Headache
Headaches inflict their misery in a variety of ways. Some start from a dull, steady ache maybe in the back of the head, maybe on the top of the head or maybe it is just a pain on the left or right side of the head. Others go straight to a blinding, throbbing pain. Nearly everyone has headaches at least now and then, but an unfortunate few experience near-frequent head pain. Common headache types include tension headaches, cluster headaches, rebound headaches, sinus headaches, and migraine.
There are a number of treatment strategies that work best for each type of headache. Aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen do the trick for many people. Others need muscle relaxants or even stronger medicines. Some find relief from self-help and alternative techniques like acupuncture.
Instead of waiting to be blindsided by another sudden or pounding headache, preventive strategies can be taken, such as using stress management, physical therapy, or exercise in tandem with medications. Another aspect of prevention is learning to recognize and change things that may trigger your headaches — like reducing emotional stress, changing your diet, or getting more sleep. Advances in the medical management of headache mean that relief is no longer just possible, but probable. Although some form of head pain will occasionally visit most people, no one should have to live and suffer with headaches.
Headache Articles
Fewer people who get COVID-19 are dying, but not all of the survivors are recovering fully. Some people are left with evidence of injury to the heart and kidneys. It is too soon to know whether the damage is permanent and whether it will affect their level of function. And some people, called "COVID long-haulers," experience debilitating symptoms for many months after beating COVID-19. Symptoms include fatigue, body aches, shortness of breath, difficulty concentrating, inability to exercise, headache, and trouble sleeping for many months after beating COVID-19.
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People with chronic pain may be more likely to have a heart attack or stroke than those without chronic pain. Pain may trigger a number of factors linked to poor heart health, including stress, reduced ability to exercise, poor sleep, and depression.
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There are different underlying reasons for the types of orofacial pain commonly called temporomandibular joint problems, or TMJ. Not all of them are caused by problems with the joint itself, and specialists are getting better at diagnosing them. Orofacial pain may result from a joint problem, a muscle-based problem, a headache syndrome, or a pain processing problem.
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The FDA approved a new treatment, called lasmiditan (Reyvow), to treat migraine headaches. The pill is designed to relieve pain from migraines with or without an aura in adults. It is not designed to prevent migraines.
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Drinking three or more servings of caffeinated beverages might be a headache trigger for some people with migraines. A serving consisted of 6 to 8 ounces for coffee and tea, 12 ounces for soda, and 2 ounces for energy drinks.
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A small Harvard study published Aug. 8, 2019, in The American Journal of Medicine found that having three or more servings of caffeinated beverages in a day was associated with increased odds of having a migraine on that day or the next.
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Three new medications—erenumab (Aimovig), fremanezumab (Ajovy), and galcanezumab (Emgality)—appear to be helping people with frequent, debilitating migraine headaches. Studies suggest that people taking the new drugs experience about 50% fewer migraine headache days per month, compared with people who aren’t taking the medications. However, clinical trials for the new medications have included relatively few older adults, so it’s not known if older adults might react differently to the medications than younger people. Doctors urge older adults to start out taking the lowest dose possible.
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Sudden jaw pain could be due to several conditions, including an irritated nerve, cluster headache, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, or a sign of cardiovascular disease. Since some of these involve immediate treatment, people should see their doctor to discuss their symptoms.
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Everyone experiences the occasional headache, and while most episodes are not serious and can be treated on their own, people should be mindful about signs of the different types of headaches, such as tension, migraine, and cluster, as well as how they are treated, so they can determine if their pain is something more serious that requires medical attention.
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Adults who sleep only six hours per night may have a higher chance of waking up dehydrated, compared with those who sleep longer. Besides getting more sleep, drinking at least one full glass of water upon waking up can help.
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