Headaches: What to know, when to worry

Everyone gets the occasional when-will-this-day-end headache. These headaches may even follow a certain pattern. (Mine usually strike like clockwork if I miss my morning cup of French press coffee.) But when is a headache cause for concern? “Most bouts of regular headaches are not serious and can be treated on their own,” says Dr. Elizabeth Loder, chief of the division of headache in the department of neurology at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital. “However, being aware of the features of the different types of headaches can help you determine if your headaches are something more serious that requires medical attention.” Headache know-how There are three main types of headache: tension, migraine, and cluster. Here is a look at each one. Tension. This is the most common type of headache. A typical attack produces a dull, squeezing pain on both sides of the head like it’s in a vise. The shoulders and neck can also ache. Episodes can last 30 minutes to seven days. Although the cause of tension headaches is unknown, triggers include stress, fatigue, and lack of sleep. The good news is that you can treat most tension headaches with over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, such as aspirin, naproxen (Aleve), or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). You could also try a warm shower, a nap, or a light snack. Migraine. Migraines are more severe and can be quite debilitating. The pain often is centered o...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Headache Health Migraines Source Type: blogs