SYMPTOMS

DIAGNOSIS

SELF-CARE

Begin Here 1. Do you have a fever, cold symptoms, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea? You may have the FLU or a COLD or GASTROENTERITIS, Yes the stomach flu.

Get plenty of rest a drink plenty of fluid Use over-the-count medicine to relieve and flu symptoms a for diarrhea.

No 2. Do you have a severe headache, stiff neck and vomiting, and does normal light hurt your eyes? You may have MENINGITIS, a serious infection of the fluid around your brain and spinal cord, or Yes INTRACRANIAL HEMORRHAGE, bleeding inside the brain.

EMERGENCY Se your doctor or go to emergency room ri away.

No 3. Have you injured your head or been knocked out recently? You may have a CONCUSSION, or a SUBDURAL HEMATOMA, a serious Yes condition caused by blood pushing on your brain.

URGENT See you doctor right away.

No 4. Do you have numbness, tingling or weakness in the arms and legs? No You may be having a STROKE. Yes

EMERGENCY Se your doctor or go to emergency room ri away.

5. Do you have pressure around your eyes, or do you have yellowish-green nasal discharge with a sore throat and a fever? Yes

You may have a SINUS INFECTION.

Treat fever, headac and sore throat with over-the-counter medicines, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. An over-the-counter decongestant and saline nasal spray m help relieve other symptoms. See you doctor if the pain becomes severe or your fever persists.

No 6. Do you have mild to You may have a TENSION moderate pain around HEADACHE. your temples and does the pain occur during times of stress or after you have been sitting Yes in one position for a long time?

Use over-the-count medicine, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, to relieve pain. Gettin plenty of rest, takin hot shower and applying ice packs painful areas may a help.

No 7. Do you have intense, throbbing pain, often with nausea or vomiting, and is the pain sometimes preceded by seeing flashing lights or spots? You may suffer from MIGRAINE headaches.

Yes

See your doctor. H she can diagnose y problem and may prescribe prescripti medicine for migrai In the meantime, us over-the-counter medicine, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, to relieve pain. You ca

also rest in a dark r and apply ice packs and gentle pressure painful areas.

What is a headache?

A Headache is defined as a pain in the head or upper neck. It is one of the most common locations of pain in the body and has many causes.

How are headaches classified?

Headaches have numerous causes, and in 2007 the International Headache Society agreed upon an updated classification system for headache. Because so many people suffer from headaches and because treatment sometimes is difficult, it is hoped that the new classification system will allow health care practitioners come to a specific diagnosis as to the type of headache and to provide better and more effective treatment. There are three major categories of headaches: 1. 2. 3. primary headaches, secondary headaches, and cranial neuralgias, facial pain, and other headaches

What are primary headaches?

Primary headaches include migraine, tension, and cluster headaches, as well as a variety of other less common types of headache. Tension headaches are the most common type of primary headache. Up to 90% of adults have had or will have tension headaches. Tension

 headaches occur more commonly among women than men. Migraine headaches are the second most common type of primary headache. An estimated 28 million people in the United States (about 12% of the population) will experience a migraine headache. Migraine headaches affect children as well as adults. Before puberty, boys and girls are affected equally by migraine headaches, but after puberty, more women than men are affected. It is estimated that 6% of men and up to 18% of women will experience a migraine headache in their lifetime. Cluster headaches are a rare type of primary headache affecting 0.1% of the population (1 in a 1,000 people). It more commonly affects men in their late 20s though women and children can also suffer these types of headache. Primary headaches can affect the quality of life. Some people have occasional headaches that resolve quickly while others are debilitated. While these headaches are not life-threatening, they may be associated with symptoms that can mimic strokes or intracerebral bleeding.

What are secondary headaches?

Secondary headaches are those that are due to an underlying structural problem in the head or neck. There are numerous causes of this type of headache ranging from bleeding in the brain, tumor, or meningitis and encephalitis.

4.

Relieving Tension Headaches Without Medication

A majority of headache sufferers have tension headaches. Besides using

traditional anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving medications, there are also other ways to reduce tension in your life so these headaches become a thing of the past.
Read More Other Treatment Options

Preventing Headaches Acetaminophen (Tylenol) Use Natural Headache Treatments

Headaches & Migraines

Avoiding Migraine Triggers
Friday May 6, 2011

Spring's arrival and summer just around the corner mean flowers blooming, longer days, lunches in the park -- and potential migraine triggers in the warmer forecast. As many sufferers know, changes in temperature and weather can spell trouble in the form of more migraine attacks, with certain seasons being especially bad for people over other times of the year. There are proactive ways to try and ward migraines off before they strike, however, and these tips for avoiding weather-related triggers are a great starting point.
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Stroke or Headache? When Migraine Symptoms Mimic Stroke Symptoms

Wednesday February 23, 2011

The video of reporter Serene Branson (KCBS-TV) slurring her speech and speaking gibberish while covering the Grammys has gone viral, making headlines all over the country. Many people wondered, did she have a stroke on air? Did she drink a little too much at the show? But during a follow up interview, Branson revealed that she suffered from a complex migraine. The symptoms of a complex migraine, slurred speech and slight numbness on the side of the face, mimic that of a stroke. According to Branson, she came down with a severe headache around 10PM. As she reviewed her notes, "the words on the page are blurry" and she noticed

that her "thoughts were not forming the way they normally do." While on air, there was an numbness on the right side of her face that prevented of her from saying what she wanted. While the symptoms of a complex migraine and a stroke may appear similar, the two conditions are different. A complex migraine is caused by an electrical malfunction in the brain, while stroke is caused by a restriction of blood to the brain. Also, the effects of a complex migraine are reversible. The symptoms only last up to an hour at the most. If you are feeling any of the symptoms of a severe migraine, especially for an extended period of time, don't hesitate to see a doctor.
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FDA Approves Botox for Chronic Migraine Treatment

Monday October 18, 2010

After a decade of study and debate, the Food and Drug Administration has finally approved Botox to treat chronic migraines. Patients who experience debilitating migraines 14 days a month or more may experience a reduction in their symptoms with injections in the face and neck of the drug, Allergan's onabotulinumtoxinA, which was originally created to reduce wrinkles by inducing muscle contractions. The FDA's new recommendation says that treatment every 12 weeks should be sufficient for chronic migraine sufferers.

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Study IDs Possible Genetic Link to Migraines

Wednesday September 1, 2010

As one in six women and one in 12 men well know, a cure for migraines would mean relief from debilitating pain. In fact, the World Health Organization ranks migraines 19th among all causes of "years lived with disability." That's why it's a big deal that an international team of researchers, having

studied data from 50,000 people, identified a genetic risk factor associated with common migraines. The DNA variant in question affects the regulation of the neurotransmitter glutamate. It seems that this variant's effect is to thwart the clearance of glutamate from the synapses, potentially resulting in a migraine-inducing neurotransmitter buildup. Needless to say, these findings have the potential to affect migraine treatments down the line.

A headache is experienced when various structures of the head and neck are irritated. The sensation of pain can be referred, which means the irritation in one area can transmit the feeling of pain via associated nerves to another area. A good example is neck pain leading to headache. It is likely that nearly all of us will experience headache during our lifetimes. This is because headache is one of the most common illnesses in Australia, with around 15 per cent of us taking painkillers for a headache at any given time. There are different types of headache and many different causes, which explains why the condition is so common. Recurring headache can be caused by different factors working together.

Stress and muscular tension

Stress is thought to trigger the bodys fight or flight response, which is characterised by shallow breathing, elevated heart rate and blood pressure, and increased amounts of stress chemicals like adrenaline. Stress can cause or worsen a headache in a number of ways, including: 5. Tightening the muscles, particularly of the upper back, shoulders, neck and head. 6. Lowering a persons tolerance to pain. 7. Nullifying the effects of medications like painkillers. 8. Reducing the levels of endorphins, which are the bodys natural painkilling chemicals.

Diet and food sensitivities

According to some studies, what we eat and when we eat it plays a significant role in headache and migraine. Different causes of headache include: Fluctuations in blood sugar levels, which can lead to spasm of the arteries in the head. Caffeine withdrawal, commonly caused by regular and excessive consumption of coffee and tea. Food additives, such as MSG (monosodium glutamate). Naturally occurring chemicals in foods, such as amines.

Jaw problems

Dental abscesses, post-extraction infection and difficulties with the joint of the jaw can cause pain in the local area, as well as referred pain to the face and head. Misaligned teeth can also increase muscular tension in the jaw and contribute to recurring headache.

Hormonal influences
Migraines affect more women than men, and some researchers believe that sex hormones play a key role. For around half of these women, migraine occurs in the few days prior to or following their menstrual period. Some studies suggest that reduced levels of the sex hormone oestrogen around the time of menstruation may be to blame.

Eye problems
If a person has difficulties with their vision, such as long-sightedness, they tend to squint and strain the eye muscles in order to better focus their vision. Eye diseases like glaucoma can cause headache by referring pain into the structures of the head.

Ear, nose and throat disorders

There are many disorders of the ear, nose and throat that can cause recurring headache. Some of the more common include: Sinus problems - caused by infection, cold, flu or allergic reactions such as hayfever. Labyrinthitis - the general term for any type of inflammation of the inner ear. Infection - of the ear, nose or throat, caused by either bacteria or viruses. Trauma - such as blows to the ear, or perforation of the ear drum. Hayfever - when the immune system overreacts to such irritants as pollen. Tonsillitis - an infection most often caused by the bacterium streptococcus. Tumours - brain tumour is a relatively rare cause of recurrent headache.

The nervous system

Irritated, inflamed or damaged nerves can bring on headache. Some causes include: Haemorrhages - some health conditions, such as hypertension (high blood pressure) and diabetes, can cause the blood vessels to become damaged.

 Infection - such as meningitis, which is inflammation of the membranes lining the brain and spinal cord. Nerve damage - can be caused by, for example, vitamin deficiencies or trauma to the head or neck. A tumors may also be to blame.

Medications and rebound headache

Some medications can aggravate headache in susceptible people, including: Birth control pills - such as the combined pill, which includes synthesised versions of the sex hormones oestrogen and progesterone. Painkillers - some over-the-counter medications can contribute to recurring headache if misused or overused. Drugs for diabetes - some classes of these medications can aggravate headaches.

Other causes
Headache and migraine can be caused or aggravated by a number of other factors, including: Poor posture - which puts unnecessary strain on the muscles of the back and neck. Hangover - caused by abuse of alcohol or drugs. Temperature - extremes of heat and cold. Dehydration - which affects blood pressure. Noise - especially loud noises. Temporal arteritis - inflammation of the artery at the temple, most common in elderly people.