Lightheadedness and Headaches

The causes of lightheadedness and headaches are varied in nature and many complexities are associated with them. Even common cold can turn complex and result into headaches. Some of the other causes include dehydration, flu, allergies and psychological problems like anxiety.

It would therefore, be important to gain an in-depth understanding of the different causes in order to keep these problems under control.

It is an unpleasant feeling of dizziness or weightlessness of head which may cause a person to faint. Lightheadedness can last for a short period of time (transient) or it may become recurrent or turn chronic. In some cases, the patient can experience vertigo i.e. the feeling of spinning or whirling of the surroundings.

Lack of blood supply to the brain is amongst the major causes of lightheadedness. Anemia and low blood sugar are also amongst the causes behind this health problem. In some cases, lightheadedness is the symptom of medical conditions like heart attacks, abnormal heart rhythm, circulatory shock, stroke, etc.

Additional symptoms of lightheadedness observed in such situations are loss of speech, racing heart, chest pain, change in vision, etc. It can also develop with age and generally occurs when a person rises quickly from the sitting or lying position. Replenishing the body with water and other fluids helps minimize the occurrence of lightheadedness.

The immediate step to be taken after you experience lightheadedness is sitting or lying down. Avoid facing bright light and don't make sudden changes in the posture. Performing exercises on a regular basis can go a long way in preventing lightheadedness.

The problem of headache is not a medical condition but a symptom of several medical conditions or diseases. Pain in the head and sometimes the upper neck comes under the category of headache. Occurrence of headaches can be associated with stiff neck, convulsions, fever, etc. The headaches are generally classified as acute and chronic.

The International Headache Society has categorized the different forms of headaches as primary, secondary and other types (facial pain, cranial neuralgia and other headaches). Tension headaches, migraine headaches and cluster headaches are the different forms of primary headache.

The tension headaches result from tightening or contraction of muscles present in the scalp or neck. It is a common form of headache observed in 90% of the headache patients the world over. Symptoms of this headache include a dull aching of the front and sides of head, fatigue, irritability and sensitivity to light and noise, etc.

Secondary headache is caused by structural problems in the head or the upper neck region. Brain tumors, internal bleeding in the brain and other problems like meningitis & encephalitis are responsible for secondary headaches. Cranial neuralgia results from inflammation of nerves present in the head and upper neck.

Earlier, the widening and contraction of blood vessels was considered as one of the causes behind headaches. However, recent research conducted in this area suggests that toxin retention in the central nervous system is responsible for headaches. Tissues of nervous system become sensitive to external stimuli due to presence of toxins in the nervous system.

One of the major reasons behind accumulation of toxins in the body is the high intake of proteins; breakdown of proteins is responsible for toxins released in the body.

The root cause of tension headaches and migraines is the accumulation of toxins in the body. Actually, the migraines and tension headaches are just the symptoms of a cleansing process through which the body attempts to dilute and dispel toxins.

So, the point here is to rely more on the body's self-cleansing process than on certain medications or therapies that offer temporary relief. Even if the self-cleaning process requires some time, it acts on the root cause of problem and eradicates it completely.

The acute headaches do not require specialized medical attention and can be dealt with by means of painkillers like acetaminophen. Medicines like diclofenac, aspirin and ibuprofen can also be used for treatment of acute headaches. Chronic headaches are treated by stimulating the brain with electrodes. It helps in relieving pain caused by cluster headaches.

Acupuncture is also one of the treatment measures used for migraine and tension headaches. Sometimes minor health issues become complicated and spiral out into bigger ones like headaches and lightheadedness. Apart from the treatment measures mentioned here, you could take one of the best precautionary measures - sufficient sleep.

It is important to give your brain and nervous system the required amount of rest. It prevents most problems associated with headaches.

Lightheadedness and headaches are the health issues of common occurrence and could be dealt with by taking appropriate measures. Though, medications are available to counter these health problems, measures like regular exercise, living a stress free life, etc. help in dealing with them effectively.