By Barbara Pierce
There’s no doubt the holidays are stressful for most of us. Decorating, buying gifts, cooking, rushing here and there.
Our long to-do list seems all the more daunting when a pestering headache won’t go away. In most cases, they are just nuisances that go away with an over-the-counter pain reliever, food, caffeine or rest.
There are many different types of headaches. Don’t dismiss your headache. If you’re throbbing with one, figure out the cause and get relief. While most headaches aren’t a cause for concern, certain types indicate something serious and require treatment.
The most common headache is a tension headache. A dull, non-throbbing pain involving both sides of the head. The pain tends to be worse in the scalp, temples or back of the head. It can be triggered by lack of sleep, increased stress, hunger, alcohol or too much caffeine.
Sinus headaches are less common, caused by swelling in the sinuses, resulting in pain behind the cheeks, nose and eyes. Often, the pain is worse when you bend forward. They could indicate a bacterial infection which requires treatment.
Cluster headaches are rare but severe. The pain hits in clusters, up to several times a day over a period, then none. See your health care professional for medication.
Migraine headaches are one of the most commonly misunderstood, misdiagnosed and mistreated disorders, said a Yale School of Medicine professor online. They are the second leading cause of disability worldwide, responsible for a diminished quality of life for those suffering.
Migraines have a variety of symptoms, most notably a throbbing headache on one side of your head. Migraines often get worse with activity, lights, sounds or smells. They usually last at least four hours, even for days.
All migraines are severe. However, they are much more than a severe headache, said clevelandclinic.org. They are a neurological disease that can cause a variety of symptoms in addition to pain, including tiredness, nausea, visual disturbances, numbness and tingling, irritability, difficulty speaking.
If your headache is severe and doesn’t go away with over-the-counter pain reliever, it may be a migraine. Get treated early by your health care professional to prevent it from escalating and avoid a lot of pain.
A migraine is defined as at least five headaches lasting from four to 72 hours, a throbbing sensation often accompanied by nausea, vomiting or sensitivity to light and sound.
Migraines do run in families.
That migraines are accompanied by an “aura” is a myth, said experts. Some do have a brain disturbance that typically occurs 30-60 minutes before the headache, seeing flashing lights, zigzagging lines, losing your vision temporarily or feeling pins and needles on their arms or legs. Some have speech disturbance, they can’t understand things or can’t speak properly.
While every person who suffers from migraines has unique triggers, some weather patterns can increase the severity and frequency of migraines.
One of the most important things in treating headaches is figuring out your triggers. This is the first step to finding relief. And your health care professional can tailor treatment to your triggers. Keep a diary that includes weather changes, sleep, stress levels, exercise, menstrual cycles and the severity and length of your migraines. (Many women get migraines around their period or mid-cycle.)
“Headaches can sometimes be red flags for something more serious, and, therefore, need to be properly diagnosed by a medical professional,” said acupuncturist Greyson Ross, owner and operator of Greyson Ross Acupuncture in New Hartford.
If you suspect you have migraines, while you wait for your health care professional to diagnose and treat, here are things you can do to manage symptoms:
Get regular sleep: Lack of sleep is a common migraine trigger, as is getting too much. Naps can help relieve a headache.
Skipping meals can trigger a migraine. And some foods can be a trigger, including chocolate, certain cheeses, processed meats, red wine, artificial sweeteners, MSG.
• Caffeine can be a trigger. Experiment to find your caffeine limit.
• Drink water; being hydrated will relieve a headache.
• Limit alcohol as it can cause headaches.
• Dim the lights. Sensitivity to light is a common symptom; keep the lights low.
• Stress is one of the biggest triggers; find ways to reduce your stress; consider psychotherapy.
After your headache has been diagnosed by your health care professional, a range of treatments are available, including acupuncture.
“Acupuncture is used to manage a variety of headaches including tension headaches, migraines, sinusitis pain, trigeminal neuralgia and cluster headaches,” said Ross. “Acupuncture can help decrease the frequency, duration, and intensity of the headache pain. Most patients can expect to see some improvement by about six treatments. After the initial course of treatment, patients will typically need treatment once a month; some go months in between sessions.”
If your headache comes on suddenly, reaches intense pain within one minute, it’s important to seek immediate medical attention.