Headaches

The eye is in many ways the window to your body; the back of the eye is the only place in the body where it is possible to directly see a blood vessel.  It is possible to look for evidence of swelling or pressure in the brain by looking at the appearance of the optic nerve visible upon dilation of the eyes.  In addition, some headaches can be caused by wearing glasses that are the wrong power.  Dr. Golden pays a lot of attention to symptoms of headaches starting first with a careful history and review of your general medical health.  He can then diagnose the cause of your headaches as well as offering treatment for certain types of headaches. 

Dr. Golden has significant experience in the use of Botox which is now FDA approved as a potential treatment of migraines.  Even going back many years, his patients found that after receiving Botox for wrinkles in the forehead that their migraines disappeared. 

Causes of headaches

  • Cluster headache
  • Migraine (with and without aura)
  • Tension headache (medically known as tension-type headache)
  • Trigeminal autonomic cephalalgia (TAC), including cluster headache and paroxysmal hemicrania
  • Chronic daily headaches
  • Sinus headaches
  • Headaches associated with tears of arteries in the brain
  • Venous thrombosis in the brain can lead to headaches
  • Aneurysm – an expanding artery in the your brain can lead to severe, life-threatening headaches
  • Brain tumor
  • Carbon monoxide poisoning
  • Concussion
  • Dehydration
  • Dental problems
  • Middle ear infections
  • Encephalitis
  • Giant cell arteritis (inflammation of the lining of the arteries), or Temporal arteritis
  • Glaucoma
  • Hangovers
  • Influenza (flu)
  • Intracranial hematoma (blood vessel ruptures in the brain)
  • Medications used to treat other disorders – particularly pain medications
  • Meningitis
  • Monosodium glutamate (MSG)
  • Pressure from tight-fitting headgear, such as a helmet or goggles
  • Pseudotumor cerebri (increased pressure inside the skull)
  • Stroke
  • Toxoplasmosis
  • Trigeminal neuralgia 

Some headaches can be triggered by lifestyle factors, including:

  • Alcohol, particularly red wine
  • Certain foods, such as processed meats that contain nitrates
  • Changes in sleep or lack of sleep
  • Poor posture
  • Skipped meals
  • Stress