can be caused by decreased blood flow to the brain and base of the brain. Bleeding into the back of the brain is known as cerebellar hemorrhage and is characterized by vertigo, headache, difficulty walking, and inability to look toward the side of the bleed. The result is that the person's eyes gaze away from the side with the problem. Walking is also extremely impaired.
• Vertigo is often the presenting symptom in multiple sclerosis. The onset is usually abrupt, and examination of the eyes may reveal the inability of the eyes to move past the midline toward the nose.
• Head trauma and neck injury may also result in vertigo, which usually goes away on its own.
• Migraine, a severe form of headache, may also cause vertigo. The vertigo is usually followed by a headache. There is often a prior history of similar episodes but no lasting problems.

Vertigo Symptoms

It is very important to determine if vertigo truly exists. Vertigo implies that there is a sensation of motion either of the person or the environment. This should not be confused with symptoms of lightheadedness or fainting.

• To determine if true vertigo exists, you must describe a sensation of disorientation or motion. In addition, you may also have any or all of these symptoms:
  
  
  • Nausea or vomiting
    
    
  • Sweating
    
    
  • Abnormal eye movements
  
  
• The duration can be from minutes to hours and can be constant or episodic. The onset may be due to movement or change in position. It is important to tell your doctor about any recent head trauma or whiplash injury as well as any new medications you may be taking.
  
  
• You may have hearing loss and a ringing sensation in your ears.
  
  
• You might have visual disturbances, weakness, difficulty speaking, decreased level of consciousness, and difficulty walking.