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Should i work out if i have a headache: Should I Work Out With A Headache? 5 Important Factors To Consider 

Should I Work Out With A Headache? 5 Important Factors To Consider 

If you’re nauseous or have a fever, it’s probably quite obvious that you need to nix your workout for the day.

But what if you have a headache? You’ve probably found yourself asking, should I work out with a headache? Is working out with a headache a bad idea, or might it ease the headache and help me feel better?

In this article, we will discuss the pros and cons of working out with a headache, whether you should work out with a headache, and tips for preventing headaches from interfering with your workouts.

We will discuss: 

  • Should I Work Out With a Headache?
  • Does Exercise Help Headaches?

Let’s get started!

Should I Work Out With a Headache?

The recommendations for working out with a headache are unclear, as the causes of a headache can be numerous. Some of the potential causes can make it such that working out may improve your headache, whereas working out with a headache in other situations can make the headache worse.

In fact, according to the National Headache Institute, exercise can potentially make a headache worse, depending on the cause of the headache.

Ultimately, it would be nice if we could neatly say that no matter what, you can work out with a headache, but whether or not you should work out with a headache is another story; however, the National Headache Institute reports that there are some potential causes of headaches that are quite severe in which working out with a headache can be quite dangerous.

Therefore, although these instances are rare, it cannot be said that it’s always safe to work out with a headache.

We will discuss the common causes of headaches and instances in which it is safe and even potentially helpful to exercise with a headache, along with times when headaches are caused by serious underlying medical issues wherein working out with a headache is contraindicated.

It is up to you to make your own decisions about whether you feel it is safe or helpful to work out with a headache, but we highly recommend speaking with your healthcare provider if you are indeed concerned about some of the potentially serious medical causes of certain headaches.

Does Exercise Help Headaches?

When asking yourself, can I work out with a headache, take the different causes of headaches into consideration.

Let’s take a look at the potential causes or factors that can contribute to developing a headache.

#1: Tension Headaches

One of those common types of headaches is a tension headache, which is caused by muscle tension in the head, neck, or elsewhere in the body.

In these cases, exercise can definitely help improve your headache.

Working out can decrease stress and will increase circulation to your muscles, potentially reducing stiffness and tension, opening up blood vessels, and increasing blood flow to the brain.

One of the good things about working out with a headache in general, even if you are not sure of the underlying cause of the headache, is that if you begin with some light exercise, you should be able to get an idea of whether exercising is helping your headache or making it worse within a matter of several minutes.

For example, if you were planning on doing a 5-mile run but you have a pretty bad headache, you can start with some brisk walking or easy jogging for a few minutes. If you find that your head is pounding and thundering, you should stop and walk home or consider some lower-impact exercise such as walking or riding an exercise bike.

You can then see if reducing the impact on your body while still being physically active helps ameliorate your headache symptoms or continues to make the headache worse.

In many cases, the jarring nature of running and other high-impact exercises can jostle your head and neck and contribute to increasing tension and pressure in your head, which will make working out with a headache worse. 

However, if you switch to a low-impact exercise, you might find that working out with a headache actually improves the severity of your headache rather than making it worse.

One caveat here is swimming. Even though swimming is essentially a non-impact activity, swimming can often make a headache worse.

There is often some amount of breath holding, even if you are a skilled swimmer and very comfortable in the water; the added hydrostatic pressure from being underwater can sometimes increase the severity of a headache.

Of course, you can always try a couple of minutes of easy swimming if you have a headache and see how you feel, but you might want to swap your swimming workout for an above-water activity when you have a headache before your workout begins.

#2: Dehydration 

Another common cause of headaches is dehydration. When you are dehydrated, working out with a headache will make the headache worse because you will be further dehydrating your body.

During exercise, we sweat and lose more body water through increased respiration (losing water vapor as we exhale).

Unless you properly rehydrate before your workouts, you will likely find that just drinking the normal amount of fluid that you typically take in during a workout will not be enough to counteract the dehydration that has caused your headache in the first place.

If you are trying to troubleshoot why you have a headache in the first place and discover that you have not been hydrating well during the day, it’s advisable to try to rehydrate as fast as possible and push the workout off for an hour or so to allow your body time to absorb your fluids before exercising. 

Adding electrolytes to your water can help increase the rate of absorption so that you can restore optimal hydration status sooner, resolve your headache, and get on with your workout.

#3: Fatigue

If you slept really poorly or have not been getting an adequate amount of sleep, or if you are otherwise exhausted for one reason or another, you may develop a headache from being overtired.

Here, deciding whether or not to work out with a headache really comes down to the type of workout you have planned, how tired you are, your overall health, and how poorly you slept.

#4: Low Blood Sugar

In the way that dehydration can cause a headache, low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia can also result in a headache. Additional symptoms of low blood sugar can include irritability, hunger, lightheadedness, low energy, and shakiness.

Again, as with the case of working out when you are dehydrated, exercising when you have low blood sugar is only going to exacerbate the issue.

Plus, with severe hypoglycemia, your balance, coordination, decision-making ability, and strength are impaired. Therefore, working out with a headache due to low blood sugar is inadvisable.

If you still want to get your workout in, have a high-carbohydrate snack, such as fresh or dried fruit, fig newtons, gram crackers, fruit juice, applesauce, a granola bar or energy bar, or a bowl of cereal, before your workout. This will help increase your blood sugar levels more rapidly. 

You can also have a sports drink during your workout to help replenish blood sugar and glycogen levels as you exercise.

However, if you have type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, or other problems regulating your blood sugar and insulin levels, you should take more caution with restoring your blood sugar levels before engaging in exercise.  

Discuss blood sugar management with your doctor if this is a consistent or recurring issue. You may need to make adjustments to your diet or medication regimen.

#5: Migraines 

Many people suffer from migraines, and the cause of migraine headaches is still somewhat unclear. When experiencing a migraine headache, you often have sensitivity to light, and you also experience other visual disturbances, such as the presence of an aura.

Working out with a migraine often makes the headache worse. However, every individual who experiences migraines may have a somewhat different response.

If you have a migraine and would like to try exercise, it might be best to do a workout at home in a dimly-lit room.

Commercial gyms often have harsh overhead lights or fluorescent lighting, which may be quite bothersome when you have a migraine. Fresh air can be helpful, but if it is really bright and sunny out, you may be bothered by the light.

Overall, working out with a headache may or may not be helpful.

In most cases, it doesn’t hurt to try some light exercise and then assess whether your headache is getting better or worse. However, if you have a known cause of the headaches, such as dehydration or low blood sugar, you should work to rectify the issue causing the headache before engaging in exercise. 

Most importantly, if you have an underlying medical condition that might be causing a concerning headache, you should seek medical attention immediately and certainly hold off on working out.

Now that we’ve answered your question, “can I work out with a headache” why don’t we look into some other common ailments, such as a cold? For our guide on whether or not you should work out with a cold, click here.

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10 Surprising Times to Hit the Gym

You can probably come up with any number of excuses for skipping the gym, but before you throw yourself a pity party, read these surprising facts about which medical conditions actually benefit from exercise and which don’t.

Medically Reviewed

When you were a kid, you may have tried every excuse to get out of gym class. As an adult, with no one threatening to flunk you, it’s still tempting to find reasons not to exercise. Tickle in your throat? Achy joints? A headache? All tempting reasons to skip the gym.

Although exercise isn’t a one-size-fits-all cure, there are certain health conditions that you can and should exercise your way through — after you talk to your doctor. Find out which ailments and medical situations mean you should ditch the sneakers, and which conditions should motivate you to exercise even more.

You’re Recovering From Surgery

Hit the Gym: If you’ve had minor surgery, it might be fine to go straight back to the gym. According to recent studies, bariatric surgery patients and most cancer patients can benefit enormously from post-surgery workout regimes, whereas people who have had joint replacements and those who have undergone certain types of plastic surgery should be careful of their activities.

But Be Careful: The amount and intensity of exercise you can handle post surgery depends on your condition and the type of surgery. Ask your surgeon for details on your post-surgery capabilities, and if you get the okay, start slowly and stretch a lot. Remember, it might take a while to get back to 100 percent.

You Have a Cold or Allergies

Hit the Gym: If you’ve got the sniffles, you may be more inclined to reach for your remote than your gym bag. Not so fast, the experts say: Not only is it safe to exercise your way through a cold, but it also might make you feel better. According to Leah Mooshil Durst, MD, medical director of the Friend Family Health Center, Inc., and clinical associate at the University of Chicago, research shows that a cold virus-carrying body responds no differently to exercise than a healthy body. In fact, some research has found that working out through a cold help patients feel temporary relief.

But Be Careful: Cold symptoms can worsen if your cold has left you dehydrated, so proceed with caution and drink plenty of water. You should also avoid exercise if you have a fever, a serious cough, body aches, flu symptoms, or a cold coupled with a chronic health condition such as heart disease or asthma.

You Have a Headache

Hit the Gym: If your headache sets in before you’ve laced up your sneakers, there’s probably no reason to cancel your workout plans. According to Nabih Ramadan, MD, a neurologist at the Diamond Headache Clinic in Chicago, it’s a myth that exercise and headaches don’t mix. Exercise reduces stress and improves cardiovascular fitness, so it may soothe the pain right out of your head.

But Be Careful: In very rare cases, exercise can actually induce headaches or migraines. If this is true for you, you can ward off the pain by taking an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication one to four hours prior to exercising, or by considering and treating your less-obvious migraine triggers, such as hunger, dehydration, and lack of sleep. Avoid high-impact workouts, such as running or kickboxing, as they may aggravate the headaches.

You Have COPD

Hit the Gym: If you’re one of the 12 million Americans living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), then exercise can pose a challenge. Heat and humidity may exacerbate your breathing problems, and shortness of breath may frustrate your efforts. Still, according to a recent study at the Cleveland Clinic, regular exercise is vital to your well-being with COPD; it improves circulation and helps your body better use oxygen, builds your energy levels, and lowers your blood pressure.

But Be Careful: If you’re just starting an exercise routine, ask your doctor for recommendations, and start slow. Focus your fitness and rehabilitation program on lower-body aerobic exercises, such as walking, water aerobics, or riding a stationary bike. You may also consider using a bronchodilator to relax and open your airways prior to working out.

You’re Pregnant

Hit the Gym: Only one of every six pregnant women actually gets the recommended amount of physical activity, which is 30 or more minutes of moderate physical activity on a near-daily basis, says Terry Leet, PhD, associate professor of community health at Saint Louis University School of Public Health. And the benefits of prenatal exercise extend far beyond health maintenance. According to a recent study by Capt. Marlene DeMaio, MD, research director of the Naval Medical Center, low to moderate levels of exercise improve a pregnant woman’s health by easing back and musculoskeletal pain, lowering maternal blood pressure, reducing swelling, and improving postpartum moods. DeMaio says that science has debunked previous concerns that exercise was detrimental to the fetus, and recommends that even the most inactive of mothers-to-be embark on fitness regimens. Your baby — and your back — will thank you later.

But Be Careful: Your second trimester is not the time to take up a new kickboxing hobby, so talk to your doctor to find out which type of exercise will work best for you. If you didn’t exercise pre-pregnancy, low-impact workouts such as yoga and walking might be a good starting point. You may need to modify favorite workouts depending on your stage of pregnancy; for example, women are advised not to lie flat on their backs after the first trimester.

You Have Osteoarthritis or Joint Pain

Hit the Gym: Although arthritis pain is likely to keep you on the bench, research has shown that regular exercise is actually a very effective — and highly recommended — form of treatment. “Exercise strengthens the muscles around the joints to protect the joints and provide [extra] support,” says Anne Menz, PhD, a physical therapist at Massachusetts General Hospital. Be sure to consult with your doctor before starting a new fitness routine — she can suggest appropriate aerobic and resistance-training exercises. You may want to join an arthritis-specific group in your neighborhood for team walks, ballroom dance classes, or low-impact swimming.

But Be Careful: Repetitive motion can cause arthritis pain to flare up, so plan your activity around exercises that you know won’t aggravate your symptoms. For example, if gripping a heavy weight hurts, try a routine that uses the resistance of your own body as weight, such as Pilates.

You Have Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Hit the Gym: If you’re like the majority of IBS patients, you lead a relatively sedentary life – but there’s no reason you should be less active than anyone else, a recent study found. When Swedish scientists assigned one group of IBS patients to a regular exercise routine and told one group to maintain their usual lifestyle, the active patients experienced symptom reductions by an average of 51 percent. Although exercise isn’t a primary cure for IBS, it has been proven to reduce stress, boost general health, and help with gastrointestinal problems like constipation.

But Be Careful: If you have IBS, you probably already know that certain foods can soothe your symptoms. Before you begin an exercise program, make sure you’re eating right to fuel your body — without causing a flare up. Because stress can also aggravate your symptoms, try moves that blend exercise and stress-reduction such as yoga, tai chi, mediation, and light aerobic activities.

You’re Menopausal

Hit the Gym: A study published in the Journal of Menopause found that just three hours of moderate aerobic exercise per week can dramatically reduce signs of menopause and increase your quality of life. There’s some debate about whether exercise decreases hot flashes, but one study found that women who did yoga or other physical exercises five days a week for an hour reduced the frequency of their hot flashes. Mind-body fitness expert Debbie Rosas recommends “fire breaths” to shorten the duration of your hot flashes: Breathe in and out through your nose very rapidly, while pulling the abdomen in toward your diaphragm during exhalation and out during inhalation.

But Be Careful: As with any exercise plan, talk to your doctor before you get started. If you have another health condition such as heart disease, be especially careful when starting a new routine.

You Live With Chronic Pain

Hit the Gym: When you’re plagued by chronic pain, it’s important to use all the tools at your disposal to feel better. To help ease day-to-day pain, you should first turn — paradoxically — to physical activities that are more challenging than your daily routines. Unlike medication, physical activity can actually treat the underlying source of your pain and will improve chronic pain symptoms in the long run.

But Be Careful: Don’t wait for your physician to recommend exercise — a recent study showed that less than 50 percent of patients suffering from chronic back or neck pain are prescribed exercise. Instead, ask your healthcare provider for specific suggestions on how to alleviate your symptoms. It’s important to follow a supervised program that emphasizes stretching and strengthening exercises, as well as low-impact activities like swimming and cycling.

You’re Quitting Smoking

Hit the Gym: Many smokers don’t quit because they don’t want to gain weight. It’s time to drop that excuse, and incorporate exercise into your daily routine. There are many psychological and physical benefits to exercising away your addiction, including limiting weight gain and combating cravings, says Norman H. Edelman, MD, chief medical officer of the American Lung Association. Studies show that withdrawal symptoms and cigarette cravings decrease during exercise and remain low for as long as 50 minutes afterwards. Exercise will decrease your appetite, canceling out the no-fun constant cravings that can occur when you stop smoking, and it will help you cope with stress and mood swings. Plus, the longer you’ve gone without smoking, the easier it will be to exercise.

But Be Careful: Because smoking damages your lungs, you might find exercising to be harder than you remembered. With that in mind, it’s important to start a fitness routine you can stick with. Grab a buddy or hire a personal trainer to keep you moving.

Why does the head hurt from the change of weather?

Published: 11.03.2019

Headache is a common problem for even the most physically strong people with good immunity and health. Why does this happen? When there seems to be no apparent reason for a headache, pay attention to the weather outside the window – it can cause a headache. To be more precise, it is not from the weather as such, but from its change. When a frosty day is followed by a thaw, and the sun gives way to rain, there are jumps in atmospheric pressure. Our vessels do not have time to react to external changes and change the “settings”. The body catches them and gives a reaction in the form of dizziness, tinnitus, darkening in the eyes, causeless weakness, body aches.

How to adapt to changing weather? Is it possible to “teach” your body not to react to climatic disasters and why are we so dependent on them?

Meteosensitivity – a problem of our time

The phenomenon in which pain in the head appears when the weather changes is called meteosensitivity. Experts tend to believe that we ourselves have created such a problem. In the age of high technology development, we have accustomed ourselves to comfort so much that we have practically lost the desire for deeds and actions. We don’t have to get up from the couch to change the channel on the TV; there is no need to harden the body, since heating warms us in winter, and air conditioning cools us in summer. We walk less and drive more.

All this makes a person more sensitive to changes in habitual conditions. Adaptation mechanisms do not work at their maximum, as a result – a headache, unreasonable fatigue appears, and resistance to external infections decreases. Poor health gives rise to a bad mood, causes sleep disturbance. We become irritable, unable to concentrate on work.

Who is the most vulnerable?

Meteorological dependence is not familiar to everyone. Yes, there are those lucky ones who practically do not feel the change of weather. The main factors determining meteosensitivity:

  1. daily regime;

  2. occupation;

  3. age;

  4. place of residence;

  5. diet;

  6. health status.

The main “risk group” are the elderly. According to studies, more than 50% of people over 50 are more or less responsive to weather changes. The situation is exacerbated by pressure problems. So, against the background of hypertension, meteorological dependence will manifest itself more acutely. When changing climatic conditions, hypertensive patients have a headache, weakness appears. This also includes problems with the respiratory system, the gastrointestinal tract. In general, almost all chronic diseases increase weather sensitivity.

Changes in atmospheric pressure affect blood flow. Therefore, with problems with the spine and musculoskeletal system, along with a headache, we experience pain in the joints, old injuries and fractures “ache”.

Weather sensitivity is inherent in office workers who spend a lot of time in a sitting position. The lack of fresh air and physical activity are the reasons why it becomes difficult for such people to adapt to changing weather.

If you eat too fatty foods, drink a lot of coffee and do not exercise, you will also be at increased risk.

There is no exact evidence, but scientists tend to think that the region of residence also affects well-being. Scientists from Taiwan, the USA and the UK conducted a large-scale study and found that the manifestations of meteosensitivity among participants in the experiment from different geographical areas depended on different weather factors: changes in atmospheric pressure, air temperature, calm before a storm, approaching a cold atmospheric front, etc. The study also showed that some people do not find a connection between a headache and a change in the weather. This allows us to think about the existence of separate zones where the conditions are most favorable for weather-dependent people.

Weather sensitivity and weather dependence: what is the difference

If you notice a deterioration in well-being due to changeable weather, then you are weather sensitive. You should immediately add outdoor walks to your daily routine, review your diet, etc. If your head hurts more and more often, and negative symptoms appear regularly, then they are already talking about meteorological dependence. Why is she dangerous? Meteorological dependence is a progressive disease. Over time, the symptoms increase, you feel pain more acutely, it takes longer to return to normal health. If you do not start taking care of yourself seriously at this stage, you can bring the situation to a state of transient cerebrovascular accident. This is the first step towards a stroke and negative consequences, which often become irreversible.

It is very important to understand in time that every time the weather changes, your head hurts. And start taking care of yourself.

How to deal with weather sensitivity?

If you have signs of meteosensitivity, it is important to weaken their manifestation as soon as possible, until a slight indisposition develops into problems with blood vessels. The best prevention for the elderly are drugs with a natural composition. They are gentle on the liver and kidneys. Among these are products with ginkgo biloba. They contribute:

activation of cerebral circulation;

acceleration of metabolism in brain cells;

saturation of the brain with glucose and oxygen.

Ginkgo preparations are recommended for all weather-sensitive people: both when the first pains in the head appear, and with severe cerebrovascular insufficiency. They are used in the complex therapy of patients during the recovery period after acute cerebrovascular accident, with brain injuries, and chronic fatigue syndrome.

One of the most popular preparations in Russia based on ginkgo biloba extract is Ginkoum from the company Evalar 1 . It is designed to be received at any time of the year, in all weather conditions. The drug contributes to:

  • decrease in blood viscosity;

  • increased protection against the formation of blood clots;

  • improvement of cerebral and peripheral circulation;

  • development of memory, attention;

  • activation of mental activity;

  • stroke prevention;

  • relieve the feeling of heaviness in the legs;

  • getting rid of pain when walking, cramps;

  • improve well-being during weather disasters.

How to take Ginkoum?

Ginkoum is recommended to be taken in courses. The duration of one course is 6 weeks. The recommended daily dosage is up to 240 mg.

What else will help to cope with weather sensitivity?

Any self-care should be based on an integrated approach. This means that taking natural medicines should be supplemented with good habits.

  • An active lifestyle – you don’t have to spend hours in the gym. It’s hard, it takes time and money. And not all people for health reasons can go in for sports. You can just walk. Walking is very good for health. Leave your car a block away from the office and walk this distance. Do not stop by the store after work, but walk to it on foot. As a nice bonus, you will get a toned body and cheerfulness.

  • Healthy sleep is one of the foundations of our health. If you go to bed no later than 23.00 and sleep at least 8 hours a day in a dark room, protected from sunlight, then you will provide yourself with a good rest, strengthen your immune system and reduce sensitivity to weather conditions. Check, the head will hurt much less often.

  • Balanced diet and drinking regime. Eat a maximum of greens, seasonal fruits and vegetables. Choose foods rich in vitamins that are easy to digest and keep you feeling full longer. The basis of the diet should be fresh products that are not processed. Drink at least 1.5-2 liters of water per day. You will feel much better and look fresher.

  • Contrasting Souls. Outside the home, this procedure can be replaced by immersion in cold / hot water hands. There are many receptors in our wrists, so you will quickly feel relief.

You will be surprised, but observing the daily regimen and nutrition, you can strengthen the immune system, activate the movement of blood and lymph, strengthen the nervous and cardiovascular systems. You will forget that earlier, at the slightest change in the weather, you had a headache. Your skin will acquire a healthy color, you will feel an influx of energy.

At the same time, it is important to listen to yourself and not to write off any deterioration in well-being to magnetic storms. For prolonged headaches and other negative symptoms, you should consult a doctor.

1 Ginkgo biloba preparations in kind; according to CJSC DSM Group, at the end of 2017

HAS CONTRAINDICATIONS. IT IS NECESSARY TO CONSULT WITH A SPECIALIST.

Updated: 04/27/2023

The most popular misconceptions about the origin of headaches

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Avdeeva T.B.
Neurology

Many patients in Russian clinics attribute headaches to weather or fatigue. To solve the problem, people simply take painkillers and do not seek to find out the real reasons. This sometimes leads to serious health consequences, and in some cases can be life threatening. Tatyana Borisovna Avdeeva, a practicing neurologist, spoke about typical misconceptions associated with headaches and the dangers of self-diagnosis and self-treatment.

What are the most common misconceptions about headaches that you encounter?
Misconceptions are actually a big problem. There are more than a hundred diseases and syndromes that have a headache as a symptom, but very few people know about it. The most common misconception in my practice is that patients almost always associate headaches with high blood pressure. Previously, when it came to headaches, indeed, often left and right were diagnosed with “intracranial pressure”. Now this approach has been abandoned – it complicates the diagnosis of the true causes of pain. But this approach has influenced public opinion, today you can often hear: “Doctor, I have pressure – my head hurts a lot.”

It must be understood that pain in the head is not always associated with pressure and an increase in pressure is not always accompanied by pain.

Some patients also believe that the pain is related to intracranial pressure. As a rule, they think so because of the squeezing nature of the pain. This can certainly be the reason, but most of the time people are wrong. Banal tension headache is often characterized as pressing, squeezing.

One of the most interesting misconceptions is the belief of patients that if they have a headache, it is necessary to undergo computed or magnetic resonance imaging, they say, these studies will reveal the cause in all cases. In fact, this is true only for brain tumors, pain of a traumatic nature, and other diseases that require neuroimaging diagnostics. In other cases, this research will be a waste of time and money.

I have heard patients with glaucoma say that they have a headache because of intraocular pressure, is that true?
Sometimes, as in the case of arterial hypertension, this is true, but not necessarily. The cause may be different, although it is possible for glaucoma. The patient perceives pain subjectively and speaks about its causes what he knows, heard or how he himself understands it. As I said, there are a lot of causes for a headache and only a doctor can accurately determine them.

Do you often experience headaches as a side effect of medication? Is it easy to determine the cause in such cases?
This is not uncommon. But rather not from the use, but from the uncontrolled use of drugs. Headache as a side effect will be indicated in the instructions for almost every drug, but it does not always occur. The headache begins precisely with abuse – painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, hormonal, antihistamines, and even migraine drugs. Another common case is a headache when taking nitroglycerin and similar drugs.

Diagnosis in such cases is difficult because it is necessary to understand the cause of the first pain, and then to recognize the pain of medical origin. Many drugs affect complex processes in the body, and it is often difficult to predict the likelihood of side effects.

Do you know the approach: “Any headache goes away from analgin, and if it doesn’t go away, then you need to take another pill”?
In my practice, headaches often occurred from taking painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs: ketorolac, paracetamol, solpadeine, analgin, ibuprofen – this is not a complete list. In most cases, the following happens. A person has a headache – he goes to the pharmacy, buys painkillers and drinks them. If it doesn’t help, he increases the dose. When his head starts to hurt again, he takes the pills again. As a result, the drugs themselves begin to cause a headache, and the patient still thinks that they will help, although the head hurts just from the side effects of uncontrolledly taken drugs.

You need to understand that any drug must be prescribed by a doctor, since it is the doctor who can competently determine the indications, calculate the dose, and determine the order of administration.

What diseases masquerade as tension headache (pain felt all over the head)?
– Depression is often accompanied by complaints of pressure headaches.

– Uncorrected eye diseases or incorrectly fitted glasses.

Hangover syndrome often causes severe headaches, is it necessary to immediately consult a doctor in case of such pains?
If the pain is severe and localized in one place, this is a reason to immediately call an ambulance or at least get to a specialist. The fact is that alcohol can provoke the formation of blood clots and lead to a stroke.

How can you comment on the following persistent delusions:
“Headache appears only with increased pressure, and with reduced pressure, the head does not hurt, but is spinning.”

Headache can occur with both high and low blood pressure. With regard to dizziness, then with reduced pressure, weakness and fainting are more likely, but pain also occurs frequently. I have already noted that an increase in pressure may not be accompanied by a headache at all.

“Headache is a problem for office workers, it appears only from mental overexertion, but not from physical stress.”
Headache can be experienced by people of any profession. Another thing is that an office worker may have a headache of the type of tension as a result of stress, overstrain of the visual apparatus when working at a computer. And in people of physical labor, for example, a car mechanic, be the result of a prolonged overstrain of the cervical spine, an increase in blood pressure, or due to exposure to fumes of toxic substances (paint and others).

“A completely healthy person can get a headache, simply because the weather changes or magnetic storms start in the sun.”
The reaction to the climate already speaks of imperfect health. The influence of the weather is rather a consequence, not a cause. Of course, there are people who are sensitive to the climate, its changes, but if severe pain associated with the weather occurs regularly, you need to look for the cause and be sure to consult a doctor.

Can working conditions influence headaches? For example, a car mechanic works in a poorly ventilated area where gasoline and other technical items are stored. liquids. In the afternoon, he starts to have a headache. The pressure is normal, the person writes off everything for overwork. Is this self-diagnosis correct?
I don’t think fatigue is the issue here. Vapors of gasoline, acetone, and other toxic technical compounds often cause headaches. In this case, chronic gasoline poisoning is likely. Self-diagnosis can lead to serious consequences, in such situations it is highly recommended to visit a doctor.

Can lifestyle changes cause headaches? Let me give you an example from life: a freelance programmer all his life went to bed at about one in the morning, but in just a couple of months, the time to go to bed shifted by 4-5 in the morning. After a month of falling asleep at 5 am and waking up at 12 noon, pressing headaches of moderate intensity began. Why don’t pills solve the problem in such cases?
In the body, everything is very closely interconnected, it adapts to the regime and lifestyle. When a person changes something dramatically, our body does not have time to instantly adjust. Pain is a signal to the brain about a particular dangerous disorder. A sharp restructuring of the regime is a traumatic, pathogenic factor. The use of pills is an attempt to remove the symptom. To solve the problem as a whole, it is necessary to restore the mode – then the headache will pass.

Make an appointment with Tatyana Borisovna Avdeeva on the website or by phone (4012) 33-44-55.