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Headaches (HA) are a common condition that many people suffer from. Headaches are sometimes the sign of a more serious medical condition, but often they are not serious in themselves. There are different classifications of headaches; the common ones are tension headaches, migraine headaches and cluster headaches. However, it is been postulated that headaches are on a continuum and perhaps more related than originally thought. Many believe that changes in the neurotransmitter serotonin are the basis for most headaches regardless of type. These changes may be triggered by food sensitivities, stress, hormones, medication or other chemical toxicities. Differentiation
of Headaches It is still not truly known what causes migraine headaches (MHA). Some theories are that they are caused by blood vessels changes in the head; another theory is that there is a change in the electrical function of the nervous system. There are 2 main classifications of MHA: a classic migraine with an aura, and a common migraine without an aura. MHA types that are more rare are ophthalmoplegic which can produce double vision and eye pain (also called ocular or retinal migraine), menstrual (also called catamenial) migraine, and basilar migraine which has symptoms of brainstem dysfunction similar to a stroke (also called hemiplegic). Over 50% of people with MHA have a family history of them. Most people develop MHA between the ages of 10-40 years old, and women suffer MHA more often than men. Estrogen is thought to play a role in migraines, and especially the use of oral contraceptives. Cluster HAs are more commonly experienced in males, men are affected seven to eight times more often than women; and hereditary factors are usually absent. Many people with cluster headaches are heavy consumers of alcohol, and alcohol consumption has been reported to bring on cluster headache attacks. Cluster HAs are thought to be a vascular headache syndrome much like a migraine. Stress is also a factor; it is the most frequent cause reported by migraine suffers to trigger a MHA. Certain foods can sometimes trigger MHA: Foods containing the amino acids tyramine or phenylalanine, aged cheese, wine, chocolate and cashew nuts; and monosodium glutamate. Changes in weather, especially barometric pressure, can also trigger a MHA. Symptoms
of Headaches MHAs can start with small flashes of light, known as auras, on the periphery of vision. Sometimes in an aura the visual disturbance will appear as dark spots instead of light. Depression, irritability, restlessness or digestive disturbance may be present as well. MHA’s are typically one sided, with pain that can be described as throbbing, stabbing, and severe. The pain is worse with movement and exertion, and there is increased sensitivity to smells, noises and bright light. Most people will experience nausea and some also experience vomiting episodes. Other symptoms that are more uncommon include speech problems, numbness and paralysis. MHA’s usually last 4 hours and longer, sometimes 2-3 days. In cluster HAs the
pain comes on suddenly with intense severity on one side of the
head by an eye or temple. The pain is usually short in duration,
lasting 15 minutes to 2 hours, but can happen up to 8 times a day
for several weeks, with periods of abatement in between. Frequently
on the side of the HA there is also redness and tearing of the eye,
with nasal stuffiness. Onset of pain is at night in about 50% of
the cases, and then the pain usually awakens the patient within
2 hours of falling asleep. Diagnosis and Pharmaceutical Interventions Diagnosis of a headache
is generally straight forward, with a patient history and examination.
Usually the pain from a tension headache is made worse or better
by applying pressure to trigger points on the head and neck, relieving
the tension that the muscles are holding. Natural health care practitioners
may offer alternative testing to determine the cause of the headache,
such as hormone panels to evaluate estrogen and or cortisol levels.
Diagnosis can also be helped by food tolerance testing. Many HA
sufferers have food sensitivities, and HA can diminish in both frequency
and severity when the offending foods are discovered and avoided.
Researchers have found that standard blood tests used to evaluate
allergies may not uncover food sensitivities associated with HA,
because HA food sensitivities may be different than true allergies. Some headaches that seem to be a type of headache but should be evaluated further to rule out other conditions are:
Pharmaceutical interventions Selective
5HT receptor agonists Ergotamine
alkaloids All of these medications are contraindicated for use for people with cardiovascular disease, taking the MAOI antidepressants, ergotamine alkaloids, or other serotonin agonists, including the nutritional supplement 5-Hydroxy tryptophan (5-HTP) a serotonin precursor. NSAID’s Lifestyle and Dietary Modifications Diet has been linked to the onset of a HA, especially migraines, by clinical cases as well as documented by epidemiological studies. Hypoglycemia, which is low blood sugar due to infrequent eating or eating irregularly with a high amount of refined sugars, can trigger MHA. Foods high in dietary amines, specially tyramine, a byproduct of amino acid breakdown, can also trigger MHA. A partial list of high tyramine foods includes aged cheeses, yogurt, aged and pickled meats, chocolate, and soy sauce. Food allergies are common in people with HA, and the recurring nature of the HA can be linked with the continuous ingestion of specific foods that one may be intolerant to. Common food allergies include dairy products, wheat, egg products. Stress management
is very important for those with any type of HA. Relaxation and
hypnotherapy can significantly reduce headache intensity and duration
in chronic tension-type headache sufferers. Nutritional Factors Shown to be Beneficial Riboflavin
(vitamin B2) Magnesium Butterbur
(Petasides hybridus)
Feverfew
(Tanacetum parthenium) Melatonin 5-Hydroxytryptophan
(5-HTP) Acupuncture Recommended NaturalMeds Products for Headaches 5-HTP
50 mg Magnesium
Malate 625 mg Omega
3
Disclaimer
© NaturalMeds Ltd 2005
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