Headaches that come and go

Headaches that come and go

‘Headache’ is the most commonly reported symptom in medical reports. It is very rare that a headache indicates a serious illness.

Headaches can come and go, and have various different characteristics. About 95% of headaches are not associated with any abnormality or disease, which is called a primary headache. Researchers are still unsure of the exact cause of headaches and we are currently awaiting more answers.

Different types of headaches

We can classify the symptoms of headaches into three types, but many people may experience multiple types of headaches at the same time.

Tension headaches

• Found in 9 out of 10 people with headaches.
• Affects both men and women.
• Symptoms include gradual, constant pain that feels like pressure or tightness around the neck, forehead, or head.

Migraine headaches

• Found in about 6% of people with headaches.
• More common in women than men, especially in those under 40 years old.
• Symptoms may include abnormal vision, throbbing pain on one side of the head, nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and intense cravings for certain foods.

Cluster headaches

• Symptoms include pain around one eye that occurs in cycles and lasts for a period of time each day.
• Accompanying symptoms include redness and tearing of the eye on the affected side, nasal congestion, and a runny nose.
• More common in men, particularly those who smoke and drink heavily.
• Can sometimes be misdiagnosed as a sinus infection or dental problem.

New theory on headaches

Researchers are currently interested in the pathway of the trigeminal nerve and a chemical in the brain called serotonin, which they believe may be the cause of severe headaches. Headaches may result from an imbalance of chemicals in the brain, meaning that when serotonin levels in the brain drop, it triggers stimulation through the trigeminal nerve to the blood vessels in the outer covering of the brain, causing them to expand and become inflamed. When the brain receives the signal of "pain," the result is a headache.

Self-care

Stress-related headaches are often the first type of headache experienced. Try massaging, applying heat or cold, taking a warm bath, or practicing relaxation techniques. If these do not work, taking aspirin (for adults only) or acetaminophen, or ibuprofen may help. Gentle exercise in small amounts may also help alleviate headaches. Applying heat or cold may also help.

Symptoms of recurring headaches:

Record the headaches that occur each day, specifying various details such as:

1. Severity: whether the headache is debilitating or just annoying

2. Frequency and duration: when the headache starts, whether it comes and goes or is constant, how long it lasts, and what can be done to relieve it

3. Other symptoms: whether there are warning signs, nausea or dizziness, changes in vision, or food cravings before the headache

4. Location: whether the headache is on one side of the head, in the neck muscles, or around the eyes

5. Family history: whether other family members experience similar headaches

6. Triggers: whether the headache is caused by certain foods or activities, weather, time of day, or other environmental factors

If there are triggers, it is best to avoid them as much as possible and make lifestyle changes such as getting enough sleep and exercising as appropriate.

For migraine headaches:

If treated promptly, migraine headaches can disappear quickly with pain relievers such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or aspirin (for adults only) as recommended by a doctor. Some people may find relief by resting in a dark room or drinking beverages with caffeine (such as coffee or cola).

If self-care methods for 1-2 days do not improve the pain, you should see a doctor. The doctor will diagnose what type of headache it is, what is causing it, and try to eliminate the unrelated root cause. The patient may need additional physical examination. The doctor will prescribe a pain reliever of a certain size to relieve the type of headache diagnosed by the doctor. Each type of pain reliever will have different properties to relieve some types of headaches, especially those that are not the same.

For those with severe migraine headaches, the doctor may prescribe sumatriptan instead of other drugs. Sumatriptan will act as a chemical in the brain of a certain type of migraine. If migraines occur frequently, the doctor may prescribe preventive medication to be taken every day.

Precautions

• Do not overlook headaches that have no obvious cause. You should see a doctor immediately if you have a headache.
• Occurs suddenly and severely
• Occurs with fever, stiff neck, rash, confusion, seizures, hallucinations, weakness, numbness, or difficulty speaking
• Occurs from neck injury or severe respiratory infection after falling or being hit
• Have never had a history of headaches, and being over 55 years old

If you don't want a headache:

Some eating, drinking, or activities may trigger a headache. Some triggers should be avoided, some examples are the following stimuli, which vary from person to person but are commonly encountered:

• Alcohol, red wine
• Smoking
• Stress or fatigue
• Eye strain
• Sexual activity or various exercises
• Incorrect body posture
• Changing sleep or meal times
• Some types of food, such as pickled food, bananas, caffeine, aged cheese, chocolate, citrus fruits, and seasonings (sodium nitrate in hot dogs, sausage, beef, seasoning powder in processed foods) and other flavored drinks, beans and peanut butter, pizza, avocados, bread containing yeast, and baked goods with yeast
• Climate, altitude, or traveling across time zones
• Hormonal changes during menstruation or menopause, taking birth control pills, or hormone replacement therapy
• Flickering or flashing lights
• Strong smells from perfume, flowers, or car exhaust
• Air pollution or being in a stuffy room
• Loud noises

Childcare

Children and adults often experience recurring headaches, but it is rare for them to indicate a serious illness. Headaches may be associated with various viral infections, but if a child frequently experiences headaches despite being in good health, a doctor should be consulted. Some children may have migraines or a tendency to have migraines, if someone in the family has a history of migraines. Symptoms may include nausea, sensitivity to light, and a desire to lie down all the time, but it will usually improve within 2-3 hours. A child may experience headaches due to stress related to school problems with friends or family, or as a result of using certain medications, especially decongestants.

If it is suspected that the cause of the headache is stress-related, try non-medical treatment methods. However, if it happens frequently, you need to help your child record their headaches every day. You may need to give them acetaminophen or ibuprofen, but not for extended periods because the medication may mask the true cause of the condition.

If a child has been experiencing headaches for a long time and they do not disappear, or they suddenly become severe without any apparent reason, it is important to consult a doctor. This is especially important in cases where the headaches are caused by an infection, toothache, sore throat due to streptococcus or other infections. It is also important to inform the doctor if anyone in the family has a history of migraines to facilitate diagnosis.