Almost everyone suffers from mild to moderate headaches that develop gradually and clear up after a few hours from time to time! Fortunately, headaches like this are unlikely to be a sign of a serious underlying disorder and normally occur as a result of tension, tiredness or even to due to a period of alcoholic over-indulgence!
Headaches that require immediate consultation with a doctor are those that are severe, last for more than 24 hours, don't improve by taking over-the-counter painkillers and recur several times during a week. Headaches of this nature are described in more detail below!
Migraines are a common form of a recurring headache. A typical migraine is characterised by throbbing that occurs on one or both sides of the head and is accompanied by light and noise sensitivity and/or nausea and vomiting.
Migraine headaches occur when spasm of the blood vessels in the brain is followed by excessive dilation and tend to be triggered by any one of the following:
- Stress
- Eating various foodstuffs e.g. cheese, chocolate
- Drinking wine
- Menstruation
- Oral contraceptives and Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
Experience relief from migraine symptoms may be obtained through the following:
- Taking painkillers
- Antiemetics (drug that relieves nausea and vomiting)
- Drinking plenty of fluids
- Resting in a dark, quiet room
If you suffer from frequent migraines, try to identify the particular triggers that affect you and avoid them as far as possible. To avoid migraines try to incorporate the following lifestyle changes:
- Avoid food factors such as cheese or chocolate
- Eat regularly as missing a meal can trigger an attack
- Follow a regular sleep pattern as a change can be a trigger and
- Incorporate relaxation techniques if stress is a big problem for you!
Tension headaches are very common and occur when muscles in the face, neck and scalp tighten. This type of headache is largely focused in the neck, back of head and around the temples or forehead.
Try to ease a tension headache by:
- Taking a break to get some fresh air
- Massaging your neck and shoulders
- Resting in a cool, quiet, darkened room
- Taking the recommended dosage of a painkiller
Cluster headaches are less common and tend to affect men more often than women.
Intense pain is normally felt behind one eye and headaches occur in a 'cluster' of several days to several weeks. More than one headache may be experienced in one day. Although pain normally centres around one eye it may spread to the rest of the face. The affected eye can become red, droopy and tearful while the nearby nostril may become runny or blocked.
Although the cause of cluster headaches is not known, alcohol may trigger these in some people. The best bet is to consult your doctor who may prescribe medication for you.
A deep, continuous pain in the cheekbones, forehead or bridge of the nose is experienced during sinusitis.
Pain normally increases when one moves one's head suddenly. Other symptoms that may accompany a sinusitis headache are a nasal discharge, a feeling of fullness in the ears, a fever and facial swelling.
You can ease symptoms by:
- Drinking plenty of fluid
- Taking over the counter painkillers
- Steaming your sinuses to help clear the congestion
- Taking the recommended dosage of a painkiller
If the headache persists, consult your doctor!
Meningitis should be suspected when a headache occurs with a fever, (a temperature above 38 ºC) as well as one or more of the following symptoms:
- Flat, dark red spots that do not fade when pressed
- Drowsiness or confusion
- Aversion to bright light
- Weakness in a limb
- Blurred vision
- Temporary loss of consciousness
These symptoms are danger signs and should be a warning to seek immediate medical attention.
Headaches are common during pregnancy.
However if you develop a severe headache with swollen feet or ankles, blurred vision or vomiting, you should consult with your doctor immediately as this may be an indication of a serious condition called pre-eclampsia that can be dangerous to both yourself and baby.
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The BMA Family Doctor Home Adviser 4th Edition: 48,50-1,72-5,84-85,98-99,103,116,129,131,150-1,154-5,163,170,190,224-6, 234-6
Types Of Headaches Aetna InteliHealth. URL:
http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/20933/20935/345898.html?d=dmtContent Accessed: 17/09/2011
British Medical Association A-Z Family Medical Encyclopedia 5th Edition 2008:
Reviewed by Gelfand JL.Sinus Headaches WebMD January 2008
URL:
http://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/guide/sinus-headaches?print=true# Accessed: 17/09/2011