Common Causes and How to Avoid Headaches
Migraines and chronic headaches may interfere with daily activities, and understanding the source of pain may help you treat or prevent them. Medical experts categorize these conditions by their specific causes and locations. Headaches and migraines affect individuals of all ages. Although triggers vary, treatments and management techniques may help alleviate symptoms. Here is more information about the symptoms of chronic headaches and some techniques to prevent them:
Managing Migraine Symptoms
A migraine is much more than a bad headache, and it can leave you bedridden for days. The pain typically throbs or pulses on one side of the head, with movement or bright lights worsening the pain. Specific nerves in blood vessels send pain signals to the brain during an attack. Because genetics plays a role, migraines tend to run in biological families.
Migraines have four distinct phases, though you may not experience all of them. The prodrome phase begins up to 24 hours before the headache starts. You might experience mood changes or difficulty concentrating during this time. An aura may follow, and this involves vision changes or numbness.
Identifying your triggers helps treat the migraine early or may even prevent the attack altogether. Keeping a journal allows you to track food intake and activities that may trigger pain. Common triggers include:
- Stress
- Weather condition changes
- Missing a meal
- Hormonal changes
- Exposure to bright lights or loud noises
- Aged cheese
- Fermented foods
Understanding Tension Headaches
Tension headaches are the most common type of headache. They feel like a tight band wrapped around the head. While emotional stress is one cause, physical strain in neck muscles is another that may start these episodes. Patients describe constant mild to moderate pressure, but sensitivity to light or sound may also occur.
Researchers believe these headaches start when muscles between the head and neck tighten excessively. Staring at screens for long periods can cause neck strain, and reading may also have the same effect. Degenerative arthritis in the neck also causes these issues.
Managing stress is one way to help prevent these episodes. Massage therapy may offer relief, and regular exercise helps reduce overall tension and stress. Prioritizing rest in your daily routine may also help. Although you cannot avoid all potential triggers, these lifestyle adjustments may be appropriate.
Treating Cluster Headaches
Cluster headaches cause severe pain on one side of the head, and they typically last for at least 30 minutes. The attacks occur in groups or cycles, appearing up to eight times per day, sometimes at the same time of day. Because they often wake people up from nightly sleep, they can be disruptive to daily routines.
You cannot prevent cluster headaches entirely, but avoiding specific triggers may help. Tobacco use and alcohol consumption are two factors that are common risks or triggers. Bright lights and hot temperatures also trigger symptoms for some individuals.
Seeking Medical Relief
Treating recurrent issues begins with a comprehensive physical exam, and the provider conducts a medical history review. A doctor may order blood work or diagnostic imaging to rule out specific causes. Once a specialist determines the headache type, they customize a plan. Treatment options might include:
- BOTOX injections
- Nerve block injections
- Trigger point injections
- Acupuncture
Over-the-counter medications are appropriate if you have mild symptoms. Prescription options include triptans or preventative medications like beta-blockers. Since there is no cure for conditions like migraines, management focuses on reducing severity and trigger avoidance. Contact a provider if your symptoms worsen, and ask for help if your symptoms change in severity.
Learn More About Treatments
Headaches are temporary but may be recurring, and proper management reduces their intensity. Finding the right management techniques may take some trial and error. Support is available to improve your symptoms. If you want to learn more about treatment for migraine and chronic headaches, consult a pain management specialist near you.
