Headache and migraine Archive

Muscle tightening or jerking during a severe migraine can have several explanations. Learn about the possible causes.

Wondering if sour cream, yogurt, nuts, peanut butter, or other foods are migraine triggers? Learn which foods are proven culprits and how to spot your triggers.

From red wine to ice cream, everyday favorites can spark headaches in some people. Learn how to spot your personal food-related headache triggers.

Some vitamins and supplements show limited benefit for certain types of headache. Good sleep habits, stress reduction, and other lifestyle changes can also help.

A sinus headache usually stems from irritated, congested sinuses that create pressure and pain around the eyes, nose, or forehead. Relief often comes from easing inflammation and congestion with a mix of home measures and over-the-counter treatments.

Pain that starts at the base of the skull and radiates to one side of the forehead may be a cervicogenic headache. These headaches are sometimes mistaken for tension headaches or migraines. Cervicogenic headaches originate from a problem around the top of the spine. Possible causes include a herniated disk, arthritis, or an injury, such as whiplash. Treatments include pain relievers, physical therapy, and injections of steroids or anesthetics.

Red wine headaches are a common phenomenon. Scientists believe they're due to a flavonoid called quercetin, which may block a key enzyme that breaks down alcohol in the liver and allows the buildup of a chemical called acetaldehyde that can trigger headaches.

Two kinds of migraine involve visual disturbances, such as strange, flickering light patterns. One type is migraine with aura, caused by brain activity. The other is ocular migraine, caused by blood vessel problems in the eye. The attacks may or may not be accompanied by a headache. Drugs called triptans might help soothe migraine with aura. Doctors don't have a way to stop an ocular migraine attack as it's occurring. For many people, the only way to cope is resting and waiting until the symptoms go away.