How To Cope With Headaches
Some people have frequent headaches, while others hardly ever have them. Headaches are a very common medical problem and if serious enough can become a disability. Severe headaches can interfere with the ability to complete daily activities, or work. Headaches rarely result from a serious disorder, however if your headaches persist, become more frequent, or more severe, you should immediately seek a doctors care. In order to find the proper treatment to ease your pain, you must identify a specific headache type and what triggers your headaches. The type or cause of your headache can be determined by your medical history, the characteristics of your headache and the results of a doctor’s examination. Your doctor should ask you questions about the type of headaches you get, the location and severity, frequency and duration are all factors in determining the cause. Your doctor should also ask if there is a trigger for your headaches. Many people have found that after eating certain foods a headache would soon follow, your environment, light, certain smells, changes in the weather or hormonal changes all have been found to be triggers for some people. Migraine triggers are physical things that can bring on a headache when exposed to them. The best way to keep track of your triggers is to keep a headache diary. The list of foods that have been found to trigger a migraine is very long, and one of the best ways to find out what your triggers may be is to journal your daily meals and activities. Write down the medications you are taking, their effectiveness, and how you felt after taking them, what makes them worse and what helps relieve them. This will help you and your doctor manage your headaches. Headaches rarely result from a serious disorder, however the following characteristics may point to an underlying problem that needs immediate medical attention. v A sudden, very severe thunderclap headache v Headaches that increase in severity or frequency v Daily headaches v Headaches that start after 50 years of age v Headaches that are accompanied by a fever, stiff neck, changes in vision, weakness, loss of coordination, dizzy spells or fainting, or high blood pressure v Seizures or confusion caused by a headache Educating yourself on the different types of headaches is important, and your healthcare professional can help you find the best way to treat and manage your pain. |