Nearly everyone experiences headaches occasionally. While headaches rarely signal serious issues, effectively alleviating pain improves functioning. Understanding headache types and triggers allows selecting appropriate self-care or professional medical treatments.
Tension Headaches
The most common headache variety, tension headaches cause mild to moderate pain described as tight, squeezing pressure around the entire head or back of the neck. Stress, poor posture, jaw clenching, eye strain and lack of sleep often trigger tension headaches.
First aid care focuses on relaxing muscles contractions contributing to discomfort. Over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen provide relief, along with hot packs soothing tight shoulder and neck muscles. Massage and trigger point therapy releases contractions as well. Reducing stress through helps minimize tension build up over time. Maintaining good posture and sleep hygiene prevents complications from these common headaches.
Migraine Headaches
While less frequent than tension headaches, migraine headaches involve moderate to severe throbbing pain, usually isolated to one side of the head. Migraine attacks often accompany nausea, vomiting, light and sound sensitivity. Migraine triggers include hormonal changes, certain foods, medications, and environmental factors like strong scents.
Migraine relief starts by resting in a cool, dark, quiet space. Over-the-counter pain relievers containing acetaminophen often alleviate symptoms. Anti-nausea medication helps manage accompanying vomiting. Avoiding personal migraine triggers reduces future occurrences. Preventative prescription medications exist for those experiencing frequent migraines as well.
Seeking Urgent Medical Care
While most headaches resolve with self-care rest and pain management, requesting medical evaluations becomes urgent when:
- Headache causes severe pain unlike previous experiences
- Vision changes, fever, neck pain or stiffness accompany headaches
- Existing headaches worsen significantly or fail to improve with treatment
- New headache symptoms develop after a head injury
- Repeated vomiting interferes with medicine absorption
- Confusion, seizures, loss of consciousness or other neurological changes occur
Trusting your body’s signals and seeking care for headaches causing concerns prevents minor discomforts from becoming dangerous situations. Implementing self-care strategies while determining any underlying factors requiring professional treatment maximizes comfort and functioning when achy heads strike.