Migraines and Headaches + Original Articles

Study observing blind migraine patients explains why light worsens migraine headaches. Migraines affect more than 30 million individuals in the U.S. They are notoriously debilitating with symptoms including headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, fatigue and visual disturbances. It's long been known that light makes migraines worse, but the reason why has been unclear until recently.

If you think dehydration only occurs outside during the summertime, you're sorely mistaken. When you think of staying hydrated, the warm summer months may come to mind. And while it's important to avoid dehydration when working or playing outdoors in summer's heat, it's just as crucial to maintain appropriate fluid levels when the temperature falls and you spend more time in heated indoor environments.

Health professionals advise being cautious about the overuse of headache medication as this can result in making the headaches worse. Nearly 90 percent of men and 95 percent of women have had at least one headache in their lifetime, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and the American Council for Headache Education. With these figures and the fact that you are reading this article, chances are that you have experienced the discomfort and pain of a headache.

A study last year suggests that facial surgery that targets and removes small portions of migraine-triggering muscle or nerve tissue may offer permanent relief for some people suffering from migraines. More than 30 million Americans experience migraine headaches, according to The Migraine Research Foundation. Migraine ranks in the top 20 of the world's most disabling medical illnesse--with many sufferers living in fear knowing that at any time an attack could disrupt their ability to work or go to school, care for their families, or enjoy social activities.

Doctors and patients report that improving sleep habits can reduce the frequency and severity of migraine headaches. Migraines affect approximately 28 million people in the United States. They throb, they ache, and they can rob sufferers from their quality of life. There is a lot of research looking into how to help migraineurs--and sleep is turning out to be a major factor.

If you are suffering from migraine headaches, finding out what triggers them may be the best medicine. According to the National Headache Foundation, approximately 30 million people in the United States suffer from migraines. While many of those suffering from migraines may think of taking over-the-counter painkillers for some relief, finding out what triggers the migraine may be the better choice.

If you suffer from stress or tension headaches, find out what causes them and how you can prevent or effectively treat them. Got stress? Then you're probably no stranger to stress or tension headaches. According to the Cleveland Clinic, about 30 to 80 percent of Americans are plagued by occasional tension headaches, which afflict women two times more than men. These headaches cause considerable pain and can be debilitating.

Popular painkillers acetaminophen, ibuprofen and codeine may provide relief—but they can also cause serious side effects. When you have a headache or a pulled muscle, your first concern is relieving your pain. While common painkillers such as acetaminophen or codeine may stop your aches and pains, they can also cause severe side effects. Find out what they are and how you can avoid them.

Scientists discover that concussions can damage brain tissue and impair brain function. Find out more about these common injuries, prevention and treatment. Every year about one million people are rushed to the emergency room with head injuries, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Head injuries are also referred to as traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). The most common TBIs are concussions, which are the most minor as well.

With a little effort and planning, you may be able to head off your asthma headaches and keep your most uncomfortable symptoms well under control. If you experience frequent headaches and notice that your asthma symptoms usually appear along with your painful, throbbing head, you may wonder what the connection is. Some researchers do believe that headaches and asthma can be related-and if your asthma is allergic in nature, this can make the relationship even stronger.

When it comes to migraines, it can be difficult separating fact from fiction. Get the real story on the disease's biggest misconceptions. Millions of Americans are affected by migraines, but according to experts, the disease is often underdiagnosed, misdiagnosed, or simply misunderstood. Read on as we debunk the disorder's biggest myths. Myth: A migraine is just a severe headache. In reality, headaches are just one symptom of migraine disease.

Migraine pain can be excruciating, but with the right treatment, the condition can be controlled. Although it affects approximately 36 million Americans a year, migraine is often mischaracterized. More than simply a bad headache, migraine is a disease, and the painful headaches associated with it are one of the condition's telltale symptoms. These headaches may be preceded or accompanied by flashes of light, blind spots, or tingling in the arms or legs, as well as nausea, vomiting, or extreme sensitivity to light.

Millions of Americans are affected by migraines. Here, a look at this common neurological disease, from symptoms to treatment. At some point in their lives, 12 to 28 percent of people will be experience migraines, according to the European Journal of Neurology. What's more, in any given year, this common neurological disease will affect 6 to 15 percent of adult men, 14 to 35 percent of adult women, and approximately 4 to 5 percent of children under 12.

What is chemical or environmental illness and how can you lower your risk? It’s now common knowledge that many toxins are linked to medical conditions such as allergies, asthma or migraines. This awareness is driving many of us to go green in our homes, workplaces and communities. While some people may not experience immediate symptoms due to toxic chemical exposure, many others aren’t so lucky.

When most people have a fever or headache, they turn to aspirin or some other Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAID) to relieve their pain. When most people have a fever or headache, they turn to aspirin or some other Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAID) to relieve their pain. But if you are in the one percent of the population that has an aspirin allergy, you know that such medication may make you worse, instead of better.

Looking to ditch the prescription meds and go natural? Learn more about some methods, endorsed by the National Pain Foundation. If analgesic tablets or prescription painkillers aren't helping you manage your discomfort, it may be time to explore a more natural type of pain relief. There exists a range of therapies known as either complementary medicine (used in addition to traditional Western therapies) or alternative medicine (used in place of traditional Western therapies), and devotees have used them for conditions as minor as a headache and as major as cancer.

Plagued by painful headaches? Find out how to pinpoint their source so you can prevent and treat them. Headaches often strike when you least expect them--and they can range in severity from dull throbs and intense aches to debilitating pain. In fact, they land someone in the emergency room every 10 seconds, according to the American Headache Society. As if that weren't frustrating enough, oftentimes the direct cause of a headache is unknown.

Knowing the symptoms of bacterial meningitis could mean the difference between life and death. Headache, vomiting, fever, fatigue--to most people, these symptoms might sound a lot like the flu. But in some cases, they could indicate a much more serious condition: bacterial meningitis. According to the American College Health Association, meningococcal disease, the leading cause of bacterial meningitis, strikes 1,400 to 3,000 Americans each year, many of whom are young adults, adolescents, and children.

'Tis the season for allergies. Learn how keep them from spoiling your holiday fun. "It's the most wonderful time of the year," legendary singer Andy Williams and many others after him have crooned about the holiday season. Well, it may not be so wonderful if you're a seasonal allergy sufferer. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), three out of four adults experience an increase of allergy attacks including headaches, eye irritation and sinus congestion during the period from Thanksgiving through New Year's Day.

Could your teenager contract meningitis at camp, in the classroom, or at the college dorm? Here, what you can do to reduce your child's risks. It's every parent's worst nightmare: Their teenager returns home from camp or college with a fever, headache, and stiff neck--symptoms that sound a lot like the flu. But as it turns out, their son or daughter is suffering from a much scarier illness, meningitis.

If you've been diagnosed with sleep apnea, a good night's sleep may seem like a dream. Try these tips to get your Z's. While you were sleeping, you may have woken up hundreds of times without knowing it—if you have sleep apnea, that is. Experts put the number of Americans with sleep apnea between 12 and 18 million, including many who are untreated and undiagnosed.

There's more to Botox than just a pretty face. Doctors are now using the injectable to treat a variety of serious medical conditions. By now, you've probably seen advertisements for Botox—a popular injectable that relaxes targeted muscles to reduce or eliminate surface wrinkles, giving the skin a smoother, more refreshed appearance. But in recent years, scientists have found that there's much more to the drug than meets the eye.

Headaches are among the most common pain symptoms in the world. Learn about the different types of headaches and what causes them. At one time or another, nearly everyone has had a headache. In fact, 70 percent of people have had at least one in the past year. What's more, roughly 45 million Americans suffer from chronic headaches, a condition that costs U.S. companies billions of dollars in lost productivity annually.

Many people successfully kick the habit, and you can too. Here, the top 10 benefits of smoke-free living. Although the health risks associated with smoking are irrefutable, many people have difficulty butting out. After all, nicotine is a powerful drug, and when smokers quit, they can experience withdrawal symptoms ranging from anger and irritability to headaches and insomnia.