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Headaches: Using Aspirin For Pain Relief

July 29th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

Aspirin is a common pain reliever for headaches, and for common everyday headaches, it works well. It’s a very old form of headache treatment.

Aspirin, in some form, has been used as a treatment for over 2,500 years. The famed Greek physician, Hippocrates in the 5th century B.C. used an extract from the bark of the willow tree to treat fever. The chemical involved, salacin, is a natural product that is converted into salicylic acid in the body.

At the end of the 19th century the German company, Bayer, began marketing a modified manufactured form, acetylsalicylic acid (otherwise known as aspirin), devised by chemist Felix Hoffman. The product turned out to be one of the most successful drugs in the history of the world.

For such a simple molecule it has some of the most amazing properties in the biochemical world.

Aspirin has few side effects at the proper dosage and is used to treat dozens of conditions, such as inflammation, heart disease, fever and - of course - headaches. How it does this is in one way well understood, in another way quite a mystery. It is known that when injury occurs to tissue, prostaglandins are released that generate signals down nerve cells to the brain. What happens then is less clear.

Prostaglandins not only contribute to the pain signal, but to the swelling that follows. But how exactly those conditions translate into something we perceive as pain is still a matter of leading edge research. What is ‘injured’ in the case of a headache is not known.

For decades it was believed that tension headaches, for example, were the result of muscle tension typically in the neck, back or face, hence the name. But contemporary research sees that as less likely. What’s more likely, according to the evidence, is that muscle tension is involved but the interaction of serotonin (a neurotransmitter) with nerve cells is more important.

Whatever the ultimate cause, aspirin works by suppressing the cells from making prostaglandins. It interferes with a enzyme (known by the acronym COX) needed to make them, by binding with it. Eventually the combination is filtered out by the kidneys and more aspirin is needed to continue the process.

One possible side effect is that aspirin may do its job too well and remove needed prostaglandins from the stomach, making the lining too thin and leading to stomach upset or even ulcers. Aspirin also interferes with the creation of blood clots (prostaglandins play a part there, too). That can be helpful when used to prevent heart attacks, but is not helpful when you receive a cut or get a bloody nose.

While generally safe, it is possible to overdose on aspirin. The effects are not the same as overdose from other drugs, but in large doses it can interrupt proper kidney function, for example. To combat these effects, drug companies have designed alternatives, such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen and naproxen.

It will continue to be a part of headache treatment for some time to come, though. Given the 80 billion tables per year that are consumed, the body of clinical evidence showing it is safe is very large. Used properly, and provided the patient isn’t excessively sensitive to some of its effects, it can be a valid part of a treatment regimen.

Migraine Headache Triggers: What’s starting your migraines?

June 22nd, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

In America alone, over twenty-eight million people suffer from migraine headaches.  Migraine headaches are more common in women; for every one man who suffers from a migraine headache, there are three women. 

If you’ve ever suffered from a migraine, you know how disabling they are: it’s impossible to move, even to open your eyes - you just pray for the pain to stop. Migraines and migraine headache triggers have become somewhat easier to manage than they used to be. 

Migraines are triggered. Once you know what causes your migraines, you may not always be able to prevent an attack, but sometimes you can.

What Are the Most Common Migraine Headache Triggers?

Of all the migraine headache triggers, the most common one is stress.  Another common trigger of migraines is certain foods, such as alcohol, aged cheeses, chocolate, aspartame, caffeine, msg, seasonings, and some canned or processed foods.  Migraines can also be caused by fasting or skipping meals.

Physical factors such as increased sexual activity, intense exercise, or a change in sleep patterns are also migraine headache triggers.  Changes in the environment and certain medications often act as triggers of migraine headaches, as do sun glare and bright lights.  Hormonal changes can also cause migraines, and this may be why a significantly greater number of women than men are affected by migraines.  Some women experience migraines during pregnancy or menopause. 

Are You at Risk?

There are several risk factors that make someone more prone to migraine headaches.  Migraine headaches most commonly occur in girls that have already passed through puberty.  Women who experience migraines find that their likelihood of experiencing one increases during menstruation, pregnancy, or menopause.  Migraine headaches also run in families; if even one of your parents’ experiences migraines then you are much more likely to develop them yourself.

Treating Migraine Headaches

Although previously, the only way to treat migraine headaches was to take aspirin, this is no longer the case.  Now, there are both preventative medications and pain-relieving medications that are intended specifically for migraine treatment.  There are also other alternative treatments, such as acupuncture, massage, vitamins, herbs, minerals, and biofeedback.  Migraine headaches can be prevented by maintaining a healthy, balanced lifestyle.

Migraines do seem to hit people at certain stages in their life. As you get older, you may find that you get migraines much less often.

Topical Pain Relief can be Effective for minor injuries

May 20th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

Topical pain relief is useful for minor injuries, and can include patches, sprays, and creams.

Topical pain relief remedies work by introducing pain relievers into the body via the skin. The skin is the largest organ of the human body, and contains many blood vessels that can carry medications into the body much quicker than the oral counterparts. For this reason, it has become a popular means of dispensing certain types of pain relief to the body quickly and effectively. There are three types of topical pain relief to consider when you are thinking about using one of these remedies.

Topical Pain Relief - what’s it feel like?

Some products that offer topical pain relief do so by making your skin feel extremely hot or cold. While these sensations might mask the pain that you are experiencing, they are not terribly effective at actually relieving the pain itself. The ingredients that many of these types of topical pain relief products may contain can also serve to irritate the skin, creating a new problem for you in the area of your pain. While they may offer some temporary pain relief, there are other products that you can consider as well.

Topical Pain Relief with Aspirin

These products are called topical analgesics, and use the same substance that is found in aspirin for effective pain relief. Because the medicinal qualities are actually absorbed into the skin, they can reduce inflammation as well. This also means that patients should check with their doctor before using these products, since those who are allergic to aspirin or are using blood thinners should not use these methods of topical pain relief. Brand names of these types of creams include Bengay and Aspercreme.

Chili Peppers Can Reduce Pain

There are also topical pain relief products that use chili pepper seeds as an ingredient. These seeds contain a substance called capsaicin, which gives the seeds their burning quality, and work by reducing a chemical in your nerve cells that sends pain signals to your brain. They are most effective on joint pain in areas like the fingers and knees, making these topical pain relievers a good choice for some arthritis sufferers.

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