Posts Tagged ‘tension’
Headache Treatment
While we are suffering from a headache it is natural to try to think of ways to stop the pain. However, as there are different types of headaches, the treatments may work for only a few of the headache types. There are two different ways of stopping the pain caused by headaches. These types of headache treatment are called prophylactical and abortive headache treatments.
The prophylactic treatment needs to be taken everyday in order to reduce the frequency of the attacks and to control the severity of the headache. Abortive headache treatment is begun only when the headache starts.
You should understand that your doctor will not prescribe any prophylactic headache treatment unless you are suffering from several, frequent headache attacks per month. When you take the prophylactic medication you will be monitored for side effects like weight gain, water retention, lethargy, memory impairment and hallucinations.
The treatment of headaches with prophylactic medication begins with a low dosage. The dose is then increased regularly. You will also be tested every month or so to see if the treatment is taking effect. Your doctor will also make sure that you are not taking any other types of medication or vitamins during this phase of your headache treatment.
It is very important for the doctor to know whether the sufferer is or becomes pregnant. If you do become pregnant, then your doctor should be told, so that tests can be carried out to discover any possible side effects to the unborn foetus.
The primary prescription drugs given for the treatment of headaches are beta blockers like Tenormin and Lopressor. Calcium channel blockers such as Cardizem, Dilacor, and Procardia are also used. Doctors can also prescribe anti-depressants such as Elavil and Zoloft. You may also be prescribed Serotonin Antagonists like Sansert.
Sometimes anti-convulsants such as Tegretol, Depakote, and Dilantin are given for headache treatment. Cafergot and Sansert, which are ergot derivatives, could also be given by your doctor. The abortive headache treatment that you can take for your headache pain is generally the over the counter type. These include Paracetamol, Aspirin, Tylenol, Panadol, Motrin, and Advil to name but a few. Tylenol and Panadol are known as Acetaminophen drugs. Motrin and Advil belong to the group of drugs that are known as Ibuprofen.
Besides these headache medications there are non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs or NSAID’s. The side effects of NSAIDs like Naprosyn and Meclomen include nausea, gastrointestinal pain, dizziness, diarrhea, light-headedness and constipation. These headache treatments can also cause the side-effect of a different form of headache in some people.
Since these drugs can cause other problems you should consult your doctor in order to find out whether they are suitable for you or not. People who prefer an ‘alternative’ headache treatment should ask their doctor whether he thinks it will work.
If you suffer from migraine or headaches, you ought to definitely go to our website at Stopping Headaches.
The Different Types Of Headaches
There are quite a number of commonly-known kind of headache. These include pressure headaches, migraine headaches, tension headaches, chronic daily headaches, cluster headaches, ice pick headaches and sinus headaches.
A migraine headache is a severe headache. This sort of headache has been found to have a profound impact on the daily lives of its sufferers. The pain can be a pulsating sensation or sometimes a throbbing type of head pain. This throbbing pain can be moderate to severe. The symptoms of migraine headaches include nausea, extreme sensitivity to light and sound. With the migraine sort of headache there is often an early warning feeling called an aura.
This aura is experienced in the form of changes in visual perception. You may see bright flashes or blurs and sometimes you may even lose part of your vision. You may even experience a numbness or a tingling in your arms. These warning symptoms will dissipate a while before the migraine attack begins. A migraine headache can last for about three days without any treatment, before it subsides.
The kinds of tension headache cause a dull, constant pain in the forehead, the sides or back of the head. Some people compare a tension headache to a tight band wrapped around the head and it is considered to be one of the most common types of headache. A tension headache does not create symptoms like light sensitivity, loss of sight, nausea and vomiting.
Tension headaches occur in episodic or chronic types. Generally, most sufferers of this sort of tension headache, experience chronic headaches. It is estimated that about 40% of the population suffers from tension headaches. Chronic daily headaches are another of these types of headache.
Most chronic daily headaches are tension headaches or headaches which are the result of taking too many pain killers. With these kinds of headache, the pain is of a constant, dull nature – there may also be a feeling of tightness like a rubber band around the head. A chronic daily headache is diagnosed by its duration: the pain must last for at least 15 consecutive days per month during a three month period of time.
Another sort of headache is the Cluster headache group, which is a rare but very painful kind of headache. The name of this headache arises from the fact that the headache produces clusters of pain. Periods of continuous Cluster headaches may last weeks or months, but this is then followed up by long periods of no headaches at all.
Cluster headaches are usually to be found only on one side of the head at a time. The sharp, penetrating pain starts behind one eye. Furthermore, cluster headaches may cause red, watery eyes, a stuffy nose and sometimes symptoms like nausea and light sensitivity are be present too.
These are just a few of the many types of headaches that can be experienced. The pain from the headache can be mild or it can be excruciating in its severity. To find relief from these headaches you must talk with your doctor about treatment or you can buy some over the counter headache pain medication.
If you have a problem with migraine or headaches, you should definitely go along to our website on Stopping Headaches.