Migraine And Other Headaches

In its different presentations, headache is one of the most commonsymptoms seen by family practitioners. The difficulty is indiagnosing the cause of the headache so that the appropriatetreatment is provided, or if referral to a specialist is therecommended course of action. The ABC of Headache helps with this dilemma and guidesthe healthcare professional to look for the possible causes ofpresenting symptoms. Based on real case histories, each chapterguides the reader from symptoms through to diagnosis andmanagement. This new ABC is a highly illustrated, informative, andpractical source of knowledge. With links to further informationand resources, it is a valuable text for healthcare professionalsat all levels of practice and training.

The book is geared toward the patient and their families and is written in a style that is easily understood; Provide advice on how to select a doctor and what information to provide to the doctor; Provides specific examples of all types of headaches and a real feeling for the condition; Takes a systematic approach to alternative treatments and provides evidence to support how these treatments can help alleviate headache symptoms. Table of Contents Section 1: Managing Your Headaches 1- Introduction: Why Is Headache So Important? 2- Pain, Disability, and Stigma in Persons with Headache 3- The History of Headache 4- Headaches Requiring Urgent Medical Attention 5- Managing Headaches, an Overview Section 2: Primary Headache Disorders 6- Migraine: Causes and Triggers 7- Treating Migraine with Medication 8- Alternative and Behavioral Treatments for Migraine 9- Migraine in Kids 10- Managing the Conditions That Often Coexist with Migraine 11- Tension-Type Headache 12- Cluster Headache 13- Unusual Primary Headaches Section 3: Secondary Headaches and Neuralgias 14- Sinus Headache and Nasal Disease 15- Disorders of the Neck 16- Post-Traumatic Headache 17- Atypical Facial Pain 18- Trigeminal Neuralgia Glossary Appendix - Resources for Patients with Headache Disorders Index.

The brain is the most complex organ in our body. Indeed, it is perhaps the most complex structure we have ever encountered in nature. Both structurally and functionally, there are many peculiarities that differentiate the brain from all other organs. The brain is our connection to the world around us and by governing nervous system and higher function, any disturbance induces severe neurological and psychiatric disorders that can have a devastating effect on quality of life. Our understanding of the physiology and biochemistry of the brain has improved dramatically in the last two decades. In particular, the critical role of cations, including magnesium, has become evident, even if incompletely understood at a mechanistic level. The exact role and regulation of magnesium, in particular, remains elusive, largely because intracellular levels are so difficult to routinely quantify. Nonetheless, the importance of magnesium to normal central nervous system activity is self-evident given the complicated homeostatic mechanisms that maintain the concentration of this cation within strict limits essential for normal physiology and metabolism. There is also considerable accumulating evidence to suggest alterations to some brain functions in both normal and pathological conditions may be linked to alterations in local magnesium concentration. This book, containing chapters written by some of the foremost experts in the field of magnesium research, brings together the latest in experimental and clinical magnesium research as it relates to the central nervous system. It offers a complete and updated view of magnesiums involvement in central nervous system function and in so doing, brings together two main pillars of contemporary neuroscience research, namely providing an explanation for the molecular mechanisms involved in brain function, and emphasizing the connections between the molecular changes and behavior. It is the untiring efforts of those magnesium researchers who have dedicated their lives to unraveling the mysteries of magnesiums role in biological systems that has inspired the collation of this volume of work.

M. WILKINSON Patients with frequent or daily headaches pose a very difficult problem for the physician who has to treat them, particularly as many patients think that there should be a medicine or medicines which give them instant relief. In the search for the compound which would meet this very natural desire, many drugs have been manufactured and the temptation for the physician is either to increase the dose of a drug which seems to be, at any rate, partially effective, or to add one or more drugs to those which the patient is already taking. Although there have been some references to the dangers of overdosage of drugs for migraine in the past, it was not until relatively recently that it was recognized that drugs given for the relief of headache, if taken injudiciously, may themselves cause headache. The first drugs to be implicated in this way were ergotamine and phenazone. In the case of ergotamine tartrate, the dangers of ergotism were well known as this was a disorder which had been known and written about for many years. In the treatment of headache, fully blown ergotism is rare and in recent years has usually been due to self-medication in doses much greater than those prescribed although there are a few recorded cases where toxic amounts have been given.

This book provides a detailed overview of the current state of knowledge regarding the pathophysiology of both primary headaches – migraine, tension-type headache (TTH), and cluster headache – and the very important and frequent type of secondary headache, medication overuse headache (MOH). After an introductory chapter describing relevant neuroanatomy and vascular anatomy, the evidence gained from animal models regarding the pathophysiology of migraine and the other primary headaches is reviewed. Knowledge of the genetic component in the different types of headache is then examined with reference to recent evidence, for example regarding the implication of the trigeminovascular system and cortical spreading depression in migraine. Detailed information is provided on insights into primary headaches from imaging studies, including functional magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography and on their neurophysiology and biochemistry. A further series of important chapters describe present knowledge of the pathophysiology of each specific type of headache and consider future directions. Written by acknowledged experts in their fields from Europe and the United States, clinicians and students will find Pathophysiology of Headaches to be an excellent source of up-to-date information on why patients experience headaches. In addition, it will be of value for pain researchers investigating the underlying mechanisms of headache.

There are two crucial issues in the treatment and management of headache patients: More than 50% of individuals experiencing headache have only been treated symptomatically, with no appropriate diagnosis established; and history and neurologic examination are essential to establishing a diagnosis, and thus selecting appropriate therapy. Headache and Migraine Biology and Management is a practical text that addresses these issues, featuring contributions from expert clinical authors. The book covers in detail topics including chronic and episodic migraine, post-traumatic headache, sinus headache, cluster headache, tension headache, and others. Chapters are also dedicated to treatment subjects, including psychiatric and psychological approaches, medication overuse, inpatient treatment, and pediatric issues. This book is an ideal resource for researchers and clinicians, uniting practical discussion of headache biology, current ideas on etiology, future research, and genetic significance and breakthroughs. This resource is useful to those who want to understand headache biology, treat and manage symptoms, and for those performing research in the headache field. A practical discussion of headache biology, current ideas on etiology, future research, and genetic significance and breakthroughs Features chapters from leading physicians and researchers in headache medicine Full-color text that includes both an overview of multiple disciplines and discusses the measures that can be used to treat headaches

Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide is the first volume to be written on the neuropeptide PACAP. It covers all domains of PACAP from molecular and cellular aspects to physiological activities and promises for new therapeutic strategies. Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide is the twentieth volume published in the Endocrine Updates book series under the Series Editorship of Shlomo Melmed, MD.