Headache Pain

Headache Pain

 There’s nothing else like it – you have a rip-roaring headache. In fact, it feels like six workers are running jack hammers in your brain. Ironically, the brain doesn’t actually experience headache pain, because they don’t have nociceptors. Even though your brain itself doesn’t feel the pain, it surely feels like it when you’re in the throes of a headache.

Some doctors believe that headaches can be broken down into five categories. Others believe they fall into three classes: organic, tension, and vascular. Organic headaches include traction and inflammatory which may be caused by the blood vessels in the brain expanding or being pulled by an aneurysm or brain tumor. Tension headaches can be caused by stress, anxiety, or frustration and are due to muscle contractions. Vascular headaches include cluster and migraine headaches that are caused by the dilation of the blood vessels.

If you experience headaches very often, it could be that there are specific triggers such as alcohol, stress, a change in sleeping habits, or not eating regularly that could be causing your headache pain. You may also have allergies to certain foods that act as a trigger to headaches. Keeping a headache diary can help you find out what it is that begins the headache cycle and then an idea of what you can avoid to reduce the numbers of headaches you experience.

You may also want to keep track of the level of headache pain you experience each time and what you’ve done to control the pain. If an over-the-counter pain reliever doesn’t reduce the pain, you may want to make an appointment with your regular doctor to discuss your headache history, particularly if you have any of the following:

A headache that affects only one side of the head

• A headache that also includes hallucinations, nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to sound and/or light
• A headache that comes on suddenly and is severe
• A headache that has a particular pattern such as occurring at the same time of day, under the same circumstances, or lasts the same amount of time
• Any headache that is accompanied by confusion, weakness in the arms and legs, or losing consciousness
• Any headache that interferes with your day-to-day life including your work or your ability to enjoy social activities

If your headache becomes worse or doesn’t improve when you take over-the-counter pain relievers, your doctor may recommend a prescription strength pain reliever instead. If that still doesn’t help your headaches improve, they may recommend that you see a specialist to be evaluated further.

Headache pain that requires you to take medication two or more days a week could actually mean that you’re overusing or misusing the medication you’ve been prescribed. Amazingly the medication that is supposed to combat headaches can actually cause you to have less severe rebound headaches followed much more severe headaches.

Headache pain is something that’s common among both men and women; children even get headaches. Speaking to a doctor about your headache pain is the first step to finding a way to fight it and win.