Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Headache Treatment

A Headache is explain as a pain in the head or upper neck. It is one of the most general locations of pain in the body and has many causes.The treatment of the headache depends on the type of headache following are the types and treatment of headaches.

Tension-type headaches
This is the most common variety of headache.In this condition the victim Often feels like a tight band around head.This condition may be triggered by stress, neck pain, missed meals or lack of sleep, Can last from 30 minutes to an whole week


Most alternate tension-type headaches are easily treated by medications which includes the following:

  • Aspirin
  • Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others)
  • Acetaminophen (Tylenol, others)

Migraine Headache
A migraine headache is a type of vascular headache. Migraine headache is bring about by vasodilatation which is expansion of blood vessels that account  the release of chemicals from nerve fibers that coil around the large arteries of the brain. Expansion of these blood vessels , boosts the nerves that coil around them and causes the nerves to release chemicals.

The chemicals causes inflammation, pain, and further expansion of the artery. The increasing expansion of the arteries results in the form of  pain.Migraine headache are three times common in women than in men .In this condition victim often suffers from nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light or sound.This condition may affect only one side of  head.This condition may cause pain that diminishes with routine activity.

The treatment of this headache include the following:

  • Over-the-counter medications
  • Prescription medications
  • sleep in a quiet, dark room
  • Hot or cold compresses to your head or neck
  • Massage and small amounts of caffeine 


Cluster headaches
These are a infrequent type of headache affecting 0.1% of the population. It more frequently affects men in their late 20s though women and children can also suffer these types of headache.This headache occurs off and on for weeks at a time. During a cluster period, which can last for several months, victims may experience one or more cluster headaches in a day.

The treatment of this headache includes the following:
  • Inject-able medications like sumatriptan (Imitrex, Sumavel Dosepro, others), for quick relief during an attack
  • Prescription triptan nasal sprays like zolmitriptan (Zomig) or sumatriptan (Imitrex)
  • Inhalation of 100 percent oxygen by a mask
  • Pacing  because most people experience restless during a cluster headache.

Chronic daily headaches
If a person have a headache for more days its mean the victim is experiencing a variety of head pain known as chronic daily headaches.

The persistent nature of chronic daily headaches makes them among the most cripple headaches. Aggressive initial treatment and stable long-term treatment may decreases the pain.

Treatment for any latent diseases or conditions often impediment chronic daily headaches. When no latent diseases or conditions are present treatment aims on preventive medication.

Medication extreme usage headache
This can affect any person who has migraines, tension-type headaches or other chronic headaches and uses pain killers most of the times a month.These are also known as rebound headaches.

The only cure to stop medication extreme usage headaches is to reduce or stop taking the medication which are contributing to these headaches.

Uncommon primary headaches
These can take place as a effect of exercise, sex,  disorders of coughing or other activities. Before identifying a primary headache doctor may advise tests like MRI in order to know that  nothing serious is causing headaches. Each type of these headaches has its own characteristics. Sex headaches may begin as a weak ache, with the pain increasing just prior to orgasm, may be existing just at the moment of orgasm.Cough headaches are commonly sharp in quality.It may affect both sides of the head.

Aberrant primary headaches are unusual but if  headaches are chronic doctor may advise preventive medicine.

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