Help for Your Headache
What kind of headache do you suffer from? There are different types of headaches and as many different treatments. Here is the low down that might possibly give you relief from your headache.
All headaches cannot be stopped by an over the counter medication. There are many reasons for headaches and many different treatments but the best treatment is learning what kind of headache you have and what triggered it.
Below you will find different kinds of headache, what causes them, and possible ways to find relief.
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Migraines
Are you overweight? Obesity causes inflammation of the blood vessels that can cause migraine pain. People who are overweight also produce more hormones which produces a greater risk for migraines.
Skipping a meal, losing sleep, drinking alcohol, eating aged cheese,stress, and not getting enough exercise can trigger a migraine.
For Relief
Moderate migraines can be treated with over the counter anti inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen and Naproxen. If you have more than 4 a month or a severe migraine that can’t be controlled with an over the counter medication, make an appointment with a headache specialist.
Keep a journal of your headaches to find out what seems to cause them. Let your doctor know how often they occur, how long they last, what medication you have taken, what you had eaten and anything else that could have triggered the migraine.
The prescription medications your doctor might prescribe are:
Beta blockers, Calcium channel blockers, or tricyclic antidepressants, Botox may be helpful by blocking the nerve impulses for pain.
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A Caffeine Withdrawal Headache
If you normally drink two or three cups of coffee and skip the coffee one morning, the nagging pain you get is your brain begging for caffeine. Caffeine is a stimulate and your brain gets used to it over time. Remember caffeine is in tea, soda, and energy drinks.
For Relief:
BC powder or Goody will usually give relief.
To avoid this type of headache, cut back on caffeine gradually. Eventually limit yourself to 100 mg a day. That’s a cup of coffee or a soda.
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A Tension Headache
Stress is a common cause but anything that forces the neck and shoulders out of alignment such as bending over the computer, cradling the telephone on the shoulders, wearing super tight bra straps, carrying a heavy hand bag, can cause a tension headache.
For Relief:
Aspirin or Ibuprofen works but don’t use more than once or twice a week. Over the counter medication can lead to another headache. Regular exercise such as stretching and yoga is a good preventive.
If you have as many as 10 headaches a month, worry a lot and have trouble sleeping, have your doctor to screen you for depression. Anti depressants can treat both pain and depression.
Menstrual Headache
The drop of estrogen just before your period can set off a menstrual migraine. It can begin anywhere from 2 days before to three days afterwards. It’s usually intense pain on one side of the head, nausea, and sometimes auras.
For Relief:
Two or three days before your period take an over the counter pain reliever such as aspirin, or ibuprofen even if you don’t have a headache. Take it three times a day. If you take birth control pills consider skipping the placebo week. keeping hormone level during the month may keep the headaches away.
If this still doesn’t help ask your doctor about a triptan drug. It shrinks the swollen blood vessels in the head back to normal and blocks nerve impulses.
Image by brittanyculver via Flickr
A Rebound Headache
Constantly taking an over the counter medication for more than two or three times a week can wreck havoc on your body. It can end up making the pain worse and more frequent. It causes the nerves at the base of your brain that block pain to forget their job.
For Relief:
Wean yourself off the usual medication by taking another kind of pain killer. Ask your doctor about taking an acetaminophen. If a prescription drug is causing your rebound headache ask your doctor to lower the dosage or change the medication.
A Sinus Headache
These headaches are accompanied by a thick nasal discharge,sore throat, cough, and fever. Causing pressure around your forehead, cheeks, and eyes. Often worse when lying down or bending over.
For Relief:
You will need an antibiotic to clear up the infection. A decongestant with an over the counter pain reliever should help ease the pain until you get the antibiotic. In the meantime give yourself a facial steam. Heat a pan of water and hold your face near the steam with a towel over your head. Also flush your nose with a mixture of warm water and 1/4 tsp. of salt. If your head is clear your headache could be an allergy headache. If so antihistamines can help.
Liked it
nutuba | Apr 9, 2009 | Reply
Ruby, what an excellent article! You’ve certainly included a comprehensive set of scenarios and have done a great job explaining each one. Very nicely done!
Kate Smedley | Apr 9, 2009 | Reply
Thanks Ruby, I think I may suffer from caffeine withdrawal having read this, interesting point on menstrual headaches too. Very informative, thanks for sharing.
Lena Brown | Apr 9, 2009 | Reply
Thanks so much for this information. I suffer from at least two types of headaches mentioned. BC powder works well for a lot of different headaches and I do take it. I have found though that you MUST eat a full meal as the amount of aspirin it contains is cause for a sour stomach. Thanks again for the info!
Joe Dorish | Apr 9, 2009 | Reply
Thanks Ruby
Darla Smith | Apr 9, 2009 | Reply
Great article. The kind of headache I suffer from most is the tension headache because of all the stress I have to deal with.
Dee Gold | Apr 9, 2009 | Reply
Thanks,this article helps
Morgana | Apr 9, 2009 | Reply
I get menstrual headaches and I don’t know why nothing seems to work.
Papa Sparks | Apr 9, 2009 | Reply
What an excellent article. I suffer from a lot migraine and tension headaches. Thanks so much for sharing this well-written and informative article.
Christine Ramsay | Apr 9, 2009 | Reply
A great and very helpful article. I suffer from tension headaches caused by sitting at the computer and I cannot recommend highly enough a shiatsu massage cushion. For me it is a miracle worker. Have you tried one?
Christine
Uma Shankari | Apr 9, 2009 | Reply
Thanks for this article. Useful to all.
B Nelson | Apr 9, 2009 | Reply
I used to suffer from migraines regularly, now they are farther apart and I can tell when one is coming on.. terrible things they are
Mark Gordon Brown | Apr 9, 2009 | Reply
I tend to get sinus headaches in the spring and fall. They last for weeks. good article with helpful info!
Phill Senters | Apr 9, 2009 | Reply
Thanks Ruby, lots of useful info.
CA Johnson | Apr 9, 2009 | Reply
These are great tips, Ruby. I use BC powders whenever I get a headache. They work most of the time. I like the way you described the headache and then gave the cure for it. Great job!
Allana Calhoun | Apr 9, 2009 | Reply
Excellent info. Nice compact article. There’s so much out there and you managed to fit the key points on one page very well!
Catelin Hoover | Apr 9, 2009 | Reply
Ruby
This was a great article. I have only a couple things which might be added: caffeine is also in chocolate! Yeah, candy, hot chocolate, etc. I have a low tolerance to caffeine, and thus know what to avoid.
Another kind of headache can be produced if your back is not aligned correctly. The only sure cure is the treatment of a good chiropractor. (I have learned, from years of experience, that finding a chiropractor that is good, isn’t always easily done.) I have found excellent chiropractors by asking God to lead me to one. It worked in California, and it has worked in Oregon. Both doctors are in ministry with their churches….doesn’t get any better than this!
Judy Sheldon | Apr 9, 2009 | Reply
I have had migraines since I was a child and so have some of my grandchildren. I never heard of the obesity link, and none of us are overweight. Ruby, you have mentioned some of the triggers, but suffering from migraines, I know there are many more. Your information regarding caffeine withdrawal head aches is true, according to what I have seen and experienced. I think we could actually write a book about head aches. Good overview.
Ruby Hawk | Apr 9, 2009 | Reply
Thanks everyone, I appreciate you all.So many people suffer from headaches. One of my sons has had migraines since he was about 8 years old and a grandson began to have them even earlier. Two of my sisters and two daughters in law suffer from them too.
Catelin,my son when he was young got more relief from chiropracter treatments than anything else. I didn’t mention that because so many people don’t believe in it. But I’m telling you now.
Judy there is enough information about headaches to write a book. It’s such a common ailment and so many different causes.
Shirley Shuler | Apr 9, 2009 | Reply
Hi Ruby, thanks for the information, very informative!!
ActionSammy | Apr 10, 2009 | Reply
Hey Ruby,
Thanks for the advice. I’ve been regularly suffering from headaches since I was 9 years old. But, you know something though? I’ve also found 7up to be good remedy sometimes. A trip, ain’t it?;)
nobert soloria bermosa | Apr 10, 2009 | Reply
this is very informative and helpful,
seashell66 | Apr 10, 2009 | Reply
Thank you for this article. I also suffer from migraines and chronic daily headache…so it’s good to see someone addressing the many causes of headache and things that can be done.
Betty Carew | Apr 10, 2009 | Reply
Wonderful article Ruby and very informative as usual.
PR Mace | Apr 11, 2009 | Reply
Another good one, Ruby. Sorry have to go I have a headache. Ha, Ha.
Eunice Tan | Apr 13, 2009 | Reply
Very helpful. I will read once again and will remember your advice
CutestPrincess | Apr 13, 2009 | Reply
thanks for this, i always suffered for a sinus headache and sometimes migraines, but it was lessen since i started to take a vitamin c a day!