Headache Relief

 

Primary causes of headaches

Doctors have identified several different causes of headaches.

 

Primary causes of headaches are causes that aren’t related to separate medical conditions. These headaches are the result of an underlying process in the brain. Examples of common primary headaches include migraine, cluster, and tension headaches.

 

Secondary causes of headaches

Secondary headaches are those that are due to an underlying medical condition. Examples of secondary headache causes include:

Brain tumor or brain aneurysm

The presence of a brain tumor or brain aneurysm (brain bleed) can lead to headache. This is because there is only so much room in the skull. When the skull starts to build up with blood or extra tissue, the compression on the brain can cause a headache.

 

Cervicogenic headaches

Cervicogenic headaches occur when discs start to degenerate and press on the spinal column. The result can be significant neck pain as well as headaches.

 

Medication overuse headaches

If a person takes a significant amount of pain medications daily and starts to taper them or discontinue them altogether, a headache can result. Examples of these medications include hydrocodone.

 

Meningitis-related headache

Meningitis is an infection of the meninges, which are the membranes that line the skull and enclose the spinal cord and brain.

Post-traumatic headache

Sometimes a person will experience headaches after trauma to the head, sustained during an event like a fall, car accident, or skiing accident.

 

Headache types

Several different headache types exist. Examples of these headache types include:

 

Tension headaches

Tension headaches are the most common type of headache and occur most frequently in women over age 20. These headaches are often described as feeling like a tight band around the head. They are caused by a tightening of the muscles in the neck and scalp. Poor posture and stress are contributing factors.

Tension headaches usually last for several minutes, but in some cases, they can last for several days. They also tend to be recurrent.

 

Cluster headaches

Cluster headaches are non-throbbing headaches that cause excruciating, burning pain on one side of the head or behind the eye. They usually cause the eyes to tear up and produce nasal congestion or rhinorrhea (runny nose). These headaches can last for extended periods of time, known as the cluster period. The cluster period can be as long as six weeks.

Cluster headaches may occur every day and more than once a day. The cause is unknown; however, this type headache is rare and generally affects men age 20 to 40.

 

Migraine headaches

Migraine headaches are severe headaches that can cause throbbing, pounding pain, usually on one side of the head. Several different types of migraine headache exist. This includes chronic migraines, which are migraines that occur 15 or more days a month.

Hemiplegic migraines are those with symptoms resembling that of a stroke. A person can even experience migraines without head pain, which means they have migraine symptoms such as nausea, visual disturbances, and dizziness, but without head pain.

 

Rebound headaches

Rebound headaches are those that occur after a person stops taking medications they used regularly to treat headaches. A person is more likely to experience rebound headaches if they take medications such as acetaminophen, triptans (Zomig, Imitrex), ergotamine (Ergomar), and painkillers (like Tylenol with codeine).

 

Thunderclap headaches

Thunderclap headaches are abrupt, severe headaches that often come on very quickly. They will usually appear without warning and last up to five minutes. These headache types can signal an underlying problem with blood vessels in the brain and often require prompt medical attention. A significant number of headache types exist.

 

Headache vs. migraine

Migraines are the most severe and complex type of headache. Researchers believe they may be caused by changes in the activity of nerve pathways and brain chemicals. Genetic factors and environmental factors are also thought to affect a person’s susceptibility to developing migraines.

Migraines are very intense, throbbing headaches that affect one side of the head. They can also increase sensitivity to light and noise. They may last anywhere from several hours to several days.

 

Incidence and types of migraines

According to the Migraine Research Foundation, nearly 1 out of every 4 households in the United States includes someone with a migraine. Migraines are one of the top 20 most disabling illnesses in the world.

Among adolescents, migraines are more common in boys than in girls. Among adults, however, migraines occur more frequently in women than in men. They are also more likely to affect those who have family members that often experience migraines.

There are two basic types of migraine headaches: migraine with aura and migraine without aura. Auras are visual disturbances that consist of bright spots, flashing lights, or moving lines. In some cases, auras cause a temporary loss of vision. These visual disturbances occur about 30 minutes before the migraine begins and can last for 15 minutes.

Migraine with aura tends to be less severe and disabling than migraine without aura. However, most people experience migraine without aura.

Hemiplegic migraines are another type of migraine. These migraines are accompanied by stroke-like symptoms, such as slurred speech and numbness or weakness on one side of the body.

 

Migraine phases

Migraines have three phases: prodrome, peak headache, and postdrome.

Prodrome is the period leading up to the migraine. This is the time when auras can occur. The prodrome phase may affect concentration, mood, and appetite. This phase may also cause frequent yawning.

Peak headache is the period when migraine symptoms become the most severe. This phase may last for several minutes.

Postdrome is the 24-hour period after the migraine. During this time, drowsiness can occur and mood can fluctuate between feelings of sadness and feelings of joy.

Migraine triggers

The exact cause of migraines isn’t known. However, there are numerous factors that are known to trigger the onset of migraine episodes. These include:

• fluctuating hormone levels, especially among boys going through puberty, and women
• stress or anxiety
• fermented and pickled foods
• cured meats and aged cheeses
• certain fruits, including bananas, avocados, and citrus
• skipped meals
• too little or too much sleep
• bright or strong lights
• fluctuations in atmospheric pressure due to changing weather
• alcohol consumption
• caffeine withdrawal

Headache symptoms by type

Tension headaches

Tension headaches tend to cause the following symptoms:

• neck stiffness
• pain that is dull and aching
• scalp tenderness
• shoulder stiffness
• tightness or pressure across the forehead that may extend to the sides or back of the head

Sometimes tension headaches can feel like migraines. However, they don’t usually cause the same visual disturbances that migraine headaches do.

Cluster headaches

Cluster headaches are often short in duration and often cause pain behind the eyes. The pain is usually on one side, and it may be described as throbbing or constant in nature. Cluster headaches will typically occur about one to two hours after a person goes to bed. While they may have some symptoms similar to migraines, they usually don’t cause nausea.

Migraine headaches

Migraine headaches often feature symptoms such as:

• a pulsating feeling in the head
• nausea
• pain on one side of the head
• sensitivity to sound and light
• severe, throbbing pain
• vomiting

Migraine headaches often cause pain

Diagnosing headaches

A headache can sometimes be a symptom of a disease or other medical condition. A doctor may be able to determine the underlying cause of a headache by taking a medical history and performing a physical examination. This exam should include a complete neurological evaluation.

Taking a comprehensive history is also important, as the sudden absence of medication and certain foods can cause recurrent headaches. For example, heavy coffee drinkers who suddenly stop drinking coffee can experience headaches.

A doctor may also order diagnostic tests if they suspect that a certain medical condition is causing the headaches. These tests might include:

• complete blood count (CBC), a blood test that can show signs of an infection
• skull X-rays, an imaging test that provides detailed pictures of the bones of the skull
• sinus X-rays, an imaging test that may be performed if sinusitis is suspected
• head CT or MRI scan, which might be done in cases where stroke, trauma, or blood clots on the brain are suspected

Headache treatment

Treatment for headaches varies according to the cause. If headaches are being caused by an illness, then it’s likely that the headaches will go away once the underlying condition is treated. However, most headaches aren’t symptoms of serious medical conditions and can be successfully treated with over-the-counter medications, such as aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol), or ibuprofen (Advil).

If medications aren’t working, there are several other remedies that can help treat headaches:

• Biofeedback is a relaxation technique that helps with pain management.
• Stress management classes can teach you how to cope with stress and how to relieve tension.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy is a type of talk therapy that shows you how to recognize situations that make you feel stressed and anxious.
• Acupuncture is an alternative therapy that may reduce stress and tension by applying fine needles to specific areas of your body.
• Mild to moderate exercise can help increase the production of certain brain chemicals that make you feel happier and more relaxed.
• Cold or hot therapy involves applying a heating pad or ice pack to your head for 5 to 10 minutes multiple times a day.
• Taking a hot bath or shower can help relax tense muscles.

Preventive treatment is used when headaches occur three or more times per month. Sumatriptan is a drug that’s commonly prescribed for the control of migraine headaches. Other medications that can be used to treat or prevent chronic migraine or cluster headaches are:

• beta blockers (propranolol, atenolol)
• verapamil (calcium channel blocker)
• methysergide maleate (helps to reduce blood vessel constriction)
• amitriptyline (antidepressant)
• valproic acid (anti-seizure medication)
• dihydroergotamine
• lithium
• topiramate

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also recently approved the use of the drug Aimovig, which belongs to a class of medications called calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) monoclonal antibodies. These medications specifically target the causes of migraines.

Other medications used to treat migraines usually treat another condition, yet may offer some relief from migraines. Several other similar medications are also in the research stages at this time.

You and your doctor can discuss which specific treatment would be best for relieving your headaches.

Headache natural remedies

Some people may choose to manage or attempt to treat and prevent their headaches through taking vitamins and herbs. You should always talk to your doctor before starting any new medications to make sure they don’t negatively interact with something you’re already taking. Some natural remedies a person may take to reduce headaches include:

• Butterbur. Extracts from this shrub have been shown to reduce the frequency at which migraines occur, according to the National Institutes of Health. While people generally tolerate the herb well, there have been some reports of allergic reactions in those allergic to ragweed, marigolds, daisies, and chrysanthemums.
• Coenzyme Q10. Taking 100 milligrams (mg) of this enzyme three times a day (or taking a single 150-mg dose per day) may reduce the frequency of migraine headaches, according to the University of Minnesota.
• Feverfew. Feverfew is an herb that can potentially decrease the incidence of migraines. However, there aren’t a lot of scientific studies to back this up.
• Magnesium. Some patients with severe migraines receive magnesium infusions as a means to reduce their headache. However, those with other headache types may also take this supplement as well.
• Vitamin B-12. Also known as riboflavin, this vitamin may have headache-reducing properties. According to the University of Minnesota, taking 200 mg twice daily can help.

Headache prevention

A healthy lifestyle and plenty of sleep can help prevent headaches. Some key steps a person can take to reduce their chances of experiencing a headache include:

• Avoiding diet-related food triggers. While these can vary from person to person, foods known to trigger headaches include aged cheeses, wine, cashews, onions, chocolate, processed meats, dark beers, food additives, dairy, and wheat. Whenever possible, a person should avoid food additives and eat whole foods.
• Avoiding excess caffeine intake. Drinking six or more cups of coffee a day can lead to chronic headaches due to withdrawal episodes. Limiting caffeine to two to three cups per day (or none at all) can help.
• Getting enough sleep. Lack of sleep is a common headache trigger. Good headache prevention includes getting an amount of sleep each night that allows you to wake up feeling refreshed in the morning.
• Using mind-body practices for headache prevention. People with tension headaches can benefit from using techniques like progressive muscle relaxation and guided imagery. These techniques involve focusing the mind on the body, deep breathing, and imagining each tense muscle in the body relaxing.
• Considering manual therapies. Therapies including massage and chiropractic manipulations may help prevent headaches in some people. However, a person should always talk to their doctor before using these therapies.

Exercising regularly. Exercising at least three times a week for 30 minutes can help relieve stress and tension that may otherwise trigger headaches. Even if you’re short on time, breaking up exercise sessions into 10- or 15-minute segments can help.