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What takes away a headache. Unlocking the Secrets to Effective Headache Relief: Expert Insights and Proven Strategies

by alexxlab

What takes away a headache? Discover the causes, symptoms, and most efficient management techniques for migraines and tension headaches. Get tailored solutions from medical experts to find lasting relief.

Understanding the Difference Between Headaches and Migraines

Headaches and migraines may seem similar, but they are distinct conditions with unique characteristics. A headache is a general ache or pain in the head, while a migraine is a more severe, debilitating type of headache accompanied by additional symptoms.

Tension-type headaches and episodic tension headaches are the two most common forms of headaches, affecting up to 96% of the population at some point in their lives. These types of headaches can be triggered by stress, hunger, or other factors, and often resolve on their own or with the use of over-the-counter (OTC) medications.

In contrast, a migraine is a chronic brain disease that can cause episodes of disability. Migraines are typically more intense, occurring on one or both sides of the head, and are often accompanied by symptoms like nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound, dizziness, and difficulty concentrating. Migraines can last up to three days if left untreated and can significantly disrupt daily life.

Effective Strategies for Headache and Migraine Relief

Fortunately, there are various natural and pharmaceutical options available to find relief from both headaches and migraines. For mild to moderate tension-type headaches, consider trying the following:

  • Apply an ice pack, heat pack, or mentholated cream/balm to the affected area
  • Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated
  • Remove yourself from stressful situations and take a break or go for a walk
  • Rest or sleep if possible
  • Practice relaxation techniques like deep breathing
  • Use a diffuser with lavender essential oil

For more intense headaches or migraines, you may need to add an OTC medication containing ingredients like acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, or salicylic acid. Always follow the instructions on the label and consult your doctor, especially if you’re taking other prescription medications.

When to Seek Medical Attention for Headaches

If the natural and OTC treatments aren’t providing sufficient relief, or if you’re using them more than twice a week, it’s time to consult your primary care provider or a neurologist. They can evaluate your symptoms and prescribe more targeted therapies for acute migraine attacks or preventive measures to reduce the frequency of your headaches.

It’s particularly important to seek medical attention if you have pre-existing chronic conditions, as certain headache symptoms may be related to these underlying health issues. For example, individuals with diabetes or high blood pressure may experience headaches that are connected to their pre-existing conditions.

Prescription Medications for Migraine Management

For those struggling with frequent or severe migraines, there are effective prescription medications available for both the prevention and acute treatment of migraine attacks. Your doctor can work with you to find the most appropriate medication or combination of therapies to best manage your condition and improve your quality of life.

The Importance of Early Intervention for Migraines

When it comes to migraines, it’s crucial to treat the symptoms as soon as they start. Prompt intervention can help get the migraine under control and prevent it from escalating into a debilitating episode. Don’t wait to seek medical attention if your migraines are significantly impacting your daily activities or occurring more than four times per month.

Tailoring Headache and Migraine Treatment to Your Needs

Every individual’s experience with headaches and migraines is unique, so it’s important to work closely with your healthcare provider to find the most effective treatment plan for your specific needs. By understanding the differences between these conditions and exploring the available options, you can take proactive steps to manage your symptoms and find lasting relief.

When it comes to treating migraines here’s what really works

For longtime migraine sufferers, you’ve probably tried every over-the-counter (OTC) medication to find something that works for you. The World Health Organization states that almost everyone experiences headaches, and almost 40 million Americans suffer with migraines, according to the Migraine Research Foundation. If you’ve just started experiencing migraines or you’re still searching for relief, I’ll share several effective ways to alleviate migraines.

What’s the Difference Between Headaches and Migraines?

To relieve your pain, you should understand how headaches and migraines differ from one another. A headache is just that, an ache in the head. It occurs any time you experience pain in the body from the neck up. There are actually hundreds of types of headaches. The key in distinguishing a certain type of headache from another is to determine your symptoms or level of discomfort.

The two most common types of headaches are tension-type headaches and episodic tension headaches. They can occur for a number of reasons, such as stress or hunger. In fact, about 96 percent of our population has experienced tension type headaches at some point in their lives. It either goes away on its own or after you’ve taken an OTC medication. If what you consider a regular tension headache actually intensifies and begins to disrupt your daily routine, you may be having a migraine.

Migraine is a lifelong brain disease that can cause episodes of disability. It is a more severe headache that comes with other symptoms, and while migraines often occur on one side of the head, they also can happen on both sides. They get worse when you move around or if you are in a room with bright lights, loud sounds, or strong smells.

In addition to pain, you can have an upset stomach, vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound, and a number of other symptoms, including dizziness, trouble concentrating, and irritability. If left untreated, a migraine can last up to three days. It can be so severe that it interrupts your day-to-day life or causes you to miss out on important events. Often, migraine sufferers retreat to a quiet, dark room to rest and close themselves off from interacting with other people. If this sounds like you, you’re not alone. Migraines affect about 16 percent of women and 8 percent of men in the US, and are probably the most common headache type after episodic tension headaches.

Concerned about chronic headaches or migraines?
Click below to request an appointment with an expert in St. Mary’s County.

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How to Get Relief from Headaches and Migraines

The good news is that it’s possible to find relief. Whether you’re struggling with a tension headache or a moderate to severe migraine, there is a plethora of natural methods and accessible medications to consider. Depending on the severity of your headache, certain methods will be more effective than others. If you usually suffer with mild or gradual onset tension headaches that do not become severe over time, I recommend these natural and topical treatments:

  • Apply an ice pack, heat pack, or mentholated cream or balm to the affected area
  • Drink chilled water and stay hydrated
  • Remove yourself from a stressful situation by taking a break or going for a walk
  • Sleep or rest, if you’re able to do so
  • Take deep breaths for relaxation
  • Use a diffuser with lavender essential oil

If your headache becomes more intense or if you experience a migraine, consider adding a medicine with one of the following ingredients:

  • Acetaminophen
  • Aspirin
  • Ibuprofen
  • Naproxen
  • Salicylic acid

It’s always best to use medicines according to the directions on the label. Consult with your doctor before taking them, especially if you’re already using prescription drugs for a different condition. If these treatments don’t work or you end up using them more than twice a week, you should see your primary care doctor to discuss a more targeted therapy.

When should you see a doctor about your headaches?

There are effective prescription medications available for the prevention and treatment of acute migraine attacks. It’s important to treat the headache as soon as it starts and get symptoms under control. Speak to your primary care provider, or consider seeing a neurologist to discuss prescription medications for your acute attacks. If you are having four or more migraines per month, I recommend asking your doctor about a preventative option that reduces the frequency of the headaches so they don’t significantly impact your quality of life.

For those with pre-existing chronic conditions, such as diabetes or cancer, it’s imperative that you talk with your doctor about your headaches. Certain headache symptoms may be related to pre-existing conditions. For example, if you are diabetic or have high blood pressure, this could lead to more frequent headaches or migraines.

If you begin to experience headaches randomly or more frequently than normal, discuss those symptoms with your doctor. In addition, be sure to disclose all of the medications you are taking with your doctor. He or she will ensure your medications do not interfere with each other or lead to adverse side effects.

You don’t have to suffer in silence or in the solitude of a cold, dark room away from those you love. If you’ve tried natural treatments or medications to little or no avail, know there are ways to combat the symptoms and relieve the pain more quickly. As always, consider your doctor as a trusted resource to help find a treatment that works for you.

Concerned about chronic headaches or migraines?
Click below to request an appointment with an expert in St. Mary’s County.

Request an Appointment



Neurology and Neurosurgery


Living Well

Foods That Help Headaches | Advil

 

Paying attention to what you put in your body is always important, but even more so when you’re feeling under the weather. When you have a headache, there are particular foods that can help you get back on your feet, and there are foods that will make matters worse. Knowing what to eat for headaches is one way you can help avoid these painful setbacks in your day. Read on to learn more about four foods that help headaches and a few that don’t.

1. Eggs

Whether you prefer them hard boiled, over easy, or cooked up in an omelet, eggs are one food that may help your headache go away. Eggs are naturally rich in riboflavin,i or vitamin B2, which is a B vitamin essential for cell growth and function.ii Some medical experts recommend trying riboflavin supplements as a way to prevent migraine headaches, as some studies have shown this to be effective. iii Eating eggs with breakfast is a great way to supplement your diet with riboflavin the natural way. Pair them up with some of your favorite vegetables like red peppers and zucchini in a colorful breakfast scramble, or work them into your meal prep routine by boiling a batch at the beginning of the week. Eggs make a tasty addition to many dishes outside of the breakfast and brunch table, too—try adding a poached egg on top of a brown rice grain bowl or putting your cast iron skillet to use for a savory shakshuka.

2. Watermelon

Dehydration can be a trigger for headaches,iv so if you find yourself struggling to drink enough fluids during the day, why not try eating some? Known for its high water content and sweet flavor, it’s hard to resist a slice of watermelon, especially on a hot summer day. Add cubed watermelon to a fruit salad, blend it with ice for a frozen treat you can eat with a spoon, or simply enjoy it on its own. You can also mix watermelon into a savory salad for a unique and refreshing dish. Try it with mint, feta, and nuts, or whip up a summery seafood salad with watermelon, avocado, shrimp, and cilantro.

3. Navy beans

This small, white legume is not actually navy in color, but don’t let that put you off. Navy beans—alongside kidney beans, pinto beans, chickpeas, and lentils—are part of the legume family. Legumes like navy beans are a great source of magnesium,v one of the nutrients that helps the body regulate muscle function, blood sugar levels, blood pressure, and nerve function, among other things.vi  Some studies have shown low magnesium levels in the blood and other tissues of people who suffer from migraines, and show that magnesium supplements can help reduce the frequency of getting migraine headaches.vii Give your diet a natural boost of magnesium with a warming navy bean soup, which not only incorporates this hard-working bean into your diet but is also hydrating and soothing if you’re not feeling your best. Navy beans are also delicious when added to a breakfast skillet with tomatoes and eggs, marinated in oil and vinegar and served on a salad, or blended into a white bean hummus that you can enjoy spread on crackers or with your favorite chopped vegetables.

4. Almonds

Another great source of magnesium? Nuts and seeds,viii like almonds. Easier to throw in your bag as a snack than navy bean soup, almonds win out on the convenience front. And not only are almonds a great source of magnesium, they are also rich in vitamin E, fiber, biotin, and calcium,ix and may help reduce the risk of heart disease.x  If you get bored of plain almonds, you can try adding sliced or chopped almonds to your salad, using almond flour as a gluten-free alternative in your favorite baked goods, or mixing them into a granola recipe. If you have a food processer at home, you can also easily make your own almond butter, which is delicious enjoyed on toast or with apple slices.

Foods to Avoid

Unfortunately, there’s no easy answer when it comes to foods to avoid to prevent headaches, as food triggers, particularly with migraine headaches, can vary with each individual.xi While it can be difficult to point to specific foods as definite migraine triggers, there are certain foods that many people have found to contribute to triggering their migraine headaches. Some of the foods that make this list include chocolate, cultured dairy products like yogurt, aged cheeses and meats due to a concentration of tyramine, sulfites found in some wines, broad beans like fava beans, nitrates and nitrites found in some processed meats, and aspartame.xii However, there’s not an absolute link between these foods and headaches; talk to your healthcare provider about your experience with headaches including migraines to figure out if specific foods in your diet might be the culprit. 

We hope incorporating some of these foods that help headaches into your own diet will help provide relief from the headache symptoms you may be experiencing. For more helpful advice for dealing with headaches, explore more Tips & Resources from Advil.

 

Headache from pain pills when painkillers cause headaches

  • cause headache ? And some of you who found this article while looking for ways to control headaches will be even more surprised – painkillers, by definition, should0011 pain remove. And there can be no harm from them…

    But, unfortunately, this is not always the case. Indeed, when you suffer from a headache , it is difficult to think about the consequences of taking analgesics. Moreover, as you know, migraine attacks must be relieved with painkillers. Otherwise migraine becomes more frequent over time.

    But let’s talk about what happens if you take painkillers too often.

    All painkillers become addictive over time. This means that their effect is reduced, and for headache relief you already need not one tablet, but two or more different tablets at once. Over time, addiction to pills is added to dependence on them – this is very similar to what happens in the body when using drugs. As soon as the concentration of the analgesic in the blood falls, a headache begins. It’s like a “mini break”. That is, the pain begins simply from the fact that you did not take an analgesic. If you take too many painkillers, your body doesn’t make enough of its own painkillers, and you end up with more headaches. It turns out that with frequent use of painkillers, you get an additional headache, which you might not have and which is a consequence of your physical dependence on painkillers.

    Today, such a headache already has a name. This is a drug-induced headache (sometimes called abuse headache, you can see about its treatment in the clinic here). A competent doctor should always ask you how many analgesics you take, which ones and how often. This is very important, because if you already have an overuse headache, this factor must be taken into account when treating a headache, as drug dependence can reduce the effect of treatment.

    Over time, the so-called psychological dependence can also develop. When the head hurts almost all the time, it interferes with work and household chores. And it’s tempting to just take a pill when the big day is coming up, just to make sure the day isn’t ruined by pain. That is, at a certain stage, you start taking pills when your head does not hurt yet.

    Patients who take painkillers 25-30 days a month come to see me, and the number of pills reaches 200!!!

    How often do you take painkillers? The boundaries of the safe use of analgesics have already been calculated. International recommendations say that without the risk of addiction, you can take simple analgesics (aspirin, nurofen) no more than 15 days a month, and combined analgesics (citramon, pentalgin and a huge number of other tablets) – no more than 10 days a month. For special anti-migraine painkillers, the same norm is set – a maximum of 10 days per month.

    Well, here you ask – how not to take if it hurts? What if it is harmful to take painkillers often, and it is necessary to relieve the pain?

    Let’s try to figure this out. If migraine attacks are infrequent and well-defined (that is, you don’t have a headache between attacks), you should take painkillers as soon as possible after the onset of pain. At the same time, calculate how often you have to take pills. Are the standards exceeded? If there are a lot of seizures, then you need to consult a doctor to select a therapy aimed at reducing seizures.

    If your regular painkillers stop working or provide only temporary relief, do not take more than 2 tablets per day. This leads to the development of addiction to them. If you are forced to take them more often, or if the pain medication only works for a short time, you are likely only getting the negative side of the pain medication.

    With tension headaches, the effect of painkillers is generally not great (why – I will tell in the article about tension headache), therefore, with such pain, it is better to take a hot shower, take a walk and take painkillers only as a last resort.

    Analgesics are only useful for occasional headaches. Do not take painkillers more than 2 days a week! If the headache does not give in, seek the help of a doctor.

    Author of the article Latysheva Nina Vladimirovna Veyna, PhD
    Interesting sections:
    • 10 reasons why a head cannot hurt
    • Everything about migraine and headache during pregnancy
    • Headache with cervical osteochondrosis
    • Children’s migraine, how to help a child with migraine 90 004
    • Make an appointment neurologist – specialist in headache
    • Cluster (bundle) headache
    • Treatment of insomnia in the clinic
    • Treatment of vegetative vascular dystonia (VVD) in the clinic
    • Clinical Headache Treatment
    • Clinical Migraine Treatment
    • Stress Treatment
    • Chronic Pain Treatment
    • Facial Pain
    • Panic Attacks
    • Why depression treatment is needed 90 004
    • Why is self-medication not recommended?
    • Causes of insomnia
    • Clinical psychotherapy
    • Wayne Clinic standard of care
    • Chronic tension headache CHTH

    Causes of headaches, headache treatment, making an appointment in Nizhny Novgorod

    Quite often patients who already know why they have a headache get an appointment. Having studied many articles on the Internet, having listened to the opinion of “sympathetic” colleagues and various, sometimes authoritative, specialists, having “fixed” the diagnosis with the results of additional examination methods, such patients have a clear idea of ​​their disease. That’s just the recommended treatment for some reason does not help.

    For some reason, vascular preparations do not help with a compressive headache caused by “vasospasm”. From a constant headache caused by “intracranial hypertension” (and the diagnosis was established in childhood!) Diakarb does not “save”. Yes, and osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, from which the head constantly hurts, cannot be cured in any way …

    Despite the lack of effect from previous treatment, it can be very difficult to convince such patients. But what can we say about patients, when even neurologists with many years of experience cannot “get away” from the old ideas about the mechanisms of headache development and “traditional” methods of treating it with vascular, nootropic and diuretic drugs.

    The purpose of this article is to demystify the “most common causes of headaches”.

    Why does the head hurt

    The brain itself has no pain receptors. That is, the substance of the brain cannot get sick. Headache is caused by irritation of pain receptors located in the following structures:

    • meninges;
    • cranial nerves;
    • neck roots;
    • veins and venous sinuses;
    • arteries;
    • muscles of the base of the skull;
    • neck muscles.

    Irritation of pain receptors of these structures occurs both in primary and secondary (symptomatic) cephalalgia. In addition, dysfunction of the central (serotonergic, noradrenergic, etc.) systems that affect the perception of pain plays an important role in the mechanism of development of primary headaches.

    In 95% of cases, cephalalgia is primary (tension headache, migraine, cluster cephalgia, etc.). At the same time, the most thorough examination does not reveal the cause of the headache. The detected “abnormalities” are “non-specific” and cannot be the cause of cephalalgia. Here are some examples of such “deviations”:

    • “single cysts and foci in the white matter of the brain”, “expansion of the subarachnoid cerebrospinal fluid space”, “external replacement hydrocephalus”, “indirect signs of intracranial hypertension”, detected during magnetic resonance imaging;
    • “dysfunction of the median structures of the brain” according to electroencephalography;
    • “change in the linear velocity of blood flow”, “hypoplasia” or pathological “tortuosity” of the arteries, “violation of the venous outflow”, detected by ultrasound dopplerography;
    • “tendency to vasospasm” according to rheoencephalography;
    • “degenerative-dystrophic changes in the spine”, detected on radiographs, and much more.

    Secondary, or symptomatic, headaches occur as a result of mental, inflammatory, vascular, post-traumatic, tumor, intoxication and other processes. However, serious disorders cause headaches in no more than 5% of cases.

    Let’s discuss the most common misconceptions about the causes of headaches

    The main cause of headache is cervical osteochondrosis
    Cervicogenic headache does exist. However, it occurs much less often than it is diagnosed. At the same time, the degree of severity of degenerative-dystrophic changes in the spine (decrease in the height of the intervertebral discs, protrusions, hernias, osteophytes), detected by X-ray and neuroimaging (MRI), does not correlate with the presence of “neck headache” and its severity.
    Cervicogenic cephalalgias are caused by dysfunction of the joints, ligaments of the cervical vertebrae, overstrain of the neck muscles and have certain characteristics (see secondary (symptomatic) headaches). In most cases, tension and soreness of the neck muscles accompanies other, primary forms of headache – tension headache and migraine.

    “Clamping of blood vessels in the neck”
    An extremely rare, but rather serious problem that occurs mainly in the elderly. In this case, when turning the head, there is a violation of cerebral circulation in the vertebrobasilar basin with all the ensuing consequences – “flies” before the eyes, ringing in the ears, dizziness, speech impairment, weakness and numbness in the limbs, and even loss of consciousness. But that doesn’t make your head hurt.

    Arterial hypertension
    Arterial hypertension can cause headache if blood pressure (BP) rises to 200/120 mm Hg. Art., or diastolic pressure is kept above 120 mm Hg. Art. Cephalgia, caused by an increase in blood pressure, is usually localized in the back of the head and is stopped by antihypertensive drugs.

    Contrary to popular belief, there is no clear relationship between a moderate increase in blood pressure (below the above numbers) and headache. More often, the opposite situation occurs – blood pressure rises as a reaction to a headache, and is not its cause.

    “Cerebral vasospasm”
    Some patients mistake a headache of a compressive, pressing nature for a “cerebral vasospasm”. However, this is how the most common type of primary headache manifests itself – tension headache.
    What causes the effect of the antispasmodic No-shpa in this case? If you carefully read the instructions for use of this drug, you can be sure that it is tension headache, and not vascular headache, that is the indication for taking it. In addition to the fact that No-shpa relaxes the smooth muscles of the gastrointestinal tract, biliary tract and genitourinary system, it effectively relieves muscle tension.
    As for the short-term relief of headache on the background of taking vascular drugs – the placebo effect, i.e. self-hypnosis, no one canceled.

    “Bad vessels”
    The concept of “bad vessels” does not exist in medicine. What the layman means by “bad vessels” – hypertensive angiopathy, atherosclerosis of vessels (loss of elasticity, thickening of the walls, formation of atherosclerotic plaques), etc., are risk factors for the development of cerebrovascular accident, i. e. stroke. But it has nothing to do with headaches.

    Vegetative-vascular dystonia
    The autonomic nervous system is responsible for the work of the heart, vascular tone, thermoregulation, sweating, urination, gastrointestinal tract and much more. An imbalance in the work of the autonomic nervous system leads to fluctuations in blood pressure, “interruptions” in the work of the heart, sweating, diarrhea, and even to autonomic crises (panic attacks). However, vegetative dystonia cannot be the cause of headache. Even such a phenomenon as the lability of vascular tone (narrowing or expansion), which is extremely important for adaptation to environmental conditions, can cause dizziness, but not a headache.

    Intracranial hypertension
    Ever since Soviet times, “increased intracranial pressure” was considered almost the main cause of headaches. Already from early childhood, the child was diagnosed with such a diagnosis and passed a “sentence” that in the future he would definitely have a headache. The head really hurt, but for a completely different reason, and the ICH label remained.
    An increase in intracranial pressure is indeed accompanied by a characteristic headache (see secondary (symptomatic) headaches). But is intracranial hypertension so common in practice? Luckily, it’s extremely rare!

    Intracranial hypertension is always caused by serious causes: intracranial masses (tumors), intracranial infections (meningitis), traumatic, ischemic or toxic cerebral edema, etc. Intracranial hypertension threatens with serious complications – from loss of vision to death due to compression of the brain in the closed space of the skull.

    The main research methods confirming the diagnosis of ICH are neuro-ophthalmological examination (examination of the fundus) and measurement of CSF pressure (lumbar puncture). “Indirect signs of intracranial hypertension” in the form of “enhanced digital impressions” detected during skull radiography or “expansion of the perivascular spaces of the optic nerves” during magnetic resonance imaging have no clinical significance. Also not related to increased intracranial pressure “external replacement hydrocephalus”.

    Another mythical cause of headache is a traumatic brain injury.
    Headache is post-traumatic if it occurs within the first 14 days after injury (see secondary (symptomatic) headaches). Post-traumatic headache is characterized by a gradual disappearance. If the headache persists for more than 3 months after the injury, then most likely it is not associated with the injury, and you need to look for another cause of the headache, incl. mental disorders (anxiety, depression).

    Let’s stop attributing all headaches to bad blood vessels, osteochondrosis and intracranial hypertension. Modern science has long found out that in the vast majority of cases, these causes have nothing to do with headaches. Consequently, the appointment of vascular, nootropic and diuretic drugs is an unreasonable waste of time and money for the patient. It is important to recognize the true cause of headache in each patient.