Know your Headache

Know Your Headache

Knowing what triggers your headaches can help you learn to avoid certain situations and prevent headaches from starting.  Keeping a diary of your headaches may help you. When you feel a headache start, write down the following information:

  • What day and time your headache started
  • What you had to eat and drink during the past 24 hours prior to the onset of your headache
  • How much you slept in the 24 hours prior to the onset of your headache
  • Where you were and what activity you were doing just before the onset of your headache
  • How long your headache lasted and what made it feel better if anything

Review the information you have written in your diary with your doctor. This can help you see if there is a pattern to your headaches and help identify any triggers. You and your doctor can then develop a plan for treatment. Knowing what your triggers are is the first step in eliminating them.

What is the Difference Between a Headache and a Migraine?

Determining which is which may not always be easy because the presence of both muscle tension and another vascular component can be found in both headaches and migraines. There are a lot of cases where migraines are more severe than headaches and usually accompanied by visual problems and even nausea. Headaches, on the other hand, normally respond to over-the-counter medications, unlike migraines.
You can determine a migraine by its symptoms. Here are some of the most common symptoms of migraines:
  • nausea
  • digestive problems
  • debilitating headache
  • neck pain
  • shoulder pain
  • visual problems
  • hallucinations
  • ringing in the ears
  • cold
  • mood changes
  • excessive sweating

What are the Different Types of Headaches?

  • Vascular Headaches. This type of a headache is the most severe and can happen in different locations. Vascular headaches often occur in the top half of the head.
  • Tension Headaches. Tension headaches happen in the area where muscles of the head and the neck meet.
  • Organic Headaches. Organic headaches often occur in young children and mostly happens due to infections in the nose, ear, sinus, brain. This type of a headache can also be due to brain tumors which less frequently happens.

What are cluster headaches?

Cluster headaches are a form of headaches which can be very painful and often affects men more than women. This form of a headache is often localized in the temple, eye, forehead, and the cheeks. Cluster headaches can cause severe pain and can last for 30 to 90 minutes.
It's called cluster headaches due to the fact that it often happens in a sequence or series of painful episodes, usually at the same time of day, days, week, and months. Causes of cluster headaches include heavy drinking and smoking. Treatment options for cluster headaches are often for prevention, however, there are various medications which can be used for treatment such as:
  • steroids
  • opioids
  • oxygen inhalation
If you experience recurring cluster headaches, it's best to see a doctor for treatment.

There may be changes you can make in your lifestyle that can help reduce the frequency of headaches. Try the following:

  • Try a different position to sleep or a different pillow.
  • Practice good posture habits, especially when you are working at a desk or computer, when you are reading and when lifting.
  • Change positions frequently when you are working at a computer or typing. Stretching the muscles in your shoulders, back and neck often may help prevent headaches.
  • Get more exercise that increases your heart rate. Check with your doctor to find out what type of exercise is right for you to prevent headaches from occurring.
  • See an eye doctor and have your vision tested. If you can't see clearly, this may cause headaches.
  • Practice stress management techniques. Everyone has stress, so it's important to know how to manage it. Relaxation breathing or meditation helps some people cope with stress and may prevent tension headaches. Here are some other ideas that might be helpful to help you ward off a headache before it starts:
    • Walk: If you feel the tension building up that's likely to end in a headache or even worse, a migraine, take a walk. Increasing the blood flow and oxygen to your brain and creating some diversion from your problems can help to reduce muscle tension. It also helps to release the body's natural pain-fighting endorphins.
    • Talk: Call a friend. Just the sound of a friendly voice may be able to soothe your mind and help stop those racing thoughts that lead to headache pain and muscle tension.
    • Write: Some people find journaling or writing letters to themselves helpful. Get all of your frustrations down on paper and read them back to yourself. This can help release emotions and tension in a safe way and may help to ward off a headache.

If your doctor prescribes medication for your headaches, be sure to take these exactly as instructed and tell your doctor if you notice any side effects.

Show Less Show Comments
Questions & Answers
Q:
What is the best way to treat permanent back and neck pain and stiffness?
A:
by
Age2B

Here are some tips:

Neck Pain Tips: Sleep with a cervical pillow

Orthopedic or cervical pillows are made with special contours to support the space beneath the neck and head. They are also more concave for the head and provide more support to the neck.

Neck Pain Tips: Sleep on your back

The best position to lie to sleep is on your back. If you sleep on your stomach or on your side, make sure your pillow is not too thick. It should raise your head no more than 4 to 6 inches. This will keep your neck and head from turning to either side.

Neck Pain Tips: Position your computer screen at eye level

While you are working at a computer, sit comfortably in your chair with your computer in front of you. Close your eyes and then open them. When you open your eyes, you should see the middle of the computer screen. If your gaze is not in the middle of the screen, adjust the height of the screen using items like books.

To keep your head from gradually drifting forward, take frequent breaks to stretch. Getting up to walk around at least once every half-hour is one of the best neck pain tips.

Neck Pain Tips: Use a telephone headset

Never hold a phone between your shoulder and your ear. Use a headset or other hands-free system to talk on the phone and avoid abusing your neck and spine.

Neck Pain Tips: Exercise your neck muscles

One of the best neck pain tips is using the chin tuck. You can do this often throughout the day. In addition to helping strengthen the muscles that hold the head in alignment over the shoulders, it also helps strengthen the scalene and sub-occipital muscles.

Read more tips here: Neck Pain Tips: Sleeping, Posture, Exercising, Hydration & Prevention

Read more
Age2B
4 answers
Q:
What is the best treatment for neck pain and shoulder Pain?
A:
by
Age2B

One of the best treatment for neck pain and shoulder pain is exercises:

Neck Pain Exercises: Neck Extension

  1. To begin this neck pain exercise, sit up straight in a chair with your feet flat on the floor.
  2. Looking straight ahead, tuck your chin slightly (starting position)
  3. Place the palm of your hand on the back of your neck, at the base of your head
  4. Apply slight forward pressure with your hand, while resisting the forward motion of your neck and head
  5. Hold for a count of 5 and return to the starting position and relax
  6. Repeat the neck pain exercises 5-10 times

Neck pain exercises: Side bend

  1. Sit up straight in a chair with your feet flat on the floor.
  2. Looking straight ahead, tuck your chin slightly (starting position)
  3. Place your left hand, palm down, on the left side of your head (around your ear)
  4. Slightly push your head to the right side with your hand, while resisting the sideways motion of your neck and head
  5. Hold for a count of 5 and return to the starting position and relax.
  6. Repeat 5-10 times
  7. Repeat the neck pain exercises with the other side.

Neck pain exercises: Neck flexion

  1. Sit up straight in a chair with your feet flat on the floor.
  2. Looking straight ahead, tuck your chin slightly (starting position)
  3. Place the tips of your fingers on your forehead
  4. Slightly push your head backward with your fingers, while resisting the backward motion of your neck and head
  5. Hold for a count of 5 and return to the starting position and relax.
  6. Repeat the neck pain exercises 5-10 times

More exercises here: Neck Pain Exercises

Read more
Age2B
4 answers
Q:
How do I reduce the shoulder and neck pain?
A:
by
Age2B

Here are some tips:

Neck Pain Tips: Sleep with a cervical pillow

Orthopedic or cervical pillows are made with special contours to support the space beneath the neck and head. They are also more concave for the head and provide more support to the neck.

Neck Pain Tips: Sleep on your back

The best position to lie to sleep is on your back. If you sleep on your stomach or on your side, make sure your pillow is not too thick. It should raise your head no more than 4 to 6 inches. This will keep your neck and head from turning to either side.

Neck Pain Tips: Position your computer screen at eye level

While you are working at a computer, sit comfortably in your chair with your computer in front of you. Close your eyes and then open them. When you open your eyes, you should see the middle of the computer screen. If your gaze is not in the middle of the screen, adjust the height of the screen using items like books.

To keep your head from gradually drifting forward, take frequent breaks to stretch. Getting up to walk around at least once every half-hour is one of the best neck pain tips.

Neck Pain Tips: Carry weight evenly

Many people make the mistake of carrying a heavy briefcase or their purse on their shoulder or on one side of their body. Doing this causes strain in the muscles and leads to pain.

Remove non-essentials from your briefcase or purse. Consider using a backpack to evenly distribute the weight across your shoulders. If you choose to carry a purse or backpack, keep your shoulders level while carrying it.

Neck Pain Tips: Maintain a proper posture

The most common posture contributing to neck pain is the “head-and-shoulders-forward” posture. In this position, the neck slopes forward, putting the head in front of the shoulders.

In this position, the head pulls the upper back forward also in a slumped position. This places a strain on the entire spinal column.

More tips here: Neck Pain Tips: Sleeping, Posture, Exercising, Hydration & Prevention

Read more
Age2B
4 answers