Reader’s Mail 2 | National Headache Foundation

Reader’s Mail: Is a Low Pressure Headache the Same As Hydrocephalus?

Question: Is a low pressure headache the same thing as hydrocephalus? I’m considered normal pressure hydrocephalus, plus I have chiari malformation and chronic migraines, which I assume are attributed to one or both of those conditions. Answer: No, low pressure…

Reader’s Mail: Should I Go to the Hospital with Every Aura Headache?

Question: I know that a migraine with aura can mimic stroke symptoms, so should I go to the hospital with every aura headache? Answer: Migraines can be scary, especially migraine auras, until one becomes familiar with their personal patterns. Many…

Reader's Mail: Are Contraceptive Pills Safe If You Have a History of Migraine?

Q. Is it safe to take combined contraceptive pills if you’ve had any history of migraine? I rarely get headaches, and I’ve probably only had three or four migraines with aura in my life. A. Combined oral contraceptives have a small…

Reader's Mail: Are Cough Headaches Common?

Q. I get a “cough headache.” Whenever I cough, sneeze, bend over, or laugh, I get an excruciatingly painful pressure headache. Is this common? And, is there anything I can do to treat it? A. Cough headache is triggered by…

Is There Any Way to Prevent Migraine Aura?

Q. Is there really no cure or prevention for the aura that happens before a migraine? A. Acute migraine drugs don’t change the aura. The prevention of an aura involves using migraine preventive drugs daily. They certainly don’t all work, but…

Reader's Mail: Hydrocephalus Headache

Q. Can a hydrocephalus headache affect only one side of the head, including the eye? A. Usually the headache is more generalized, but there are multiple causes of hydrocephalus that can change the features of the headache. The spinal fluid pressure…

Reader's Mail: Could My Glasses Be Causing My Headache?

Q. I have to wear glasses all the time. I get headaches and migraines a lot. Could my glasses be causing this pain? A. Glasses that are of the wrong strength can lead to headaches, blurry vision and dizziness. It…

Reader’s Mail: FL-41 Glasses for Migraine

Q. Do FL-41 glasses work for migraine? A. FL-41 tinted lenses are rose-colored and may help address the symptom of light sensitivity (photophobia) commonly associated with migraine. Although research is limited, there may some benefit clinically and migraine potentially may…

Reader’s Mail: How Does Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation Work for Occipital Headache?

Q. Is there any information on using a Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation (TENS) unit for occipital headaches? Does it work? A. Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation, or TENS can be an effective treatment for pain in muscles and joints and it…

Reader's Mail: Stopping Medication Overuse Headache

Q. How can I stop medication overuse headaches? I try to hold off on my medication, but I can’t stand the pain. A. There is no simple way of doing this. However, how often these acute agents can be used varies…

Can Aromatherapy Help with Migraine?

Q. Does Aromatherapy help with migraines? If so, what kind? A. The idea that aromatherapy can help with migraines should not be that surprising since migraine sufferers are very sensitive to smells, particularly during an attack. I’ve had patients tell…

Reader's Mail: What's Up with Morning Headache?

Q: I wake with a headache every morning and go to bed with a headache. When I wake in the morning I always seem to have congestion at the back of my nose. I’m being treated for sinus headache with…

‹ Previous Next ›