One of the most widespread ailments that we as humans face is headaches. About 45 million Americans suffer from headaches every year. Fortunately, some things can be done to help treat this issue. Knowing the primary types of headaches and how to treat them effectively makes it easier to know what to do if you’re struck by a sudden headache. M.D. Express Urgent Care Center provides headache information and treatment if these common home remedies fail.
Tension headaches
Affecting up to 80% of adults in the United States, this is the most common type of headache for people to experience. While stress seems to be the leading cause, other factors such as a lack of sleep, jaw clenching or teeth grinding, poor posture and eyestrain can also bring on a tension headache. For most people, the tension headaches they suffer from are episodic, which means they only occur about once or twice a month. For about 3% of the U.S. population, their headaches are chronic and last for longer than 15 days a month, and women are twice as likely to get them than men.
Symptoms
Tension headache symptoms include:
- Mild, moderate, or sometimes intense pain in the head, neck, and behind the eyes
- Pain described being a tight band of pressure around the head
- Mild sensitivity to light and loud noise
Treatment
In most cases, over-the-counter medications can be used to treat headaches. These can include:
- Aspirin
- Ibuprofen
- Acetaminophen
- However, you can also try alternative stress-reducing therapies, including:
- Meditation
- Massage and gentle neck stretches
- Heat therapy (for example, a warm compress or a shower)
Migraine headaches
According to the Migraine Research Foundation, migraines are the 3rd most prevalent illness in the world. Affecting 39 million men, women, and children in America and 1 billion worldwide, this is a very serious issue, and many don’t understand how incapacitating it can be. In fact, 90% of people suffering from migraines cannot work or even function normally during the attacks, which can last anywhere from 4 to 72 hours. Unfortunately, migraines tend to run in families, so a child with one or both parents suffering from them will possibly inherit it. The exact cause of migraines is still unknown; however, there are common triggers that people with migraines seem to experience. This includes certain foods, hormone fluctuations, physical activity, and too much/too little sleep.
Symptoms
Many of the symptoms of migraines include:
- A headache often starts as a dull ache that grows into throbbing pain that tends to get worse during physical activity
- Pain found in the front of the head, moving from one side of the head to the other, or feeling as if it’s affecting the whole head
- Sensitivity to sound, light and smell
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Blurred vision
Treatment
While there isn’t a known cure for migraines, there are treatments that may help. These include:
- Over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and aspirin
- Prescription medications like sumatriptan and zolmitriptan
- Resting in a quiet, dark room
- Getting the right balance of sleep each night
- Using an ice pack on the head/neck
- Massage therapy
Cluster headaches
While relatively unknown to most people, cluster headaches are often debilitating for those who suffer from them. They tend to recur in a cycle for a period of days, weeks, or months, and then disappear during long periods of remission. While the cause of cluster headaches is still unknown, some risk factors have been identified. For example, men are six times more likely to develop them than women. Also, similar to migraines, cluster headaches seem to run in families. Smoking may also be a factor, as more than half of the people suffering from these headaches are current or former smokers.
Symptoms
- Cluster headaches are one of the most painful headache conditions, with symptoms including:
- Pain on one side of the head, usually centered over one eye, one temple, or the forehead
- Pain is experienced at a similar time each day, often beginning at night and lasting anywhere from 15 minutes to 3 hours
- Blocked or runny nose
- Drooping eyelid and watering/redness of one eye on the same side of the head as the pain
- Flushed or sweaty face
- In many cases, the pain lasts for 4 to 12 weeks once a year, around the same time (often in the spring or fall), and can then vanish for several months to years
Treatment
The different treatments for cluster headaches are:
- Pain medications such as oxygen, sumatriptan, and DHE
- Preventative medications including verapamil, prednisone, and ergotamine
- Surgery can be used to disable the trigeminal nerve, which can provide permanent pain relief for some, but unfortunate side effects like permanent facial numbness can also occur
- If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms and haven’t been able to make an appointment with your doctor to get started on a treatment plan, remember that your local urgent care facility can help.
M.D. Express Urgent Care has five convenient locations to serve you. Open 7 days a week, our walk-in facilities are here to help you with headache relief when your primary doctor isn’t available. We can treat the pain and give you guidance for your next step in pain relief.
If you have concerns about your headaches, visit MD Express Urgent Care.
