Headache

Headache is the most common type of pain faced by everyone at some point of life, but in today’s time where stress level is high and lifestyle is hastier frequency of headache has increased and also related disease to it has increased.

Headache is the pain which is felt at any part of the head, it may radiate from one part to another or it may felt only in one part. It can be sharp shooting pain or dull in nature, sometimes throbbing pain type. It may start suddenly or sometimes gradually. Headache can remain for few minutes to few hours or sometimes a day or two. There are many types of headache.

Following are the common types of headache:

Vascular type: Vascular headaches also have “cluster” headaches, which is responsible for frequent episodes of extreme pain, and headaches which are due to high blood pressure, and toxic headache due to fever.
Muscle contraction which is also tensiontype: This type of headaches causes tightening of facial muscles and also neck muscles.
Traction and Inflammatory: Traction and inflammatory headaches are the symptoms of other disease like sinus or stroke.

Headache can be the warning symptom of serious disorders like headaches which are caused by inflammation like meningitis (inflammation of meninges) and also for the diseases like sinuses, neck, spine, tooth, ears.

The most common type of headache which is seen these days is migraine. Migraine headaches have symptoms like severe pain on single or both sides of the head, sometimes vomiting or on occasion disturbed vision[2].

Causes of headache:

Headachesare caused by mostly

Due to cold
Stress or anxiety
Depression
Headache when you skip meals
Over work
Intake of alcohol
Disturbed sleep
Certain foods
Muscle stiffness which can be caused because of jaw clenching and also due to poor posture
Sinus problem or allergic problems
Hormonal imbalance in females: Headache during pregnancy is also common, which is because of changes in hormones, increase in blood volume and stress can aggravate the headache.
Certain medications can also lead to headache
Headache can be caused by fever

Headache can also be caused by disorder temporal arteritis. In this there is swelling, inflammation of artery that supplies blood to portion of the head, temple and area of neck.

Headache can also be sometimes sign of serious disorder like:

Subarachnoid hemorrhage: bleeding in the area between the brain and thin tissue which covers the brain.

When blood pressure raises too much

Brain infection like meningitis, encephalitis sometimes also abscess

Brain tumor

Hydrocephalus: fluids filled inside the skull which leads to swelling of brain

Poisoning of Carbon monoxide

Sleep apnea: oxygen lacking during sleep

Brain aneurysm or stroke.

What is rebound headache?

Prescription and over use of (headache) medicine which are for migraines (like aspirin and acetaminophen) can cause rebound headaches when taken very frequent. You should talk to your doctor to find out the way if you can break the habit of taking these medicines.

This is how you can treat headache at home: [1]

There are some things which you can do to manage headaches at your home, specially migraines and tension headaches. Try to manage the symptoms as soon as possible.

When migraine symptoms start:

When you have vomited try to Drink much water to avoid dehydration.
You should take rest in quiet and dim light (or dark) room.
You can also put some cool cloth on your head.
These days many relaxation techniques are there, so you can practice that like for example listen soft music in low volume.
You can maintain headache diary which can help you detect triggers of your headache. When you start with headache, note down the following:
Beginning of the pain like day and time of pain
List of what you eat or drank in last 24 hours.
Your sleep duration
Before pain started what were you doing and where were you
Duration of the headache that means for how many hours it lasted and what made it stop.
Analysis your headache diary with your physician to identify triggers and pattern of your headaches. This can be helpful to you and your physician to create a proper treatment plan. And also after knowing your trigger points you can avoid things which are triggers of your headache.
Take medicines as instructed by physician if you are already taking the treatment.
Consult your physician before you take any medicines.

Mind body therapy:

You can try some mind body therapy for headache at home itself:

Start Meditation by taking a few deep breaths by closing your eyes and concentrating on your breaths or some positive thoughts.
You can Massage your temples and also the muscles in your neck and shoulders. Massages generally helps to relax muscles.
You can also take help from a professional for other types of mind-body therapy, such as hypnosis.

Consult your doctor if you want to try any mind-body therapy. [3]

When you should consult your doctor:

Some headaches may be a signal of a more serious disorder. Seek physician right away for any of the following condition:

If it is your first headache that you have ever experienced in your life and it inhibits with your daily actions.
If your headache started suddenly and is explosive or violent type.
If you have worst headache ever, which is first time in history of your headaches.
If you started with unclear speech, vision changes, problem in movement of your arms and legs, loss of balance, any confusion, or loss of memory along with your headache.
If headache is getting worse in 24 hours.
If You also have started with fever, stiffness of neck, nausea or vomiting along with your headache.
If you start with headache with head injury.
If Your headache is very severe with just one eye, along with redness in that eye.
If you have started getting headaches, and your age is 50 years or above.
If Your headaches are connected with problems of vision, pain while chewing, or loss of weight.
You have a history of cancer or immunity is low (such as HIV/AIDS) and started with a new headache. [1]

What other things I can do for headaches?

Along with the medications, having a regular daily routine is very much important. Like having meals at regular hours.
Go to bed early and wake up at the same time every day.
Get enough sleep and rest. You should take at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep.
Stay away from stress like taking a vacation quite often or ways trying other ways of entertainment.
You should never skip any meal of the day, specially breakfast. Headaches are more common due to fasting.
Try regular exercises for 30 - 60 minutes, at least 4 to 5 times a week.
Relaxation therapy, yoga, regular meditation can also relieve headaches

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