Headaches from smoking: Types, treatment, and more

People who smoke can experience cluster headaches, migraines, or trigeminal neuralgia. These types of headaches can be linked to smoking itself, quitting smoking, or secondhand smoke.

Tobacco-based products contain nicotine and other toxic substances. These may trigger changes in the brain, causing a person to experience a headache. Depending on the type of headache, some people may experience accompanying symptoms such as nausea and fatigue.

Certain medications, lifestyle changes, and relaxation techniques can help alleviate headaches that result from smoking. A doctor can best advise a person on how to treat severe or recurring headaches.

Keep reading to learn more about how smoking can cause headaches, the types of headaches it may cause, and how to treat them.

Cigarettes contain many toxic substances, which may cause a person to experience headaches.

One theory suggests that cadmium, a toxic metabolite of cigarette smoking, may be a major cause of cluster headaches because it has a toxifying effect on the brain.

Nicotine, a highly addictive substance that is present in tobacco smoke, may also trigger migraines, but this remains controversial. However, nicotine can increase a person’s sense of pain and prevent pain medications from working as usual.

According to the American Cancer Society, children and teens who smoke regularly are at risk of experiencing more frequent headaches. They may also experience other health complications, including impaired lung growth and function, which can increase the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in later life.

Smoking has links to many types of headaches:

Cluster headaches

Cluster headaches are severe headaches on one side of the head. They occur in cycles lasting 15 minutes to 3 hours each.

Cluster headaches can cause symptoms such as:

• tearing in one eye
• nasal drainage
• facial swelling
• eyelid droopiness

According to research from 2018, people who do not smoke begin to experience cluster headaches at a younger age and have a higher incidence of family history of migraines. This may suggest that a different underlying cause contributes to cluster headaches in people who smoke. Also, people who smoke tend to have more severe cluster headaches than those who do not.

Migraines

Migraines are more than just headaches, and the symptoms can vary from person to person. Typically, migraines occur in four phases. Possible symptoms include:

• head pain
• vision problems, such as seeing flashing lights
• high sensitivity to light, sounds, and smells
• fatigue
• nausea and vomiting

A 2022 review suggests that smoking can trigger migraine episodes.

Trigeminal neuralgia

A person experiencing trigeminal neuralgia can feel an intense, stabbing, electric shock-like pain that affects the nerves in the lower face, jaw, and nose and above the eye.

A small 2014 study suggests that smoking affects the way that the trigeminal nerve and the brain process pain.

Quitting smoking can improve a person’s health and may help reduce headaches that a person experiences as a result of smoking. However, an older 2013 study suggests that smoking cessation may not always improve cluster headaches.

Also, headaches can be a side effect of quitting smoking.

People may try nicotine replacement therapy to gradually wean themselves off nicotine and avoid severe withdrawal symptoms. There are five forms of FDA-approved nicotine replacement therapy:

• patches
• gum
• nasal spray
• inhalers
• lozenges

According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, the following dietary supplements may also help reduce migraines:

• coenzyme Q10
• feverfew
• magnesium
• riboflavin

Although the evidence is inconclusive, some people may also find relief through therapies such as:

• acupuncture
• biofeedback
• massage
• relaxation techniques
• spinal manipulation
• tai chi

Some people can get headaches from secondhand smoke. One theory suggests that secondhand smoke exposure in childhood can cause someone who has never smoked to experience cluster headaches later in life.

A headache after secondhand smoke exposure can have many possible causes, such as:

• the smell of cigarette, cigar, or pipe smoke
• an allergic reaction to the smoke
• various chemicals present in the smoke, such as:
  • ammonia
  • benzene
  • cyanide
  • formaldehyde
  • cadmium

Yes, and quitting cold turkey can cause more severe withdrawal symptoms.

For some, smoking can lead to nicotine dependence, which makes it difficult to stop smoking.

A person who is trying to quit can use nicotine replacement therapy that gives them a low dose of nicotine without any of the other toxic chemicals typically present in cigarettes. This can help reduce the withdrawal symptoms a person may experience when quitting, such as bad moods and cravings.

However, headaches are one possible side effect of nicotine replacement therapy. For example, a medication called bupropion (Zyban) can help a person stop smoking but may cause headaches as a side effect.

Tips to relieve headaches that result from stopping smoking

When nicotine withdrawal causes headaches, a person can try a range of methods to manage the pain, including:

• staying hydrated by drinking enough fluids
• being physically active, which can also help heal the lungs after years of smoking
• doing breathing exercises
• trying relaxation techniques such as meditation
• avoiding situations or activities in which they previously used tobacco products
• using over-the-counter pain medications such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and naproxen

However, nicotine replacement therapy may reduce the effectiveness of any pain medication a person takes.

Someone with a condition such as cluster headaches or migraine can ask their doctor about available prescription medications to manage these specific types of smoking-related headaches.

E-cigarettes may also have a connection to headaches.

Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine. Different products may contain varying amounts, and product labels do not always clearly outline the nicotine content.

E-cigarettes may also contain volatile compounds that can cause headaches and other potentially dangerous health effects, such as:

• irritation of the eye, nose, and throat
• nausea
• damage to various body systems, such as the liver, kidneys, and nervous system

People should consult a doctor if they use tobacco and have frequent headaches. This is especially important if the headaches significantly affect their lives and do not improve or worsen with at-home treatment.

Any headache that occurs after a head injury and is sudden and severe or accompanies symptoms of a serious medical condition — such as a stroke or meningitis — requires immediate medical attention.

Smoking has links to several types of headaches, including cluster headaches, migraines, and trigeminal neuralgia.

Quitting smoking can be beneficial in treating headaches. However, going cold turkey may make withdrawal headaches worse. Nicotine replacement therapy may help alleviate the symptoms.

A person can support their effort to quit by using relaxation techniques, staying well hydrated, and staying physically active.

Headaches from smoking: Types, treatment, and more

People who smoke can experience cluster headaches, migraines, or trigeminal neuralgia. These types of headaches can be linked to smoking itself, quitting smoking, or secondhand smoke.

Tobacco-based products contain nicotine and other toxic substances. These may trigger changes in the brain, causing a person to experience a headache. Depending on the type of headache, some people may experience accompanying symptoms such as nausea and fatigue.

Certain medications, lifestyle changes, and relaxation techniques can help alleviate headaches that result from smoking. A doctor can best advise a person on how to treat severe or recurring headaches.

Keep reading to learn more about how smoking can cause headaches, the types of headaches it may cause, and how to treat them.

Cigarettes contain many toxic substances, which may cause a person to experience headaches.

One theory suggests that cadmium, a toxic metabolite of cigarette smoking, may be a major cause of cluster headaches because it has a toxifying effect on the brain.

Nicotine, a highly addictive substance that is present in tobacco smoke, may also trigger migraines, but this remains controversial. However, nicotine can increase a person’s sense of pain and prevent pain medications from working as usual.

According to the American Cancer Society, children and teens who smoke regularly are at risk of experiencing more frequent headaches. They may also experience other health complications, including impaired lung growth and function, which can increase the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in later life.

Smoking has links to many types of headaches:

Cluster headaches

Cluster headaches are severe headaches on one side of the head. They occur in cycles lasting 15 minutes to 3 hours each.

Cluster headaches can cause symptoms such as:

• tearing in one eye
• nasal drainage
• facial swelling
• eyelid droopiness

According to research from 2018, people who do not smoke begin to experience cluster headaches at a younger age and have a higher incidence of family history of migraines. This may suggest that a different underlying cause contributes to cluster headaches in people who smoke. Also, people who smoke tend to have more severe cluster headaches than those who do not.

Migraines

Migraines are more than just headaches, and the symptoms can vary from person to person. Typically, migraines occur in four phases. Possible symptoms include:

• head pain
• vision problems, such as seeing flashing lights
• high sensitivity to light, sounds, and smells
• fatigue
• nausea and vomiting

A 2022 review suggests that smoking can trigger migraine episodes.

Trigeminal neuralgia

A person experiencing trigeminal neuralgia can feel an intense, stabbing, electric shock-like pain that affects the nerves in the lower face, jaw, and nose and above the eye.

A small 2014 study suggests that smoking affects the way that the trigeminal nerve and the brain process pain.

Quitting smoking can improve a person’s health and may help reduce headaches that a person experiences as a result of smoking. However, an older 2013 study suggests that smoking cessation may not always improve cluster headaches.

Also, headaches can be a side effect of quitting smoking.

People may try nicotine replacement therapy to gradually wean themselves off nicotine and avoid severe withdrawal symptoms. There are five forms of FDA-approved nicotine replacement therapy:

• patches
• gum
• nasal spray
• inhalers
• lozenges

According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, the following dietary supplements may also help reduce migraines:

• coenzyme Q10
• feverfew
• magnesium
• riboflavin

Although the evidence is inconclusive, some people may also find relief through therapies such as:

• acupuncture
• biofeedback
• massage
• relaxation techniques
• spinal manipulation
• tai chi

Some people can get headaches from secondhand smoke. One theory suggests that secondhand smoke exposure in childhood can cause someone who has never smoked to experience cluster headaches later in life.

A headache after secondhand smoke exposure can have many possible causes, such as:

• the smell of cigarette, cigar, or pipe smoke
• an allergic reaction to the smoke
• various chemicals present in the smoke, such as:
  • ammonia
  • benzene
  • cyanide
  • formaldehyde
  • cadmium

Yes, and quitting cold turkey can cause more severe withdrawal symptoms.

For some, smoking can lead to nicotine dependence, which makes it difficult to stop smoking.

A person who is trying to quit can use nicotine replacement therapy that gives them a low dose of nicotine without any of the other toxic chemicals typically present in cigarettes. This can help reduce the withdrawal symptoms a person may experience when quitting, such as bad moods and cravings.

However, headaches are one possible side effect of nicotine replacement therapy. For example, a medication called bupropion (Zyban) can help a person stop smoking but may cause headaches as a side effect.

Tips to relieve headaches that result from stopping smoking

When nicotine withdrawal causes headaches, a person can try a range of methods to manage the pain, including:

• staying hydrated by drinking enough fluids
• being physically active, which can also help heal the lungs after years of smoking
• doing breathing exercises
• trying relaxation techniques such as meditation
• avoiding situations or activities in which they previously used tobacco products
• using over-the-counter pain medications such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and naproxen

However, nicotine replacement therapy may reduce the effectiveness of any pain medication a person takes.

Someone with a condition such as cluster headaches or migraine can ask their doctor about available prescription medications to manage these specific types of smoking-related headaches.

E-cigarettes may also have a connection to headaches.

Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine. Different products may contain varying amounts, and product labels do not always clearly outline the nicotine content.

E-cigarettes may also contain volatile compounds that can cause headaches and other potentially dangerous health effects, such as:

• irritation of the eye, nose, and throat
• nausea
• damage to various body systems, such as the liver, kidneys, and nervous system

People should consult a doctor if they use tobacco and have frequent headaches. This is especially important if the headaches significantly affect their lives and do not improve or worsen with at-home treatment.

Any headache that occurs after a head injury and is sudden and severe or accompanies symptoms of a serious medical condition — such as a stroke or meningitis — requires immediate medical attention.

Smoking has links to several types of headaches, including cluster headaches, migraines, and trigeminal neuralgia.

Quitting smoking can be beneficial in treating headaches. However, going cold turkey may make withdrawal headaches worse. Nicotine replacement therapy may help alleviate the symptoms.

A person can support their effort to quit by using relaxation techniques, staying well hydrated, and staying physically active.

Why my head hurts: unexpected reasons

• Delfi
• Entertainment
• Intimacy and Health

October 15, 2013 5:20 pm

DELFI.ua

PHOTO: fotolia.com

If you have your head suddenly starts to hurt, the reasons may be the most unexpected, writes zdorovieinfo.ru.

Cause: smoking

Smoking causes headache. And not only for the person who smokes, but also for those people who are next to him. Inhalation of nicotine leads to constriction of the blood vessels of the brain, which provokes a severe headache. Quitting smoking and/or avoiding secondhand smoke is very helpful for people with cluster headaches. This is a very painful one-sided headache that can hurt the eye and nose.

Cause: caffeine

Caffeine is good in moderation and is even found in some headache medications. However, frequent drinking of coffee can lead to headaches. But completely giving up coffee is also not recommended, since the abrupt cessation of caffeine intake also provokes a headache.

Cause: Cheese

Aged cheese, including blue cheese, cheddar, parmesan, and Swiss cheese, can trigger a migraine attack in some people. A substance called tyramine is to blame for everything. The longer the cheese ripens, the more tyramine it contains.

Reason: red wine

Tyramine is also found in red wine and other alcoholic beverages. In addition, alcohol can cause dehydration, which causes headaches. If you cannot refuse red wine, consult your doctor, he may prescribe you a drug for prevention.

Cause: sausage

There are 2 arguments against eating sausages: they contain tyramine and nitrites, which cause headaches in some people. Supplement-induced headaches tend to affect the entire head (unlike migraines, which only affect one side of the head).

Reason: hunger

If you skip a meal, you may get a headache before you feel hungry. The reason is a decrease in blood glucose levels. However, the candy will not help you, because the rise in blood sugar will be short-lived, you need a full meal.

Solution: Calculate the cause

If you know what triggers your headache, you can prevent it. Start keeping a diary of headaches and mark meals, stressful situations, weather changes, physical activity in it. Record the time of onset and end time of the headache. This way you will figure out your cause and be able to get rid of it

Solution: deal with stress

Unfortunately, we cannot avoid stressful situations, but we can control our emotions. Coping with stress through your own strategies or massage will help you get rid of the headache.

Solution: stretch your legs

Moderate physical activity is an excellent “cure” for stress. In particular, walking protects against headaches and tension. Waving your arms as you walk relaxes the muscles in your neck and shoulders. This will help against tension headaches.

The solution: Eat regularly

Eating a balanced diet throughout the day at regular intervals will help avoid sudden fluctuations in blood sugar levels. Try to eat proteins with complex carbohydrates, such as chicken and brown rice. Remember to drink enough water – dehydration also causes headaches. You need 2-3 liters of water per day.

Solution: Medications

There are now a wide range of headache medications: acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen. Such medicines should be taken as soon as you feel a headache. But don’t overuse them. This can lead to persistent headaches. If you experience frequent severe headaches, see your doctor.

When to see a doctor

If the headache is very severe or lasts more than two days, you should consult a doctor and describe your feelings in detail. Call 911 if your headache is accompanied by blurred vision or movement, confusion, convulsions, fever, or increased tone in your neck.

Our telegram channel Delfi Lithuania is your prompt and informative guide around the country.

Source

DELFI.ua

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The impact of passive smoking on human health – MBUZ City polyclinic 3 Krasnodar

Inhalation of someone else’s cigarette smoke is called passive or unintentional smoking.

A non-smoker exhales “side smoke” from a smoldering cigarette and “main smoke” inhaled and exhaled by the smoker. Tobacco smoke is a major source of indoor air pollution. It contains more than 4,000 chemicals, some of which are poisonous, and about 60 of them contain components that, with varying degrees of certainty, can be attributed to carcinogens (substances that cause cancer).

Over the past two decades, evidence has accumulated of the negative effects of secondhand smoke on human health. It can be said that passive smoking is a risk factor for many diseases.

Most studies have concluded that there is an increased risk of lung cancer, especially in people who are habitual smokers. A comprehensive analysis showed that in women the risk of acquiring this disease increases by almost 25%, in men by 30%. Moreover, studies of non-smokers who inhale tobacco smoke at work found a 16-19 increase in the risk of lung cancer.%.

In a report by the International Committee on Research on Cancer, the authors conclude that “on the basis of available data, it can be concluded that passive smoking is one of the causes of lung cancer in people who have never smoked. ”

The presence of specific tobacco carcinogens in the blood of non-smokers clearly showed the negative impact of passive smoking on human health. The study found a relationship between the risk of lung cancer in non-smokers, the number of cigarettes smoked in the presence of the non-smoker, and the number of years the non-smoker was exposed to secondhand smoke. The authors of the studies concluded that both “epidemiological and biochemical evidence of environmental pollution by tobacco smoke, as well as the presence of specific carcinogens in the blood and urine of non-smokers exposed to passive smoking, fully support the assumption that inhalation of other people’s tobacco smoke causes lung cancer” .

The first evidence of an association between passive smoking and heart disease began to appear in the mid-1980s. The National Research Council of the United States in its reports indicated that, from a biological point of view, environmental pollution with tobacco smoke can contribute to the occurrence of coronary heart disease. Research in the early 1990s found that secondhand smoke-induced heart disease was the third leading cause of preventable death in the United States, second only to active smoking and alcohol abuse in importance. The study concluded that non-smokers living with smokers had a 30% increased risk of acquiring heart disease.

Considering how common heart disease is among nonsmokers, an additional 20% increase in risk is significant. It turned out that even short-term exposure to tobacco smoke can lead to heart disease, while continued exposure to polluted premises will have only a minor additional effect. This effect may be explained by the fact that tobacco smoke causes blood clots, a phenomenon known as platelet aggregation. Recent studies have shown that even a half-hour presence of a non-smoker in a room polluted with tobacco smoke can be enough to damage coronary artery cells.

In contrast to the situation with lung cancer, where the risk of disease is proportional to the duration of exposure to tobacco smoke, the risk of acquiring heart disease in a passive smoker may be only half that of a person who smokes 20 cigarettes per day, even if a non-smoker inhales only 1% smoke.

While the risk of heart disease among non-smokers exposed to tobacco smoke is quite high, if secondhand smoke is avoided for at least a year, the arteries usually recover. And passive smokers achieve the greatest improvement in health after two years of cessation of passive smoking.

A New Zealand study found that passive smoking, as well as active smoking, increased the risk of stroke. It turned out that due to passive smoking, the risk of stroke in non-smokers increases to 80%. The risk was significant in both men and women. By comparison, active smokers are four times more likely to have a stroke than those who have never smoked and quit smoking more than 10 years ago and have not been exposed to secondhand smoke. Taking into account the fact that stroke is one of the most common causes of death, it can be concluded that passive smoking has a serious negative impact on the health of non-smokers. Passive smoking has a slow but significant effect on the respiratory system of nonsmoking adults, including increased coughing, sputum production, chest pain, and reduced lung capacity. In asthmatics, passive smoking leads to serious problems, because cigarette smoke can cause asthma attacks.

Adults exposed to environmental tobacco smoke at home and at work have a 40-60% higher risk of developing asthma than those who are not exposed to secondhand smoke.

Many people exposed to secondhand smoke experience discomfort associated with eye irritation, headache, cough, dizziness and nausea. These negative effects of environmental tobacco smoke pollution, although not life threatening, have a negative impact on work productivity and lead to strained relationships between smokers and non-smokers.

Necessary considering the harmful effects of tobacco smoke on humans. Prevention of passive smoking should be aimed at reducing the list of public and state institutions in which smoking is allowed.

The list of so-called smoke-free zones should be increased: cinemas, entertainment centers, sports facilities, bars, restaurants.

The beginning of this struggle was laid by the prohibition of smoking in medical organizations, state institutions, but it is necessary that this be the goal of every citizen.