HEADACHES

HEADACHES

by Dr Nile

Most people will suffer from a headache at some point in their life but for some it can become a regular occurrence, which can be both crippling in pain and very worrying. Headaches are very common and are only very rarely caused by something serious. There are a few 'Red Flags' to look out for and if you don't have these symptoms, be reassured, it's probably not something to worry about.

There are lots of different types and causes of headache; too many to explain in detail here. A mild headache on its own is rarely something to be concerned about. Take paracetamol and/or ibuprofen, ensure that you drink plenty of fluids and try to rest and relax. A particularly stressful event, either sudden or over a period of time, can bring on a headache and taking time to rest and de-stress can be very helpful.

Our bodies tend to like routine and anything that disturbs this can trigger a headache. Eat and drink regularly and try to keep to the same waking and sleeping times. Too little or too much sleep can bring on a headache. It is important for your general health to exercise and keep fit but sometimes strenuous exercise that you are not used to, can bring on a headache.

If you have frequent or persistent headaches, you should see your doctor. Keeping a diary of your symptoms and triggers can provide information that can be used to correctly diagnose the type of headache you have. Try to limit the number of times you use medication to treat your headache to 12 doses per week as overusing pain relief is a common cause of chronic headache.

A very common type of headache is a ‘Tension Headache’. This can cause pain all around the head in a band or it can be concentrated in a particular area, but it usually affects both sides of the head and feels like a pressure or tightness. It is not serious and is not usually associated with other symptoms. It is more common in people who do not exercise regularly or who are stressed or drink too much alcohol. Simple pain relief and massaging tense muscles in the scalp or back of the neck usually helps.

Another common type of headache is ‘Migraine’. Often, there are symptoms that come on before the headache itself such as a change in appetite or mood. Some people get an ‘aura’ which causes a change in vision or sensation and can even cause weakness to one side of the body. They can be very frequent or just occur a few times in your life. They usually cause a one sided throbbing type pain, which is worse on movement and associated with nausea or vomiting and dislike of bright lights. They sometimes run in families so you are more likely to suffer with migraine if you have a parent that suffers with migraine too.

If you are worried about your headache, it is important to see your doctor and if you have any of the ‘Red Flags’ listed then you should see a doctor straight away. They may advise you to take some pain relief at the onset of your headache, anti-sickness medication for nausea or they may prescribe a longer term preventative medication. If they are concerned about your headache they will send you to hospital for tests or to see a specialist, but this is very rarely needed.

Red Flags:

·  Sudden onset headache that feels like you have been hit with a bat to the back of your head and feels like the worst headache you have ever had.

·  Headache that is associated with a fever and vomiting, especially if you have a stiff neck or a rash and you are unable to look at the light.

·  Loss of balance, loss of vision or double vision, unable to speak normally, unable to lift your arm/leg.

·  Worse on bending over or lying down.

·  Feeling drowsy or confused.

·  Headache following a head injury.

·  Loss of consciousness or seizure.

·  Progressive symptoms of weakness, confusion or deafness.

Triggers – bright lights, alcohol, caffeine, certain foods (especially chocolate, cheese and citrus fruits), extreme environmental temperatures, long distance travel, loud noise, skipping meals, strenuous exercise, too much or too little sleep, stress and anxiety, medication overuse, certain medicines e.g. combined pill, dehydration and eye strain.