Headache Treatment
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Headache Types:
Chronic Daily Headache
A chronic daily headache is a any
discomfort in the head and neck area that hits
almost every day. The incessant nature of chronic
daily headaches makes them among the most disabling
headaches. See also Tension headaches.
Chronic Progressive Headaches
Chronic progressive headaches are
headaches that get worse and happen more often
over time. Chronic progressive headaches are also
called traction or inflammatory headaches.
These are the least common type of headache, accounting
for less than 5% of all headaches. Chronic progressive
headaches may be the result of an illness or disorder
of the brain or skull and should therefore be checked
by your doctor.
Cluster Headaches:
The term "cluster headache" refers
to headaches that have a characteristic grouping
of attacks. Cluster headaches occur one to three
times per day during a cluster period, which may
last 2 weeks to 3 months. Cluster headaches are
the least common, but most severe, type of primary
headache. The pain of a cluster headache is intense
and may be described as having a burning or piercing
quality that is throbbing or constant.
Exercise Headaches
You can get them from jogging, playing
baseball or pumping iron at your gym, even during
sex. It's an exercise-related headache. Exercise
can be an effective preventive measure against
headaches in some people, but in others, it can
actually cause them, The sudden, explosive onset
of pain upon exertion. A headache that gets progressively
worse. If these headaches are accompanied by numbness
and tingling in your arms or legs, weakness on
one side of the body, or visual disturbances, they
should be checked by your doctor, especially if
you are over 50, as these can be indicative of
more serious conditions.
External Compression Headaches
External compression headaches result
from continued stimulation upon the cutaneous nerves
by external pressure, usually, by a band around
the head, a tight hat, helmet, headband or especially
swimming goggles worn for the protection of eyes
during swimming training (Swim Goggle Headaches).
The best treatment is to remove the head gear that's
causing the pressure. Further treatment is rarely
needed.
Hemicrania Continua
Hemicrania continua is a rare form
of chronic daily headache marked by continuous
pain on the side of the face that varies in severity.
Symptoms fall into two main categories: autonomic,
including runny nose, tearing, eye redness, eye
discomfort, sweating, and swollen and drooping
eyelids; plus migraine-like, including nausea,
vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound. Treatment
with NSAIDs (especially indomethacin) and/or tricyclic
antidepressants are effective in most patients.
Hormone Headaches
Pre-Menstrual Syndrome (PMS) headaches
occur before your period and are associated with
a variety of symptoms that include headache pain
accompanied by fatigue, acne, joint pain, decreased
urination, constipation and a lack of coordination.
You may also experience an increase in appetite
and a craving for chocolate, salt, or alcohol.
Hormone headaches in women are also often associated
with changing hormone levels that occur during
menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause. Chemically
induced hormone changes, such as with birth control
pills, also trigger these headaches in some women.
NSAID medications are usually prescribed.
Migraine Headaches
Migraine symptoms
The pain of a migraine headache
is moderate to severe, often described as a pounding,
throbbing pain. Migraines can last from 4 hrs
- 3 days and usually occur 1 - 4 times per month.
They are usually associated with symptoms such
as a sensitivity to light, or to noise or to
various odors. Feelings of nausea leading to
vomiting, a loss of appetite along with stomach
upset or abdominal pain are also associated with
the migraine headache.
Understanding migraines
Experts tend to believe that migraine
starts with an underlying central nervous system
disorder, which, when triggered by various stimuli,
sets off a chain of neurologic and biochemical
events, some of which subsequently affect the
brain's vascular system. No experimental model
fully explains the migraine process however follows
a list suspected triggers for an attack:
-
Neurotransmitter (serotonin and norepinephrine)
levels in your brain
-
-
Psychological anxiety or physical exertion
-
-
-
-
Changes in barometric pressure
-
Head cold or sinus congestion
-
Rapid changes in blood sugar levels
-
-
Candidiasis or other gastrointestinal
disorders
-
drugs, medications or the inhalation or
ingestion of various chemicals
Migraine Prevention
Migraineprevention.org offers an
excellent Migraine
Evaluation & Prevention Plan that can
completed online as part of their Migraine Prevention
Program. This is a program worth trying if you
are in need of immediate help with your migraine
headaches.
The MayoClinic.com's migraine
headache quide advises you to exercise
regularly and to avoid prior triggers of your
headaches. Quit Smoking, and for women to be
aware of the 'estrogen trigger' from medications
containing estrogen, such as birth control
pills.
Treatment of migraines
Prescription drugs from a medical
practitioner are thought to be the most effective
treatment. During a migraine headache, application
of a cold pack to the head may provide relief.
Pressing on a prominent artery found either in
front of the ear or on the painful side of the
head may temporarily relieve symptoms. Other
methods of treatment are sleep, alteration of
diet, biofeedback training and reduction of stress.
Simple pain killers, such as aspirin, taken regularly
should be avoided in the event of a migraine
as this may intensify symptoms in the future.
Paroxysmal Hemicrania
Paroxysmal hemicrania is a rare vascular-type
headache that is characterized by short bouts of
severe pain in the area of the face and temple.
A chronic and episodic form that are similar to
cluster headache and reflect a distinctive temporal
pattern. Symptoms associated with paroxysmal hemicrania
include conjunctival eye discharge with nasal congestion
and rhinorrhea.
Treatment with NSAIDs (especially
indomethacin) and/or calcium-channel blocking drugs
(such as verapamil), and corticosteroids are effective
treatments for most patients. The condition's quick
and effective response to indomethacin treatment
differentiates paroxysmal hemicrania from cluster
headache.
Primary Cough Headaches
Primary cough headaches are caused
by bouts of coughing as well as other types of
straining such as sneezing, blowing your nose,
laughing, crying, singing or bending over. Primary
cough headache typically affects men over 40 years
of age and while often described as a severe headache
of sudden onset, it is by definition benign. These
headaches peak within seconds of coughing, sneezing,
or the straining activity and usually resolves
within minutes though some sufferers can experience
a dull ache for several hours afterward.
The precise cause of primary cough
headache is unknown but is believed to result from
increased pressure in the head (intracranial pressure)
during coughing or other types of straining. Indomethacin
is the treatment of choice in those patients who
frequently experience primary cough headache. Other
medications for this therapy include topiramate
or acetazolamide.
Rebound Headaches
Headache medications themselves can
cause headaches because of a phenomenon called
rebound. Your medication eases the headache for
a short time, but then as the medicine wears off,
the headache comes back even worse, and you need
to take more medicine. This is particularly true
if your medication contains caffeine, which is
included in many drugs because it speeds the efficacy
of the other ingredients. Quickly, a vicious cycle
develops. Advice on dealing with and breaking the
cycle of rebound headaches is available at helpforpain.com.
Sinus Headaches
Sinus headaches are associated with
a swelling of the membranes lining the sinuses
and with constant pain in the cheekbones, the forehead,
or the bridge of the nose. The pain usually intensifies
with sudden head movement or straining and usually
occurs with other sinus symptoms, such as nasal
discharge, feeling of fullness in the ears, fever,
and facial swelling. Sinus headaches can
tend to worsen as you bend forward or lie down.
The key to relieving the symptoms is to reduce
sinus swelling and inflammation and facilitate
mucous drainage from the sinuses.
Spinal Headaches
SUNCT Headaches
SUNCT (Short-Lasting, Unilateral,
Neuralgiform with Conjunctival Injection and Tearing)
is a rare form of primary headache disorder that
is most common in men over 50. The disorder is
marked by bursts of moderate to severe burning,
stabbing, or throbbing pain, usually on one side
of the head and around the eye or temple. Movement
of the neck may trigger these headaches. Attacks
typically occur in daytime hours and last from
5 seconds to 4 minutes per episode. Systolic blood
pressure may rise during the attacks which occur
five to six attacks per hour.
These headaches are generally non-responsive
to the usual treatments for other short-lasting
headaches. Corticosteroids and the anti-epileptic
drugs gabapentin, lamotrigine, and carbamazepine
may help relieve some symptoms in some patients.
Tension Headaches:
Tension headaches are also called
chronic daily headaches or chronic non-progressive
headaches. These muscle contraction headaches cause
mild to moderate pain and come and go over a prolonged
period of time. Tension headaches are not usually
associated with sensitivity to light or noise.
Tension headaches can be classified as chronic,
occurring more than 15 days per month, or episodic,
occurring less than 15 days per month.
Thunderclap Headaches
A Thunderclap Headache is a sudden
and very severe headache that gives major pain
in around 60 seconds. Usually, thunderclap headaches
has no other cause and it won't do any permanent
damage. However, sometimes these headaches are
a sign of a serious problem. Because of the possible
serious causes of thunderclap headache, see a doctor
right away to have some tests done to rule out
the more serious causes. Some researchers feel
it may be a warning of an impending rupture of
an aneurysm or weak blood vessel. Other researchers
disagree with this opinion. Remember, most
thunderclap headaches are not signs of life-threatening
problems.
Weekend headaches
Weekend headaches are headaches that
occur upon weekend mornings and are usually precipitated
by oversleeping. The causes may include stress
(a reduction as well as any increases), food and
drink excesses, chemical pollutants, illegal drugs
and prescription medications.
Headache Medication and Treatments:
Pain medication and self-care for
headache types
Fioricet (butalbital/acetaminophen/caffeine)
Fioricet
(butalbital/acetaminophen/caffeine) is a
pain reliever and sedative and is used to relieve
mild - moderate pain and tension headaches. It
may also be used to treat migraine headaches.
Imitrex (Sumatriptan)
Imitrex
(Sumatriptan Succinate) is an antimigraine
medicine. Imitrex targets the blood vessels and
the nerves which cause the migraine headaches.
When you have migraine symptoms take one dose
of Imitrex. In some cases two doses, but not
more than 200 mg a day. Whilst very effective
in relieving migraine, it does not prevent or
reduce the total number of attacks.
The FDA is currently reviewing a
new migraine drug called Trexima,
which combines the migraine drug Imitrex (Sumatriptan)
and naproxen sodium.
NSAIDS
NSAID means non steroidal anti-inflammatory
drug and includes the following medications: Aspirin,
Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil & Motrin IB), Naproxen
(Naprosyn
& Aleve) and Nabumetone. Indomethacin (Indocin®)
is another NSAID often used in the treatment of
various headache conditions.
NSAIDs work by blocking the action
of an enzyme called cyclooxygenase (COX1
& COX2) which produces substances called prostaglandins,
thereby acting to reduce pain and inflammation.
Alternative Headache Treatments:
Alternative Headache Treatments that
might be used to help relieve your headache pain
are -
Biofeedback
The practice of biofeedback helps
a person learn stress-reduction skills and to stops
the attack of headache before it becomes full blown
by providing information about muscle tension,
heart rate, and other vital signs as the person
attempts to relax.
Biofeedback uses self monitoring
of your vital and secondary signs via a electromyograph
(EMG) to measure your body's muscle electrical
activity (to determine the amount of muscle tension).
And by the use of a heart rate monitor and/or a
temperature trainer to produce a digital readout
of your heart rate and temperature. These readouts
are similar to the readout of the time given by
your digital watch and can be used in real time.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese
medical art that involves the insertion of very
fine strong needles into various points of the
body. Recent
headache studies show acupuncture is helpful
in treating headaches and support the conclusion
that acupuncture appears to be a safe and effective
way of treating headaches without the use of medications,
or along with medical therapy.
Massage
Massage is felt to provide relief
from headache pain, especially tension headaches.
Massage is especially effective for relieving tight,
sensitive muscles in the back of your head, neck,
and shoulders. A recent study by the American
Journal of Public Health found that the "headache
frequency was significantly reduced within the
first week of the massage protocol" and that
the
"muscle-specific massage therapy technique
used in this study has the potential to be a functional,
nonpharmacological intervention for reducing the
incidence of chronic tension headache."
Essential oils
Studies
of Aromatherapy into the treatment of headache
have shown that Chamomile, Lavender, Eucalyptus
and Peppermint (Essential) oils might help in
the relieve of tension-type headaches. You seek
relief by simply inhaling or smelling the oil.
Other techniques include dabbing a few drops
on your handkerchief, on a cold compress or in
your bath. Also by massaging a few drops to the
nape of your neck or around your temples.
Headache Information Resources:
Migraine
Resource Center - Migraine headaches are
recurrent headaches often accompanied by nausea
and light sensitivity separated by symptom-free
intervals; more information here.
Migriane
in Children - Common causes of headache in
children.
Detailed
Information on Headache - From the National
Institutes of Health.
Headache
- MayoClinic.com - Overview, signs and symptoms,
causes,
complications, treatment and prevention of headaches.
National
Headache Foundation - General Information,
Educational Modules, Powerpoint Presentations
and Podcasts - All about Headache.
