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
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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High blood pressure does not usually produce symptoms.
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Research suggests that many common prescription and over-the-counter medications have depression as a potential side effect.
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In May 2018, the FDA approved erenumab (Aimovig), the first medication designed to prevent migraine headaches.
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Fibromyalgia is a misunderstood but real condition that experts believe may be caused when the brain essentially overreacts to external stimuli that would not typically cause pain.
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A new medication called galcanezumab can help reduce the frequency of migraine attacks by suppressing the activity of calcitonin gene-related peptide, which is believed to play a role in migraines.
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Throbbing pain in the temples, especially on just one side of your head, is typically a symptom of migraine pain. But when throbbing turns into a constant headache, and it's accompanied by pain when you touch your temples, it may be a sign of temporal arteritis, according to the Harvard Special Health Report Headache Relief.
Temporal arteritis causes and symptoms
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Migraine headaches can be painful and debilitating, but there are strategies to get them under control. For people with frequent or severe headaches, there are multiple ways to help prevent migraine and effective medications to halt the pain after one develops.
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There are several types of common headaches. Migraines typically begin on one side of the head, with pain stretching from the front to the back of the head. Tension headaches feel like a tight band around the head. Cluster headaches cause a terrible stabbing pain around the eye. Sinus headaches are usually behind the eyes and nose and feel more like pressure than pain. An occasional headache is probably nothing to worry about. But when pain is sudden or chronic—more than once a week— it’s time to tell a doctor.
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