Where does the headache come from and what to do with it

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Wait to grab your pills. Perhaps you need an ambulance or a cup of tea.

Headache rarely Headaches are dangerous. Most often, she has a simple reason. If you are too lazy to understand, it is enough to drink any over-the-counter pain reliever (for example, based on acetylsalicylic acid, ibuprofen or paracetamol) and the discomfort will subside.

However, there are other options: when the pill is not enough, or, on the contrary, it is easy to do without it.

When to seek help as soon as possible

Sometimes a headache can be a sign of a serious illness. For example, a slowly developing tumor, meningitis, or a rapid stroke.

When to call an ambulance

Headaches urgently call 103 or 112 if the pain is sudden and very severe, almost unbearable, and if it is accompanied by any of the following symptoms:

• numbness or weakness on one side of the face or body;
• slurred speech;
• confused consciousness;
• sudden vision problems: you see everything as if in a fog or you have double vision;
• nausea and vomiting (unless they are clearly not associated with a hangover or a viral infection such as influenza);
• dizziness, loss of balance;
• stiff neck muscles;
• temperature over 39 ° C.

When to see a therapist

Consult a Headaches doctor as soon as possible if headaches:

• started to occur more often than usual;
• became stronger;
• do not go away even though you are taking over-the-counter pain relievers as directed
• interfere with your daily life - work, relationships, sleep.

Why does the head hurt and what to do in each case

If you do not observe suspicious signs and the matter is limited only to a one-time headache, you can relax and look for the causes of discomfort in the list below.

1. You haven't drunk water for a long time

Lack of moisture can be the trigger that triggers Water-Deprivation Headache: A New Headache With Two Variants headache. At least for some people.

There are very few scientific studies that would explain this relationship. But experts at the popular medical resource Healthline believe Dehydration Headache: Symptoms, Remedies, and Prevention is only because such work does not receive funding. In general, the role of dehydration in the development of headaches is generally recognized - for example, it is dehydration that is partially caused by Hangover hangover headaches.

What to do

Drink a glass of water and wait 10-15 minutes - perhaps the pain will subside. To prevent these attacks from recurring, try to drink at least 2, 7 Water Requirements, Impinging Factors, and Recommended Intakes liters of liquid per day.

2. You have a hangover

A hangover is, in fact, the poisoning of the body with the decay products of ethanol. In addition, alcohol dehydrates Hangover Cures, and the brain becomes the first organ to suffer from it.

Well, the brain does not want to suffer alone, so get it and sign it: headache, dizziness, nausea and other hangover joys.

What to do

If the pain is really unbearable, do not worry - take a pill. But try to do without it, so as not to overload the already suffering liver with medicine. Drink water, take sorbent, sleep, take a walk. In general, try different ways to get rid of your hangover.

3. You develop hyperopia

In this case, the Hyperopia (Farsightedness) headache arises when you try to focus on nearby objects: notebooks on the desktop, laptop screen, things being fingered. Some people are born farsighted, but for many this visual impairment occurs after 40 years of Hyperopia. Therefore, headaches can appear at first glance completely unmotivated and suddenly.

What to do

First of all, distract yourself, give your eyes a rest. If that doesn't work, take a pain reliever.

When the head is gone, do a little test. If you are tempted to squint when looking at something close, visit an ophthalmologist. Farsightedness is successfully corrected with glasses or lenses.

4. You didn't get enough sleep or, conversely, slept

The sleep rate for an adult is 7-8 hours. If you sleep less or more, you risk Sleep Disorders and Headache waking up with a headache.

What to do

Take a pain reliever this time. For the future, try not to go overboard.

5. You have been sitting or standing in an uncomfortable position for a long time

Many people work at the computer for several hours at a time. Or they like to talk on the phone, pressing the receiver to their ear with their shoulder. When you do not monitor your posture for a long time, it leads to unnecessary stress on the muscles of the upper back, shoulders, and neck. The result is the so-called tension headache Tension headache (HDN).

Tension headaches in the modern world are most common Tension headache.

It is not difficult to recognize them: the pain has a squeezing, squeezing character, as if a bandage is too tight on your forehead. Often at the same time you experience discomfort in the neck and shoulders, you want to straighten up, stretch out.

What to do

Straighten up and stretch. Walk around with your shoulders as relaxed as possible. Do some simple exercises: tilt your head forward, then back, swipe from shoulder to shoulder, repeat. If possible, take a warm shower or bath.

To quickly relieve discomfort, drink Tension headache, a drug based on acetylsalicylic acid, ibuprofen, or naproxen (of course, strictly following the instructions).

If tension headaches haunt you constantly, look for ways to relax the muscles in your neck and shoulder girdle and head. Swimming, yoga, massage have proven themselves well.

6. You are angry, nervous, or chronically stressed

Tension headache stress also puts unnecessary stress on the muscles of the shoulders and neck. To feel this, clench your jaw tightly - as if you are angry with someone and are having a hard time restraining your anger. Muscle tension will become apparent. It, like poor posture, can trigger tension headaches.

What to do

The recommendations are the same as in the paragraph above. It is important not so much to relieve stress as to unblock the muscles.

7. You've been sitting in front of the screen too long

If you spend more than two hours in front of a laptop or tablet, your eyes get tired HOW TO TELL IF A HEADACHE IS RELATED TO YOUR EYES OR EYE STRAIN from this not entirely natural load. Digital eye strain (a term sometimes used to refer to "gadget" fatigue) can lead to headaches.

What to do

Rest your eyes. The best thing is to get up, walk, stretch, look around. If for some reason this is not possible, at least once every 20 minutes, take your eyes off the screen and look at the wall, ceiling, objects outside the window for at least 20 seconds.

8. You are too relaxed after prolonged stress

This is a common situation: you worked hard and hard Monday through Friday, feeling good about yourself. And then, with a sense of accomplishment, fell off their feet, hoping to sleep off on Saturday. And we woke up with a headache.

This happens 10 headache triggers due to a sharp decrease in the level of stress hormones. This change triggers a series of reactions that cause the blood vessels in the brain to first narrow and then expand dramatically. The consequence of this effect is pain.

What to do

Try not to drive yourself to the point where the transition from work to rest is accompanied by such a sharp drop in the level of stress hormones. The easiest way to do this is to relax during the work week. Sleep for at least 8 hours, turn off instant messengers after the end of a working day, do not take work home. And do yoga, go to the pool or your favorite gym regularly, not just on weekends: changing activities is also an effective way to get rid of accumulated stress.

9. You are disturbed by an unpleasant smell

“I got a headache from her perfume” - this is not a figure of speech, but a statement of fact. Perfumes, perfumed air fresheners or household chemicals do contain chemicals that can cause headache triggers 10 headache triggers.

What to do

Try to avoid concentrated perfumes, as well as soaps, shampoos, conditioners, cleaners with bright fragrances. Instead, use unscented products whenever possible. And more often ventilate the room in which you are.

10. There is too much light around you

Bright lights and glare, especially flickering ones, can also trigger headaches. This is due to the fact that this type of light in the brain increases the level of certain chemicals.

What to do

Monitor the light and protect your eyes from too much light. When going outside, do not forget to wear sunglasses or polarized glasses (they are more effective at fighting glare than others). Adjust the screen brightness on the TV, laptop, or tablet you're working with. If your room has fluorescent lighting that flickers frequently, replace it with another type of lamp if possible.

11. You've been overloaded with pain relievers

Even relatively safe over-the-counter drugs can cause Medication overuse headaches if you use them for several days in a row. According to experts from the reputable medical organization Mayo Clinic, to get such a side effect from pills based on the popular paracetamol or ibuprofen, it is enough to take them more than 15 days a month. Prescription drugs - for example, opioid-based or caffeine-based - are sufficient for 10 days.

What to do

See a therapist. He or she will prescribe other medications for you, or advise you on how to manage your pain without medication, if necessary.

12. You are overheated

It doesn't matter how: they walked in the sun without a headdress or, let's say, trained too intensely in the heat. A headache can be one of the signs of Heat Exhaustion that your body is unable to dissipate excess heat.

Other symptoms: heavy sweating, dizziness, weakness, clammy skin.

What to do

Go into the shade as soon as possible, and preferably into a cool room. If possible, lie down and drink water or isotonic sports drink. If you do not feel better within an hour, call an ambulance: it may be a deadly heatstroke.

13. you react to the weather

A sharp change in atmospheric pressure (in any direction), a cold snap, a rising wind - all this can provoke 10 headache triggers a headache.

What to do

If possible, lie down and rest to allow your body to cope with environmental changes more easily. If not, take a pain reliever. And, of course, start fighting weather dependence.

14. You are hungry

Decreased blood sugar levels can cause headaches in Hypoglycaemia. Such a state is often experienced by those who forgot to eat on time, are on a strict diet or are too active in sports, limiting themselves in nutrition.

What to do

Eat or drink something that contains digestible carbohydrates: sweet tea, fruit juice, milk, cocoa, cookies, candy, or a slice of bread. This will help to quickly bring your glucose levels back to normal and soothe your headache.

Try not to starve in the future.

Switch to 5-6 small meals instead of your usual breakfast, lunch and dinner. Keep a healthy snack, such as nuts or vegetables, on hand.

15. You have eaten or drunk too much sweets

An excess of sugar in the blood provokes a headache as often as a lack of it. Glucose affects hormone levels, in particular adrenaline and norepinephrine. These, in turn, can drastically narrow the blood vessels in the brain, and you have a headache.

What to do

Take a pain reliever. Reconsider your attitude towards sweets and limit the use of sugar.

16. You missed your morning coffee

Coffee addiction is not a Caffeine Addiction and Abuse myth. Fortunately, caffeine does not affect our bodies as powerfully as other legal drugs like cigarettes or alcohol. However, the body still gets used to it. And, abruptly left without the usual dose, it can give out unpleasant symptoms: fatigue, irritability, lack of concentration and that very headache.

What to do

Banal advice: drink coffee. Even a dose one and a half to two times less than usual will do. If you don't have a drink on hand, make green or black tea. Or eat a piece of dark chocolate.

For the future: If you want to fight your caffeine addiction, don't do it right away. Reduce your coffee dosage by about 25% per week. Then the refusal of the drink will pass without unpleasant symptoms.

17. You just had sex

Truth? And now you are experiencing dull or throbbing pain in the head and part of the neck? Most likely, it is she - the headache caused by Sex headaches sexual activity. As a rule, such discomfort goes away in a few minutes, but in some cases it takes hours.

What to do

Most often, short-lived headaches associated with sexual activity are not very pronounced and not dangerous. But if they bother you, consult a therapist.

And do not postpone a visit to the doctor if you have this type of pain suddenly and for the first time.

18. You caught a cold

Cold can cause swelling and inflammation of the sinuses, which are cavities in the bones of the skull that communicate with the nose. This is not always dangerous. Often, mild swelling will go away quickly on its own, and symptoms are limited to nasal congestion and Sinus headaches, which become pressing when you tilt your head down.

What to do

If discomfort interferes with living and working, take an over-the-counter pain reliever - based on the same ibuprofen. You need to contact a therapist only if you have a fever, after the end of the action of the medication, you feel worse, and nasal congestion and pain increase.

Then, perhaps, we are talking about sinusitis, frontal sinusitis or other inflammation of the sinuses, which will require the use of prescription drugs, up to antibiotics.

19. You wear a headgear that is too tight

This type of discomfort is called External compression headaches. It often affects people who, by virtue of their profession, are forced to wear helmets, goggles, masks, tight caps for a long time - builders, military men, policemen, athletes.

However, an external compression headache can occur in any person wearing a tight hat two sizes too small.

What to do

The solution is obvious: just take off the too tight headgear and replace it with something more comfortable. If an uncomfortable accessory is part of your work dress code, pull it off for at least a minute or two at every opportunity so that your head can relax from the pressure.

20. You just ate ice cream or drank something cold

This type of pain is called ice cream headache Ice cream headaches. Doctors have not fully figured out the mechanism of pain caused by cold, but they assume that the matter is as follows. When you bite an ice cream or sip an ice-cold drink, the blood vessels in your mouth, nasopharynx, and esophagus narrow sharply. The spasm causes a headache attack.

What to do

Nothing. Typically, the ice cream headache diminishes 5 minutes after the peak. If you are prone to migraines, the discomfort may last a little longer, but it will go away when your body adjusts to the sudden changes in temperature.

21. You've had a head injury

Perhaps it was a concussion and you were seen by a doctor. Or maybe they just knocked, experienced a few unpleasant minutes and safely forgot about the blow, deciding that the incident remained without consequences. Unfortunately, improvement after injury does not always guarantee that Headaches After Traumatic Brain Injury has not suffered more damage.

Pain may appear even several months after the blow.

What to do

If you remember that you hit your head in the past, see a therapist and talk about the injury. The doctor will offer you research, and based on the results, he will prescribe a treatment. Until then, pain can be relieved with over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen.

22. You develop an ear infection

We can talk about it if a pressing or throbbing headache is accompanied by hearing impairment, ringing or discomfort in the ears.

What to do

If, in addition to the signs listed above, there are no other manifestations of the disease, you can do nothing. Most of these mild inflammations clear up on their own in a few days. Any over-the-counter pain reliever can handle the headache.

If the symptoms are accompanied by fever, severe ear pain and dizziness, be sure to contact a therapist so as not to miss otitis media.

23. You have eaten one of the foods that can cause headaches

Trigger foods include Headaches and Food:

• aged cheese (parmesan, blue cheese), as well as feta and mozzarella;
• some fruits and berries: ripe bananas, citrus fruits, kiwi, pineapple, avocado, raspberries;
• peanuts and nuts, primarily almonds;
• dried fruits: raisins, dried apricots, dates;
• pickled foods: cucumbers, olives, cabbage;
• foods with preservatives: sausage, bacon, ham, hot dogs;
• alcohol…

In fact, the list of such products can go on for a long time. To establish which of them your head reacts to, it will turn out only by observation.

What to do

Tactically, take any over-the-counter pain reliever if pain gets in the way. Strategically, start keeping an observation diary. Write down what you ate before you had a headache. After a few notes like this, you will most likely be able to figure out your personal trigger product.

24. You are a woman and you have your period

Headaches can be caused by Hormone Headaches when estrogen levels drop sharply. In women, this happens a couple of days before the onset of menstruation and in the first three days after.

In addition, hormonal headaches can appear:

• while taking certain birth control pills;
• some time before the onset of menopause;
• in the first few weeks of pregnancy.

What to do

If you suspect that hormonal fluctuations may be causing your headaches, talk to your gynecologist or therapist about it. The doctor will help you choose contraceptives without side effects or advise the most effective and at the same time safe pain relievers.

25. You just did a good job

Exercise is also a common provocateur of Exercise headaches. Especially often unpleasant sensations make themselves felt after:

• running;
• rowing;
• tennis;
• swimming;
• weightlifting.

What to do

In most cases, training headaches are not dangerous. They take place within an hour or two. You can speed up the process by taking pain relievers.

This material was first published in November 2018. In May 2021, we updated the text.