Dealing with a Headache
The majority of headaches are tension headaches, although there are other types. Most are not serious. When there are no other symptoms, headaches respond well to self-treatment.
Get Help Now If You Have the Following
- A stiff neck (inability to touch chin to chest), fever, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness or confusion with a headache
- Significant headache after a head injury
- A headache with severe vomiting
- A headache that lasts longer than four or five hours
- A headache that gets worse (especially first thing in the morning) or wakes you from a sound sleep
- Sudden severe onset of pain that is unlike previous headaches
- A headache associated with other neurological symptoms (e.g., changes in vision, sensation or motor function)
Tension Headaches
Symptoms: Tension headaches start in the back of the head, across the forehead, or along the temple with a dull, squeezing feeling. It may be accompanied by pain in your jaw, neck, shoulders or back.
What’s happening: As the muscles in your scalp become tense, your neck muscles begin to tighten.
Duration: Tension headaches last a few hours to months. They may return daily and may be worse late in the day.
Cause: Tension headaches are usually caused by physical or emotional stress.
What to Do for Tension Headaches
If you feel a headache coming on
- Stop what you’re doing as soon as you can; close your eyes and totally relax.
- When you can, lie down in a dark room with a cool cloth on your forehead.
- Massage neck muscles and apply heat (shower, hot cloth or hot water bottle).
Avoiding Tension Headaches
- Relax before and after each activity.
- Shift your position often while studying and stretch every hour.
- Do activities that loosen muscles (e.g., yoga, walk or swim).
- Get (and give) massages at tense times.
Be aware that jogging, biking or car trips may aggravate headaches because they keep your neck muscles in one position.
Migraine Headaches
Migraine headaches can run in families. They are common in young people and. onset often occurs in their teens or early twenties.
Symptoms: Before the headache starts you may see “spots” in front of your eyes, have greater sensitivity to light (an “aura”) and noise or experience numbness or weakness in one part of your body. The headache is often just on one side. Once the pain begins, you may have nausea and vomiting.
What’s happening: Blood flow changes combine with inflammation of the blood vessels
Duration: Usually several hours; often won’t go away until you sleep. These headaches may occur several times a week or once every few years
What to Do for Migraines
- Relax each part of your body.
- Take aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol). Generic pain relievers are just as good as brand-name drugs and are much less expensive. Be aware that aspirin or ibuprofen may aggravate nausea.
- As soon as you can, go to a cool, quiet place, put a cool cloth on your forehead and try to sleep.
- Get professional treatment recommendations.
- Try relaxation, meditation or biofeedback.
Possible triggers: Stress, lack of sleep, skipping a meal, red wine/alcohol, chocolate, smoking, bright light, smog, birth control pills, processed meats (e.g., bacon, hot dogs) and menstruation
Find your triggers: Record date of your headache, symptoms, starting and ending times, location and possible triggers.
Sinus Headaches
These can occur with allergies or sinus infections. Pain usually occurs around the cheeks and may be relieved by antihistamines or decongestants. Over-the-counter decongestant sprays can be helpful, but only use these for three days. If the headache doesn’t get better (or if you develop a fever), see a clinician.