Headaches can do more than ruin your day - they can interfere with your life. There are many different types of headaches and in this article, we are going to discuss a few of them.
Migraine Headache
If you have a stable pattern of recurring headaches accompanied by nausea at least some of the time, you probably have migraine. Migraines may sometimes cause extreme nausea, vomiting and altered vision. Symptoms may include tiredness or moodiness as early as 12- 18 hours before onset of the headache.
Migraine tends to recur periodically but what really causes migraines is not well understood. Migraine headaches can do more than ruin your day - they can interfere with your life. Headaches are of different variations.
Migraine headaches are usually described as a one-sided, throbbing pain of the temple, forehead, or eye. Once the pain of a migraine sets in, it is sheer agony. How bad are your headaches? The most important symptom you will probably have with your migraine headache is pain, and as you know, the pain can be very severe and last many hours.
Migraine headache resulted from the expansion (or dilation) of blood vessels in the brain and scalp. It is possible for people to have migraine even when nobody in the family has it. Though it has been seen that migraine does run in families, it is not necessary that children of migraine patients will also have it. Stress is one of the major factors that can contribute to the onset of a migraine.
Tension headache
Tension headaches are also common in many people. Stress and anxiety are causes for tension headaches. Tension headaches often start in the middle of the day. Tension headaches usually begin slowly and gradually. Tension headaches commonly come on in the middle of the day. If you have tension headaches almost every day or over-the-counter medicines don’t help your pain, you should see a medical practitioner.
For a person who is prompt to tension headache, the moment the person gets tense about something, the person will develop a tension headache. People with tension headaches may also suffer from pain, throbbing or a sensation of tightness in the head. Contrary to popular belief, tension headache is not necessarily the result of emotional stress, but rather, like migraine, probably as a result of a neurochemical process inherent in the brain of the headache sufferer. Most tension-type headaches respond to simple analgesics like acetaminophen or ibuprofen, but some can be somewhat disabling.
Tests are not usually required to diagnose a tension headache. If you only have tension headaches occasionally, an over-the-counter (available without a prescription) pain reliever can probably help. These headaches come on slowly, and gradually increase in intensity. Some people report that their tension headaches are worse than a migraine headache.
Common Headache Treatment Options
There are a lot of treatment options presently available for your migraine and tension headaches. Some of you will get spectacular results with one or more of these treatments and others will not. Sometimes a separate visit to your physician to discuss your headaches specifically may be necessary. Migraine can be triggered in susceptible individuals by tyramine-containing foods, some food additives and sugar substitutes, as well as by skipping meals.
Selective serotonin-agonist drugs like sumatriptan have revolutionized treatment of migraines and dramatically changed the lives of millions of people. Most commonly used drugs for migraine headaches are regular analgesics available over the counter like Tylenol, Aspirin or ibuprofen (Advil). There are several natural solutions that can help you fight headaches, but the first thing you need to do is work out what sort of headaches you’re actually suffering from.
There are many natural remedies for tension headaches. These include stress and tension reduction, ice therapy (used at the base of the skull), eliminating food triggers, getting the proper amount of rest, biofeedback, headache pillows or cushions, exercise and many others. Sunglasses can often even prevent the headaches.
All treatments for migraine and tension headaches have the same treatment goals in common. They are designed to take away your headache symptoms. There is no need to endure the pain when you really have an option. Follow the tips given here and you will be amazed to find that the prevention is actually in your hands.
Kathleen
Tired of this pain in your head? Read the following article to discover what causes headache.
Everyone at on point or another has suffered from a headache, after it is probably one of the most common illnesses. But what exactly are the causes of headache? There are multiple causes responsible for this condition. For example a simple irritation to the neck can be the start point of a headache or the simple sensation of pain transmitting through your body can release one.
Stress
There a many various causes of headaches and there is a wide range of headache types, and this is one of the most common reason why headaches occurs so frequently. Probably the most common cause of headache today is stress. Stress often generate a feeling of “fight or flight” and is accompanied by other symptoms such as:
- Shallow breathing
- Raised heart rate
- High blood pressure
In some cases even adrenaline can be the cause of headaches.
Nutrition
Another important cause of headache is your nutrition. Many people are unaware of that but your diet as well as your sensitivity to food is one major cause of headache, especially migraines. Headaches are related to nutrition in cases like:
- Variation of blood sugar levels
- Withdrawal of caffeine or too much caffeine
- Food additives
Dental Abscess
This is one kind of headache i really hope you never have. Dental abscess can trigger major headaches, especially if you suffer from an infection. Not only will you suffer from a severe headache but you will have to endure the pain associated to the infection. In this particular case you will need to consult your dentist for the proper treatment.
Hormones
Hormones are another factor that can cause headaches. Hormones are what allow an individual to fell pain. In this case sexual hormones can be associated with headaches especially for women. Whether it is before or after their menstrual period if the hormones level are to low, women may have some severe migraines.
Vision
People with impaired vision are probably very familiar with this condition as it is a very common cause of headache. The headache can be targeted when they strain their eyes muscle to try to focus or when they try to squint. Another condition related to the eyes is Glaucoma which is an eye disease that can cause headaches.
Other causes of headaches can be due to a disorder in the following area:
- The ear
- The nose
- The throat
The following are some of the most common causes of headache:
- sinus headache
- labyrinthitis
- infections
- traumas
Some research point to the fact that even damage to a person’s nerves can be a cause of headaches.
In conclusion I’d like to say thank you to you for reading this article about “what causes headache” I truly hope the information was helpful to you and good luck with any issues related to your condition.
Louise
One of the most common troubles faced by people of all age group is headache. Headache is the pain that humans suffer in the upper part above the upper neck and in the forehead that is above the eyes and the ears. Headaches can basically be classified in two parts as the primary headaches and secondary headaches. Primary headaches are those that do not relate any other disease like the tension headache, cluster headache or the migraine. Secondary headaches are those which are directly or indirectly related to some major or minor disease say for example headache due to blood plots in the head, high blood pressure, meningitis, head injury, cerebral aneurysms or encephalitis. Headache is called as cephalalgia in terms of medical. In the language of doctors the headache is of five types. The first one is vascular, second is the myogenic also called the muscle tension, the third is the cervicogenic, fourth is the traction and finally the inflammatory.The most common of all headaches is the tension headache. More than 90% of people suffer from this kind due to stress and tension. It might be surprising but surveys and researches show that tension headache is more common in women as compared to men. The second most common headache is the migraine. The maximum victims of this kind are found in US. There is no specific age for migraine and it effects equally to both sexes before puberty. Cluster headache, the third kind of primary headache is seen mainly in men. It seems to be affecting in people lying under the age group of 28 to 32 years. Secondary headaches are the serious ones that may be the cause of any life threatening disease. Some common disease under this category are the brain tumors and strokes. Sudden stop or withdrawal from painkillers or some drug may also lead to secondary headache.To treat and deal with troubles of headache it is very important to know the causes and symptoms of headache. If one knows the symptoms than only can treat the problem, and knowing the causes can avoid them in future. Normal symptoms for headache are feeling depressed. Other common symptoms are ache in the forehead, above the eyes. Blurring of the vision and feeling confused and lost in ideas are also the symptoms. Some of the major causes of headaches are due to emotional stress, depression or tension. At times allergies or eyestrain also become its causes. Considering some serious problem like low or high blood pressure or change in sugar levels of the body also contributes to the headache. Depending on person-to-person sudden climatic change to extreme cold or extreme hot can also cause headache. Constipation and nutrition deficiency can also lead to headache. Brain aneurysm, cat scratch disease, chronic cough, lupus melas syndrome, sinus infections, hypoglycemia, glaucoma are some of the causes of the secondary headaches.Knowing the symptoms and causes is not sufficient, one should have the knowledge regarding its treatment also. The best thing one can remember about headache cure is that live a stress free life, as such no medicine is required if the headache is nominal. Proper sleep and a regular check on the nutritious diet are must to avoid headache. Avoiding drugs, alcohol and smoking is also a remedy. Exercises and meditating can be considered the best of all medicines. Painkillers such as para-acetamol, aspirin, Ibufen are the common ones taken to cure severe headache. Many people find it better to handle the headache with techniques like the acupuncture, biofeedback or the hypnosis.
Shawn
There are many new migraine headache treatments available that can be both safe and effective. Natural treatments for migraine headaches are usually safer and cheaper than traditional pain medications. And in many instances they can relieve pain just as well or even better than prescription or non-prescription drugs. The possibility of a negative reaction to a safe and natural migraine headache treatment is still there, but it is less with most natural treatment methods than it is with pain-relieving medications.
Every person on the face of the earth is unique. Their body chemistry is different than anyone else’s. One person may find relief from their migraine headaches with one type of treatment while someone else may try that same treatment and find no relief at all. No two people will experience the same reaction from the same treatment. But why is that?
Every body is made up of a mixture of chemicals. Every person produces certain chemicals in their body so that they will be able to function at their best. Histamines will increase gastric secretion and dilate the capillaries. Insulin is secreted by the pancreas and helps regulate the blood sugar levels. Hormones are produced by the body for many different functions. Adrenaline (epinephrine) is produced in response to stress. Every body is unique and produces different chemicals in differing amounts. When a person takes aspirin (a chemical) for their migraine headaches it changes the chemical make-up of that person’s body.
You’ve always heard that when two chemicals, in the same amounts, at the same temperature, etc. are mixed together they will cause the same reaction. That may be true, but when one chemical (such as aspirin) is taken by two separate people their reactions will never be exactly the same because no two people have identical chemicals in their body. One person taking aspirin will not have the same reaction as someone else taking aspirin. And it’s the same with natural migraine headache treatments. Since no two people are identical no two people will respond exactly the same to a treatment method for migraine headaches.
So just because one migraine headache treatment does not work for one person does not mean it won’t work for your migraine headaches. There are many effective alternatives to taking medications when it comes to relieving migraine headaches. You just have to try one for yourself to see if it will work for you.
One natural and popular treatment method for migraine headaches is chiropractic care, or chiropractic manipulations. Studies have shown that over 80% of headache patients find some type of relief for their headaches with chiropractic treatment. And chiropractic treatment has been shown to be extremely safe. Spinal problems cause headaches and when these spinal problems are treated by chiropractors a high percentage of their patients experience relieve from their pain.
Another natural way to relieve migraine headaches is biofeedback. This is a safe and potentially effective way to eliminate pain. Biofeedback is not actually a treatment, but a training program designed to help a person develop the ability to control their autonomic (involuntary) nervous system. Functions that are normally automatic in the body, such as blood pressure regulation or heart rate can be controlled voluntarily. This technique makes it possible for a person to control their own heart rate, blood pressure, skin temperature or relaxation of their muscles.
It’s no secret that stress causes muscle tension. And nobody will deny that muscle tension causes pain and headaches. And it’s also a fact that by relaxing this muscle tension, especially in the neck and head, it is possible to relieve the migraine headaches or neck pain that is being caused by the tension. With biofeedback the machinery is not always necessary. Once the biofeedback technique is learned there is no longer any need for the equipment. The patient with migraine headaches can now produce the desired effect at any time. A person that has been trained with biofeedback can control some of their bodily functions, such as muscle relaxation, which can help relieve their headache pain.
Another cause of headaches can be the intake of too much salt. Some people just can’t get enough of it. They pour it onto their food with wreckless abandon. And too much salt can and does cause headaches. What’s the solution? Simply lessening the salt intake can sometimes prevent the headaches from occurring.
Food sensitivities have also been shown to cause migraine headaches in some people. Foods such as cheese, alcohol, MSG (monosodium glutamate - a food additive), yeast, wheat, nuts, avocados, beans, bananas, oranges (and other citrus fruits), pork, vinegar (and pickled foods), dairy products, caffeine, chocolate, onions and others can cause migraines. Foods that cause migraine headaches are called “migraine triggers.” People who experience migraine headaches because of food allergies can reduce or eliminate their pain by eliminating the foods that cause the headaches.
It sounds simple, but it takes a little detective work to figure out which foods, if any, are causing the migraine headaches. So how can you determine which foods are the culprits? The logical way is to keep a diary of what you eat and when. Get a small notebook, with each page representing one day, and make three columns on each of the pages. The first column on the left side of the page will contain the hours in the day. The second column down the middle of the page will be a list of the foods eaten that day. And the third column on the right side of the page will list the symptoms (headaches) that you experience.
Here’s how the food diary works: if you had an orange, cereal and milk for breakfast at 8 AM you would write “orange, cereal, milk” in the middle (food) column directly to the right of 8 AM in the left (time) column. Make a note of everything that you eat on this list and at what time you ate them.
Next, whenever you experience a migraine headache write “migraine headache” or “headache” in the right (symptoms) column that corresponds with the time (in the left column) your headache began. For example, if you started feeling pain from one of your migraine headaches at 2 PM you would write “headache” in the right (symptoms) column directly across from 2 PM in the left (time) column.
Once you’ve had enough time to experience a few migraine headaches you will be able to examine your food diary to determine which foods you ate shortly before you began experiencing your pain. For example, if you had 3 migraine headaches over a one-month period, and you had milk shortly before each of the migraine attacks, milk may be the culprit. It may take a few weeks or even a few months to come to any conclusions, but over time, by figuring out which foods or ingredients in these foods, are causing your pain, you will be able to eliminate these ingredients and relieve your pain caused by these foods.
Probably the most common cause of headaches is just plain old stress. People who experience tension in their lives can get headaches from their increased tension. Stress can be caused by many things including work-related stress or family-related stress. And although it’s not always possible to eliminate the cause of the stress it is often possible to relieve the muscle tension and pain that originates from the stress.
Biofeedback training (as explained above) is one way to help reduce stress. Other ways are taking a warm bath or shower, lying down and relaxing in a quiet dark room, having someone massage your neck and head (temporal region) muscles to help relieve your tension and muscle spasms or placing something cold (ice) on the back of the neck (at the base of the skull). When using ice it should not be placed directly on the skin. Some wet paper towels that have had the water wrung out of them should be placed between the ice and the skin. Regular exercise can also, over time, reduce tension.
We have discussed 5 natural treatment methods that are available to migraine headache patients. They are all considered safe and are effective for many people. There are many other natural treatment methods out there for you to try. If you have headaches it may be beneficial for you to try some of these treatments or search for others on your own. But as a word of advice, it is always a good idea to talk with a chiropractor or medical doctor before treating yourself for a health condition.
Diana
Headache can affect just anybody and everybody. It is pain in the head, which involves the area located above the eyes or the ears, behind the head or in the back of the upper neck. The muscles or blood vessels of the head, neck area swell, tighten, or undergo other changes that put pressure on the surrounding nerves and cause a headache.
What are the types of headaches?
There are two types of headaches -
1. primary headaches - accounts for 90% of all headaches. This is not related to any other disease. There are three types of primary headache -
a. tension headaches - associates with stress, anxiety and depression.
b. cluster headaches - occur daily, over a long period.
c. migraine.
2. secondary headache - associated with an underlying condition such as cerebro-vascular disease, head trauma, infection, tumour or some metabolic disorder (such as diabetes, thyroid problem). In these cases, the underlying condition must be diagnosed and treated.
3. One may also suffer from something called “mixed” headache in which tension headache or secondary headache triggers migraine headaches.
What causes headaches?
Almost everybody must have had an experience of a headache sometime or the other. Headaches are more common in women and in people with a genetic history of headaches.
Tension headaches are caused by stress, muscular tension, vascular dilation, postural changes, prolonged coughing/sneezing, and fever.
Physical conditions that can lead to chronic muscular tension and thereby, headache include:
* Anxiety
* Arthritis in neck or spinal cord
* Degenerative bone disease in the neck or spine
* Depression
Cluster headaches may be due to alcohol abuse or the side effects of certain medications, including drugs that dilate or constrict blood vessels. A low level of endorphins (natural painkilling compounds found in the brain) may cause frequent, severe, or chronic headache pain.
Other common factors that make people more prone to headache are -
* constipation
* acidity
* excessive consumption of tea, coffee, nicotine
* deficiency of oxygen in the blood
* approach to a menstrual cycle (in case of women)
* sitting too close to the television
* reading in insufficient light or a moving vehicle
Causes of secondary headache vary from life threatening conditions such as brain tumours, cerebral strokes, meningitis, brain hemorrhages to less serious conditions such as withdrawal from drugs, caffeine.
Symptoms of headache -
Signs that indicate the presence of a headache:
* a constant dull ache in the head.
* nausea
* difficulty in sleeping
* loss of appetite
* feeling of uneasiness
Diagnosis of a headache?
In most cases of headache, there is no need to visit the doctor. A very severe headache that appears suddenly, or one that deteriorates instead of getting better with time requires medical investigation.
One can even identify the type of headache, by being a bit alert. Each time you have a headache, make a note of how bad it is, where the pain is, any other symptoms, and if any type of pattern emerges.
This can help find out triggers, which can thus be avoided.
If a headache is accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, or disturbed vision/speech, or loss of memory, one must immediately consult a doctor.
Treat of headaches?
Tension-type headaches can be relieved by using relaxation techniques, or using over-the-counter painkillers.
* Taking a painkiller such as aspirin, dispirin usually works well.
* One may also take anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen as an alternative. Anti-inflammatories may be more effective than normal painkillers for some people.
A word of caution -
As with all medicines, always follows the instructions on the strip. Prolonged use of painkillers will eventually cause withdrawal headaches, they should not be taken continuously for more than a few days at a time.
Relaxation techniques include:
* applying a hot bag on the forehead or neck
* applying some pain relief balm on the forehead
* exercise, meditation, breathing exercises, yoga, or relaxation exercises
* Chiropractic manipulation helps alleviate tension headaches caused by muscle strain due to poor posture. If a person has to sit for long periods, work at a computer, or perform repetitive movements, chiropractic helps reduce the frequency of headaches.
* Acupuncture may also help reduce pain and frequency of headaches. It is widely believed that the thin needles used stimulate the nervous system to release endorphins or other chemicals and hormones that affect pain perception.
For chronic headaches, consult a physician, who will find out the exact cause and provide drugs accordingly. People who get chronic headaches should avoid analgesics altogether.
A balanced diet and regular exercise will contribute to general health and wellbeing, and this may help make tension headaches less likely.
Preventive measures for a headache -
* Exercise moderately but regularly.
Avoid exercising in very hot weather.
* Reduce stress
* Identify triggering factors such as food, tobacco, alcohol. Foods typically include chocolate, dairy products, and caffeine.
* Avoid regular use of pain relievers.
Home remedies for headache -
* Eat an apple with a little salt on an empty stomach everyday and see its remedial effects.
* Mix 1/4 teaspoon of clove powder in one teaspoon of cinnamon oil. Apply mixture to the area of pain. This is very effective Home Remedy for Headache
* Place your thumbs right in the centre of each temple. Massage firmly using a circular motion until you feel respite.
* Eat 10-12 almonds, for a migraine headache.
* Put your hands in hot water, which pulls out the pressure from head.
* Crush onion and apply the paste on the head. Or roast some dry ajwain seeds, tie it in a muslin cloth and sniff repeatedly for relief. This is also useful Home Remedy for Headache
* Curd should be avoided, especially at night.
* Carrot juice along with spinach, or beet and cucumber juice, has been found beneficial in the treatment of migraine.
* Try to relax, and keep mind free from anxiety, anger, mental tension and worry.
* Make a paste of 10-15 basil leaves (tulsi) with 4 cloves and 1 teaspoon dried ginger and apply to forehead for sinus headache. This is very fine Home Remedy for Headache
Headaches are common pains that anyone can suffer. They can be caused by many factors such as stress, working for extended hours in front of the computer to injury and migraines which may be triggered by allergies such as food.
Whatever the cause may be, the fact remains that having a headache is very uncomfortable and may keep you from performing to your full potentials. One need not suffer so much because of it, especially if the problem is constant and may keep you from being productive. Headaches may come in different forms usually depending on the cause. So most definitely, before you could opt for any ways to get rid of your headache, you must know first what is causing it. The following are simple ways to get rid of headaches:
1. Maintain good posture and do some stretching. Poor posture while working can cause what are known as tension headaches. Staying in such a position for a very long time may cause the muscles of the neck and shoulders to tighten up. One way to get rid of this headache is to maintain a good posture while working. Every now and then or if you feel tension pains setting in, do some stretching to get rid of the headache before it gets worse.
2. Application of moist heat through a hot compress is also a good way to get rid of headaches. Get a towel and soak it in warm water and apply it on areas where you find pain and tension to rid your body of the discomfort.
3. In women, a common problem is headache that comes days before their period. This is usually felt as a pain directly behind the eyes. To get rid of this headache, women must eat foods that are rich in zinc, especially those that come from lean proteins such as lean meats.
4. Relax. The most common cause of headache is stress. Develop a healthy lifestyle which allows you to get enough sleep and rest. If you feel a huge headache coming in because of stress, get rid of this headache by taking a break from work and catching on some sleep.
5. Get a massage. Tension headaches, especially ones that come with pain that radiates through the neck and shoulders are extremely uncomfortable. A way to get of this headache is by getting some massage, especially on the scalp, neck and shoulder areas to release all the tension that have build up there.
6. Eat regularly. Do not skip meals because hunger and meal- skipping can also cause headaches. If you feel a headache about to start and you haven’t had anything to eat, take a break and grab a bite to prevent that headache from progressing further.
7. Drink lots of water. As much as possible, stick to the eight-glasses a day recommended amount of daily water intake. Water cools down the body and so when you feel a major headache, drink up to get rid of it.
8. Ice. Ice is known to be effective in relieving different types of pains, headaches included. So another option to get rid of your headache if to use ice. Lie down and have an ice pack placed on the areas where you feel pain and tension such as behind your neck, temples or forehead.
9. Kill the pain with pain killers. There are many over-the counter analgesics that are known to work for many forms of headaches. However, it is still best to consult a doctor first before choosing a pain reliever to get rid of your headache most especially if the problem persists for a very long time. It is best to work out with your doctor first what is truly causing the pain.
10. Watch what you eat. Some headaches are triggered by food. This is most especially true for migraine sufferers. So if you feel that your headache was prompted by something that you ate, stop eating that food and consult your doctor to determine whether this is truly the source of your headache.
Having a headache is an uncomfortable experience. It keeps you from performing your task and is counter-productive. Headaches have many causes and so to successfully get rid of that headache, it is best to try to figure out first what is causing it in the first place. Lifestyle still plays a major role in determining whether you headache problem is just temporary or will pester you for a very long time.
Dorothy
When people are unable to think properly and look straight, chances are the person has a headache. Cases such as these may be mild to severe which is why doctors say, “its only in the head.”
There are two kinds of headaches. The first is called the tension headache, which may happen for a few minutes to a few hours. It usually goes away by drinking some water or taking a break from whatever the person is doing. Those who are experiencing this for more than 15 days in a given month has something worse which is the second kind called a chronic headache. Research shows that there are very few people that have this problem. This often occurs to women than men perhaps because of hormones and other chemicals in the body.
Scientists do not yet know the real cause of a chronic headache. Some attribute it to stress or not getting enough nutrients in the diet. Believe it not, the type of medicine being taken may also be the cause of this problem. Should this occur for more than two days, it is best to consult with a doctor immediately for proper treatment. Doctors will not be able to tell that the patient has a chronic headache. This can only be done after answering some questions such as how long the headaches have happened including one’s medical history.
To narrow down the problem, a blood test and a neurological exam will be done on the patient. Two of these tests are the CT scan and the electroencephalogram or EEG. If the brain activity is normal and there are no problems inside like a broken blood vessel or tumor, only then can doctors say it is a chronic headache.
There are various drugs in the market that are there to help treat chronic headaches. Unfortunately, there have been instances where it just got worse after taking it. Should this happen, the patient should stop taking the medicine and try something different.
Some researchers have pointed out the getting help from a chiropractor can make chronic headaches go away. This is because the techniques used by these professionals are not only to relieve any pain or tension in the spine because this comforts the whole body. Another eastern technique that is used to treat chronic headaches is acupuncture. This works by applying needles to sensitive spots to relieve tension in the body.
Other serious causes may include development of brain tumors and other neurologically-related disorders. But, among these factors that trigger the problem, one factor is considered as the hardest to manage varying stress levels.
STRESSING OUT ON STRESS
Stress is nothing but a part and fact of nature. It is one of those factors that affect individuals caused by the ever-changing forces in the environment. Through the years, experts have found out that stress is one of the most common factors that trigger headaches that can either be physical or emotional.
One of the common forms of headaches caused by emotional stress is migraine headache. People who suffer from migraine usually experience stress cause by anxiety, worrying too much, shock, depression, over excitement, and overall mental fatigue.
Aside from drastic mood changes, repressed emotions can also lead to stress headache. Experts agree that stress also plays a big role in developing tension-type headache that are directly related to specific instances of increased worry and concern and can lead to more complications such as sleep disturbances.
In order to know if you are experiencing headache due to stress, check if you have shallow breathing, elevated heart rate, increased blood pressure, and increased levels of adrenaline. Stress headache can also be characterized by tightening of the tensioned muscles in the upper back, shoulders, neck, and head, lowered tolerance to pain, and ineffective painkillers.
Stress headache is indeed considered as the most common type of headache because two out of three people in the world have at least experience one tension headache in their lifetime. Since stress headaches are caused by too much stress a person goes through, the best way to combat it is to avoid a lifestyle filled out with stress.
Other treatment may include taking in medications such as over-the-counter painkillers like aspirin or paracetamol, indulging into relaxing activities such as a massage, diet changes and alterations eating habits, and taking in alternative therapies like acupuncture or chiropractic.
Other short-term treatments include indulgence to microcurrent (TENS) and magnetic therapy, heat treatment like hot baths, facial ice packs, soothing massage especially to the scalp, neck and shoulder areas, getting involved to stress-relieving activities like meditation or hypnosis, regular physical routine and winding up.
Long-term treatments may also include getting involved to aerobic exercises like cycling, swimming or walking, regular relaxation techniques, consultation with a registered psychologist to improve stress management, and taking in antidepressant medications. Aside from taking in prescription medication, you can also undergo stress management under licensed doctors, neurologists, chemists, and other professionals.
Francisco
While it’s true that all types of headaches may cause us some type of discomfort, not all are alike as the pain may range from the mild to the excruciating. There are several types of headaches, some caused by underlying medical conditions, while others are due to stress or environmental causes.
There are quite a few different reasons for a headache to occur. Basically, anything that causes the pain receptors in the neck and head area to be stimulated will cause the sensation of a headache.
Some of the most common causes of headaches include:
- Straining the eyes.
- Neck or head injuries.
- Dental problems.
- Muscle tension.
- High blood pressure.
- Sinus disorders.
- Certain medications.
There are several different types of headaches, all of which can be grouped into two major categories; primary or secondary. Primary headache disorders include migraines, tension, cluster, and the ordinary, average headache that most of us have experienced at one time or another.
Primary headaches may include:
Migraines: Affecting women nearly three times more often than men, migraines are believed to be caused in part by the hormone estrogen and may be more intense near menstruation. There are numerous symptoms of a migraine headache, some more severe than others, that may include mood changes, a stiff neck, loss of appetite or nausea, fatigue, and sensitivity to light and sound.
Tension Headaches: Tension headaches, unlike migraines, do not cause sensitivity to light or severe symptoms such as nausea or vomiting, but they are one of the most common types of headaches. Described as a squeezing sensation or a band of pressure around the head, tension headaches can be linked to stress and will affect about two out of every three people at least once during their lifetime.
Cluster Headaches: Cluster headaches are a relatively rare, but very painful type of headache that is far more common in males than females. Generally affecting one side of the head, cluster headaches cause a sharp, piercing pain that usually originates behind the eye causing nasal congestion or even symptoms such as nausea or sensitivity to light.
Secondary headaches are triggered by some other cause such as an injury, infection, tumor, allergies, or following surgery. Secondary headaches may include:
Chronic Headaches: Chronic headaches are diagnosed by the length of their duration, usually 15 or more days per month for three consecutive months, and are most often caused by stress and tension, or from certain medications.
Sinus Headaches: Sinus headaches are characterized by a dull, aching pain that’s usually in the front of the face or forehead that may last for days or weeks a time.
Sinister Headaches: The name ’sinister headache’ is given to the type of headache that is associated with a serious condition such as a brain tumor, meningitis, or an aneurysm.
Treatment for headaches largely depend on the type of headache and its cause. Some of the methods used for controlling the pain and discomfort caused by headaches include:
- Over-the-counter medication such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
- Prescription medication.
- Stress management and relaxation techniques.
- Dietary changes.
- Alternative therapies such as acupuncture, aromatherapy, or chiropractics.
- Treatment for the primary cause of the headache if it is secondary in nature.
Judy
Many times after a car accident people will have initial neck pain, are seen in the emergency room and treated. If the injuries are not life threatening they are sent home with some medication and told to rest. Unfortunately, many will start to have headaches, even if they have never had headaches before. Those with a history of headaches will find their headaches are getting worse. Most of the time the headache will dissipate over a week or two and everything will be fine.
But what if the headaches don’t go away? What happens and what do people do if the headache gets worse? Post traumatic headaches that get better in four to six weeks are considered acute headaches, but those that stay at the same pain level, start to get worse, or go beyond six weeks are more concerning. The headaches may be all over the head and moderate in pain with breakthrough stabbing, throbbing pain on one side. This more severe form of headache is associated with migraine symptoms and indeed is a migraine.
At this point most people will reach for the over the counter medications such as Excedrin or Tylenol. Failing that, they may try the medication the doctor in the emergency room gave them and most of the time these treatments are quite successful. However, there is a certain percentage of people who will not respond to this treatment and as a result will start taking more and more medication. The headaches will begin to get worse for two reasons.
First of all, the medication will start enhancing the headaches and cause a condition known as analgesic rebound headache syndrome. In this case, the headache pain goes up and the person grabs the Excedrin which brings the headache down a bit. But, as the medication wears off, the headache starts getting bad again. More medication, more bouncing up and down in pain levels. Eventually, the medication stops working but the person still keeps taking it in desperation because they don’t know what else to do. They might got to their doctor and get stronger drugs, such as Lortab but this only makes the situation worse.
Secondly, the medication used at this point is all wrong. Post traumatic headaches respond best to low doses of tri-cyclic anti-depressants such as Elavil or Pamelor. Elavil is generally accepted as being the best medication, but most doctors make the mistake of using migraine doses (10-50mg). Unfortunately, post-traumatic headaches do not respond to this dose but most people do respond when the dose is slowly titrated up to 75-150 mg. Fortunately, this medication is also excellent for any associated neck pain and spasms!
The breakthrough migraines are treated just like that..like migraines. A small dose of an anti-seizure drug may also be necessary with triptans (Imitrex or Maxalt) for when the pain is bad.
Don’t forget, like all other headache syndromes, lifestyle is very important. Regular sleep cycles, good diet and exercise as tolerated will all help the headaches get better. In this particular case, however, the vitamins and herbs used to successfully treat migraines do not have much of an effect on post traumatic headaches. None the less, many people do want to try them to help the migraine component.
The key to post traumatic headache syndrome is to find a headache specialist and be patient. If the headaches are severe, chances are that it will take several months for any one treatment to have an effect. Most people are not aware of this fact in headache treatment, so they tend to start and stop treatments after a few days or weeks and become discouraged. The longer the brain has the treatments on board, the greater the chance it will heal.
Charlie
