Latest / Running: A FEVER / RAF476: Headaches

Transcript

RAF476: Headaches · Running: A FEVER

0:00
This is the Padua Podcast Network. Welcome
0:10
to Running a Fever. My name is Michael
0:12
Davis and this is a show about fitness,
0:14
diet and medicine. My goal is to live a
0:16
long, healthy, happy, active life right up
0:19
to the very end. It's all about living
0:21
long and loving life. Lately, I've been
0:24
having headaches every day, and I suspect
0:26
it may be related to my recent sinus
0:28
infection, but I'm not sure, so I thought
0:31
I would dig into the topic and see what I
0:33
could find out. I was surprised to find
0:36
that there are many types of headaches, so
0:38
I suppose the first thing I should do is
0:41
try to classify mine and then go from
0:43
there to remedies. My headaches have been
0:46
occurring every day, starting mid-morning.
0:49
I'm usually able to treat them with pain
0:50
relievers, but it takes more than the
0:53
usual dose, for example, 4-aspirin and
0:55
4-ibuprofen. The pain is located in the
0:58
upper part of the sides of my head and
1:00
cheekbones. I just started documenting the
1:03
occurrence, so only a couple of days so
1:05
far, but I will continue to document and
1:08
that seems to be a factor in the
1:10
diagnosis. Here are some of the types of
1:13
headaches, according to my favorite
1:14
medical website, mayoclinic.org. Sex
1:19
headaches, which are rare and are brought
1:21
on by sexual activity. Sinus headaches,
1:25
usually symptomized by pain or pressure in
1:28
the cheeks, brow, or forehead, worsening
1:30
if you bend forward or lie down. A stuffy
1:33
nose, fatigue, or an achy feeling in the
1:35
upper teeth. Sinus headaches are often
1:38
confused with migraines because they have
1:40
similar symptoms. Tension headaches. This
1:45
type causes mild to moderate pain that's
1:47
often described as a feeling like a tight
1:49
band around the head. This is the most
1:52
common type, but its causes aren't well
1:54
understood. Symptoms include dull, aching
1:57
head pain, a feeling of tightness or
1:59
pressure across the forehead or on the
2:01
sides and back of the head, or tenderness
2:03
in the scalp, neck, and shoulder muscles.
2:06
They can be episodic or chronic. Episodic
2:10
tension headaches can last from 30 minutes
2:12
to a week. They are classified as frequent
2:15
and episodic if they occur less than 15
2:18
days a month for at least three months. On
2:22
the other hand, if they happen 15 or more
2:24
days a month, tension headaches are
2:27
considered chronic. Chronic tension
2:29
headaches can last hours and may be
2:31
constant. Spinal. This type is a common
2:35
complication in people who have a spinal
2:37
tap procedure or spinal anesthesia or
2:40
sometimes epidural. These usually do not
2:44
require treatment unless they last 24
2:46
hours or more. They are characterized by a
2:49
dull, throbbing pain of variable
2:51
intensity, getting worse when you sit up
2:54
or stand, and decreasing when you lay
2:57
down. Other symptoms include dizziness,
2:59
ringing ears, hearing loss, blurred or
3:02
double vision, and sensitivity to light,
3:05
nausea, vomiting, neck pain, or stiffness,
3:07
or seizures. They are caused by a leakage
3:10
of spinal fluid, which can decrease the
3:13
pressure normally exerted by spinal fluid
3:15
on the brain. A thunderclap headache
3:19
strikes suddenly, like a clap of thunder.
3:22
Pain peaks within 60 seconds. You should
3:25
always seek emergency medical attention if
3:27
you have one of these, as they could warn
3:30
of a life-threatening condition involving
3:32
bleeding in the brain. Some symptoms are
3:35
sudden and severe pain peaking within 60
3:38
seconds, nausea, vomiting, altered mental
3:41
state, fever, or seizures. Cluster
3:47
headaches are rare and severe, causing
3:49
intense pain in or around the eye on one
3:53
side of the head. It is the most painful
3:56
type. Several may occur over a short
3:58
period of time, which is known as a
4:00
cluster. Cluster periods can last from
4:03
weeks to months, then may stop for months
4:07
or years. Symptoms include extreme, sharp,
4:10
or stabbing pain, usually in, behind, or
4:13
around one eye. The pain can spread to the
4:16
face, head, and neck. The pain may occur
4:19
on one side or switch from one to the
4:21
other. Restlessness, tears, or forehead or
4:24
facial sweating, eye redness, stuffy or
4:27
running nose, swelling around the eye, or
4:31
a drooping eyelid are symptoms. Because of
4:34
the severity of the pain, sufferers are
4:37
likely to pace or sit and rock back and
4:39
forth. During a cluster period, the
4:41
attacks happen every day, often multiple
4:44
times per day. Single attacks last from 15
4:47
minutes to three hours. They often happen
4:50
the same time every day or even the same
4:52
time every year. It is common for them to
4:55
happen at night and can wake people from
4:57
sleep. Medication overuse headaches.
5:01
Ironically, this happens when you take
5:03
medications for the relief of headaches
5:05
over the long term. These are called
5:08
rebound headaches. This can also happen to
5:10
people who take pain relievers regularly
5:13
for arthritis or other conditions. They
5:16
often go away when you stop taking the
5:17
medication. They often happen at night and
5:20
other symptoms are nausea, restlessness,
5:23
trouble concentrating, memory problems, or
5:26
irritability. You may get temporary relief
5:29
from pain relievers with the pain
5:31
returning when they wear off. Cough
5:35
headaches. These can be triggered by
5:38
coughing or other types of straining like
5:40
sneezing, blowing your nose, laughing,
5:42
crying, singing, bending over, or having a
5:45
bowel movement. They can be brief and not
5:48
require treatment, but some cough
5:50
headaches called secondary cough headaches
5:53
may be caused by brain or spine problems.
5:56
They can actually require surgery to
5:58
correct in some cases. See a healthcare
6:01
provider if you have one of these uncommon
6:03
headaches. Chronic Daily Headaches
6:07
Everybody has a headache every once in a
6:09
while, but if you have a headache more
6:12
days than not, you might have chronic
6:14
daily headaches. This isn't really a type
6:17
of headache, but it can be any type that
6:19
happens often, 15 days or more per month
6:22
for longer than 3 months. Chronic migraine
6:25
headaches are accompanied by nausea or
6:27
vomiting and sensitivity to light and
6:29
sound. Chronic tension headaches are not
6:32
pulsing but pressing and tightening.
6:35
What's called a new daily persistent
6:37
headache can come on suddenly and become
6:40
constant within three days. Another type
6:43
of chronic daily headache is called
6:45
hemicrania continua. It is characterized
6:49
by pain on one side of the head, are daily
6:52
and continuous with no pain-free periods.
6:56
They have moderate pain with spikes.
6:59
Hemocrania continua can be treated with
7:01
endomethicin. You will also have one of
7:05
these four symptoms. Tearing or redness of
7:08
the eye on the affected side. Nasal
7:10
congestion or running nose. Drooping
7:13
eyelid or pupil narrowing or sensation of
7:16
restlessness. These are all types of
7:18
chronic daily headaches if they happen
7:20
often and for long enough. Did you know
7:23
exercise can cause headaches? These
7:26
exercise headaches can happen during or
7:28
after sustained strenuous exercise.
7:31
Examples are running, rowing, tennis,
7:33
swimming, and weightlifting. They can be
7:36
primary or secondary. Primary exercise
7:39
headaches are harmless. Secondary ones are
7:42
caused by underlying, often serious
7:44
problems with the brain, such as bleeding
7:47
or tumors, or something outside the brain,
7:49
like coronary artery disease. Secondary
7:52
ones may require emergency medical
7:55
attention. Primary exercise headaches are
7:57
usually throbbing and affect both sides of
7:59
the head. Secondary exercise headaches can
8:02
have these additional symptoms, vomiting,
8:05
loss of consciousness, double vision, and
8:08
neck stiffness. The secondary type usually
8:11
lasts a day and can last for several days.
8:14
Some of the root causes of these are
8:16
dilated blood vessels in the brain caused
8:18
by exercise, bleeding called a
8:22
subarachnoid hemorrhage, irregularities in
8:26
a blood vessel in the brain, obstruction
8:29
of cerebrospinal fluid flow, sinus
8:32
infection, or structural irregularities in
8:34
the head, neck, and spine. And finally,
8:40
migraines. I hear a lot about these, and a
8:44
migraine is not just a really bad headache
8:46
or one that happens often. It's a very
8:48
particular type. It is characterized by
8:51
pain so intense that it interferes with
8:53
daily activities. Migraines are
8:56
characterized by intense, throbbing pain
8:58
or a pulsing feeling, usually on one side
9:00
of the head. They often happen with
9:03
nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity
9:05
to light and sound. Migraine attacks can
9:08
last for hours to days. Some people
9:11
experience a warning symptom called an
9:13
aura, A-U-R-A. This can include visual
9:17
changes such as flashes of light or blind
9:19
spots and can cause tingling on one side
9:22
of the face or in an arm or leg and
9:24
trouble speaking. There are four stages of
9:27
migraines. Not all are experienced in all
9:30
cases. The first stage is called the
9:34
pre-drome stage, one or two days before
9:37
you may experience constipation, mood
9:39
changes, food cravings, neck stiffness,
9:43
increased urination, fluid retention, and
9:45
frequent yawning. Number two, aura stage.
9:49
I mentioned the characteristics before.
9:51
These happen gradually and build up over
9:53
time, from several minutes to an hour.
9:56
Three, the attack phase. A migraine
9:58
usually lasts four to 72 hours if not
10:00
treated. Frequency varies among sufferers,
10:03
rarely or several times a month. The
10:06
symptoms are pain that's usually on one
10:08
side of your head, though it can occur on
10:10
both sides. Pain that throbs or pulses,
10:13
sensitivity to light, sound, and sometimes
10:16
smell and touch, nausea and vomiting. And
10:20
number four, in the postdrome stage. After
10:24
a migraine attack, you may feel drained,
10:26
confused, and worn out for up to a day.
10:29
Some people report feeling elated. Sudden
10:32
head movement might briefly bring on the
10:34
pain again. There are other types as well
10:37
that I won't go into detail. These include
10:40
pseudotumor cerebri, cerebrospinal fluid
10:44
leak, hydrocephalus, concussion,
10:47
post-concussion syndrome, and skull-based
10:50
tumors. As far as I can tell, the
10:53
prognosis for headaches is pretty
10:54
positive, but there are certain conditions
10:57
for which you should see a health
10:59
professional. Ongoing frequent headaches,
11:01
15 days out of a month for three months or
11:04
more. Headaches that come on suddenly
11:06
should be addressed quickly, especially if
11:08
it's the first time. For example, an
11:11
exercise headache. These situations may
11:13
indicate a serious problem like a tumor or
11:16
brain hemorrhage. I really hope my
11:19
headaches stop and are none of these
11:20
types. I hope it's just an occasional one
11:23
that happens to have happened more rapidly
11:25
recently. But if I experience the
11:27
situations I've described, I'll definitely
11:29
seek help because you know I believe in
11:31
medical care and think we should use it.
11:35
Well, I hope this enlightened you about
11:37
headaches and maybe next time you have a
11:39
headache, you'll know a little bit more
11:40
about it. As usual, thank you for
11:45
listening and or watching. And if you've
11:49
got the fever, keep it burning. If you
11:51
don't, catch the fever. And I will talk to
11:53
you next time on Running a Fever.