Tag: Tension Headaches

What Cause Headaches and How to Identify a Headache ?

Headaches are a common condition characterized by pain or discomfort in the head or neck region. They can vary widely in intensity, duration, and frequency. There are several types of headaches, including tension headaches, migraines, cluster headaches, and sinus headaches.

Tension headaches are the most common type and typically involve a dull, aching pain on both sides of the head. They’re often caused by stress, poor posture, or muscle tension.

Migraines are more severe and can be accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light or sound, and visual disturbances. They’re often throbbing in nature and can last for hours or even days.

Cluster headaches are rare but extremely painful headaches that occur in clusters or cycles. They usually cause intense pain around one eye and can last from 15 minutes to three hours.

Sinus headaches are associated with sinusitis or inflammation of the sinuses and often involve pain and pressure around the forehead, cheeks, and eyes.

Headaches can be triggered by various factors including stress, fatigue, dehydration, certain foods, hormonal changes, environmental factors, and underlying health conditions. Treatment typically involves identifying and addressing the underlying cause, as well as managing symptoms with pain relief medications, lifestyle modifications, stress management techniques, and sometimes preventive medications prescribed by a healthcare professional.

How to Identify a Headache ?

Identifying a headache involves recognizing the type of pain, any associated symptoms, and potential triggers. Here are some common signs to help identify a headache:

  1. Pain Location: Headaches can occur in different areas of the head, including the forehead, temples, back of the head, or around the eyes.
  2. Pain Quality: The type of pain can vary. It might be dull and achy, sharp and stabbing, throbbing, or squeezing.
  3. Duration: Note how long the headache lasts. Some headaches are short-lived, while others can persist for hours or even days.
  4. Intensity: Headaches can range from mild discomfort to severe pain that interferes with daily activities.
  5. Associated Symptoms: Pay attention to any additional symptoms that accompany the headache, such as nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light or sound, visual disturbances, or sinus pressure.
  6. Triggers: Try to identify any potential triggers that precede the headache, such as stress, certain foods or drinks, lack of sleep, dehydration, or environmental factors like strong odors or changes in weather.
  7. Pattern: Consider if the headaches occur at specific times or under certain circumstances. For example, migraines often have a pattern of recurring attacks with specific triggers.
  8. Medical History: If headaches are frequent or severe, it’s essential to consult a healthcare professional who can help diagnose the type of headache and rule out any underlying health conditions.

Keeping a headache diary can be helpful in tracking symptoms, triggers, and patterns over time, providing valuable information for diagnosis and treatment. If headaches become severe, persistent, or significantly impact your daily life, it’s important to seek medical advice for proper evaluation and management.

How to manage your tension Headache

tension-headache
tension-headache

A lot of customers order fioricet online for relief of tension headache. A tension headache is pain or discomfort in your head, scalp, or neck. A tension headache occurs when neck and scalp muscles become tense, or contract. The muscle contractions can be a response to stress, depression, a head injury, or anxiety. A tension headache (tension-type headache) is the most common type of headache, and yet its causes aren’t well understood.

The cause of tension headache is not known. Experts used to think tension headaches stemmed from muscle contractions in the face, neck and scalp, perhaps as a result of heightened emotions, tension or stress. But research suggests muscle contractions aren’t the cause.

The most common theories support a heightened sensitivity to pain in people who have tension headaches and possibly a heightened sensitivity to stress. Increased muscle tenderness, a common symptom of tension headache, may result from a sensitized pain system.

Tension-type headache  is a significant cause of sickness absence and impaired ability at work.  Tension Headache is classified as a primary headache according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders. It is a very common form of headache and can be:

  • Episodic Tension Headache (affects 78% of the population). This occurs on fewer than 15 days each month. It can evolve into the chronic variety.
  • Chronic Tension Headache (affects 3% of the population). This occurs on more than 15 days each month and has all the features of the episodic Tension Headache.

Tension headaches can last from 30 minutes to 7 days.

If you have a headache on 15 or more days each month over a 3-month period, you may have chronic tension headaches. This type of headache can lead to stress and depression, which in turn can lead to more headaches.

Triggers of Tension Headaches

A variety of foods, activities, and stress can cause these types of contractions. Some people develop tension headaches after staring at a computer screen for long hours or driving for long periods. Cold temperatures may also trigger a tension headache in some people.

Other factors that may trigger a tension headache include:

  • drinking alcohol
  • anxiety
  • depression
  • Poor posture
  • Poor sleep
  • Stress
  • Muscular tightness
  • eye strain
  • fatigue
  • smoking
  • a cold or flu
  • a sinus infection
  • caffeine
  • Usually relieved by simple analgesics.

57% Headaches are tension headaches. You can follow the steps here to prevent your headache. What you need more details about prevent tension headache  or cure your tension headaches?

Treatment and medicines of Tension Headaches

Some people with tension headaches don’t seek medical attention and try to treat the pain on their own. Unfortunately, repeated use of over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers can actually cause overuse headaches.

A variety of medications, both OTC and prescription, are available to reduce the pain of a headache, including:

    • Pain relievers. Simple OTC pain relievers are usually the first line of treatment for reducing headache pain. These include the drugs aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, Diclofenac, Paracetamol:others) and naproxen (Aleve). Prescription medications include naproxen (Naprosyn), indomethacin (Indocin) and ketorolac (Ketorolac Tromethamine).
    • Combination medications. Aspirin or acetaminophen or both are often combined with caffeine or a sedative drug in a single medication. Combination drugs may be more effective than are single-ingredient pain relievers. Many combination drugs are available OTC.
    • Triptans and narcotics. For people who experience both migraines and episodic tension headaches, a triptan can effectively relieve the pain of both headaches. Opiates, or narcotics, are rarely used because of their side effects and potential for dependency.
fioricet
Fioricet is very effective for tension headache relief
  • Fioricet fioricet is a very effective headache reliever. Fioricet is consist of butalbital, apap, and caffeine.Acetaminophen is a pain reliever and fever reducer.  Butalbital is in a group of drugs called barbiturates. It relaxes muscle contractions involved in a tension headache. Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant.  It relaxes muscle contractions in blood vessels to improve blood flow.Fioricet is used to treat tension headaches that are caused by muscle contractions

Even if you are taking tension headache medicines, you still need manage your headaches. Home treatment may help you avoid headaches. You can:

      • Try to reduce stress.
      • Make sure you sleep, exercise, and eat on a regular schedule.
      • Make sure you practice good posture. Stand and sit up straight.
      • Try not to strain your eyes when you use your computer.
      • Get treatment for depression or anxiety if you have those health problems.
      • Try using a headache diary. Every time you get a headache, write down the date, the time, and what you were doing and feeling before your headache started. This may help you and your doctor find out what is causing your headaches. Then your doctor can use the diary to plan your treatment.