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http://relieve-migraine-headache.com

Posts by James Cottrill:

A Coffee Headache? Caffeine and Headaches

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For a headache sufferer, caffeine can be like fire.  It can be useful, but if you play with it too much, you could be in trouble.

As with anything popular, there’s a lot of controversy when it comes to coffee headache.  It seems to be fairly rare that caffeine directly triggers a headache, but it does seem to happen.  There are also some headaches that commonly are stopped by caffeine, such as hypnic headaches.  A hypnic headache (or “alarm clock headache”), occuring typically in people over the age of 50, wakes you up at the same time each night.  A little coffee before bed can prevent hypnic headache in some people, but other medications are commonly used.

Caffeine as a Treatment

Some people find that a little coffee or another beverage with caffeine can keep them from getting a full-blown headache.  Caffeine is also commonly included in headache medication.  Why?  Because it can help your body absorb the drug and make it more effective.

A Coffee Headache?

Unfortunatly, coffee can have the opposite effect.  In fact, “playing with” caffeine can lead to long term chronic problems.

And it’s not just because your body is getting caffeine, but also because the levels vary.  If you drink coffee one day, take a caffeine-containing medication another day, and nothing another day, your caffeine levels will be all over the place.

Caffeine withdrawal may be one of the reasons for “weekend headache”.  You drink coffee throughout the week, then don’t drink it on the weekend – or you drink it later because you slept in.

Tips

So what’s the general recommendation?  Probably the most common recommendation is – stop ingesting caffeine!  There’s just too much danger of rebound headaches and caffeine withdrawal headaches from caffeine.

However, you might not want to go to ZERO caffeine, at least not right away.  If not, try to lower the amount you take each day, and try to keep the amount steady.  That means cutting back on medications that contain caffeine, and keeping the amount of caffeine low (remember, even “decaffeinated” beverages may contain caffeine).

Check out some of the examples* below, and think about how much caffeine you use each day.  And remember, other ingredients, such as sugar or artificial sweeteners, can also be like “playing with fire”…

Typical Caffeine Content

Further reading:

*Note:  The amounts of caffeine in beverages can vary a lot.  I used this table from the Mayo Clinic to find typical caffeine amounts in various types of beverages.  Then I averaged them all to 16oz or about 480ml.  Of course, you may drink much more or less than that amount, but it’s a way to compare.

10 Things to Tell Your Doctor

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10 Things to Tell Your Doctor

The list below comes from things I’ve heard from doctors and patients, as well as studies that have been done on the topic.  Please share this list with others who are struggling with communication with their doctor.

  1. Other Symptoms:  Symptoms that you may not have connected to your headache condition.
  2. Headache Diary:  Which includes symptoms, treatments, and possible triggers.
  3. Specific Treatment Questions:  Have you researched other possible treatments?  Ask your doctor about them.
  4. Your Medical History:  Make sure your doctor knows about past and present conditions/treatments.  Family history is also helpful.
  5. Your Medications / Supplements / Treatments:  Have a detailed list of supplements, treatments, and meds you’re taking, including doses.
  6. Satisfaction with Treatments:  Be prepared to say how satisfied you are with treatments/meds you’re using.
  7. Other Headaches:  Tell your doctor if you get other headaches, even if they are mild.
  8. News from other Health Professionals:  If you go to other health professionals (eg chiropractor, physiotherapist), what would they tell your doctor?
  9. Impact on Life:  Specifically tell your doctor the impact your condition has on life. Missing events? Loss of productivity? Be specific.
  10. I Appreciate You:  Tell your doctor you appreciate them.  A little thanks helps both of you.

Is Lupus Headache really Lupus Headache?

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Should certain types of headache be considered evidence of lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus (S.L.E.))?  It’s an ongoing debate, but new research suggests even more strongly that there is not a strong, obvious link between lupus and headache.

Quite a while ago, Dr. Marc Gotkine wrote a guest article regarding lupus headache, in which he confirmed that in most cases headache was not directly linked to lupus.

Last month, reports on a new study out of Canada confirmed the same thing.  1732 lupus patients were recruited for the study, and each patient was regularly assessed.

Now the results are a little tricky, so give me a moment to explain.  There is currently a definition of “Lupus Headache” that is used in the assessment of lupus:  Severe persistent headache: may be migrainous, but must be nonresponsive to narcotic analgesia.  (See the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index)

The research found that only 2% of lupus patients reported such a headache.

So the researchers are suggesting that lupus headache is so rare that it’s not really a useful indicator.

So why has lupus headache been such a big deal in the past?  The lead author of the study, Dr. John Hanly, explains:

There is conflicting evidence that links headache, including migraine, and lupus disease activity.  Much of the discrepancy in previous studies may be due the lack of uniform definition of headache, which is a common occurrence in the general population, especially among women.

In other words, we’re mistaking other kinds of headache for “lupus headache”.

In fact, the study showed that headache was quite common among lupus patients.  The point is not that there is no connection whatsoever.  The question is – is headache a result of lupus?  Is it a useful indicator of lupus?

In most cases, the headaches are actually migraine headaches or tension-type headaches.  Lupus treatment didn’t help – but treatment of the headache condition may help.

This study is important as we continue to learn about lupus, and as we help patients who struggle with both lupus and headache.  A better understanding will help us better treat both.

If you’re a lupus patient, your best bet may be to see your headache as a separate condition, and get proper treatment for your type of headache from a doctor who knows your medical history.

For more information:

Migraine – Botox – And Funny Eyebrows

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Have you ever wondered why some people who have had Botox (botulinum toxin A) treatment have strange looking eyebrows?

Botox and Mr. Spock Eyebrows

It’s called the Mephisto Sign, or perhaps Mr. Spock Eyebrows.  Basically, one or both eyebrows arch, making the patient look – surprised, all the time.  And they probably are.

This is a possible problem for migraine patients when they receive injections in the forehead.  What happens is, the frontalis muscle of the forehead becomes hyperactive, causing the eyebrows to arch.  You can see an example of the Mephisto sign from Botox here.

Fortunately, even if this happens it can usually be fixed.  Another injection to the lateral-most point (the outer part) of the frontalis muscles should fix the problem, although you may still be waiting a few days.

Although a pretty minor problem compared to chronic migraine pain, the Mephisto sign can be a pretty annoying problem, as well as a dead giveaway that someone has had Botox treatment, for whatever reason.

It’s just another reminder that you need to make sure you’re going to a specialist experienced in Botox (or Dysport or Xeomin) migraine treatment.  Make sure they keep a careful record of exactly where you have been injected each time.  And do return to them if you have any problems with your treatment, including eyebrows that won’t behave.

Here’s some more information about How to be Safe with Botox (10 tips).

Also see A proposal to prevent the “mephisto sign” side effect of botulinum toxin type a injection in chronic migraine.

Do Hotdogs trigger Migraine Headache?

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Hotdogs and Migraine Headache

Hotdogs may trigger migraine headache and other migraine symptoms.

Why?

  1. Nitrites:  An almost universal wiener ingredient, even when the label says “no nitrite added”.  A “hot dog headache” usually refers to headache from nitrites.
  2. MSG:  A common migraine trigger, along with related ingredients such as autolized yeast or hydrolyzed protein – may be listed as “flavors”).
  3. Other wiener ingredients could trigger attacks – e.g. soy products and aged meats.
  4. Toppings:  Common toppings could trigger migraine attacks – e.g. onions and sauerkraut.
  5. White flour:  that bun leads to a sugar spike which can trigger an attack.

For some, an occasional hotdog is fine.  For others, a hotdog or two could be a migraine attack just waiting to happen.

For more, read:  Is there such a thing as a migraine diet? and What’s in Your Wiener? Hot Dog Ingredients Explained

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The articles on Headache and Migraine News are © 2004-2026 J. Cottrill.
Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of each article, and to point you to further sources of information. However, this site is for informational purposes only and should never replace a visit to your doctor.