Some Diseases That Induce Headaches - Part 1

 

Some diseases might seem quite unrelated to headaches. Yet headaches are one of the manifestations of these diseases. It is, thus important, to gain knowledge about such diseases. 

Anemia
Anemia is one of the most common disorders, especially among women. Anemia in women is caused due to the monthly blood loss and inadequate iron in their diet, which ultimately results in inadequate amount of Red Blood Cells (RBC). As the body lacks the oxygen-carrying RBCs, organs of the body remain deprived of nutrients and oxygen.

Since the amount of oxygen reaching the brain is also less, it leads to the swelling of arteries in that area, causing headaches.

Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia is a condition where the amount of sugar in the blood plummets down rapidly reaching levels of below 50 mg/dl. This condition may result in a person experiencing lightheadedness, weakness, headache, sweating and change in the level of consciousness if the sugar level falls too low.

Headaches are caused as a result of the brain’s inability to receive enough oxygen and nutrients. This condition usually results, when the person is either diabetic or undertakes fasting for a prolonged period of time.

You can follow certain guidelines in order to avoid hypoglycemia.
•Eat your meals at regular intervals.
•Avoid excess of simple carbohydrates
•Do not oversleep in the morning.

Some migraine patients may experience cravings for carbohydrates either before or during the attack. It is found that consuming carbohydrates at that point can end the migraine episode. Sometimes, the person may be experience a dull, throbbing headache in the temples. This is the non-migraine kind of headache associated with hypoglycemia.

Depression
Here is a fact: If you suffer from depression or anxiety, you are likely to wake up with a headache.

And women are twice as likely as men to experience depression. Headaches and depression are basically complementary to each other. Usually patients who are under depression complain of headaches and vice-versa. Such patients not only experience a headache but also mood disorders.

In these cases antidepressants are prescribed to patients because it is seen that this can treat symptoms of both the disorders. Aromatherapy has also been found to be quite effective in patients with this disorder.

It is quite a distressing condition because other problems like chronic pain, anxiety and sleep disorder also become the common accompaniments.

Due to the increasingly hectic lifestyles, a large section of the population is coming under the influence of anemia, hypertension, hypoglycemia and depression and is consequently facing headaches. The only way to protect yourself from these headaches is to stay away from these diseases as much as possible.

Hypertension
Another disease that can lead to headaches is the ‘silent killer’, hypertension. It can also be a major cause of heart attacks and strokes.

High blood pressure is usually not manifested in headaches. But when it shoots up abnormally (up to 200/110) that is when it can lead to a severe headache. This headache in turn can also force the blood pressure to rise.

Some high blood pressure medications may cause headaches whereas others like beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers reduce headaches. Patients with poorly controlled high blood pressure should be careful while taking triptans.
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