Headache Types and Treatment Options
What is headache?
Headache is a term used to describe aching or pain that occurs in one or more areas of the head, face, mouth, or neck. Headache involves the network of nerve fibers in the tissues, muscles, and blood vessels located in the head and at the base of the skull.
Almost everyone has occasional headaches, especially when they are sick, tired or otherwise under stress. Headache is the result of pain signals caused by interactions between the brain, blood vessels, and surrounding nerves. During a headache, the pain comes not from the brain. It comes from specific nerves surrounding the skull, head muscles, and blood vessels that are activated and send pain signals, interpreted by the brain as a headache. The reasons why these nerves are activated are not clearly understood. Most headaches go away on their own or are easily treated with over the counter (OTC) drugs.
Headache types
There are two main categories of headache: primary and secondary.
The major types of primary headaches include:
- Tension headache
- Cluster headache
- Migraine
Primary headaches are not E-Ten Glofiish X650 Киев caused by other underlying medical conditions. More than 90% of headaches are primary.
Secondary
Secondary headaches result from other medical conditions, such as cerebrovascular disease, head trauma, infection, tumor, and metabolic disorder. These account for fewer than 10% of all headaches. Head pain also can result from syndromes involving the eyes, ears, neck, teeth, or sinuses. In these cases, the underlying condition must be diagnosed and treated. Also, certain types of medication produce headache as a side effect.
Many people have occasional headaches that get better on their own or go away with OTC drug treatment. Most of these people never see a healthcare provider for their headaches, however, there are several circumstances in which an evaluation by a physician may be useful or important:
- Headaches that are getting worse over time
- Severe headaches that all bills paid in corpus christi start suddenly
- Headaches that start after a head injury
- Headaches that always occur on the same side of the head
- Headaches that are not responding to treatment
- Severe headaches that interrupt work or the enjoyment of daily activities
- Daily headaches
- Aggravated by exertion, coughing, bending, or sexual activity
Tension Headache
Tension headaches are the most common type of headaches. They affect up to 75% of all headache sufferers. Tension headache is usually episodic but may be chronic, occurring daily or almost daily for more than 15 days a month. This type of headache is linked with tension in neck and scalp muscles, affecting blood flow within the skull.
Tension headaches often start in the afternoon or early evening. The pain is typically купить Nokia 6300 on both sides of the head, pressing or tightening. Some people get tension headaches in response to stressful events. Tension headaches usually do not get worse with physical activity (such as walking or climbing stairs).
Treatment
The occasional tension headache can be alleviated by a hot shower, massage, sleep, and through patient recognition and avoidance of stress factors.
For episodic tension headaches that occur less than three times per week, OTC pain relievers such as aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) are convenient and effective. Combination products of pain medication with caffeine may help some people, but also may be habit forming. Use of any OTC pain reliever should be limited to no more than two or three days per week. If pain medications are overused, rebound headaches may occur on the days that medications are not taken.
Chronic tension headaches are more difficult to treat, because rebound headaches are common when pain relievers are stopped. The most effective medications for treatment of chronic tension headaches are tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline HCl, doxepin HCl, nortriptyline HCl). However, it is often more effective to prevent these headaches than to treat them.
Some people are able to treat their tension headaches without medications. An ice compress, a heating pad or a massage to any tight
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