Stop brain pain: cluster, exertion, and sex headaches hit men the hardest. Take the natural route to recovery

EVERYBODY GETS garden-variety tension headaches, but certain types of brain pain affect men more than women. Experts don't fully understand why, but stereotypical theories abound. Everything from business stress, tobacco and alcohol use and heavy lifting to overexertion at the gym have been blamed for male headaches. Whatever their origins, male headaches can range from mild to severe--and sometimes even debilitating. However, relief is at hand: There are several traditional and natural ways to mitigate these male-centric maladies.

Cluster busters

Of the 1 million Americans who suffer from cluster headaches, about 75 percent are men. Pain typically strikes several times during a 24-hour period, frequently between one and three hours after falling asleep, and lasts from 30 to 90 minutes at a time. Episodes can continue anywhere from 2 to 12 weeks. The attacks occur when the trigeminal nerve pathway at the base of the brain is activated by the hypothalamus, the brain's internal clock, for as yet undetermined reasons. Cluster headaches, which tend to peak in the spring and autumn, are rarely caused by an underlying serious brain condition like a tumor or aneurysm, but may be the result of a vascular disorder.

The intense pain--sometimes described as a red-hot poker in one eye--is usually accompanied by swelling, tearing, flushing, and nasal congestion on the affected side. (If you ever experience sudden, severe head pain with vomiting, weakness, or sensory impairment, seek medical attention immediately.) An injection of the migraine drug sumatriptan (Imitrex) is the most successful prescription response, according to the Cleveland Clinic Neuroscience Center in Ohio.

However, alternative approaches have plenty of scientific support. Irregular levels of melatonin, which frequently drop during episodes, could be a factor. In a study published in the journal Cephalalgia in 1996, patients reduced the frequency of cluster headaches by taking 10 milligrams of this natural hormone each evening for at least 14 days.

Because the worst symptoms of these headaches can come and go quickly, some treatments are applied through the nostrils for faster uptake. Anesthetic use of lidocaine spray is often prescribed, while another study in Cephalalgia in 1993 found that subjects who received nasal applications of capsaicin--the active ingredient in cayenne pepper--twice daily for seven days during episodes had a significant reduction in pain for the following 15 days. (Before trying intranasal capsaicin, get an OK from your doctor.)

Ayurveda offers an alternative solution. According to this ancient science, cluster headaches may be a result of a vata-dosha imbalance, says Vasant Lad, B.A.M.S., M.A.Sc., director of the Ayurvedic Institute in Albuquerque, N.M. His remedy to calm the agitating energy of vata: Spread warm ghee (clarified butter) around the inside of each nostril, or rub nutmeg oil on the temples.

Since part of headache pain is caused by the swelling of arteries that surround the brain and oxygen may reduce that swelling, oxygen therapy can be another effective strategem to employ at the beginning of an attack. "Inhaling 7 to 10 liters per minute of 100 percent oxygen via a face mask for 15 to 20 minutes has been shown to relieve pain in about 70 percent of cluster headache sufferers, say Marc S. Husid, M.D., a physician with the Walton Headache Center in Augusta, Ga.

In addition, people with low ionized-magnesium levels eased symptoms after receiving injections of magnesium sulfate, according to a 1995 report in Headache; however, oral magnesium supplementation was not evaluated.

Barbells and bedrooms

Exertion headaches kick in shortly after vigorous physical activity, such as heavy weight lifting or aerobics. To avoid sudden fluctuations in the blood vessels, cool down after intense training instead of stopping abruptly, and mix low-impact options like swimming or walking into your routine. Dehydration and low blood sugar could be triggers as well.

To prevent them, drink plenty of water--6 to 12 ounces every 15 to 20 minutes--during exercise, suggests Jeff Kotterman, L.M.S.N., director of the National Association of Sports Nutrition in San Diego. Within 30 minutes after a workout, eat a 1-to-3 ratio of protein (whey, turkey, or cottage cheese) to simple carbs (fruits like bananas, apples, and strawberries). If the pain returns, breathe slowly and deeply, ice the source of the pain, and rest in a dark room--or take a walk, preferably in fresh air.

Men are also more prone to sexual headaches, caused either by muscle contractions in the head and neck or by dilation of blood vessels just before orgasm. The vascular version, called orgasmic cephalalgia, involves a sharp pain around or behind the eyes that generally lasts for minutes but can linger for hours; it often occurs in men who also suffer from migraines. To take the pain out of your pleasure, slow down the pace and gradually increase sexual intensity. Beta-blockers used to treat migraines can be helpful; another option is to take aspirin or ibuprofen before intercourse. You could also take a break from the triggering activity--though most men would rather grimace and bear it.

COPYRIGHT 2006 Weider Publications
COPYRIGHT 2006 Gale Group