Why do I get so many headaches?
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Headaches can be cause by a multitude of things. Even if you go to a physician, it is a slow process of elimination. This is what we do. First, we do a general physical examination to cross off things such otitis media (inner ear infection) Meniere's Syndrome, a complicated set of symptoms involving headaches, loss of balance, intolerance of light, etc ,But during this physical, we also look at the history of the patient...use of medications...drinks...foods..... also family history for hypertension, etc. Your eyes need to be checked, but also mundane things such as new shoes that change posture and cause headaches. Food intolerance...gluten, fish, or seafoods, or certain vegetables may be the origin. We also do a blood test to determine blood volume, number of red blood cells and electrolytes (those chemicals that conduct electricity in normal body functions)...so we slowly reduce the number of possible causes....some headaches are idiopathic (without known cause) but the majority belong to a group that have a cause...but perhaps undiscovered by the physician.. This is what I suggest to do things a lot on your own...first be aware of the times that your headaches occur...hypertensive headaches usually occur in the afternoon...pay attention to any discomfort in the lower back, change in urinary habits which suggest a kidney problem. Then keep track of your regular foods and slowly eliminate them, one after the other...each for a test period of a week or ten days...if there is no improvement, then add them back to your diet. Note also the location of the headache...frontal headaches suggest a sinus problem or an allergy, temporal headaches and occipital headaches need to be evaluated by a physician. Note too, the change in working postures. Stress or tension can cause a headache...I have one patient that I can not abide...he drives me crazy...medical ethics prevent me from saying more but I dread seeing him...as soon as he is scheduled in, I get a headache...and the pain miraculously disappears when his appointment is over...much to the relief of my staff! When I have a headache...it is the best kind...sheer agony....I prefer to have superior headaches...not bad headaches....it is a temptation to run to the narcotic locker and grab some demerol but I resist that. I have found that some of the newer pain relievers are fairly effective....perhaps your physician will have to prescribe one of the controlled drugs....they are safe when used wisely....for a few patients, I have suggested either sherry or brandy that acts initially as a vasodialator...a small anount may quickly reduce the pain...however do not use alcohols with drugs. But begin a regimen of eliminating possible causes. Many people claim that dehydration is a factor, but in my opinion, I don't accept that. First, the incidence of dehydration effects...such as low fevers, increased heart rate, hematocrit levels and kidney stones do not reflect any significant change and temporary dehydration would only be that...temporary! Low blood sugar levels may cause headaches but also other symptoms as well. Migraine headaches is really a catch-all phrase for headaches with no apparent cause but there is always a cause, if one can delve deeply enough...which is usually cost-prohibitive to the patient. Discard the notion of a brain tumor, or other encephalopathy as other symptoms would be apparent. You will doubtless recieve many suggestions that you are suffering from an aneurysm or a brain tumor, or STD, or whatever....let common sense prevail...and work to determine the cause.
migraines
stress
no sleep
eye problems
brain tumor
don't want sex
The #1 reason for headaches in this country is mild dehydration. Next time a headache starts, drink a glass of room temperature water (wouldn't want to give you brain freeze from drinking ice water too fast)
If your headache doesn't go away within 15 minutes after the full glass of water, then your headache is NOT from dehydration. If it does, then you have your answer.
I promise that lots of people are walking around mildly dehydrated and that is the cause of most headaches......try it!
maybe stress
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