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What Causes Severe Headache After Inhaling Spray Paint Fumes?

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Posted on Thu, 7 Apr 2016
Question: I inhaled spray paint fumes and have a headache going on my second day. Severe headache last night and bad headache now. I am not prone to headeaches.
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Answered by Dr. Dariush Saghafi (43 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Toxic fumes are most likely cause of headaches

Detailed Answer:
Good evening.

Sorry you're having ongoing headaches after inhaling paint fumes yesterday.

Headaches of this sort are due to toxic irritation of the headache controlling elements of the brain which likely have caused some degree of swelling and potentially other alterations of their function. In the future you should recognize that paint fumes obviously cause a severe toxicity to your brain and therefore, you should have at least a mask to wear. Also, it is possible that the ventilation to the space where this paint fume accumulated was possibly inadequate. Please make sure that whenever you are working with substances that discharge fumes that the area you are in has adequate ventilation and make sure you take frequent breaks to walk into FRESH AIR OUTSIDE the room space....not just around the house or to other floor of the house.....but literally, outside the house and spend enough time breathing normal air that any headache you may have will be suppressed within a few moments if possible.

As far as treating the headache is concerned there's nothing to accelerate the penetration of those fumes and the effect they've had on you except to say that we normally simply treat the major symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and then, the headaches using agents such as Tylenol ES, Motrin, Depakote, or Excedrin for Migraine. If these headaches do not abate in the next 1-2 days then, I will once again return to a fairly strong regimen using mostly OTC agents and then, see what's going to be going on.

You should obviously not return to any environment where those fumes had penetrated or impregnated the space to which you are severely impacted.

I hope this addresses your concerns and that you'll keep me in mind for future questions regarding these or other neurological/medical issues. Feel free to upload images if you like but just keep in mind what I've said about that process and call TECHNICAL SUPPORT if necessary.

Otherwise, I'd appreciate your rating this interaction with a HIGH STAR SCORE and look forward to a few words of feedback. In addition, I'd appreciate your CLOSING THIS QUERY if you're satisfied with my response.

Write to me any time at: bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi for additional comments, concerns, or to provide status updates if you'd like which I would love to receive from you to see just what has been discovered.

Many thanks for using this service to ask your questions. Be well.

This consult request has taken a total of 18 minutes of time to read, research, and respond.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Dariush Saghafi

Neurologist

Practicing since :1988

Answered : 2472 Questions

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What Causes Severe Headache After Inhaling Spray Paint Fumes?

Brief Answer: Toxic fumes are most likely cause of headaches Detailed Answer: Good evening. Sorry you're having ongoing headaches after inhaling paint fumes yesterday. Headaches of this sort are due to toxic irritation of the headache controlling elements of the brain which likely have caused some degree of swelling and potentially other alterations of their function. In the future you should recognize that paint fumes obviously cause a severe toxicity to your brain and therefore, you should have at least a mask to wear. Also, it is possible that the ventilation to the space where this paint fume accumulated was possibly inadequate. Please make sure that whenever you are working with substances that discharge fumes that the area you are in has adequate ventilation and make sure you take frequent breaks to walk into FRESH AIR OUTSIDE the room space....not just around the house or to other floor of the house.....but literally, outside the house and spend enough time breathing normal air that any headache you may have will be suppressed within a few moments if possible. As far as treating the headache is concerned there's nothing to accelerate the penetration of those fumes and the effect they've had on you except to say that we normally simply treat the major symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and then, the headaches using agents such as Tylenol ES, Motrin, Depakote, or Excedrin for Migraine. If these headaches do not abate in the next 1-2 days then, I will once again return to a fairly strong regimen using mostly OTC agents and then, see what's going to be going on. You should obviously not return to any environment where those fumes had penetrated or impregnated the space to which you are severely impacted. I hope this addresses your concerns and that you'll keep me in mind for future questions regarding these or other neurological/medical issues. Feel free to upload images if you like but just keep in mind what I've said about that process and call TECHNICAL SUPPORT if necessary. Otherwise, I'd appreciate your rating this interaction with a HIGH STAR SCORE and look forward to a few words of feedback. In addition, I'd appreciate your CLOSING THIS QUERY if you're satisfied with my response. Write to me any time at: bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi for additional comments, concerns, or to provide status updates if you'd like which I would love to receive from you to see just what has been discovered. Many thanks for using this service to ask your questions. Be well. This consult request has taken a total of 18 minutes of time to read, research, and respond.