How to relieve headache in temples: Sinus Headaches – Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment
Sinus Headaches – Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment
Your sinuses are air-filled spaces inside your forehead, cheekbones, and behind the bridge of your nose. When they get inflamed — usually because of an allergic reaction or an infection — they swell, make more mucus, and the channels that drain them can get blocked.
The build-up of pressure in your sinuses causes pain that feels like a headache.
Symptoms
You’ll feel a deep and constant pain in your cheekbones, forehead, or the bridge of your nose. The pain usually gets stronger when you move your head suddenly or strain. At the same time, you might have other sinus symptoms, such as:
- A runny nose
- Feeling of fullness in your ears
- Fever
- Swelling in your face
Other kinds of recurring headaches, like migraines or tension headaches, are often mistaken for sinus headaches. Because the treatment you need depends on what kind of headache you have, it’s important to figure out if your symptoms are caused by your sinuses. If a sinus blockage, such as an infection, really is the cause, you’ll likely have a fever.
Usually your doctor can tell if your sinuses are blocked based on the symptoms you describe and a physical exam, but in some cases, you may need CT or MRI scans.
Treatment
The goal is usually to relieve your symptoms and treat an infection if you have one. You might take antibiotics, as well as antihistamines or decongestants for a short time. You can also use inhaled nasal decongestants, but only for up to 3 days. Longer use can make your symptoms worse.
You can also take pain relievers, or if they don’t help, your doctor can prescribe corticosteroids to ease the inflammation in your sinuses. If an allergic reaction causes your sinus flare-ups, you might need a preventive allergy treatment.
You can also feel better with simple at-home tricks, such as drinking more fluids, using a humidifier, or saltwater nasal spray.
If you take decongestant and pain-relieving medicines too often, you might get medication overuse headaches. It’s important to touch base with your doctor if you’re using any medication for a long time to relieve your headaches. Decongestants also can raise your blood pressure, so if you have high blood pressure, talk to your doctor before you take one.
In rare cases, they may recommend sinus surgery to remove polyps or open up small or constantly swollen sinuses.
Allergies and Sinus Headaches
Ever heard that allergies cause sinus headaches? It’s not quite that simple.
Allergies can cause sinus congestion, which can make your head hurt. Treatment for your allergies can ease that congestion, but it won’t relieve your headache pain. You usually have to treat the two conditions separately. See your doctor to make sure you get the right help.
Tension-type headaches: Self-care measures for relief
Tension-type headaches: Self-care measures for relief
Frequent headaches can interfere with your daily life. But healthy lifestyle choices can help you head off the pain. Start with the basics, including diet, exercise and relaxation.
By Mayo Clinic Staff
Nearly everyone is familiar with the pain of tension-type headaches. But that doesn’t mean that the world stops when the pain strikes. Over-the-counter or prescription medications may help, but simply taking good care of yourself also can help prevent a pounding headache.
Make healthy lifestyle choices
A healthy lifestyle can promote good overall health and help prevent tension-type headaches. Here are the basics:
- Eat nutritious foods on a regular schedule. Don’t skip meals, especially breakfast, and drink plenty of water each day.
- Exercise regularly. Exercise releases chemicals in your body that block pain signals to the brain. With your doctor’s permission, choose any exercise you enjoy, whether that’s walking, swimming or cycling. Start slowly; exercising too vigorously can trigger some types of headaches.
- Get enough sleep. Wake up and go to bed at the same time every day — even on weekends. Relax before you go to bed. If you don’t fall asleep within 15 minutes, get up and read or do something soothing until you’re drowsy. Avoid medications (including some headache medications) that contain caffeine and other stimulants that can affect sleep.
- Avoid excess caffeine. While caffeine may help curb headaches, heavy daily caffeine use — more than 400 milligrams of caffeine a day (about four regular cups of coffee) — can cause headaches and irritability. Chronic caffeine consumption also increases the risk of headaches, as does quitting caffeine altogether — whether you quit suddenly or cut back gradually.
- Quit smoking. The nicotine in cigarette smoke reduces blood flow to the brain, and triggers a reaction in the nerves at the back of the throat, which may lead to a headache.
Keep stress under control
Stress and tension-type headaches often go hand in hand. To reduce stress, try these simple tips:
- Simplify your life. Don’t look for ways to squeeze more activities or chores into the day; instead find things you can leave out.
- Take a break. If you feel overwhelmed, a few slow stretches or a quick walk may renew your energy levels.
- Exhale. When you feel your stress levels rising, take several deep breaths and count to 10.
- Adjust your attitude. Think positive thoughts. Don’t think that something is impossible; tell yourself that you are up to the challenge.
- Let go. Don’t worry about things you can’t control.
Ease muscle tension
Tense muscles can trigger tension-type headaches. Apply heat or ice to relieve tense neck and shoulder muscles. Use a heating pad set on low, a hot water bottle, a hot shower or bath, a warm compress, or a hot towel. Or apply an ice pack (wrapped in a cloth) or a cool washcloth across the forehead.
Massage also can relieve muscle tension — and sometimes headache pain. Gently massage your temples, scalp, neck and shoulders with your fingertips, or gently stretch your neck.
Relax
Take time to unwind every day. Try this deep-breathing exercise:
- Lie down on your back or sit comfortably with your feet flat on the floor; hands in your lap.
- Imagine yourself in a peaceful place, perhaps a beach or quiet forest. Keep this scene in your mind.
- Inhale and exhale slowly and deeply for at least 10 minutes.
- When you’re done, sit quietly for a minute or two.
Try to practice these breathing exercises or another form of relaxation every day.
Keep a headache diary
A diary may help you determine what triggers your tension-type headaches. Note when your headaches start, your activities, how long the headaches last and anything that provides relief. The diary may help you spot patterns in your daily habits that contribute to your tension-type headaches.
Look for improvements in your headaches as you make additional healthy lifestyle changes.
Aug. 21, 2020
Show references
- Headache: Hope through research. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Hope-Through-Research/Headache-Hope-Through-Research. Accessed July 19, 2018.
- Cutrer FM, et al. Pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, and diagnosis of migraine in adults. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Aug. 13, 2020.
- Your guide to healthy sleep. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/all-publications-and-resources/your-guide-healthy-sleep. Accessed Aug. 13, 2020.
- Durazzo TC, et al. Comparison of regional brain perfusion levels in chronically smoking and non-smoking adults. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2015;12:8198.
- 3 tips to manage stress. American Heart Association. https://healthyforgood.heart.org/be-well/articles/3-tips-to-manage-stress. Accessed July 19, 2018.
- Swanson JW (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. July 23, 2018.
- Bordeaux B, et al. Benefits and risks of caffeine and caffeinated beverages. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Aug. 13, 2020.
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7 Tips From a Chiropractor – Cleveland Clinic
Combine stress, repetitive activities and poor posture, and what do you get? Tension headaches.
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They encircle your head like a too-tight crown. “Fortunately, you can do a lot on your own to prevent or relieve tension-type headaches,” says chiropractor Andrew Bang, DC.
“You don’t always have to go to a physical therapist, massage therapist or chiropractor.”
A recipe for trouble
Work pressures, relationship stress and other life challenges can cause tension headaches.
When you add repetitive activities and poor posture to the mix, “the pain starts in your neck and shoulders, slowly travels up the base of your skull and then wraps around your head,” says Dr. Bang.
The following activities can contribute to tension headaches:
“These activities overstretch the muscles on the back of your neck and weaken them, increasing your susceptibility to tension headaches,” says Dr. Bang. “The second part of the problem is that using any muscle too much leads to pain and, often, spasms.”
Episodic vs. chronic
Episodic tension headaches are often tied to stressful events. They typically come on quickly and are fairly painful. “These headaches resolve once the stressful event is over or when you take over-the-counter medication,” says Dr. Bang.
Chronic tension headaches can recur daily. They may come on as you wake up or after a long day of work or activity. “The muscles in your neck and scalp tend to stay contracted,” he says. “Pain and tightness develop on both sides of the head, in the forehead and at the base of the skull.”
7 ways to manage tension headaches
To prevent or to ease tension headaches, Dr. Bang recommends the following:
- Minimize stress: Try to avoid or limit stressful events.
- Take breaks: Limit the time you spend looking down at your phone. Take breaks on long drives.
- Adjust the way you sleep: Try sleeping on your back or on your side with a body pillow and your neck in neutral posture.
- Exercise and stretch: Use a therapy cane or a hard therapy ball to massage out or stretch your neck and shoulder muscles.
- Use over-the-counter medicines: Aspirin, ibuprofen or acetaminophen can be quite effective for episodic tension headaches.
- Consider drug-free treatment: Try massage therapy, chiropractic treatment, physical therapy or acupuncture.
- See a dentist: If you’re clenching your jaw and getting headaches, look for a dentist knowledgeable about temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome. “The right mouth guard can really help,” says Dr. Bang.
Dr. Bang points out that the good thing about drug-free treatments is that any side effects (increased soreness, stiffness or bruising) go away on their own.
What about rubbing your temples when a tension headaches starts to build — does it help? “Muscle tension varies, so rubbing on your temples may not bring relief,” says Dr. Bang. “But rubbing on the tender spots, or trigger points, in your neck and shoulder muscles can help.”
If tension headaches don’t go away after trying these suggestions, it may be time to look at the psychological stress in your life, he notes.
Maneuvers for Treating Headaches
Headaches commonly present themselves at inconvenient times, like when a person is in the middle of a meeting, a family outing, or stuck on an airplane. Often over-the-counter medications are not readily available, and a nap is just not possible at the moment. So many people turn to self pain-alleviating maneuvers to temporarily ease their pain.
But does temple massage or applying a cold washcloth to your head actually work?
Brand New Images / Getty Images
Self Pain-Relieving Maneuvers
Self-pain-relieving maneuvers are self-soothing behaviors a person does to ease the pain in their body, like that of a headache. These are commonly used by people suffering from a tension headache or migraine.
While not an exhaustive list, here are examples of self-soothing headache maneuvers:
- Massaging the temples, neck, or scalp with hand, fingers, or an object
- Applying cold to the affected area, like with a cold pack, cold drink, or cold hand
- Applying heat to the affected area, usually with a scarf, hairdryer, or hot shower
- Compression (e.g., using a handkerchief wrapped tightly around the head) or pressing firmly on the area of pain
It’s interesting to note that compression is more commonly utilized in migraineurs versus scalp massage in people with tension headaches. This is likely due to the sensation caused by a migraine (throbbing, like a drum beating on your brain) versus a tension headache (a tight grip or band around your head).
For those with cluster headaches, people are more likely to utilize unique maneuvers, like covering one ear, lateral rotation of the head, shallow breathing, moving about, or closing the nostril on the same side as the head pain.
Other Non-Medication Options
Besides the above-mentioned self pain-easing maneuvers, there are other ways to complement your headache and migraine care.
Some of these complementary therapies include:
- Biofeedback
- Yoga
- Progressive muscle relaxation
- Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
- Aerobic exercise, especially for migraines
- Trigger point release massage for tension-type headaches
The good news is that compared to self-soothing headache maneuvers, the potential benefit of these complementary therapies is supported by various scientific studies.
That said, be sure to talk with your doctor before embarking on one—this way you can choose the strategy that works best for your headache type and your unique needs/goals.
A Word from Verywell
While self-pain-relieving behaviors are temporarily effective at best, it’s okay if you use them, as they are harmless. Perhaps doing something good for yourself adds a psychological benefit, which is hard to calculate from a study. Go with your gut on this one. And do not be afraid to try multiple strategies—it’s usually a trial and error process to finding the right treatment regimen that works for you.
That Tension Headache May Be a Pain in the Neck
Headaches:
Article 1 of 6
Contributor
Thomas P. Mecke, DC
One very common cause of tension headaches is rooted in the neck, resulting from muscle tension and trigger points.
What causes tension headaches?
At the base of the skull, there is a group of muscles called the suboccipital muscles. They can cause headache pain for many people. These four pairs of muscles are responsible for subtle movements between the skull and first and second vertebrae in the neck.
The suboccipital muscles may become tense and tender due to the following:
- Eye strain
- Wearing new eyeglasses
- Poor posture
- Grinding teeth
- Trauma (such as a whiplash injury)
Pain from the suboccipital muscles commonly feels like a band wrapping around the head. Also, tension in these muscles may cause compression of a nerve that exits the base of the skull. This can trigger pain that wraps over the head and above the eyes.
How can you relieve tension headache pain?
Here are some tips to help you manage the cause of your tension headaches:
- Get an eye exam. If you’re straining to read, or keep tilting your head up and down to use those off-the-shelf glasses, you may need a new pair of glasses.
- Redesign your workstation. Simply raising your computer monitor or getting a document stand can help reduce repeated head tilting that can strain the occipital muscles.
- Avoid slouching and practice good posture. Consider trying yoga, Pilates or Tai Chi. All of these disciplines are great forms of exercise and all can help to improve posture. Also, you may want to consult a physical therapist, chiropractor, or movement therapist for exercises that are tailored to your need.
- Get a 30-minute massage that concentrates on the neck and upper back. This can help relax your muscles and relieve your headache pain.
- Try applying a hot pack to the base of the head. Do this for 15-20 minute intervals.
- Stuff two tennis balls into a sock and tie it off tightly. Lie on your back on the floor. Place the tennis balls under the base of your skull and allow your head to compress against them. Gently rock your head back and forth and side to side for a few minutes.
When does a headache indicate a serious health problem?
Most headaches are painful but not dangerous. However, headache pain can be a warning sign of a more serious health problem. Learn when you should contact your health care provider to find out if your headaches are a sign of a more serious problem like a brain tumor.
Thomas P. Mecke, DC
Thomas P. Mecke is a chiropractor in the Osher Clinical Center for Integrative Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital
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How to Get Rid of a Tension Headache
Now, more than ever, it’s clear that stress wreaks havoc beyond your mental state—it can have a number of physical effects all over your body. A common manifestation? Tension headaches.
Unlike migraines, sinus headaches, or cluster headaches, tension headaches aren’t localized to one part of your body—you may feel pain or discomfort all over your head and scalp, neck, or shoulders, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
In addition to stress, you may be dealing with that annoyingly dull ache for a whole slew of reasons, as each person has their own unique triggers. But one thing everyone has in common? You want to relieve the pain ASAP. So we turned to experts to figure out how to get rid of a tension headache, and possibly even help prevent one in the future.
What are the symptoms of a tension headache?
People can have tension headaches once, daily, or off-and-on regularly—and the pain can last anywhere from 30 minutes to a week. This pain often stems from muscle tightness and typically feels like a band is squeezing your head. Symptoms vary, but may also include:
- A dull ache that causes pressure
- All-over tension, pressure, or aching (not just in one point or one side)
- Pain that’s worse in the scalp, temples, back of the neck, or shoulders
What causes tension headaches?
Doctors don’t have this 100% figured out yet. “We don’t know a whole lot about the pathology of headache [but] tension-style headaches are likely triggered by inflammation,” says Amit Sachdev, M.D., medical director in the division of neuromuscular medicine at Michigan State University.
There’s no single cause for tension headaches, but you can have a regular trigger. In general, tension headaches occur when the neck and scalp muscles become tense or contract, usually in response to stress, depression, a head injury, or anxiety, the U.S. National Library of Medicine states.
People of any age can get tension headaches, but they’re more likely to happen in adults and older teens, and tend to run in families. So, if your mom and grandma get them, the odds are pretty high that you will, too.
There’s a laundry list of possible tension headache triggers:
- Stress
- Any activity that causes your head to be in one position for a long time
- Sleeping in a cold room (This can cause muscles to spasm, Dr. Sachdev says.)
- Sleeping with your neck in a weird position
- Alcohol use
- Caffeine (either having too much or going through withdrawal)
- Having a cold, the flu, or a sinus infection
- Dental problems like as jaw clenching or teeth grinding
- Eye strain
- Excessive smoking
- Fatigue or overexertion
How to relieve a tension headache
Because tension headaches have various causes, it’s a good idea to keep a journal and log any instances to try and ID your triggers. If you can determine what sets off the pain (say, you always get one after drinking coffee), then you can do your best to avoid that particular trigger. That said, the following tips can all help you find eventual relief:
1. Pop some OTC pain medications.
This is a popular approach for quick relief. Aspirin, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen can all help reduce tension headache pain, says Medhat Mikhael, M.D., pain management specialist at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, Calif.
Always follow dosage instructions, and never take pain medications for more than three days per week regularly, as this can actually cause “rebound” headaches—which may feel even worse.
2. Give yourself a massage.
Gently targeting the muscles in your scalp, temples, or bottom of your neck can help relieve the tension that spurred your headache, Dr. Mikhael says.
You can also target your masseter muscle—the thick muscle that connects your jawbone and cheekbone—if you tend to clench, grind, or generally hold tension in your face. When your jaw becomes too tight, it can cause other nearby muscles in your head and neck to do the same. “When the force is too great you can get tension headaches,” David Reavy, a Chicago-based physical therapist, previously told Prevention.
Try this 10-second masseter massage from Reavy a few times a day:
- Place the pads of your fingers or knuckles at the masseter muscle.
- Then, open your jaw as much as you can.
- Close your mouth and repeat until you feel the muscle release.
3. Add in some peppermint oil, while you’re at it.
Organic Peppermint Essential Oil
Because peppermint oil causes a cooling sensation, it can feel really good on tense muscles. Research backs up its benefits, too: One older but often-cited study found that applying a 10% peppermint oil solution to the temples actually has pain-relieving properties similar to Tylenol. Newer research has led to similar results.
Sara Crystal, M.D., a neurologist, headache specialist, and medical advisor at Cove, previously spoke with Prevention and offered this peppermint oil massage:
- Dilute a few drops of the peppermint essential oil into another oil carrier, like coconut oil.
- Massage the oil into the temples and forehead, working in circular motions with the index and middle fingers. (Be sure to avoid the eyes.)
- Continue for one minute.
4. Apply ice or heat.
Giving tense muscles, especially around your neck and shoulders, the hot or cold treatment can alleviate any soreness that may be spurring a tension headache. A heating pad (set on low), hot water bottle, warm compress, or hot towel all do the trick. If you prefer a cold treatment, wrap any ice in cloth before placing on your skin.
5. Find a way to relax—seriously.
“The key point in treatment, besides using possible over-the-counter medication, is that you look at every possible relaxation therapy,” Dr. Mikhael says. “We want to minimize the use of pain relievers, because they can have side effects.”
Among other things, he recommends exploring meditation and yoga, as they’re both backed by research for their stress-reducing benefits. (Get started with our beginner’s guide to meditation or these basic yoga stretches.)
In general, a little self-care goes a long way, too. If you’re frequently dealing with tension headaches, consider making lifestyle changes, like sticking to a consistent sleeping schedule, getting regular exercise, and drinking enough fluids to avoid dehydration.
6. Talk to a therapist.
Remember, your mental health impacts your physical health. If you’re having trouble dealing with stress and anxiety on your own, seeking professional guidance can be tremendously useful. If anything, a therapist will be able to help identify your triggers and offer coping methods that fit in line with your lifestyle. “Reflection and internalization guided by a pain psychologist can be huge,” Dr. Sachdev says.
7. Consider physical therapy.
A physical therapist can also help teach you how to relax and work tension out of the muscles in your neck and back. “Some of the exercises they use can be very helpful to eliminate tension headaches,” Dr. Mikhael says. What’s more, they can give you guidance on proper posture if you tend to sit all day, which may help prevent future headaches.
8. Ask your doc about prescription options.
If your tension headaches are really bad or they’re happening frequently, your doctor may recommend muscle relaxers or tricyclic antidepressants to lower your risk of dealing with more of them, Dr. Mikhael says.
Bottom line: If tension headaches interfere with your quality of life and home remedies don’t help, it’s time to see your doctor.
A medical professional will be able to help you figure out what’s behind your headaches, and come up with a plan of action to put a stop to them.
Additional reporting by Tiffany Ayuda and Christine Mattheis
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Natural Remedies to Get Rid of a Headache
If you suffer from occasional headaches, consider trying these home remedies to help ease your pain.
Drink more water
Dehydration may be the cause of your headache. Luckily, the solution is rather simple: increase your water intake. Drinking more water may help to alleviate a headache as well as prevent other ones in the future. Most people will find relief from a dehydration headache within 30 minutes to three hours of drinking water.
Try essential oils
Peppermint and lavender oils seem to be the most helpful for headache relief. They both have relaxing properties that have also been known to assist with pain relief. Applying a small amount of peppermint oil to the temples has been shown to relieve headache pain. Just be sure not to apply any oil near your eyes.
Practicing aromatherapy using lavender oil can be an effective and safe way to ease the pain of migraine headaches. Consider diffusing it in an essential oil diffuser or apply a tiny amount into your palms, then rub your hands together and inhale the scent.
Use a cold compress
Applying a cold compress to your forehead is a safe and inexpensive way to help reduce inflammation and constrict blood vessels that may ease the pain from a headache.
Use either a cold, wet washcloth or fill a small bag with ice and wrap it in a soft towel or cloth. The cold compress may have a numbing effect on the area, which can help dull and soothe headache pain. Consider adding a drop of lavender essential oil to the cold washcloth and relax to the soothing scent.
Related: 6 Natural Remedies for Heartburn
Massage pressure points
Treating headaches might just be as simple as applying pressure to certain pressure points on your body. For example, to relieve headaches in your temples, apply pressure to your temples and rub in a circular motion—many people tend to do this naturally when feeling stressed.
To ease headache pain caused by eyestrain, use the tips of your index fingers and apply pressure at the midpoint of your eyebrows and release, or apply pressure in small circles for a minute and release.
Rubbing the spot in between your thumb and index finger is thought to ease stress, headaches, and other types of pain. Rub the spot near the base of the thumb for four to five seconds and release.
These tips and tricks to cure a headache may be the first step to try at home. But if you’re experiencing frequent headaches and home remedies aren’t helping, talk to your doctor.
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How to cope with a headache, a neurologist told
Headache is the most common cause of feeling unwell. About 90% of the population suffers from it. But, unfortunately, most patients with manifestations of even severe pain do not rush to seek medical help, but resort to using pain pills. Svetlana Gabarova, a neurologist of the federal network of medical centers “ILC”, told everything about the causes, types of headaches, as well as ways of dealing with them.Why does the head hurt?
Headache can be the leading and sometimes the only complaint in more than 40 different diseases:
90,017 neuroses, depressive states; |
For diseases of the nervous system, diseases of the ENT organs, eye, etc.d.
There are many reasons for the appearance of headaches, therefore, the symptoms can be very diverse. Some of the types of headaches are:
VOLTAGE HEADACHE. It is caused by tension in the muscles of the head and neck. It feels like a generalized dull pain, as if the head is in a vice. It is not associated with any latent disease. They can be episodic or chronic.
Reasons: fatigue, prolonged forced position in an uncomfortable position, stress, depression, anxiety disorders, prolonged use of analgesics, tranquilizers.
HYPERTONIC HEADACHE. Usually occurs in people with high blood pressure. It is stronger in the morning, calms down during the day. Most often, the pain is pressing and continuous. During a pressure surge, discomfort is localized in the back of the head. Symptoms often extend to the forehead and temples.
Why is a headache dangerous in hypertension?
Heart attack and stroke are the most common causes of death by latent diseases.They can be episodic or chronic.
MIGRAINE. Characterized by periodic or regular attacks of headache on one side (right or left), rarely bilateral. Seizures can occur from one to two times a year to several times a week or month. It has been proven that there is a hereditary predisposition to migraine. It is characterized by paroxysmal headaches that last from several hours to three days. The headache is pulsating in nature, it can be moderate or severe, reducing daily activity and worse with little physical exertion.Nausea, vomiting, photophobia (photophobia), fear of loud noise (phonophobia) can join it.
CLUSTER HEADACHE (Horton’s migraine) is a pronounced series of attacks of pain syndrome in a limited period of time (from several weeks to several months) followed by long-term remission (from several weeks to several months). The intensity of the pain is so great that it can lead to disastrous consequences.
Headache is only a symptom that accompanies various diseases.Even if it does not last long, an examination and consultation with a doctor are still required. You can not engage in self-diagnosis and self-medication.
Why can’t a headache be tolerated?
Most often, patients prefer not to go to a neurologist, but simply take painkillers. This entails a lot of unpleasant consequences. The fact is that at such a moment the body undergoes severe stress due to excessive stress on the vessels and the system as a whole and can provoke: an increase in adrenaline in the blood, an increase in heart rate, vascular spasms, an increase in blood pressure, fainting, a stroke, a severe pain attack.
Headache can also be a harbinger of a dangerous health condition.
Spasm can affect the development of physiological changes at the cellular level, provoke cardiovascular diseases, psychiatric disorders. 90% of patients report signs of aggression towards loved ones and people around them. Increasing irritation leads to an even greater increase in head pain. Aggression is often a trigger for the development of new pathologies and exacerbation of chronic diseases.It is important to pay attention to a headache, since a symptom may indicate tumors, poisoning, sexually transmitted diseases, helminthiasis, inflammation and other ailments.
How to determine the cause of headaches at an early stage?
Before starting the examination, the doctor asks the patient in detail about the nature of the pain in the head and, based on these data, prescribes a diagnosis. Most often used for making an accurate diagnosis:
- MRI – used to diagnose tumors, chronic and acute disorders of cerebral circulation, the consequences of stroke, sinusitis, hernias, etc.
- Doppler ultrasonography of the great vessels of the head and neck (CDK BCS) – a study of the patency of the arteries;
- Electroencephalography (EEG) – allows you to judge the state and functioning of the brain as a whole, as well as to identify vascular lesions, indirect signs of a tumor, hematoma;
- Electromyography (EMG) – for the diagnosis of diseases of the neuromuscular system, nerve damage.
At the ILC you can undergo the No Headache MRI complex with a 20% discount, which includes 3 examinations at once: MRI of the brain, MRI of the arteries of the brain and MRI of the cervical spine. This program was developed taking into account the most frequent appointments of our neurologists, for whom these studies are decisive and help to make the correct diagnosis and prescribe effective treatment.
Gabarova Svetlana Makhsudovna
Neurologist
Medical experience since 1985
90,000 when you can be patient, and when – run to the doctor
There are several hundred types of headaches, but not in every case you need to go to the doctor and be examined. Doctor Alexander Myasnikov answered questions about headaches on the air of the Russia 1 channel.
According to the expert, everyone can have a headache, and in some cases this unpleasant condition has to be endured. Most often – in 80 percent of cases – tension headache occurs.It looks like a hoop squeezing the head. Such pain occurs, for example, if you sit for a long time and, bowing your head, look at the phone screen. It can be removed with an anesthetic, head massage, a walk in the fresh air or light gymnastics.
The cause of such pain, by the way, may be an incorrect bite or problems with the maxillary joint.
Another thing is a migraine, when half of the head hurts, the head literally splits. This pain is associated with the state of blood vessels and, if left unattended, can result in cerebrovascular accident, so in case of migraine you need to see a doctor.
Paradoxical situation: taking painkillers can provoke a headache.
“If you take medications uncontrollably, on average one pill every other day, for example, 15 pills a month, the pills can provoke a headache. They jam the receptors, and the receptors still want to” hear “what is happening, they readjust,” explained Myasnikov: “They get stuck in the” on “position, they even perceive normal stimuli as painful, and the torment begins, you can’t get off the pills.”
In such cases, pain relievers are discontinued and the first generation antidepressant, amitriptyline, is prescribed. It helps to “turn off” the receptors and “get off” the pain relievers.
When do you need to seek help?
“It is necessary to go to the doctor when a headache arises for the first time, especially if it occurs in a child under 5 years of age or in an adult after 50,” Myasnikov noted. An alarming symptom is pain that occurs when changing the position of the head, when coughing, as well as pain that is accompanied by neurological symptoms, when, for example, a hand becomes numb or the corner of the mouth drops.
In these cases, magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography (MRI or CT) is used for diagnosis. However, these procedures should not be overused: for those who suffer from tension headaches, they are often useless.
Earlier, rehabilitation physician Sergei Agapkin and chief freelance neurologist of the Ministry of Health of the Moscow Region, Rinat Bogdanov, spoke about the causes of migraines. According to them, migraine is often a genetically determined disease, but also overstrain, stress and changes in hormonal levels can lead to it.
90,000 Best headache exercises
Headaches are one of the most common health problems. For most people, this is not even a reason to see a doctor. But taking a pain reliever pill is not the best way out of the situation. You can get rid of the disease on your own without resorting to the help of medical means.
“I Live in Sport” will tell you about the best exercises to help relieve headaches.
What part of the head hurts? In the region of the eyes and forehead, in the occipital region of the head, or in the region of the temples? In the first case, the cause may be strong or prolonged stress, in the second – an increase in blood pressure, or nervous tension, as a result of spasm of the muscles of the neck, arteries of the head and neck, a violation of the outflow of venous blood from the head.In the third case, pain occurs with an increase in intracranial and blood pressure. Of course, we do not recommend self-medication for severe and prolonged pain. In this case, a healthcare professional will help you. But there are a number of exercises that can help you relieve pain.
Exercises
Experts note that more than half of headache cases occur with various disorders of the cervical spine. But it must be remembered that all exercises in which the cervical spine is involved must be carried out smoothly with the utmost care.With regular exercise, the intensity of the pain decreases. Stretch your neck and shoulders: do rotations with your head, rotations of your neck to the sides, rotation with your shoulders.
Relax the muscles of the entire head: purposely “frown” for a few seconds, straining the muscles of the forehead, and then relax. Close your lips tightly, then relax these muscles. Squeeze your jaws, then tilt your chin down, relaxing. Repeat these exercises several times. Stretch your spine: sit down, relax your arms along your body, pull your chin in and stretch towards the ceiling and hold your back taut for 2-3 seconds, then relax and return to the starting position.
Remember a few more effective headache exercises:
- Press on your temples with your fingertips and massage them in a circular motion
- Grasp the frontal lobes of the skull with your palms and massage with slight pressure
- Grasp with your palms with different temples and press intensity
- Place your fingers around the spine in the neck area, press and massage this area with varying intensity
- Massage your fingertips.Change the force of pressing
Respiratory gymnastics
It will help you improve blood circulation and saturate the body with oxygen, and this helps to normalize the functioning of internal organs. Take a deep breath through your nose, puffing out your belly. Hold your breath for 4 seconds, and then exhale sharply through your mouth, drawing in your stomach. Do this several times.
We have told you about ways to relieve headaches through exercise. But if the ailment periodically gives you serious discomfort, then this is a reason to consult a doctor.Live sports and be healthy!
4 points, the massage of which really helps with headaches
Headaches can be relieved by massaging specific points
Photo: pixabay.com
Acupressure massage helps relieve excruciating headache quickly and without medication.
Press on points
Before drinking scalp pills or pain relievers, try acupressure. This method is actively used in Chinese medicine and its principle is to act on certain points.
– This method is based on the theory that the body can heal itself, you just need to start these processes. By stimulating the points, you release neurotransmitters, hormones and endorphins that have therapeutic effects, says Malcolm Tau , M.D. from the University of Los Angeles.
Pain Relief
According to the expert, acupressure helps relieve stress and prevents or treats headaches. Dr. Tau recommends performing similar procedures at home every day for those who suffer from migraines:
– Did you instinctively rub your temples with a headache? This is one of the forms of such massage. When used correctly, many people notice a rapid reduction in headaches, he says.
4 acupressure points for headache relief:
The point is located between the thumb and forefinger.To find it, pinch the two fingers together as you would for the “OK” sign. You should see a bump on the outside of the hand between your thumb and forefinger. Place the thumb of your other hand in this place and apply pressure, then stimulate.
Place at the base of the skull. To find this point, interlace your fingers and place your palms on the back of your head. Feel with your thumbs the delicate grooved points where the neck muscles attach to the skull. Once you spot them, use your thumbs to stimulate these areas.
On the top of the hand, find the groove between the fourth and fifth fingers (ring and little fingers) – slightly higher towards the wrist. Press down on this point with your thumb and stimulate it.
These points are located on either side of the shoulders, in the middle of the trapezius muscles. To find them, use the thumb and middle fingers of the opposite hand. Squeeze the shoulder muscle and stimulate this point for a few seconds, then move up and down the muscle.It helps to relieve tension in the neck and shoulders. You can cross your arms over your chest and massage both sides at the same time.
Earlier, “Kubanskie Novosti” told how to learn about a deadly disease by moving the thumb.
Headaches in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract
Doctors
Chief physician, therapist, gastroenterologist, hepatologist of the highest category, Ph.MD, associate professor
Psychiatrist, psychotherapist, Ph.D.
Zinovieva Evgeniya Nikolaevna
Chief physician, therapist, gastroenterologist, hepatologist of the highest category, candidate of medical sciences, associate professor
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Headaches with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract
Complaints of headache (cephalalgia) have no direct or independent significance in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), but they reflect the seriousness of the problem as a whole.
Differential diagnosis of the causes of this pain is extremely important. In the Expert clinic, not only gastroenterologists, but also cardiologists and neurologists work on solving such problems.
What are the main causes of the combination of gastrointestinal diseases and headache?
- The phenomena of functional disorders (gastric dyspepsia) can begin in childhood with irregular and improper nutrition. In the case of a prolonged period of fasting or dry water, a headache may subsequently occur as a signal to the body for the lack of replenishment of necessary substances and fluids.
- In diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, accompanied by pain and frequent stools at night, it can disrupt the physiological rhythm of sleep, which can lead to overwork, lack of adequate rest and, as a result, to headache.
- On the other hand, with prolonged diarrhea, dehydration develops with a loss of blood electrolytes, which can also lead to headaches due to a violation of the systemic equilibrium – homeostasis.
- The presence of persistent constipation leads to intoxication, as well as any food poisoning, which is manifested by a headache.
- Repeated vomiting in case of intestinal dyspepsia or pancreatitis may, by increasing intra-abdominal pressure, lead to an increase in systemic blood pressure, causing a headache.
- Severe diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, characterized by severe inflammation of various nature (viral, bacterial, autoimmune, parasitic) can also give systemic manifestations, including headache, as an indicator of intoxication.
Parallel existing conditions – comorbidity are not excluded.When one patient has several directly unrelated diseases (gastrointestinal tract pathology, diseases of the cardiovascular and neurological profile). Only a thorough collection of complaints, anamnesis and an objective examination can help to place the correct accents and prescribe the correct treatment: eliminate intoxication (a state of poisoning), treat the underlying disease that led to it, and also exclude or confirm different groups of vascular diseases, both arteries and veins, pathology of the spine, which can cause persistent headaches.
When to apply for a neurologist
Each of us at least once experienced unbearable headaches. And it is worth understanding that the nature of the occurrence of this pain can be different. Perhaps this is due to stress or a banal lack of sleep, possibly with vitamin deficiency or a change in blood pressure. It can also indicate a serious illness, such as tuberculosis or a brain tumor. However, only a specialist can establish the true cause of the pain.If emergency drug treatment does not help relieve pain, or the frequency of pain increases, you should urgently consult a specialist.
– When does a headache occur? Can a headache occur due to overstrain?
In medicine there is such a term “tension headache”. As a rule, it means bilateral, monotonous pain caused by increased tone (overexertion) of the neck muscles and head for a long time.When these muscles are in tension, disturbances in the work of blood vessels and nerves occur, and the inflow and outflow of blood deteriorates. All this leads to a headache squeezing from the inside out. As a rule, an emotional outburst, physical fatigue can lead to this type of headache. Also, the presence of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, hypothermia or heavy smoking can lead to a headache. This headache does not depend on age, even children are susceptible to it.
– What to do if the headache started in the evening, but it is not possible to stop it with medication?
Headache symptoms can also be relieved at home.Self-massage of the head, that is, combing with a massage brush, will help to cope with pain. This treatment will help normalize blood circulation and relax muscles. It is very important to stick to your sleep schedule – you need to sleep for about 7-8 hours. If you have tried various methods, and no improvement is observed, you need to contact a specialist.
– What should be done if “knocks at the temples” and grows dim in the eyes. Can these symptoms indicate non-neurological problems?
Such symptoms may indicate vasodilation or vasoconstriction, cerebral atherosclerosis, or changes in blood pressure.As a rule, they intensify when the weather changes or a few days before a new cycle. This problem is faced by people leading a sedentary lifestyle, patients with osteochondrosis or vegetative-vascular dystonia. If the frequency of pain is high, you should definitely contact a neurologist to determine the cause of the pain and get qualified treatment.
– What is migraine and how to deal with it?
Migraine is a neurological disease characterized by recurrent or regular unilateral headaches that worsen even with minimal physical exertion.Excessive sensitivity to light, sounds and smells is also noted.
During a migraine, the walls of the vessels dilate and put pressure on the nearby nerve cells. The duration of such attacks can be measured in several hours or in days. The attacks are repeated several times a year / month or week. Often, migraine attacks are accompanied by a split image, goosebumps, numbness or tingling. Statistics say that women most often suffer from migraines, men experience migraine attacks 2-3 times less often, and they also note a hereditary predisposition to this ailment.
The onset of migraine is facilitated by a person’s sedentary lifestyle, smoking and alcohol abuse. Migraine treatment is a long-term process that includes the fight against pain, taking medications.
– Can a headache indicate the presence of a malignant tumor, how is it diagnosed?
Constantly disturbing headaches, in addition to hundreds of reasons for their occurrence, can also indicate malignant formations.Headache is the main symptom of a brain tumor, but there are types of tumors that are not accompanied by this symptom. It is very important to consult a specialist in a timely manner, and not at the moment when the headache began to go hand in hand with other symptoms. An accurate diagnosis of a patient can be made based on the results of magnetic resonance imaging. In the case of a tumor diagnosis, the patient is injected with a contrast to confirm the diagnosis, pictures of the location, size and shape of the neoplasm are taken.To undergo research and confirm the diagnosis, contact a specialist.
– Please tell us why they do MRI and how long to wait for the results?
Magnetic resonance imaging is a method for diagnosing the state of internal organs and tissues. Thanks to MRI, you can get the most accurate information about diseases of the brain (brain and spinal cord), musculoskeletal system and pelvic organs. The procedure itself lasts about 30 minutes, and the results of the tomography (images) are ready, as a rule, immediately after the examination.
You can get detailed information and make an appointment by calling 8 (495) 133-07-77.
90,000 What you need to know about headaches?
According to the observations of doctors, recurrent headaches torment at least 70% of the population of developed countries. But in fact, many more people are familiar with this condition, just many do not go to the doctor, preferring to cope with it on their own. But it must be remembered that the only symptom of many serious illnesses is precisely a severe headache.What to do in this case, only a doctor can advise. Therefore, before taking pills that can quickly relieve suffering, you need to eliminate the causes that cause them, and not just the symptoms themselves.
What are the headaches associated with, what should you pay attention to, how to deal with it, what to do in case of a headache? These and many other questions will be answered by a neurologist Lydia Aleksandrovna Popova.
– Lydia Alexandrovna, what are the causes of headaches?
– Everyone has a headache.But pains are different and are perceived differently. Even healthy people can sometimes experience headaches, and this is a normal reaction of the body to changes in its environment. There are many types of headaches. The causes of pain can often be excessive mental stress, muscle fatigue, osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae, decreased cerebral vascular tone, sleep disturbances, lack of nutrition, and much more. Sometimes head pain is an irradiation of pain caused by otitis media or dental diseases.Violations of blood pressure indicators, nervous stress, migraine, increased intracranial pressure and many other factors can provoke a headache.
– For what symptoms of headaches do you need to see a neurologist?
– It is necessary to consult a neurologist if persistent, severe headaches are worried, if headache attacks have become more frequent, if headaches are poorly controlled by analgesics, if you notice a change in the nature of the headache (for example, the headache is stronger than usual), sudden visual impairment, tinnitus, lack of coordination, muscle weakness, numbness, tingling.
Very important! If a person over 50 has a headache for the first time, then you should immediately contact a specialist.
The doctor needs to examine the patient and find out the cause of the pain. A neurologist will find out where the pain is located, how frequent it is, and when the pain is stronger. The doctor should definitely tell about additional symptoms: dizziness, nausea, visual impairment and others. You will need to remember what preceded the onset of pain, what medications you took and how you ate.If necessary, the doctor will prescribe additional laboratory tests: usually blood tests, magnetic resonance imaging, an electroencephalogram of the brain and an X-ray of the cervical spine. You may also need advice from other specialists: an ophthalmologist, dentist, neurologist and endocrinologist.
– What to do in case of severe headache?
– First you need to find out the possible cause of the headache and eliminate it.
– What to do with persistent headaches?
– A doctor should be consulted to determine the root cause of the problem.After all, the head hurts for a reason, but as a result of something. In unclear situations, when it is not possible to determine the cause of the headache, a magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography procedure may be prescribed. These are photographs of different parts of the brain, which provide complete information and help to identify the problem.
– There are cases when a person has undergone a full medical examination, the causes of headaches have not been identified, but the pain periodically bother you?
– In many cases, absolutely healthy people complain of severe headaches.They become the causes of improper lifestyle and nutrition. They can be caused by stresses, depressive states and psychoemotional overstrain, nervous and muscular fatigue, as well as excessive mental stress, a sedentary lifestyle and lack of fresh air, improper posture, the habit of tucking your legs under you and hunching your back, sleep disturbances, night work, change meteorological conditions, sudden hypothermia or heatstroke, unhealthy diet: malnutrition, diet, the predominance of nitrites, caffeine and histamine in food, and many other reasons.
– What types of headaches are there and what is the reason?
– Depending on the reasons, the pain may be different. It can vary in intensity: strong, sharp, dull, aching, pressing, or throbbing. The pain may increase gradually or with a change in position, from sounds and smells. Sometimes it calms down when you are in peace and quiet, during sleep. Depending on this, you need to choose the means to combat it.
Headache is also classified according to the site of its occurrence.It can be encircling when the whole head hurts, or it can be localized in one place. It often depends on the reasons causing it. The most common pain is in the temporal region. It can be caused by various diseases, stress and poisoning. Pain in the back of the head occurs due to pressure surges or cervical osteochondrosis. Eye strain and infections can cause these sensations in the forehead. Sometimes they are localized on one side. For example, a severe headache on the left side of the head indicates the development of a migraine.
– Many patients call all types of headaches migraines. What can you say?
– Migraine occurs in 6% of people, mainly women aged 15–35 years. This is a throbbing headache that is localized in one half of the head. Attacks can last for one or more days and be mildly tolerant to severe and unbearably painful. A person with migraines becomes sensitive to bright light, harsh tastes, smells, or loud sounds.Sometimes nausea and even vomiting may come. A migraine attack can be triggered by: malnutrition, stress, spicy food, changes in the weather.
The reasons lie in metabolic disorders of certain substances: serotonin, prostaglandin, histamine, etc. Also, the reasons may be innate increased electrical activity of some areas of the brain stem, impaired contractile function of the arteries, hormonal fluctuations (for example, pregnancy), food additives and preservatives. It is known that some people have an individual tendency towards migraines.There is even a so-called “familial hemiplegic migraine”.
– Are migraines treatable?
– Migraines are treatable with the right drugs. There are special anti-migraine analgesics that are prescribed only by a doctor.
– Can a headache come on from tension, fatigue, or stress?
– Tension headache is the most common type of headache.They are felt in the form of squeezing, tightness in the temples, forehead, face, eyes. There is a feeling of a “squeezing hoop” around the head, “goose bumps”, sometimes the pain radiates to the neck and shoulders. It can last from half an hour to a week. Rapid fatigue joins the attack, concentration of attention falls, there is a feeling of a “lump” in the throat, sleep and appetite disturbances, difficulty in breathing. Physical activity does not affect the increase in pain. This pain occurs as a result of constant moral strain, stress, lack of sleep.You can also include physical stress due to a long time spent at work, especially on a computer, when a person thinks for a very long time. Tension headaches can be inherited.
– Is it possible to self-medicate and what can it lead to?
– It is difficult to find a person who would not self-medicate. But you need to remember that self-medication can lead to serious consequences, such as chronic headache, abusal headache with uncontrolled intake of pain medications.Therefore, it is better to consult a specialist, undergo a series of additional examinations, establish the cause of headaches and exclude serious pathology.
– How to try to relieve a headache at home?
– If the headache bothers you only occasionally, you can try to get rid of it at home. A common cause of headache is a spasm of the neck muscles. A simple and effective remedy to remove it is a hot shower. A compress of ice wrapped in a towel can help relieve even a severe headache.Applied to the painful part of the head, ice constricts the blood vessels. Tea made from any soothing herb (mint, sage, lemon balm) normalizes blood pressure and relieves nervous tension. Sometimes the cause of a headache is a banal overstrain. You need to lie down, relax and try to sleep. If none of the methods helps, you do not need to endure the headache, you need to take the medicine. In most cases, the effect occurs within 20-30 minutes. If the headache is not relieved by drugs, then you should urgently seek the advice of a doctor.Sometimes a headache can be cured only in a hospital setting.
– Is it true that climate change helps to get rid of or reduce headaches?
– The influence of climate on human health in general has long been proven. The maritime climate, for example, has a beneficial effect on the nervous system. The excitability of the central nervous system decreases, headaches and insomnia disappear. A sharp change in climate, atmospheric pressure causes a temporary disruption of biorhythms, which is manifested by headaches, nausea and a general deterioration in well-being.
– Is there a headache prevention?
– All medicines are unsafe for human health. Therefore, it is better not to allow the state when you need to drink strong medications. For those who regularly suffer from headaches, it is very important to follow the correct daily routine and get enough sleep. You need to take walks in the fresh air more often. Try to walk outside at least twice a day for at least 30 minutes. Also remember to ventilate your room.It is necessary to lead an active and healthy lifestyle, spend less time in front of the TV and computer. It is also very important to monitor your diet, because many foods can cause headaches: coffee, chocolate, soda, canned food and sausages. They are best avoided. You also need to give up alcoholic beverages and smoking. as a prevention of headaches, it is recommended to do a head massage. For this, massage movements with your fingers from the temples to the center are suitable. In the preventive therapy of headache, various aromatic oils help well: lavender, tea tree, orange, ylang-ylang, nutmeg oil.A good mood also helps to avoid or reduce headaches.
Remember that with persistent headaches, you should seek the advice of a specialist. Before trying to treat, you need to identify the cause of the headaches. Do not get sick, take care of your health.