Ache? Get your head round em
HEADACHES are one of the most common health complaints, with over ten million Brits suffering at least one every month.
Most of the time we just reach straight for the painkillers.
But trying to pinpoint the exact type of headache – and its cause – can not only treat the pain but stop it happening again.
Here’s our guide to the five most common types:
have a tight band of pain around my forehead or back of my head, lasting for an hour or more. Answer: It’s probably a TENSION HEADACHE. Causes? Being very stressed or tired can trigger these headaches, which occur when the neck and scalp muscles contract. They’re by far the most common type and often run in families. Ease it: Paracetamol or ibuprofen will usually shift it within 20 minutes. Gentle exercise and simple relaxation techniques can help. Answer: It’s probably a MIGRAINE. Causes? Alcohol, stress, exercise, hunger and hormone fluctuations can be triggers, causing blood vessels in the brain to narrow and expand rapidly. Ease it: Keeping a diary can help identify triggers. If normal painkillers don’t help, pharmacists can dispense sumatriptan – a drug that stops attacks early. I have a severe throbbing pain on one side of my face lasting for up to four hours. Sometimes it makes my eyes water. My headaches come in groups, from once every two days to eight times in a single day. Answer: It’s probably a CLUSTER HEADACHE. Causes? Alcohol, strong smells and heavy smoking are common triggers. Cluster headaches are five times more common in men. Ease it: These are the hardest headaches to diagnose and treat.
Sumatriptan injections can stop them within five minutes – see your GP. Breathing pure oxygen through a mask is a good treatment. If your GP can’t help, ask to be referred to a neurologist who specialises in clusters.
have a dull daily headache combined with a foggy, heavy feeling. It’s usually worse first thing in the morning and only goes when a painkiller is taken. Answer: It is probably a REBOUND HEADACHE. Causes? All painkillers can cause a “withdrawal” headache if taken regularly. In particular taking codeine, triptan-based drugs or ibuprofen for ten or more days a month are risk factors Ease it: The only option is to stop all painkillers. The headache often worsens initially, but should ease after a few days.