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Headaches

Jun 04 2007

Preventive Medications for Headaches

Published by Jennifer under Headaches, Preventive Medicine

The old saying ‘an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure’ is well understood by those who suffer from severe headaches. It’s preferable not to get one in the first place. That’s particularly true of migraine sufferers. The pulsating, intense pain can produce unpleasant effects that actually outlast the migraine episode.
To attack that [...]

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Jun 04 2007

Headaches: Acetaminophen

Published by Jennifer under Headaches

There are fascinating similarities and differences between aspirin and acetaminophen. Sometimes referred to by the alternate name, paracetamol, it is, like aspirin, an analgesic (pain reliever). Also like aspirin it has been used to treat headaches since the late 19th century. Yet there are interesting differences as well.
Aspirin works by interfering with the action of [...]

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Jun 03 2007

Headaches: Aspirin

Published by Jennifer under Headaches

Aspirin, in some form, has been used as a treatment for over 2,500 years. The famed Greek physician, Hippocrates in the 5th century B.C. used an extract from the bark of the willow tree to treat fever. The chemical involved, salacin, is a natural product that is converted into salicylic acid in the body.
At the [...]

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Jun 02 2007

Headaches: Brand Name vs Generic Medication

Published by Jennifer under Headaches

Regrettably, there’s no ‘one-size-fits-all’ answer to the question: Which is the better medication, Brand Name or Generic? Which you choose will depend on a number of individual circumstances, along with real differences between the two.
In the U.S. and many other countries, the development of medications – even simple ones, such as aspirin, acetaminophen or ibuprofen [...]

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Jun 01 2007

Causes of Headaches

Published by Jennifer under Headaches

Given the variety of headaches, and headache sufferers, it shouldn’t be surprising that the causes are equally diverse. There are literally hundreds of possible causes for headaches. Some are the result of underlying medical problems, such as (in rare cases) brain tumors or cerebral aneurysms. But the most common headaches have common causes.
In many cases, [...]

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May 31 2007

Cluster Headaches

Published by Jennifer under Headaches

Though relatively rare, cluster headaches are regarded as among the most painful conditions known. Though migraines affect about 10% of the population, less than 1/3 of one percent have experienced a cluster headache. The vast majority are fortunate not to have. Many anecdotal reports say cluster headaches are worse than migraines or even child birth.
Often [...]

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May 30 2007

Common Headache Symptoms

Published by Jennifer under Headaches

The variety of symptoms from headaches is considerable, and vary with different types.
Possibly the most common is the tension headache, usually the result of muscle tension in the neck and shoulders, or around the face. Migraines, affecting about 6-13% of the population (roughly 6% are men, 13% are women), is much higher in intensity (and [...]

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May 29 2007

Headaches: Common Yet Mysterious

Published by Jennifer under Headaches

Despite how common they are, headaches are somewhat mysterious. Unlike, say, diabetes it isn’t know exactly what produces that particular kind of pain. Making the condition even more strange, there are in fact many different types of headaches.
Migraines afflict about 28 million Americans, in a ratio of about three to one women to men. Yet, [...]

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May 28 2007

Controlling Headaches Through Choices

Published by Jennifer under Headaches

Many headaches, especially severe migraine or those caused by underlying medical conditions, are caused by factors outside your control. Though, there are often steps to take to reduce or eliminate the pain, the causes are not a matter of choice. But in some cases, the triggers that produce a headache, or at least up the [...]

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May 27 2007

Diagnosing Headaches

Published by Jennifer under Headaches

Given that nearly every adult has suffered from a headache, diagnosing one should be the simplest thing in the world. When you have one, you know it. But despite the obvious and easily perceived pain, diagnosis can be a little trickier than one might suppose.
Physicians have no general and definitive set of tests for diagnosing [...]

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