On and Off Again Unexplaned Head Aches

Don't fret simply yet. The pounding hurting in your head may be annoying, just information technology doesn't necessarily indicate a bigger problem.

There it is again — the throbbing in your dome. If you're bothered by frequent headaches, you lot may be concerned that yous have a more serious condition, such every bit a brain tumor or an aneurysm. And while those and other dangerous conditions tin be marked past headaches, it'south probable that your pain is primary. In other words: It's probably not the result of some other status.

Unfortunately, doctors don't know what causes virtually headaches. Co-ordinate to some estimates, simply x pct of headaches have a known cause. Merely at that place are contributing factors that can trigger chronic headaches, such as:

• Alcohol
• Caffeine
• Dehydration
• Hunger
• Lack of sleep
• Sensory triggers such as bright lights, loud noises and pungent smells
• Stress

Chronic headaches tin can also be linked to other disorders, including depression, feet, sinus infections, allergies and temporomandibular joint dysfunction, too known as TMJ. In order to figure out your headache blueprint and place your triggers, you may want to keep a headache diary to share with your doctor. The National Headache Foundation provides a handy template.

Here are a few common types of chronic headaches:

Tension headache

This is the most common type of headache and it's likely that you've had more 1 of these in your life. But for some people, they occur near every day. Tension headaches affect both sides of your head with a pressing, moderate pain. Over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) often help, but taking them for long periods of time tin pb to headaches called "medication overuse" or "rebound" headaches. Instead, yous may desire to try meditation, relaxation techniques or heat therapy.

Migraine

Migraines, although less common, are more than severe. The pain is intense, may pulsate and tin can exist accompanied by nausea, sensitivity to light or sound, vomiting or visual disturbances called "auras." Ofttimes, migraines only affect one side of the head, although they can affect both. They also touch women more ofttimes than men. Prescription medications are available to care for migraines, but you also may benefit from simply resting in a quiet, night room and using hot or common cold compresses. Progressive symptoms of more than severe or frequent headaches, or any headache that is also associated with other neurological symptoms, should be evaluated by a physician

Cluster headache

Men are more than likely to have these more sudden headaches, which are ofttimes marked by hurting on 1 side of the head, behind the eye. They tend to happen in amassed periods of time, even multiple times a day, then disappear for a while. Eyes tend to water, and a restless feeling is common. These headaches ordinarily require prescription medicines.

New daily persistent headache (NDPH)

If you suddenly become frequent headaches, y'all may accept NDPH. The symptoms of NDPH can mimic tension headaches or migraines, but NDPH occurs in people who don't have a history of headaches. Often, people with NDPH can recollect exactly when the onset happened. Your doctor may demand to run tests to make certain these headaches aren't secondary — that is, a symptom of a serious underlying condition.

Although daily headaches might non exist the event of a dangerous problem, they tin touch on your quality of life and shouldn't be considered "normal."

"Progressive symptoms of more severe or frequent headaches, or whatever headache that is as well associated with other neurological symptoms, should be evaluated past a medico," says Jonathan J. Russin, MD, a neurosurgeon at Keck Medicine of USC and assistant professor of clinical neurological surgery at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. "Even using these criteria, the majority of headaches will not correspond an underlying trouble. An exception is a 'thunderclap' headache, which refers to the sudden onset of the worst headache of your life. This type of headache should ever be evaluated by a physician whether it is associated with other symptoms or not."

Topics

cluster headache

Dr. Jonathan J. Russin

headaches

migraine

tension headache

Tina Donvito is a freelance writer covering wellness, culture, travel and parenting.

tidwellcargay.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.keckmedicine.org/blog/are-daily-headaches-something-serious/

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