Stop the Pain Now! Understand the Causes of Headaches and Get Relief
Headache is a very common and distressing condition that affects people of all ages. It can happen by numerous factors, ranging from stress or mental and emotional triggers to physical ailments such as high blood pressure or sinusitis. There are many types of headaches, with varying symptoms and causes, so determining the exact cause behind your headache can help you develop a treatment plan.
Migraines are another type of headache that is often accompanied by intense throbbing pain on one side of the head and may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Oftentimes symptoms like light sensitivity or sound sensitivity can precede an attack. Treatment may include using prescription drugs such as triptans or anti-inflammatories in addition to lifestyle modifications such as healthy eating habits and sufficient rest and avoiding triggers like certain foods or odors which could trigger an attack.
Common causes of headache include muscle tension or stress in the neck, tightness in the scalp, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) problems, migraine disorders, side effects from certain medications, eyestrain from too much screen time or lack of sleep, hormone imbalances during a woman’s cycle and dehydration due to not drinking enough water.
In most cases, headaches will respond well to over-the-counter pain relief medications like ibuprofen or aspirin for simple tension headaches. However, if you experience frequent headaches with no apparent trigger it may be time to visit your doctor for further investigations. Your doctor may advise treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), biofeedback techniques such as diabetic neuropathy nerve block treatment, or acupuncture which are proven methods used to control pain symptoms associated with headaches.
For those suffering from chronic pain associated with frequent headaches, it is important to remember that there are several lifestyle changes that can help reduce this type of discomfort including regular exercise and relaxation techniques as well as avoiding certain triggers such as caffeine and alcohol intake.
