Headaches Articles
Smoking Cessation & Migraine Management – A Dental Perspective – by ORA Oral Surgery and Implant Studio
Migraines & Headaches – by Mark Sobor, MD
Smoking Cessation
Smoking is not only dangerous to your overall health but also specifically for your teeth and gums. Smoking can cause periodontal disease, and as a result may lead to tooth loss. Periodontal disease is a condition where the tissues that support the teeth – the gums and the bone – slowly deteriorate, and the teeth become loose and finally fall out. Anyone can suffer from periodontal disease, but smoking increases the risk significantly. Heavy smokers are six times more likely to suffer from periodontal disease than non-smokers. Smoking delays the healing of wounds, reduces your sense of smell and taste, and stains the teeth, gums and fillings. The worst and most grave consequence of smoking is the increased risk of oral cancer. If you smoke, the risk of contracting cancer of the mouth is four times higher than for a non-smoker.
We know quitting is not easy and that some people try several times before succeeding. There are many ways to quit smoking. Some people stop abruptly, while others benefit from step-by-step manuals, counseling, or medicines and products that help reduce nicotine addiction. At ORA Studios we can help empower you and find the best way for you to take control of your addiction and successfully quit.
Migraine Management
The pathophysiology of migraine is a condition of abnormal responses to normal sensory inputs. Current therapeutic modalities for migraine simply stipulate this fact, and embark on altering the nature of neurotransmitter activity, either preceding the event (preventive medications), or during the event (abortive or “rescue” drugs).
What has been generally overlooked is the etiology/cause of the abnormality of the sensory modulation. Namely, how it got that way and how it stays that way. Let the doctors at Ora treat the cause of many migraine attacks and evaluate you for the revolutionary NTI device. The NTI device (Nociceptive Trigeminal Inhibition), has been fully approved by the FDA for the prevention of medically diagnosed migraine pain and temporomandibular disorders. In fact amazingly, 82% of migraine patients reported a 77% average reduction of migraine events within the first eight weeks of use. In addition, the duration and intensity of migraine attacks were similarly reduced.
All migraines are headaches. However, only about 7% of headaches are migraines. The onset of a migraine is signaled when you see flashes of lights—called an aura. This is followed by an extreme sensitivity to light and sound, nausea and possibly vomiting. Migraines last from 4—24 hours, and range in severity from painful to absolutely debilitating. Current treatment includes resting in a dark, quiet room and sleeping.
About 90% of non-migraine headaches may be triggered by muscle tension and muscle contraction caused by a variety of reasons including stress.
Many headache and migraine sufferers are surprised to learn that chronic stress plays a key role in triggering their pain. Stress is something that you can try to control through a variety of methods including acupuncture, massage, diet and a healthy lifestyle. Implementing these stress reduction techniques not only will help you feel better overall, but may also be instrumental in reducing headaches and migraines. At SOMA Pain Management Center we incorporate a variety of methods to create a treatment plan which will help you.
Practicing a healthy lifestyle
Sometimes we forget about the basics: exercising regularly, getting enough sleep and eating a healthy diet. Every parent tries to follow these guidelines in raising their child, but as busy adults we don’t have time to give our body what it needs. It is important to practice the building blocks of a healthy lifestyle and be able to relax, to reduce stress.
Acupuncture to reduce stress and muscle contraction
An ancient Chinese technique, acupuncture is the insertion of very thin needles into specific points of the body to redirect “chi”, our life energy. One belief is that migraine and headache pain develops when the natural flow of chi is interrupted. Through acupuncture in the proper points on the body, the natural flow of chi can be restored, reducing the trigger for headache and migraine pain.
At SOMA Pain Management Center, we have successfully used acupuncture in treating migraine and muscle contraction headaches. In muscle contraction headaches, pain is localized to one or more parts of the head. Trigger points in neck muscles develop after some form of physical trauma or stress. These trigger points in the upper neck muscles often trigger pain along one side of the head. These contracted neck muscles are tied to pain in specific areas, including behind the ear, over the eye and on top of the head.
Studies show that acupuncture causes the release of pain reducing endorphins, and may stimulate the brain to release other hormones which strengthen the body’s immune response. The World Health Organization recognizes more than 30 conditions and diseases which can be helped by acupuncture, from allergies to tennis elbow. In 1997, the National Institute of Health’s “Consensus Statement on Acupuncture” wrote that acupuncture was useful as an additional treatment or acceptable alternative to be used in a comprehensive pain management program for conditions including headache, lower back pain, menstrual cramps and carpal tunnel syndrome.
Massage and acupressure to relieve muscle spasm and pain
Acupressure (applying pressure to specific points on the body) and massage are effective in controlling the muscle spasm and muscle contraction that may trigger headaches and migraines. Massage of the back of the head, neck and shoulders reduces the tightness in those muscles and increases blood flow.
Changing what you eat to reduce headaches and migraines
Do you develop a headache after drinking red wine? If yes, you’re not alone. Surprisingly, some foods may trigger headaches in certain people, especially if combined with other triggers such as fatigue, sleep deprivation and stress. Common culprits are citrus fruit, aged cheese, chocolate and red wine. The best way to find out what triggers your headache is to keep a food diary and write down everything that you eat and drink. In this way you can detect a pattern and learn which foods to avoid.
Some studies show a significant decrease in migraine headaches when you reduce dietary fat consumption, consuming healthy omega-3 fatty acids instead. Other potentially helpful supplements are melatonin and co-enzyme Q10, but there are as yet no definitive studies about their effectiveness.
At Soma Pain Management Center we use a multi-disciplinary approach to treat headaches and musculoskeletal pain. In our 20 years of experience we have found that a combination of acupuncture, massage, homeopathy and chiropractic adjustments are extremely effective at alleviating most pain.
After pain therapy, each patient is instructed to begin a stretching and muscle strengthening program. By becoming stronger and more flexible, most patients can minimize pain and future doctor visits.
Dr. Mark Sobor, M.D.