Posts Tagged ‘chronic headache treatment’
What Causes Chronic Headaches?
If you suffer from headaches on a regular basis, you’re probably wondering what causes them and if you can stop them. Well, there are three main types of chronic headaches. Each one is a bit different. Understanding which one you have can help you choose the appropriate chronic headache treatment and get it under control.
Almost everyone gets the first type, a primary headache, at one point or another. They hurt a lot, but they aren’t usually dangerous. In fact, you can often get rid of them with over the counter medications.
The biggest factor in primary headaches, many experts think, is stress and tension that causes the muscles in the head to tighten up. That means both emotional and physical stress. So, if you have a stress-filled life, you may want to try to cut back on stressful activities and see if that helps your headaches to go away.
Doctors don’t know the exact reason that our skull muscles tighten up and we get headaches. For the most part, though, it seems tied to stress and pressure. So, whether you’re upset over something or have been physically overactive, your muscles may contract and cause you to get a headache.
Cluster headaches, on the other hand, are much less common. Unfortunately, that doesn’t make them a smaller problem. They are very severe headaches that can last for a short time and then disappear for weeks, months or even years.
If you have cluster headaches, it can be hard for a doctor to diagnose them or treat them, but not impossible. Since they are very painful, it’s definitely something you should look into. Talk to your doctor and see what course of action he or she suggests.
One thing that makes cluster headaches stand out is what they can do to your eyes and nose. If you have cluster headaches, you will probably find that your eyes and nose both start to water when you have an attack. If that happens tell your doctor immediately. It can help them to diagnose your headaches properly.
The final type of chronic headache is called a secondary headache. What causes a secondary headache varies, but in all cases it’s very serious. That’s because secondary headaches are a sign of other medical problems. If you suffer from them, you might have anything from a brain tumor to internal bleeding to other causes.
So, if you suffer from headaches on a regular and recurring basis, be sure to see a doctor as soon as possible to determine the best chronic headache treatment for you.
Dealing With Frequent Headaches
If you get frequent headaches, you know what a pain they can be. There’s the physical pain, of course, but there’s also the pain of being unable to do what you want to do every day. It can be a real hassle.
Doctors have broken down chronic headaches into three types. Primary headaches are the most common type and aren’t fatal. Secondary headaches and cluster headaches are much less common, but much more serious. They can often be signs of other severe medical problems.
Primary headaches, as I said, aren’t fatal, but they sure might seem like it if you have one. They’re very painful. They can stop you from being able to do your work or other daily activities.
So how do you stop frequent headaches? Well, it depends on what sort of headache it is. Primary headaches, for example, can usually be treated with medication. Also, they are linked to stress. So, you may be able to prevent them by reducing the stressful things in your life.
How does stress affect headaches? Well, tension can cause the muscles in your head to contract, or tighten up, and that builds up pressure inside your head. Such a primary headache can be treated with medications, but it will probably come back, if you don’t cut back on your daily stress.
In other words, if you have frequent headaches, it’s probably time to change your daily routine. Take time to stop and smell the roses, so to speak. Don’t stretch yourself too thin. Take frequent breaks during the day. Try cutting back on physical activity, too. If you can relax a bit more, it may help.
Of course, you may have a cluster headache or secondary headache problem, though. That’s a whole other problem. You might have a chemical imbalance, internal bleeding, a tumor or another physical ailment that is causing your headaches. So, you need to see your doctor immediately, if that’s the case. Since it can be hard to tell what type of headache you have, the best bet is to go to the doctor anyway, just to be on the safe side.
When you see the doctor, they might suggest a simple over the counter medication, like ibuprofen, to treat your headaches. They might suggest a stronger medication, though. If none of that works, you may have to go to a headache clinic to see a specialist. Either way, there are plenty of chronic headache treatment options for frequent headaches, so don’t give up!
