Headache Symptoms

Headache symptoms vary widely depending on the type of headache you experience. For some, pain is really the only symptom that occurs. Other headache sufferers may experience some or all of the following symptoms:

Dizziness
Eye pain when looking into bright lights
Nausea
Pain in head or upper neck
Confusion
Irritability
Extreme fatigue
Tenderness of the scalp
Tightness sensation in the head
Vertigo

Some headaches, like migraines, have several different phases that occur over several days. Others are episodic, with headache symptoms that occur suddenly or in relation to another condition (e.g., sinus headaches).

Headache Treatment Options

As with many pain conditions, the best headache treatment is prevention.

Getting plenty of rest, managing stress, and incorporating daily exercise can go a long way to prevent headaches from occurring. Drinking plenty of fluids every day and consuming a diet with few processed or packaged foods helps, too. If you find yourself in the grip of chronic headaches, here are ten headache treatments to try.

1. Rest

Sometimes a headache is a sign that you need to slow down and take a day or two to rest. Listen to what your body is telling you, and rest.

2. Relaxation techniques

Some headaches (e.g., stress and tension headaches) are worsened or caused by stress. Learning relaxation techniques, such as mindfulness meditation and yogic breathing, can also help reduce stress and relieve headache pain.

3. Over-the-counter medications

While over-the-counter pain relievers are often not useful for certain kinds of headaches (like migraines and cluster headaches), they can help relieve pain for others. Take only as directed by your doctor.

4. Prescription medications

For chronic migraine headaches , your doctor might recommend prescription medications or antidepressants. It is not well-known how they prevent migraines, but research has shown that some prescription medicines can reduce the number of headache days per month .

5. Dry heat, moist heat, or cold

Dry heat or moist heat therapy for headaches works well for migraines. This simple treatment can include a hot shower or steamy washcloths placed on the head. Some people respond better to cool washcloths or even ice on the back of the neck.

6. Herbs and vitamins

The use of natural remedies to treat headaches is increasing. It’s important to talk to your doctor before incorporating natural remedies to ensure there are no potential drug interactions. For example, some patients find relief with vitamins such as B2, magnesium, and vitamin D. Others swear by herbs such as feverfew, butterbur, peppermint, and willow bark for pain relief.

7. Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medical treatment that has modern research support in preventing and treating headaches. In addition, it’s also a helpful stress relief approach.

8. Occupational and physical therapy

Occupational and physical therapy work to address the root cause of headaches and to help you correct them in your body. For example, cervicogenic headaches originate with a problem in the neck. This might be caused by poor posture over time. An occupational therapist will work to help you correct poor posture, while a physical therapist will help you strengthen the muscles you need to maintain it.

9. Nerve blocks

Some people benefit from nerve blocks and other injections into specific areas to help relieve inflammation and reduce pain.These are often a good diagnostic step before surgery, too.

10. Surgery

Surgery is generally a treatment of last resort for chronic headaches and should only be undertaken if other treatments have failed. Often, surgery involves relieving pressure on the nerves around the skull, which can provide pain relief and prevent future headaches.

Types of Headaches

Headaches can occur gradually or suddenly, and they can last from a very short period up to several days.

Chronic headaches are those that occur for half (or more) days of a month during a period of three months or more. There are well over 100 kinds of headaches, broken down into two main types.

1. Primary

These headaches are not caused by other conditions. The headache itself is the condition. Examples of primary headaches include tension headaches, cluster headaches, and migraines.

2. Secondary

Secondary headaches are caused by other conditions, including headaches caused by hangover, concussion, dehydration, teeth grinding, and stroke. Other kinds of headaches include:

Altitude headaches
Cervicogenic headaches
Chronic daily headaches
Pressure-related headaches
Rebound headaches
Sinus headaches
Spinal headaches
Thunderclap headaches
Cluster headaches

More Facts about Headaches

Worldwide, nearly half of adults will develop a headache in a year, with 90% of these being tension headaches. Despite these numbers, headaches are one of the most underdiagnosed and undertreated medical conditions across the globe.

Schedule An Appointment Today!

The Pain Experts of Arizona was founded to bring the highest level of care in a state-of-the-art setting that emphasizes the belief of treating our patients with the same respect, compassion, and dedication we would treat our own friends and family.

Contact our office to schedule an appointment and let us help you get back on your way to an active life without the limitations of chronic pain. From our Phoenix office, The Pain Experts of Arizona, serves pain management patients in Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, Queen Creek, and the entire Phoenix area.

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Headaches Overview