How long can a headache persist. What are the common causes of prolonged headaches. When should you seek medical attention for a persistent headache. What are effective treatment options for long-lasting headaches. How can you prevent recurrent headaches.

Understanding Persistent Headaches: Duration and Causes

Headaches that last for days can be concerning and debilitating. While most headaches are not life-threatening, persistent pain can significantly impact your quality of life. Understanding the potential causes and knowing when to seek medical attention is crucial for effective management.

How long can a headache typically last?

The duration of a headache can vary widely depending on its type and underlying cause. Some headaches may resolve within a few hours, while others can persist for days or even weeks. Tension headaches, for instance, may last anywhere from 30 minutes to several days. Migraines, on the other hand, can last from 4 to 72 hours if left untreated.

Common causes of prolonged headaches

• Migraines
• Tension headaches
• Cervicogenic headaches
• Rebound headaches
• Stress or mood disorders
• Concussions and head injuries
• Underlying medical conditions

Recognizing Migraine: A Common Culprit of Prolonged Headaches

Migraines are a prevalent cause of persistent headaches, often lasting for days or even weeks. These severe headaches are characterized by intense, throbbing pain and can be accompanied by various symptoms.

What are the typical symptoms of a migraine?

• Throbbing pain on one or both sides of the head
• Pain behind the eyes
• Nausea and vomiting
• Sensitivity to light, sound, and odors
• Visual disturbances (aura) before the onset of pain
• Fatigue and exhaustion after the migraine subsides

Migraines often begin with a prodrome phase, characterized by a general feeling of illness one or two days before the headache starts. Some individuals experience aura, which can include visual changes like flashing lights or blind spots. The pain phase follows, lasting anywhere from 4 to 72 hours, and is often accompanied by the symptoms listed above.

The Link Between Stress, Mood Disorders, and Persistent Headaches

Stress and mood disorders can significantly contribute to the occurrence and duration of headaches. Individuals with anxiety disorders or depression may be more prone to experiencing prolonged headaches.

How do stress and mood disorders contribute to headaches?

Stress and anxiety can cause muscle tension, particularly in the neck and shoulders, leading to tension headaches. Additionally, the release of stress hormones can trigger changes in blood flow and neurotransmitter levels, potentially contributing to migraine attacks. People with panic disorder or generalized anxiety disorder are more likely to experience persistent headaches compared to those without these conditions.

Managing stress-related headaches

1. Practice relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or meditation
2. Engage in regular physical exercise
3. Maintain a consistent sleep schedule
4. Seek professional help for managing anxiety or depression
5. Consider cognitive-behavioral therapy to develop coping strategies

Cervicogenic Headaches: When Your Neck is the Source of Pain

Cervicogenic headaches originate from issues in the neck but manifest as head pain. These headaches can be persistent and may not respond to typical headache treatments if the underlying neck problem is not addressed.

What causes cervicogenic headaches?

• Injuries to the neck
• Arthritis in the cervical spine
• Bone fractures or tumors
• Poor posture
• Sleeping in an awkward position
• Disc-related issues in the neck

Identifying cervicogenic headaches can be challenging, as the pain is referred from the neck to the head. If you experience persistent headaches accompanied by neck pain or stiffness, it’s essential to consult a healthcare professional for proper diagnosis and treatment.

The Dangers of Overusing Pain Medications: Rebound Headaches

Ironically, the frequent use of over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications to treat headaches can lead to a cycle of more frequent and persistent headaches, known as rebound or medication overuse headaches.

How do rebound headaches develop?

Rebound headaches occur when pain medications are used too frequently. As the effects of the medication wear off, the headache returns, often more intensely. This leads to a cycle of increasing medication use and more frequent headaches. To prevent rebound headaches, it’s crucial to limit the use of pain medications.

Guidelines for safe pain medication use

• Limit OTC pain medication use to no more than 15 days per month
• Use prescription pain medications for no more than 10 days per month
• Consult a healthcare provider if you find yourself needing pain medication frequently
• Consider alternative pain management strategies for chronic headaches

Post-Concussion Syndrome: When Headaches Persist After Head Injury

Concussions and other head injuries can lead to persistent headaches as part of post-concussion syndrome. This condition can last for months or even up to a year after the initial injury.

What are the symptoms of post-concussion syndrome?

• Ongoing or recurrent headaches
• Dizziness and fatigue
• Difficulty concentrating and memory issues
• Irritability and anxiety
• Sleep disturbances
• Sensitivity to light and sound
• Changes in sensory perception

If you’ve recently experienced a head injury and are dealing with persistent symptoms, including headaches, it’s crucial to seek medical attention for proper diagnosis and management of post-concussion syndrome.

When to Seek Immediate Medical Attention for Persistent Headaches

While most headaches are not life-threatening, certain symptoms in conjunction with a persistent headache warrant immediate medical attention.

Red flags that require emergency care

• Sudden onset of a severe headache (within seconds)
• New neurological symptoms (disorientation, vision changes, weakness)
• Fever and stiff neck accompanying the headache
• Headache following a head injury
• Severe headache in pregnancy
• Headache with underlying conditions like HIV or heart disease

If you experience any of these symptoms, don’t hesitate to seek emergency medical care. Prompt evaluation can rule out serious conditions and ensure appropriate treatment.

Effective Strategies for Managing and Preventing Persistent Headaches

Managing persistent headaches often requires a multifaceted approach, combining lifestyle changes, medical treatments, and preventive strategies.

Lifestyle modifications for headache prevention

• Maintain a regular sleep schedule
• Stay hydrated and eat balanced meals
• Engage in regular physical activity
• Practice stress-reduction techniques
• Identify and avoid personal headache triggers

Medical treatments for persistent headaches

1. Prescription medications for specific headache types
2. Botox injections for chronic migraines
3. Nerve blocks or trigger point injections
4. Cognitive-behavioral therapy
5. Physical therapy for cervicogenic headaches

Developing a comprehensive headache management plan with your healthcare provider can significantly improve your quality of life and reduce the frequency and intensity of persistent headaches.

Understanding the various causes and characteristics of persistent headaches is crucial for effective management. By recognizing warning signs, implementing lifestyle changes, and seeking appropriate medical care, you can take control of your headache symptoms and improve your overall well-being. Remember, while occasional headaches are common, persistent or severe head pain should always be evaluated by a healthcare professional to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment.

What to Do If a Headache Won’t Go Away

A long lasting headache that persists for days can be a symptom of a neurological condition, such as migraine, a headache disorder, or an injury. You may need medical care, especially if you have other symptoms.

Everyone experiences a headache from time to time. It’s even possible to have a headache that lasts for more than one day. There are many reasons why a headache can last a while, from hormonal changes to more serious underlying conditions.

While it can be alarming for a headache to last a long time — so long that you may not be able to sleep it off — most headaches aren’t life threatening. But it’s no fun when a lingering headache affects your ability to do the things you enjoy.

Let’s take a look at what can cause these headaches and how you can get relief.

If you’ve been experiencing the same headache for more than one day, it’s possible that you could have a more serious underlying condition that requires emergency medical care. Seek medical attention right away if you’re experiencing:

• a severe headache that began abruptly (within a few seconds)
• a migraine that has lasted several days, or even weeks
• any new symptoms you haven’t previously experienced along with the headache (disorientation, loss of vision or vision changes, fatigue, or fever)
• kidney, heart, or liver disease with a headache
• a severe or ongoing headache in pregnancy, which could indicate complications like preeclampsia
• HIV or another immune system disorder along with a headache
• headache associated with fever and stiff neck

There are multiple conditions that can cause a persistent headache that lasts for more than a day. Some of those include:

Rebound headaches

Regularly taking over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication for your headaches can actually cause your head to hurt between doses. While this type of headache often doesn’t hang around, it can recur over the course of a day or more.

Migraine

Migraine can be a severe type of headache that can last for days, or even weeks, at a time. They start with a feeling of general illness that takes hold one or two days before the headache begins. Some people experience aura, or bright, flashing vision changes before the pain begins.

Then, there’s the headache itself, with symptoms that may include:

• throbbing pain on either side (or both sides) of your head
• pain behind your eyes
• nausea
• vomiting
• light and sound sensitivity
• sensitivity to odors and fragrances

After your migraine lifts, you may experience a hangover-like feeling of fatigue and exhaustion.

Headaches related to stress or mood disorders

Anxiety, stress, and mood disorders can trigger headaches that linger for more than a day. Specifically, those with panic disorder or generalized anxiety disorder tend to experience prolonged headaches more often than those without.

Cervicogenic headaches

Sometimes your headaches actually aren’t coming from your head at all. They’re coming from your neck.

In cervicogenic headaches, pain is referred to your head from an area in your neck. You may not even realize where it’s originating from. And if the underlying cause — the problem in your neck — isn’t treated, your headache won’t go away.

Cervicogenic headaches can be caused by injuries, arthritis, bone fractures, tumors, or infection. Your posture or falling asleep in an awkward position could cause a cervicogenic headache. It’s also possible that disc-related wear can also cause these types of headaches.

Concussions and other head injuries

If you’ve recently experienced a concussion or similar head injury, you could be dealing with an ongoing headache. This is called post-concussion syndrome, and it’s a mild injury to your brain caused by the initial trauma. It can last for months after a concussion — possibly up to a year.

Symptoms of post-concussion syndrome include:

• recurrent or ongoing headaches
• fatigue
• dizziness
• periods of irritability
• difficulty concentrating
• short-term memory issues
• anxious feelings
• ringing sensation in your ears
• difficulty sleeping
• sensitivity to sound and light
• blurred vision
• sensory disturbances like a lessened sense of smell and taste

A variety of treatment options, including home treatments and medical care, can help relieve symptoms of a prolonged headache.

Rebound headaches

Overusing OTC pain medications can actually cause headaches. These headaches are known as rebound or medication overuse headaches.

If you’re experiencing ongoing rebound headaches, you can start addressing your symptoms at home by reducing the amount of OTC medications you take.

You shouldn’t take medicine for pain for more than 15 days out of every month, and prescription pain medications shouldn’t be used for more than 10 days out of every month.

Your doctor or pharmacist can guide you regarding medication ingredients and potential side effects.

If you continue to experience chronic headache pain, your doctor may be able to help. Make an appointment to speak with them about preventative medicines.

Ask your healthcare professional for alternative treatment options for headaches and migraine, like antidepressants for headaches caused by chronic tension.

Waiting until your headache starts could keep you in a cycle of OTC treatment, so prevention is key.

Migraine

To address your migraine symptoms at home consider building a predictable schedule that minimizes stress and keeps you in a routine. Focus on adhering to regular mealtimes and a solid sleep schedule.

Exercise can help prevent migraine attacks, but be sure to warm up slowly before diving right in, as too much strenuous exercise can cause a headache.

Prescriptions containing estrogen, like the birth control pill, could also contribute to your migraine. You might need to speak with your doctor about stopping or changing those medications.

Your doctor may prescribe medications specifically for migraine that can prevent the headaches from occurring. They may also prescribe pain medications that are stronger than OTC options to stop your symptoms once they’ve begun.

Anti-nausea medication or corticosteroid treatments are sometimes prescribed by physicians for migraine symptoms as well.

Headaches related to stress or mood disorders

Work to reduce stress and promote relaxation in your environment. Self-massage or massage therapy may help ease the tension that causes ongoing headaches. You may also benefit from reducing stimuli and resting in a dark, quiet room.

Your doctor can help you address your stress, anxiety, or mood disorder through a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy and medication.

Your doctor may prescribe antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications that can help relieve the tension and stress causing your prolonged headaches. Some medications for anxiety also work to reduce the number or intensity of headaches.

Cervicogenic headaches

Because cervicogenic headaches can be caused by injuries or issues in the neck, the underlying cause must be addressed to relieve your headache. Your doctor will examine you to rule out other types of headaches arising from other sources, like tension headaches.

Once the cause of pain is identified, your doctor may prescribe pain medication or nerve blocks to manage pain. They may also recommend physical therapy or a therapeutic exercise routine for pain management.

Concussions and other head injuries

While post-concussion syndrome does not have a specific treatment regimen, your doctor will work with you to address your specific symptoms. You can also take comfort measures at home to reduce your pain, like resting and limiting stimuli when you’re hurting.

Your doctor might advise you to take OTC medication for mild pain, or they may prescribe stronger pain management medication for headaches.

However, remember that overuse of pain medication can contribute to rebound headaches. So discuss with your doctor if you feel you’re taking too much.

Unexplained or general headaches

For unexplained, ongoing headaches, you may be able to manage or ease your symptoms at home through comfort measures, rest, and responsible use of medication.

Massage therapy can ease muscle tension that contributes to headaches, or you can perform self-massage techniques at home.

Managing your stress can help reduce your pain. Also, consider reducing the intensity of your exercise schedule or focusing on your form while exercising.

If your headache continues to persist, see your doctor. You may have an underlying condition that they can diagnose. With proper treatment, you’ll be able to address your persistent headache pain and return to your normal quality of life.

You may be able to prevent persistent headaches before they begin by taking a few steps every day. These include:

• drinking plenty of water to avoid dehydration
• exercising regularly
• avoiding environmental triggers
• getting needed support for your mental health
• seeking hormonal support, particularly if you’re premenopausal or experiencing menopause
• reducing stress

Headaches that won’t go away are alarming, but they usually aren’t serious. It’s important to discuss your symptoms with your doctor.

With the appropriate diagnosis and the right approach to treatment, you can get relief from your persistent headache and return to your usual quality of life.

Headache for Days? Try this All-Natural 3-Day Fix

Stop headaches before they start

There are three things we know about headaches:

First, over half of adults have at least one headache per year, according to the World Health Organization.

Second, headaches are often under-diagnosed and under-treated.

And third, it’s pretty hard to find immediate, tried-and-true relief that takes long-term pain away.

If you’re looking for fast relief tips, we have 18 natural remedies. However, if the relief provided is only temporary, you might want to take a closer look at your lifestyle. Headaches can be caused by a whole host of things, including inflammation, sinus infections, or simply genetics.

The trick to holistically curing (almost all) your headaches is to prevent one from happening in the first place.

Recognize the difference between migraines and other headaches

Feeling sensations on one side of the head and experiencing other body symptoms? It could be a migraine. Generally, migraine tips can help headaches, but it might not work the other way around. If you’re experiencing severe migraines, it’s important to talk to your doctor about how to prevent and treat them.

So, if you’re ready to reclaim your day, look no further. Follow this three-day fix to holistically clear headaches from your schedule and stop your next one before it starts.

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Headaches happen when you least expect them. Common headache triggers include the obvious — like stress and too much alcohol — but they can also be caused by dehydration, bad posture, a lack of sleep, or even strong smells or odors.

What and what not to eat

Avoid any foods you suspect you’re allergic or intolerant to. Food intolerances, like gluten or histamine intolerances, can cause headaches.

Sip some herbal tea. Ginger and feverfew both have potential for treating or preventing headaches. Indulging in one of these warm herbal teas might be exactly what you need to find relief.

Stay hydrated. Advice on how much water you should drink per day varies, but aim for eight 8-ounce glasses per day.Dehydration is a common headache trigger, but it’s important not to over-hydrate as well. Carry a reusable water bottle with you to keep hydrated on the go, and make sure you’re staying hydrated during workouts as well.

Start taking vitamin B-2. Vitamin B-2 (riboflavin) might also help prevent headaches, specifically migraines. Research shows that people who took vitamin B-2 experienced fewer headaches per month.

What to do

Try a cold (or hot) compress. Cold therapy can be beneficial for treating migraines, while some — like tension headaches — might respond better to heat. If you don’t prefer one over the other, try alternating between the two.

Discover your triggers. Fixing your headache depends on your trigger, so it’s important to identify them and learn how to cope with them:

• Try taking a 30-minute nap to see if the headache is sleep or stress related.
• Close your eyes to test if the light or eye strain is causing you pain.
• Massage the back of your neck or the bridge of your nose to see if this relieves any headache tension.

Once you find what helps, take a note.

Focus on light exercise. Bad posture is a common headache trigger, so introducing light stretching into your day can help improve your posture, reduce stress, and hopefully lower your headache risk over the long term.

What are headache triggers?

According to the American Migraine Foundation, the most common triggers include changes in sleep patterns, everyday stresses, menstrual periods, and weather and travel changes. You might not be able to avoid weather-related headaches, but being proactive can help you reduce their impact on your daily life.

How to sleep

You’ve heard this before: adults (18–64) typically need seven to nine hours of sleep per night. While it might seem like you do that on average, having an off week can contribute to your headaches.

Practice good sleep hygiene. It’s not just about getting sleep — it’s about getting quality sleep. The National Sleep Foundation suggests cutting out stimulants before bed, establishing a regular bedtime routine, and creating a relaxing environment for sleep.

Support your neck. Early morning headaches may be caused by strained muscles from a poor sleep position. For headaches, sleeping on your back is best — as long as your head is supported properly — while sleeping on your stomach is, unfortunately, not great for neck pain.

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If you are dealing with chronic headaches, it’s time to take your response beyond the basics. First, focus on managing triggers to help eliminate potential headaches before they start. From there, it’s all about doing what helps you feel your best.

What and what not to eat

Don’t drink caffeine. Try to avoid drinking caffeine. Studies suggest that too much caffeine (or the aftermath of caffeine withdrawal) can be a recipe for a nasty headache.

Cut back on junk food, food additives (like MSG), and artificial sweeteners. Certain foods can trigger headaches and migraines, so it’s important limit your intake of these foods, especially if you’re more prone to headaches. A 2016 review concluded that MSG and caffeine withdrawal were the most common headache triggers, but aspartame, gluten, histamine, and alcohol were also potential triggers.

Take magnesium. Magnesium is an essential mineral for our bodies, and one study suggests that having magnesium deficiency can lead to headaches. But too much magnesium also has its side effects, so talk to a doctor before loading up.

Food elimination alternative

If you already eat a fairly healthy food plan and suspect that cutting out junk food won’t work, try the elimination diet. When you aren’t sure what foods might be contributing to your headaches, eliminate any foods you suspect and then slowly reintroduce them one at a time.

What to do

Avoid stressful activities. While light exercise can be beneficial for headaches, strenuous workouts like running or weightlifting can make them worse.

Try using essential oils. Diffusing essential oils can help treat headaches. While different oils have different benefits, both peppermint and lavender essential oil are known for helping reduce headaches. Avoid undiluted oils, as concentrated doses may cause side effects like skin irritation.

Reduce neck pain. Give your neck a little love by stretching out the tightness. Try incorporating these yoga poses for neck pain. You can also pinch the back of your neck and massage gently to ease tension.

How to sleep

Use a rolled-up towel. If you’re holding off on getting a custom pillow just yet, rolling up a towel into a tight cylinder and placing it under your neck can help your muscles relax and relieve tension.

Boost your sleep quality. If you’re struggling to fall asleep, try drinking one of these colorful milk recipes with dessert or before bed. Need more tips to beat insomnia? Try avoiding evening exercise, cut out caffeine earlier in the day, and minimize your screen time.

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If it’s been three days and the pain is still going, there’s more you can do to discover your triggers. There are also steps you can take to rebuild your body’s defense foundation to help prevent or mitigate the next headache.

What and what not to eat

Avoid ice cream. Brain freeze may be connected to chronic headaches, so if you’re treating yourself with frozen foods, try cutting back for a while to see if that makes a difference.

Add anti-inflammatory foods to your diet. When you’re stressed, chronic inflammation can happen — meaning headaches definitely aren’t helping the cycle. That why it’s important to avoid foods that can make inflammation worse. Eat foods like dark, leafy greens and berries. They are both on the “pain-safe” foods list, and they’re also anti-inflammatory foods that can help reduce stress.

Eat small, frequent meals. Skipping meals or eating irregularly can mess with your blood glucose levels. To maintain your glucose levels, eat regularly throughout the day.

What to do

Focus on self-care. Chronic tension headaches may come and go, and they’re often caused by stress.Try booking a massage, acupuncture session, or another relaxing activity.

Practice restful yoga. Research suggests that yoga may help increase the body’s production of melatonin, which regulates sleep. If you need help falling asleep, try incorporating some of these yoga poses for insomnia.

How to sleep

Try a neck support pillow. Third day and counting with head pain? It might be time to invest in a new pillow. A small study discovered that orthopedic pillows improved sleep slightly better than standard pillows, but the important thing is to find a pillow that keeps your neck elevated.

Don’t forget to practice good sleep habits. Take sleep hygiene a step further by removing electronics in the bedroom. The National Sleep Foundation recommends avoiding screen time an hour before bed as well as trying to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day (even on weekends).

For many of us, headaches may seem inevitable, but that doesn’t mean we should let them become debilitating.

Even small changes — like making sure to wake up at the same time every day — could potentially have a major impact on whether or not you continue to suffer from chronic headaches. And remember, migraines are not the same as headaches, if they are preventing you from

And, in the end, what’s important is that you find the perfect headache relief and prevention strategies that work for you.

Jandra Sutton is a novelist, writer, and social media enthusiast. She’s passionate about helping people live happy, healthy, and creative lives. In her spare time, she enjoys lifting weights, reading, and anything related to ice cream. Pluto will always be a planet in her heart. You can follow her on Twitterand Instagram.

Headache: causes, types, treatment

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Headache

Headache

04.07.23

For many of us, a headache is not a problem, as it is easily resolved after taking pain medication. And when the pill stops helping, we do not go to the doctor, but switch to stronger drugs and even injections.

Unfortunately, the consequences are lost time. The time when you could, but did not want to discover the problem that your body is signaling persistently. After all, a headache is not an independent disease, it can be a symptom of serious diseases. Only a doctor should diagnose and treat them.

Why headaches occur

As a rule, not the whole head hurts, but some part of it. Causes of headache depending on its location:

• the temple area can hurt with sudden changes in blood pressure, poisoning the body with toxins or infectious diseases;
• headache in the back of the head occurs with high blood pressure, problems with the cervical spine (osteochondrosis, spondylosis) or hypertonicity of the muscles of the neck and collar zone;
• if the forehead hurts, it may be an inflammatory disease of the paranasal sinuses – frontal sinusitis. It can also be a sign of increased intracranial pressure or occipital nerve entrapment. Such pain accompanies very serious diseases – meningitis, pneumonia, malaria, typhoid;
• if painful sensations occur around the eyes, these are signs of migraine, vegetative-vascular dystonia. This is how eye diseases, including glaucoma, can manifest themselves.

Be careful if your head hurts regularly, with a certain cyclicality. This is a clear and specific signal – you have chronic diseases, or the level of stress and hard work is very high.

Different headache intensity

Headache in a particular area can be of varying intensity: from sharp and sudden attacks to prolonged debilitating. This is also valuable diagnostic information.

The intensity of the pain in the head can be:

• Strong, sometimes unbearable. The causes of such pain are migraines, pressure drops, sinusitis, head injuries or infections. If the pain does not subside with time, but grows, it means that the painful process is progressing.
• Long lasting. This is a very serious SOS signal that our body can only give. It can indicate lesions of the nervous system of an infectious nature, meningitis, tuberculosis, parasitic diseases, and even a brain tumor. Particularly worrisome frequent headache.
• Pulsating. Most often this is how migraine manifests itself. However, it can also be vascular diseases – brain damage, impaired outflow of cerebrospinal fluid or venous outflow. Pulsating pain is caused by some types of infectious lesions, otitis, glaucoma. A severe and prolonged throbbing headache is especially dangerous.
• Sudden. P As a rule, it is caused by spasm of cerebral vessels. This happens in case of nerve infringement with cervical osteochondrosis, with a vascular crisis. An aneurysm rupture, intracranial hemorrhage is very dangerous. But a sharp headache often occurs as a result of stress, if a person is nervous or poisoned by low-quality products.

Be careful if your head hurts regularly, with a certain cyclicality. This is a clear and specific signal – you have chronic diseases, or the level of stress and hard work is very high.

Which diseases are accompanied by headaches

Only a doctor can establish a diagnosis, after several stages of examination. After all, with similar symptoms, the causes of headaches are different. Here is a list of the main diseases accompanied by pain in the head:

• Migraine. Severe headache , often throbbing, the person is sick, irritated by light, odors. There is a general weakness, a desire to lie down. Often the pain is on one side of the face. A migraine attack can last a few hours, or maybe 2-3 days.
• Tension headache. The most common type of disease. Usually the head hurts slightly, but the pain returns again and again. It can last 6-7 days. The pain compresses the skull, is localized in the back of the head, frontal part, crown, or spreads to all departments. This type of pain occurs in people who are engaged in sedentary work, driving for a long time, or constantly in a state of stress. Their shoulder girdle is so constrained that it does not relax even during sleep. The patency of muscles, nerve impulses, and tissue nutrition are impaired.
• Cluster disease. Very difficult to tolerate by patients, sometimes goes into a continuous form. The pain pulsates on one side of the head, compresses the eye or part of the forehead. The eye begins to water and swell. The peak of the attack lasts from half an hour to an hour and a half. Cluster pain is more common in men.
• Pain caused by infections. She is accompanied by chills, fever. The pain presses on the temples, eyes, forehead. With SARS, cough and runny nose join the symptoms. With meningitis, the pain is severe, throbbing, accompanied by vomiting.
• Pain resulting from trauma. Their nature and intensity depends on the nature of the injury. Characteristic for concussion, skull damage, displacement of the vertebrae in the cervical spine. Moreover, unpleasant sensations can occur immediately, or they can occur after some time.
• Sinus pain. It accompanies inflammation of the sinuses, therefore it is localized in the frontal part of the head or near the nose. The patient has a runny nose, nasal congestion. You can get rid of it only by curing the underlying disease.
• Pain provoked by intracranial pressure. These are massive, intense pain sensations covering the entire surface of the head and the area around the eyes. Patients describe them as pressing or bursting. Often a person is sick and he can hardly tolerate bright light.
• Pain arising from damage to the trigeminal nerve. Sharp, short (from 2 to 5 seconds), but very painful. Occurs suddenly in any part of the face. Most often, inflammation of the trigeminal nerve occurs in people with unhealthy teeth and oral problems.

What examinations are required

With complaints of headache, you should consult a therapist. First, the doctor collects an anamnesis – clarifies the nature, localization, duration of the headache. Remember when it first appeared and how often it recurs. In order to exclude additional factors that can provoke attacks, you need to undergo an examination by a neurologist, an ENT doctor, an ophthalmologist and visit a dental office. They will be able to accurately identify the causes and types of headaches and prescribe treatment.

Your doctor may recommend the following tests for you:

• electroencephalography – a study of the state of the brain. This is how vascular and tumor pathologies, hematomas are detected;
• x-ray – will show if there are signs of hydrocephalus, if there was a head injury or sinusitis;
• magnetic resonance imaging – this is how you can detect a tumor, problems of cerebral circulation, diseases of the nasal sinuses, the consequences of a stroke.
• computed tomography – this way you can determine if there are hemorrhages in the brain, what is the structure of the brain tissue and blood vessels;
• electromyography – determines the damage to neural connections and nerves;
• Ultrasound of the vessels of the neck with Doppler – a popular procedure reveals atherosclerosis, vascular and blood flow pathologies, aneurysms;
• laboratory tests – tests will help detect inflammation, the presence of infection, cholesterol metabolism problems and autoimmune processes.

Headache treatment

The consequences of headache can be very serious. The more often and stronger the headaches become, the brighter their consequences will manifest themselves – up to muscle spasm and brain hypoxia. And besides, the underlying disease will inevitably begin to progress.

Headache treatment is not limited to the use of drugs – although the use of anti-inflammatory, painkillers and local analgesics is an important part of the treatment. For example, a course of drug blockades greatly facilitates the patient’s condition.

Good help in the treatment of headaches will be:

• manual therapy is a method of applying manual massage techniques to the spine. Especially effective for migraine and tension pain;
• massage techniques. Effective for recovery from injuries and chronic migraines;
• acupuncture – the impact of medical needles through special points on the body. So you can activate the work of organs associated with certain nerve endings and start the process of self-healing;
• osteopathy – in this case, muscle clamps and changes in the joints and organs are worked out using special massage techniques on points on the patient’s body;
• physiotherapy – treatment with ultrasound, alternating or constant weak electric and magnetic fields, exposure to heat. Effective for different types of headaches;
• physiotherapy exercises – moderate physical activity, especially good in the treatment of post-traumatic conditions and overexertion pain;
• Botox injections – if the muscles are in spasm, an injection of Botox will relax the area of ​​​​the body and relieve headaches;
• extracorporeal hemocorrection is a method based on blood purification from excess cholesterol and toxic substances. It has proven itself in the treatment of multiple sclerosis and pathologies of the immune system;
• folk remedies. For the most part, grandmother’s lotions and conspiracies can not be recommended in every case, and only as a method of complacency. Preparing decoctions and compresses, you can miss precious time and miss the early stage of the disease. Therefore, in any case, the first thing to do is consult a doctor.

How to prevent headaches

The best prevention of headaches is a healthy lifestyle and the ability to avoid stress.

The main conditions for this:

• proper nutrition. Food should not contain toxins, not provoke the appearance of excess weight and supply the body with the necessary vitamins and amino acids;
• physical activity. Feasible and moderate physical education, warm-ups during the working day, swimming, running, hippotherapy will keep the muscles in good shape and prevent the occurrence of muscle clamps;
• no bad habits. Alcohol, smoking, abuse of coffee and energy drinks are the first harbingers of imminent headaches. Take care of yourself.
• a full night’s sleep. Only in this way will the body be able to have a good rest and restore its strength.

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Why does pain occur?

A headache in the morning does not necessarily signal danger. The reasons may be external, including sleeping in an uncomfortable position or drinking alcohol the night before. Therefore, the first advice is to create optimal conditions for a night’s rest.

Adjust mode. A common cause of morning sickness is a banal lack of sleep. To recover, the body needs 7-8 hours of sleep per day. Excess sleep is also harmful: an extra couple of hours in bed will not add vigor – but it can provoke a headache.

Review habits. Before going to bed, it is better to refuse heavy, fatty and salty foods, not to drink too much liquid and not to abuse alcohol. All this is fraught with edema and even intoxication of the body. Sometimes the head may ache from hunger or sudden changes in diet. For example, if you decide to give up coffee, it is better not to quit in one day, but to reduce the number of cups gradually.

Arrange a bed. If you sleep in an uncomfortable position, the vertebral arteries are pinched, blood circulation in the head and neck is disturbed. Because of this, heaviness and stiffness appear in the morning: the temple, forehead or neck usually hurts on one side.

Ventilate the room before going to bed. Often the head hurts in the morning due to oxygen starvation of the brain. The main thing here is not to overdo it and not to sleep in a draft.

When is it time to see a doctor?

It is important not to self-medicate and seek help if:

• headache began to disturb more often;

• the nature, place or intensity of pain has changed;

• taking a regular pain reliever does not help.

For example, a headache caused by overexertion can last up to three days. You can take painkillers on your own, but if after 2-3 days there is no effect, be sure to consult a doctor.

Remember that the cause of morning pain can be high blood pressure, taking certain medications, low endorphins, depression, sleep apnea – stopping breathing during sleep. Sometimes patients have serious disorders: neoplasms in the brain, aneurysms and other vascular pathologies, autoimmune diseases.

See a doctor as soon as possible if you have had a head injury. Or if, in addition to a headache, there is one or more accompanying symptoms: high fever, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, convulsions, shortness of breath; if there is double vision, the pain increases sharply or radiates to the neck.