Sex and Migraine Headache

Funny thing about sex. It can be incredibly positive and incredibly negative. The same goes for sex and migraine headache. There does seem to be some sort of link between sex and migraine headache symptoms, but it is still unclear exactly what that link is.

Sexually triggered migraine headaches have been reported by people engaging in all kinds of sex acts, from masturbation to intercourse, with or without orgasm. Some headaches even seem to have been caused more by the position people got themselves into than the actual sex act in which they were engaging. Although they do occur, a sexually triggered migraine headache appear to be rather rare, affecting roughly one out of every 350 headaches or so. Even so, the problem is widespread and has a major lifestyle effect on those who get them.

When sexual activity causes migraine attacks its called coital cephalgia, exertional headache, or effort Migraine. As the names suggest, these headaches may be merely exertional headaches brought about by sex or any other strenuous activities. They may or may not be linked to orgasm or sexual arousal. Coital headaches are far more common among males than females and often last a day or more. Headaches or Migraine attacks induced by sexual activity may strike prior to, at the time of, or following orgasm.

A Migraine Headache instigated by sexual activity have been divided into three patterns. Sudden onset applies to almost three-quarters of them, beginning either right before, during, or immediately after orgasm. This head is normally quite severe and can either build slowly or suddenly explode inside your head. The subacute pattern applies to only one-quarter of instances and begins before orgasm with intensity building until orgasm.

The pain associated with this type is a dull ache. It is occasionally accompanied by nausea and vomiting. The least common pattern is the postdural headache in which the pain is located the lower back of the head and increases upon standing erect. It is often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.

If coital headaches become chronic it s advised that you take migraine headache medication. Be sure to check with a physician if you experience an explosive headache brought on by exertion. It may be more than a headache and could lead to an aneurysm.

However, all is not bad news when it comes to sex and migraine headaches. Sexual activity can actually be used as treatment for migraines. A study conducted at the Headache Clinic of Southern Illinois University found that some women actually were able to relieve their migraine headache pain through achieving orgasm. While the level of the relief varied, those who obtained complete relief represented the highest percentage. In comparison to medications, orgasm as a method of relieving migraine is less effective, but provides relief much quicker when it does so. This particular study did not involve men, but there exists plenty of other evidence suggesting that sex may work to relieve migraines in males as well.

Other studies have found that sexual activity and orgasm triggers an endorphin rush in the brain. This chemical reaction works as sort of a natural analgesic to block pain. In regard to how sex works in conjunction with migraines, serotonin is released during orgasm, causing a constriction of the dilated blood vessels in the brain that were causing the migraine. The increased endorphin usually last anywhere from one to three hours.

Ultimately, then, the question of whether sex is good or bad for headaches is left unanswered. For some people sexual activity must be considered a trigger, while for others a method of treatment. Once again when it comes to migraines, there is no concrete answer and it seems as though more questions are raised than answered. The key is to explore both sides of the issue and not be inhibited by embarrassment. If sex does seem to cause your headaches, be honest with your partner and your doctor. On the other hand, don't be afraid to try out sex as pathway toward relief. Even if it doesn't work, it's worth the old college try.

Massage Therapy

When it comes to migraines, a little massage never hurt. But then again, a little massage never hurt whether you suffer from migraines or not. Seriously though, massage therapy has proven quite helpful in relieving headache pain. In general, you don't want to rely solely upon massage as the method for relief from your madness, but instead use it in conjunction with other therapies as well as medication and changes in your lifestyle.

How can massage help with migraines? Migraine sufferers generally suffer from stiff, tender muscles in the back of the head, neck, and shoulders. The pressure against these points in the muscle can be the cause of severe pain, pain that is akin to migraine pain. These pressure points are known as trigger points. By massaging the trigger points, one can effectively reduce the pain and tightness in the muscles, which decreases discomfort in some sufferers. Massage therapy is a terrific method for reducing tension in the muscles, not to mention for reducing stress. When beginning a massage program it is best to begin with one or two sessions a week for about a month and a half.

Several studies have been done to determine whether massage therapy really helps relieve migraine pain. The results of these studies have determined that massage therapy at the very least helps migraine sufferers sleep better and at best actually does manage to lessen headache pain. The following are the most helpful methods of massage therapy yet found to deal with migraine headaches.

Reflexology: General massage therapy based upon the pressure and massage of points not on the head, but rather the soles of the feet. Reflexology isn't so much a therapy as an art; a massage art used to relieve stress and pain throughout the body. The conceptual plan is based on the idea of zones in the feet that correspond to all areas of the body. By manipulating these zones, therapists hope to benefit the corresponding areas throughout the rest of your body.

Craniosacral therapy: Simply lie back and enjoy the sensations of your massage therapist softly massaging your skull and scalp. This method soothes the nerves and lessens the waves of pain that those nerves send, which is the cause of the actual pain.

Deep-tissue massage therapy: A deep-tissue massage is intended to help with the improvement of circulation while reducing tension within the muscles by focusing on specific body areas thought to relieve pain and stress when manipulated. The deep tissue part of deep tissue massage is in reference to how the therapists uses deep finger pressure and deliberate stroking of the areas of the body that are suffering from muscle tension or aches.

Neuromuscular massage: This therapy, which is also known as trigger-point therapy, is a muscle relaxing treatment that applies moderate pressure to your body's trigger points (spots in a muscle that, when stimulated by pressure or touch, are painful). Some believe that it can reduce nerve compression and relieve pain in tense or overworked muscles.

Acupressure: Look again, that's accuPRESSURE, not acuPUNCTURE! Acupressure techniques are employed by applying pressure from the tips of the finger to points on your head, not sticking needles into your skull. The theory is that acupressure helps headache sufferers by calming muscle tension and enhancing blood circulation. You can actually do acupressure on yourself simply by applying moderate and constant fingertip pressure with just two fingers for five minutes tops. The best method is to use one hand on top of your head and the other to apply pressure between your eyes.

When engaging in massage therapy, be aware that even the lightest, gentlest pressure from the most qualified therapist can cause at least mild discomfort, but should the pain become unbearable immediately instruct the therapist to quit massaging. To find a qualified therapist where you live, if your town features a school of massage therapy you can check with them and they will provide you with names and certification information.

Cure Headache

A bad headache can go a long way to completely wrecking your day. Talking to people can be unbearable. You start to get cranky, not wanting to work or play or do anything but sit in bed and maybe watch a movie. What can you do about these demon headaches? What causes them, and how can you make them go away?

Headaches can be divided into two categories: migraines and tension headaches. Migraines are caused by the contraction of blood vessels in the brain; this causes a buildup of pressure in the brain and the resulting pain of a headache. A tension is caused by constant muscle tension, usually in the neck, upper neck, and in the back of the head. It's the constant pressure and tension in these muscles that causes a tension headache.

It can be tough to cure headaches, especially if you're experiencing a migraine headache. Some drug manufacturers have released drugs set up to cure headaches of this sort, with mixed results. Some people who have great success with one particular drug while others will get no relief at all. It's usually best to experiment with different treatments and dosages to see what works best for you, and it pays to consider talking to your doctor for a prescription headache medicine as well.

Fortunately, it's easier to cure headaches stemming from tension, as it usually just involves reducing the amount of tension in the upper neck. Massaging your own neck is often one of the quickest cures, as is resting your neck if it's usually under stress. Try rolling your head forward slowly, over to one side, then the other. Though rolling your head back can be back for your neck and throat, it sometimes helps to relax the muscles in the back of your neck. Repeat these stretches a few times, allowing your muscles to relax completely before turning your head again. Drinking lots of water is also a good way to go at curing headaches, as muscles and ligaments will contract if they're dehydrated.

Pain medicines like aspirin and acetaminophen can also help cure headaches, though it's usually more effective to cut off the pain at its source: the muscle tension. Commercial massagers can also be helpful in this respect, as can a kind friend. Reducing the amount of stress in your life is a great way to cure headaches, as most people will carry tension in their shoulders and necks when under stress. If you can cut down on the cause of the muscle tension then you can completely nip the problem in the bud.

Rebound Headaches

Rebound headaches are headaches that may be caused by overusing pain medicines. Typically rebound headaches begin early in the morning, however the location and severity of the headache can change on a daily basis. Indeed, rebound headaches typically are daily occurrences and can lead to problems involving anxiety, irritability, sleeplessness and depression.

Migraine medications work to raise serotonin levels to ease pain, but when too much medication is ingested something happens to the serotonin levels which causes the chemical to lose its effectiveness. Research shows that serotonin levels are lower when you take too much pain medication and then rise slightly after the headaches get better and you stop taking the medication.

Either over-the-counter medication or prescription drugs can lead to rebound headaches if taken too often or in greater amounts than recommended. In addition to sedatives and tranquilizers, other rebound-causing medications include:

• Caffeine-containing analgesics (Excedrin, Anacin, etc.) Caffeine is a primary ingredient in many headache medicines. Although caffeine-based medication can relieve migraine pain when temporarily, taking medicine containing caffeine every day—as well as drinking caffeine-loaded beverages such as coffee or soft drinks—can lead to more frequent and severe headaches. If the headache worsens whenever you stop having caffeine, the caffeine may be causing some of your headaches.

• Butalbital compounds (Fiorinal, Fioricet, Phrenilin, etc.)
• Isometheptene compounds (Midrin, Duradrin, etc.)• Decongestants (Sudafed, Tylenol Sinus, Dristan, Afrin, etc.)
• Ergotamines (Ergomar, Wigraine, Migranal and D.H.E. 45)
• Triptans (Imitrex, Amerge, Zomig, Maxalt and Axert)
• Opioids and related drugs (Tylenol with codeine, Percocet, Darvocet, OxyContin, etc.) Medications that include any form of codeine, such as Tylenol 3, Vicodin and Percocet, must be used with care because they can cause dependency quickly.

If you experience any of the following symptoms, you may be suffering from rebound headaches:

Your headache occurs daily or almost daily (three or four times a week).
You are considered a sufferer of a primary headache disorder and you use instant prevention medication frequently and in large quantities.

Your headache deviates in strength, form, severity, and location on the head.
Even the slightest physical movement or bare minimum of intellectual expenditure cause the onset of the headache.

You have a lower than normal threshold for pain.

Your headache is accompanied by any of the these symptoms: nausea, restlessness, anxiety, irritability, memory problems, difficulty in intellectual concentration, depression.

You begin to notice evidence of an increasing tolerance to the effectiveness of analgesics over a period of time.

You suffer withdrawal symptoms when you abruptly are taken off the medication.

You notice a spontaneous improvement of headache pain when you discontinue the medications.

Should rebound migraines develop due to the overuse of medication, recovery cannot be accomplished unless the sufferer ceases taking the drugs. On the other hand, should it turn out that caffeine is causing the rebound, you may be able to get away with merely reducing your intake instead of eliminating it altogether. Before deciding on whether you want to stop gradually or abruptly, consider the following:

Most headache drugs can be stopped suddenly, but make sure you consult with a physician before withdrawal. Certain non-headache medications, such as anti-anxiety drugs or beta-blockers, require gradual withdrawal.

If you decide to go the route of gradually laying off standard headache medications, withdrawal should be completed within three days or shorter. Any longer and discouragement and impatience sets in.

Alternative medications may be administered during the first days. Examples of drugs that may be used include dihydroergotamine (with or without metoclopramide), NSAIDs (in mild cases), corticosteroids, or valproate.

Whichever method you decide to take when stopping your medication, expect a period of worsening headache afterward. Most people feel better within two weeks, although headache symptoms can persist for as long as four months and in some rare cases even longer.

If the symptoms do not respond to treatment, or if they cause severe nausea and vomiting, the patient may need to be hospitalized.
The good news is that many patients experience long-term relief from all headaches afterward, and one study even concluded with over 80% of patients significantly improved four months after withdrawal.