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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News Blogs Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Classic Forums Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Multimedia Photo Gallery Readers Photo Gallery Sports Tempo Weather Road Cams Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Distinctly Northwest Women in Business Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Customer Service Advertise With Us Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map Email Story to a Friend September 11, 2006 Migraines classified by symptoms EDITOR'S NOTE: This weekly column by reporter Bill Kettler answers readers' questions about topics of general medical interest with information provided by doctors from PrimeCare, Jackson County's independent practice association. I get headaches once in a while and I'm told they're not migraines. How is a headache determined to be a migraine? What medicines or other approaches can be used to get rid of a bad headache? — Steve R., Medford There is no test that can establish with certainty what kind of headache a person has, says Dr. Larry Maukonen, a Medford neurologist. Physicians classify headaches by their symptoms. Migraines often announce themselves beforehand with a warning "aura" that people variously described as flashing lights or a kaleidoscope. Classic migraines are characterized by an aura followed by throbbing pain that lasts for four to 72 hours, and the pain is often limited to one side of the head. People with migraines frequently suffer stomach problems, nausea, vomiting, and confusion or disorientation, and they're often sensitive to light or sound. Advertisement "The constellation of all these things together is what makes (a headache) a migraine," Maukonen says. Migraines affect 12 to 20 percent of the population. Far more common is the tension headache, which is caused by tight muscles in the neck and head. Tense muscles aggravate nerves in the head, creating a sensation "like somebody's squeezing your head," he says. There also are sinus headaches, which are the product of allergic reactions or infections in the sinus cavities in the skull. Pain is localized in the sinuses (above the eyes or below the eyes). Infection or allergens can cause the membranes in the sinuses to swell, creating pressure that produces pain. Scientists are still trying to determine what causes migraines. Some believe they're caused by a tightening and sudden opening (dilation) of the blood vessels in the head. Others think they may be caused by a sudden release of neurochemicals such as serotonin in the brain. Some foods seem to make people more likely to experience a migraine. Physicians encourage their migraine patients to limit their intake of foods such as red wine, chocolate and aged cheeses because they contain chemicals that appear to trigger attacks. "Things that make you feel warm and flush make it easier to have migraines," Maukonen says. Physicians encourage people who get migraines to keep a diary to try to track the source of their attacks. Foods that trigger migraines usually cause symptoms within an hour, so a diary can sometimes quickly identify offending foods. Stress also seems to play a role, but it's not always "bad" stress. "Some people have migraines on their birthday," Maukonen says. "Some people have them on their days off, not on their work days. Different people have different patterns." Lack of adequate sleep seems to trigger migraines in some people. Caffeine can cause migraines, but people who drink coffee and then stop can have caffeine-withdrawal migraines. Physicians treat migraines with some of the same medicines that are used to treat high blood pressure, such as beta blockers and calcium blockers, but they do not work for everyone. Some people find that sleep will make their migraine fade away, but it's difficult to fall asleep while the pain persists. Some people retreat to a cool dark room and wait for the pain to fade, but that's not possible if, for example, a migraine occurs on the job. Tension headaches can be treated by releasing the tension with muscle relaxants or stretching exercises. Applying gentle heat helps relax the muscles for some people. Over-the-counter drugs such as Advil, Aleve and Naprosyn work, too. Physicians treat sinus headaches by addressing the source of the pain. Steroid nasal sprays can reduce inflammation, and antibiotics can halt bacterial infections. Drugs, however, have no effect on viruses that may infect the sinuses. Maukonen says about 30 percent of us don't get headaches at all, and many have little sense of how debilitating they can be. "They're not someone you'd want to be married to if you had migraines," he quipped. Call Bill Kettler with your medical questions at 776-4492, or e-mail them to: [email protected] or send them to: Mail Tribune, Ask Your Doctors, P.O. Box 1108, Medford OR 97501. Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2007 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems Online Casino Reviews Trunks, Footlocker Fundraisers UK Homeowner Loans Casinos Canada Cord Blood Banking Discount Hotel Reservations Texas Electric Choice Compare Electric rates in Texas Online Casino Windermere Van Vleet Men's Clothing Debt Help New Hampshire Primary