Understanding Stroke - Treatment

How Do I Know If I've Had a Stroke?

When a patient displays stroke-like symptoms, a doctor, often a neurologist (a doctor who specializes in managing strokes) must not only confirm the symptoms but also identify the type of stroke, its location, and the extent of brain damage. Treatment decisions hinge on all these issues. Testing is typically done quickly, since immediate treatment may limit brain and nerve damage..Read More

Is There a Cure for Alzheimer's Disease?

Dementia is a condition of mental decline that causes progressive memory impairment and problems with learning, judgment, communication, and quality of life. Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive brain  disorder, is the most common form of dementia, accounting for about 60% to 80% of cases. With Alzheimer’s disease, there is a decline in mental function and  personality changes, which may include agitation, depression, and hallucinations...Read More 

How Is Epilepsy Treated?

The majority of epileptic seizures are controlled through drug therapy, particularly anticonvulsant drugs. The type of treatment prescribed will depend on several factors including the frequency and severity of the seizures as well as the person's age, overall health and medical history. An accurate diagnosis of the type of epilepsy is also critical to choosing the best treatment...Read More

Treatment of Headaches:

Treatment of headaches depends largely on determining the cause of the headache. Tension headaches can usually be treated by the use of over-the counter pain relievers such as Tylenol, Motrin, or even aspirin. When tension or stress is the cause, other modalitites of treatment may address the cause or relief from the tension or stress, such as working less when possible, getting massages to relieve muscle tension, or other means such as yoga or other forms of exercise. It is important to note that some headaches may return after the regular use of strong pain-relieving medications. These headaches are known as medication overuse, or "rebound" headaches, since they occur when the pain reliever wears off.

The treatment of migraine headaches is somewhat more involved and may involve a number of different approaches to the pain. (Please see the topic covered under "Migraine Headaches"). Cluster headaches, because of their more severe nature, require the attention of a doctor who can prescribe proper treatments, usually with medications.

Sinus headaches can usually be relieved by addressing the cause. This may involve the use of over-the-counter decongestants or may require the use of antibiotics to cure a sinus infection. Infrequently, surgical intervention may be necessary to drain a sinus adscess or to relieve chronic sinus inflammation.

Many other types of treatment of headaches are the same of those covered under the Treatment Section for Migraine Headaches, but include relaxation techniques such as meditation and biofeedback, massage, hypnosis, acupuncture, and the use of herbal remedies to treat headaches pain.

SOURCES: Buchholz, D., "Heal Your Headache: The 1-2-3 Program for Taking Charge of Your Pain," Workman Publishing Company, 2002. Livingstone, I., Novak, D.; "Breaking the Headache Cycle: A Proven Program for Treating and Preventing Recurring Headaches," Novak Owl Books, 2004. Smith T.; Stoneman J.; "Medication overuse headache from antimigraine therapy: clinical features, pathogenesis and management." Drugs; 2004; vol. 64(22); pp 2503-14. Young, W., et al "Migraine and other Headaches," Demos Medical Publishing, 2004. Cady R.; Dodick D.; et al, "Sinus headache: a neurology, otolaryngology, allergy, and primary care consensus on diagnosis and treatment," Mayo Clinic Proceedings, July 2005; vol. 80; pp 908-16.