What Research Is Being Done
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke , a part of the National Institutes of Health , supports research on headache that may lead to new treatments or perhaps ways to block debilitating headache pain. Studies by other investigators are adding insight to headache etiology and treatment.
Understanding headache disease processes
NIH supports research on the mechanisms and causes of migraine pain including the roles of genetics, gender, and hormones in migraine, and how pain fibers in different parts of the brain and in the brain lining contribute to migraine. NINDS-funded researchers are investigating the influence of other conditions, particularly obesity and sleep disturbance, on migraine onset and severity and the connection between migraine and depression
NINDS funds several projects to develop animal models of headache pain and migraine, which help us to better understand headache mechanisms and test promising therapies. Scientists are using state-of-the-art imaging to detect disease processes and brain changes that occur in headache disorders as well as how headaches result from concussions.
Developing and testing new therapies
The NINDS-supported Childhood and Adolescent Migraine Prevention Study compared two commonly prescribed medications to prevent recurrent migraines in children and adolescents. The findings suggest that migraine treatments for adults may not necessarily work in young people.
Coordinating Pain Research
Keep A Headache Diary
Critical in managing a primary headache disorder like migraine, hypnic headache, or cluster headaches is learning about your condition. This means recording what medications youre taking, tracking when headaches arise and how severe they are, and any triggers youre finding.
Learn More:Making a Headache Diary Template
What Is The Best Treatment For A Headache
Although there is no complete cure for a headache, there are several helpful treatment options available. It is important to have the cause of your headache diagnosed before taking any medicine, so a visit to your doctor is a good first step.
You may need to try several different treatments before you find what works for your particular headache.
If you have headaches less frequently than once every 2 weeks, simple over-the-counter medicines like paracetamol or ibuprofen may be enough. People who have more frequent headaches or migraines often need other kinds of medicines that need to be prescribed by their doctor. This may include medicines taken regularly to prevent headaches or medicines such as triptans for migraines. If you have cluster headaches, your doctor may refer you to a specialist.
Some people who use pain medicines to treat headaches more than 3 times a week, may experience medication overuse headache. This can feel similar to a tension-type headache. Your doctor or pharmacist can guide you on how to use your pain medicines safely.
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How Are Headaches Treated
One of the most crucial aspect of treating headaches is figuring out your triggers. Learning what those are typically by keeping a headache log can reduce the number of headaches you have.
Once you know your triggers, your healthcare provider can tailor treatment to you. For example, you may get headaches when youre tense or worried. Counseling and stress management techniques can help you handle this trigger better. By lowering your stress level, you can avoid stress-induced headaches.
Not every headache requires medication. A range of treatments is available. Depending on your headache type, frequency and cause, treatment options include:
Stress management
Stress management teaches you ways to cope with stressful situations. Relaxation techniques are helpful in managing stress. You use deep breathing, muscle relaxation, mental images and music to ease your tension.
Biofeedback
Biofeedback teaches you to recognize when tension is building in your body. You learn how your body responds to stressful situations and ways to settle it down. During biofeedback, sensors are connected to your body. They monitor your involuntary physical responses to headaches, which include increases in:
- Breathing rate.
- Brain activity.
Medications
Occasional tension headaches usually respond well to over-the-counter pain relievers. But be aware that using these medications too often can lead to a long-term daily headache.
Food Alcohol Bright Light Or Stress Could Play A Part In Your Headaches Identifying Triggers May Help You Avoid Them
When a bad headache strikes, you just want it to end. The aching, throbbing pain can be debilitating and result in missed appointments, work, or time with family and friends.
Regardless of whether you are prone to migraines, tension headaches, or cluster headaches , you may be able to reduce their frequency by identifying what brings them on. Heres a look at the most common triggers for each of these kinds of headaches.
1. Stress. Stress can cause tight muscles in the shoulders and neck, which often leads to tension headaches. “Its believed to start in the muscles. When tension headaches become frequent, the pain in shoulder and neck muscles is felt by the brain as pain in the head,” says Dr. Sait Ashina, a neurologist who specializes in headache treatment at Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Stress is also a common trigger for migraines.
2. Diet. Hunger itself can trigger a migraine or tension headache. But eating certain foods may trigger migraines. It could be just one type of food like beans or nuts or many foods, such as avocados, bananas, cheese, chocolate, citrus, herring, dairy products, and onions. “Processed foods with nitrites, nitrates, yellow food dyes, or monosodium glutamate can be especially problematic,” Dr. Ashina notes.
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What Is Your Best Chance Of Snagging A Ticket
Along with waiting to see if youre one of the few chosen to be given the coveted Verified Fan presale code, Capital One cardholders have the opportunity to immediately be granted access to an exclusive verified presale starting Nov. 15 to Nov. 17.
If you didnt sign up for the presale or dont have a Capital One card, you can wait in the ticketing line queue the day of the general sale or purchase tickets from secondary markets where the prices may be higher than on Ticketmaster.
The general sale begins on Friday, Nov. 18. Other than that, youre on your own kid.
Correction, Nov. 15
The original version of this story misstated how Capital One cardholders can get access to the presale. They can register at any point they did not have to preregister by Nov. 9.
When To Worry About A Headache
You can take care of many types of headaches by yourself, and your doctor can give you medication to control most of the tougher headaches. But some headaches call for prompt medical care. Here are some warning signs for when you should worry about headaches:
- Headaches that first develop after age 50
- A major change in the pattern of your headaches
- An unusually severe headache
- Head pain that increases with coughing or movement
- Headaches that get steadily worse
- Changes in personality or mental function
- Headaches that are accompanied by fever, stiff neck, confusion, decreased alertness or memory, or neurological symptoms such as visual disturbances, slurred speech, weakness, numbness, or seizures
- Headaches that are accompanied by a painful red eye
- Headaches that are accompanied by pain and tenderness near the temples
- Headaches after a blow to the head
- Headaches that prevent normal daily activities
- Headaches that come on abruptly, especially if they wake you up
- Headaches in patients with cancer or impaired immune systems
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Why Do I Always Have A Headache
Why headaches happen, what you can do to prevent and treat them, and when you need to see a professional.
Getting through the day when youâre dealing with a headache can make it seem like the minutes are ticking backwards. According to The Journal of Headache and Pain, migraines and headaches are one of the leading causes of disability in the U.S., making this a concern for many. Research published in the journal Headache found that 1 out of every 6 Americansdeal with recurring headaches, and the condition is more prevalent in women, impacting 1 in 5.If youâre experiencing frequent headaches, you donât need to suffer in silenceâor at all. Hereâs a look at what causes headaches, how to make them go away, and how to prevent them in the first place.
A Note From Cleveland Clinic
The good news for headache sufferers is that you can choose from many kinds of treatment. If your first treatment plan doesnt work, dont give up. Your healthcare provider can recommend other treatments or strategies to find the right fix for you.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 06/03/2020.
References
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Can You Prevent Serious Headaches
If you have serious headache pain due to a chronic condition like migraine, your doctor might recommend prescription drugs to help prevent or reduce migraine pain.
If you have high blood pressure, take medication as prescribed to help lower it. Follow a low-sodium diet to keep your blood pressure from spiking. Check your blood pressure regularly on a home monitor. This can help prevent serious headaches caused by high blood pressure.
Medications And Home Care
You can start by drinking more water. You may be dehydrated and need to increase your water intake. Also, you should consider how much sleep youre getting.
Lack of sleep can lead to tension headaches, so be sure to get plenty of sleep. And make sure you dont skip any meals, since hunger can trigger headaches.
If none of those strategies work, then you can take over-the-counter pain medications, such as ibuprofen or aspirin, to get rid of a tension headache. However, these should only be used occasionally.
Using OTC medications too much may lead to overuse or rebound headaches. These types of headaches occur when you become so accustomed to a medication that you experience pain when it wears off.
OTC drugs are sometimes not enough to treat recurring tension headaches. In such cases, a healthcare professional may give you a prescription for medication, such as:
If pain relievers arent working, they may prescribe a muscle relaxant. This is a medication that helps stop muscle contractions.
A healthcare professional may also prescribe an antidepressant, such as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor . SSRIs can stabilize your brains levels of serotonin and can help you cope with stress.
They may also recommend other strategies, such as:
The following may also ease your tension headache:
- Apply a heating pad or ice pack to your head for 5 to 10 minutes several times a day.
- Take a hot bath or shower to relax tense muscles.
- any situations that trigger stress
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How Can I Tell If I Have A Headache Or A Migraine
A headache is usually felt as a tight pressure on both sides of the head and is usually not severe. A migraine includes other symptoms as well as headache. Migraine pain is usually throbbing in nature and is often worse on one side of the head than the other. If you are experiencing nausea and vomiting, sensitivity to light and/or sound or seeing bright shimmering lights, you are most likely having a migraine. Treatments for migraine and other headaches are different and so it is important that you see your doctor to get an accurate diagnosis of your headache type.
The Link Between Caffeine And Everyday Headaches
Does caffeine cause those constant headaches or does it cure them? The answer: both. Caffeine is a double-edged sword, Mauskop says. Over-the-counter medicines often include caffeine. However, headaches can worsen as a result of withdrawal mechanisms, as every regular coffee drinker probably knows. But it can help in small amounts.Caffeine causes the blood vessels to constrict, reducing blood flow, which is exactly the opposite of what happens when youre having a headache or migraine. The pain-relieving effect is significantly improved when combined with acetaminophen and aspirin, which, thankfully, are over-the-counter painkillers.However, too much caffeine can cause a rebound effect, which can trigger a headache. If youre drinking multiple cups of coffee a day, that could be to blame if youre getting a headache every day. The National Headache Foundation recommends a daily caffeine intake of 200 milligrams or less. If youre a regular coffee or tea drinker, you might want to monitor your intake to make sure that youre under that number. A single cup of coffee can contain anywhere from 125 to 200 milligrams, so consider switching to a half-caff or decaf option if youve got a serious habit.
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Urgent Advice: Get An Urgent Gp Appointment Or Call 111 If:
You or your child has a severe headache and:
- jaw pain when eating
- other symptoms, such as numbness or weakness in the arms or legs
Also get an urgent GP appointment or call 111 if your child is under 12 and has any 1 of the following:
- a headache that wakes them at night
- a headache when they wake up in the morning
- a headache that gets progressively worse
- a headache triggered or made worse by coughing, sneezing or bending down
- a headache with vomiting
- a headache with a squint or an inability to look upward
When To See A Doctor About Your Headaches
A headache here and there may not be too much of a concern. But if you are experiencing frequent or severe headaches, or if they’re affecting your quality of life, it’s important to talk to your doctor.
He or she can help you identify what’s triggering your headaches and suggest ways to prevent them in the future. Additionally, your doctor can evaluate you to rule out whether your headaches might be considered chronic, benefit from medications or have a secondary cause.
In some cases, a headache may even be a medical emergency. Seek immediate help if a headache:
- Comes on suddenly and very quickly becomes severe
- Feels like the worst headache in your life
- Is accompanied by a stiff neck and/or fever
- Is accompanied by a seizure, fainting, confusion or changes in personality
- Begins right after an injury
- Is accompanied by weakness, numbness or vision changes
Next Steps:
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Other Types Of Headaches
Doctors have diagnosed hundreds of conditions associated with headaches. Here are just a few:
Medication headaches. Many drugs number headaches among their side effects. And although it seems paradoxical, many medications used to treat headaches can also cause medication overuse headaches or rebound headaches. Migraine sufferers are particularly vulnerable to a vicious cycle of pain leading to more medication, which triggers more pain. If you have frequent headaches and use medication, OTC or prescription, or both, for more than 10 to 15 days a month, you may have medication overuse headaches. The way to find out is to discontinue or taper your medication but always consult your doctor first. A corticosteroid such as prednisone may help control pain during the withdrawal period.
Sinus headaches. causes pain over the forehead, around the nose and eyes, over the cheeks, or in the upper teeth. Stooping forward increases the pain. Thick nasal discharge, congestion, and fever pinpoint the problem to the sinuses. When the acute infection resolves, the pain disappears. Sinusitis is not a common cause of chronic or recurrent headaches.
Ice cream headaches. Some people develop sharp, sudden headache pain when they eat anything cold. The pain is over in less than a minute, even if you keep eating. If you are bothered by ice cream headaches, try eating slowly and warming the cold food at the front of your mouth before you swallow it.
When Should You Be Concerned About A Headache
There are some red flags that indicate that you should be concerned about a headache. These include a headache that:
- happens two or more times per week
- recurs or is persistent
- gradually worsens over several days
- is different from your typical headache patterns or symptoms
- is very severe and comes on suddenly
- develops after youve had a head injury
You might also be concerned about a headache that happens with any of the following symptoms:
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When To See Your Physician
If the headache goes on for a couple of weeks without improvement, or is associated with another neurological symptom, such as weakness on one side of the body, it is recommended to discuss your symptoms with a physician.
Headaches that are new or worsening, especially in a person who doesnt normally have headaches, may warrant a medical follow-up, as do headaches that are worse in the morning or when the person is laying down. These headaches could also potentially wake someone from their sleep, or be accompanied by nausea or vomiting.
What Headache Symptoms Require Immediate Medical Care
If you or your child has any of these headache symptoms, get medical care right away:
- A sudden, new, severe headache
- A headache that is associated with neurological symptoms such as:
Symptoms requiring an appointment with your health care provider or a headache specialist
Contact your health care provider if you or your child has any of the following symptoms:
- Three or more headaches per week.
- Headaches that keep getting worse and won’t go away.
- Need to take a pain reliever every day or almost every day for your headaches.
- Need more than 2 to 3 doses of over-the-counter medications per week to relieve headache symptoms.
- Headaches that are triggered by exertion, coughing, bending, or strenuous activity.
- A history of headaches, but have noticed a recent change in your headache symptoms.
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