Dear Kris,

I suspect the headaches are from raised pressure in the vasculature around
the brain during blowing hard. It suggests that you are perhaps trying to
blow to hard a reed, and succeeding by over blowing. This can raise the
central core pressure in the vascular system, and potentially transmit up to
the brain vessels.

Kids with certain cardiac defects used to do something similar - the
Valsalva Manoeuvre where you pinch the nose and blow hard (as if trying to
pop the ears) whilst crouching down; then they'd stand up quickly, and
promptly faint. The result - get sent home from school because of passing
out, on top of the cardiac problems. It really panicked teachers, but was
well known to doctors.

The reason it happened was raising core pressure by blowing hard, followed
by suddenly dropping the pressure by rising quickly and dumping the blood
down into the legs (we've all felt giddy rising quickly at some time in our
lives). In most of us, our physiological mechanisms compensate quickly;
with certain heart defects, that would not happen; blood pressure would
plummet and they would keel over!

I suggest softening the reed that you're blowing, and making sure that your
pipes are sealed properly so that you do not lose pressure anywhere.
Perhaps also soften the drone pressure a bit. Really, you should not need
any effort to bring in the drones from 'a standing start', and little
additional effort to get the chanter to chime in. The danger of going to a
lighter set up, is of course overblowing especially on the high 'A'.

Hopefully that will make the piping easier and cure the headache.

The other issue could be high volume noise of the band in a confined space.
If you are not overblowing, then try quality ear plugs.....

Let me know which you think it is, and how you get on.

Blessings to all,

Brian

-----Original Message-----
From: christianpipersanddrummers@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:christianpipersanddrummers@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of shepiper47
Sent: Friday, February 13, 2009 9:16 AM
To: christianpipersanddrummers@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Christian Pipers and Drummers] A question for Dr. Brian

Brian,

I'm glad to see you post again. I was wondering how things were going
with you and your family. Sounds like you're hardly home let alone
play your pipes as well. Your schedule sounds tough.

My question is why do some of us get headaches after extended times
of piping? Tonight I developed a headache just at the end of band
practice and on my way home I noticed I had a hard time remembering
what I had done throughout the day. It's not the first time for a
headache after piping but this time I felt like I was in a dream.
It's now 3 hrs. later and the headache has subsided but I'm having
trouble remembering all the details of the day and my drive home.
It's a long drive, 1 hour each way to & from practice, and I'm pretty
concerned about the memory lapse. I did have a big cup of caffeinated
coffee (I normally drink decaf) on my way to practice so I'd stay
awake throughout the evening but that's the only thing I did
different. Could the caffeine be causing this? BTW, it's 1:04 am
right now and I can't sleep...YIKES! Maybe I've answered my own
question!

I will remember Lorna in my prayers tonight. I know you all must be
trouble by what's going on with her.

Thanks for your input from time to time here. I can see you're busier
than you'd like to be.

Blessings you and your family,

Kris





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