Virtually everyone gets a headache every now and then. Usually they are just an easily-dismissed annoyance, related to high stress or a fleeting illness. But sometimes they can seem more serious if they persist or cause severe, even impairing, pain. What do you do then, and how do you know when there's truly a medical problem? This information might point you in the right direction.
Many people mistake a severe headache for a migraine, but the truth is that most individuals who get migraines have a long history of battling their effects, rooted in childhood. Of course, this is not always the case, but it is more often than not.
Migraine headaches are frequently marked by photo- and phonophobia--intense sensitivities to light and sound, respectively. Nausea and/or vomiting are also common. Pulsing or throbbing, usually on only one side of the head, is a threading symptom through migraine complaints. A large proportion--over 30 percent--of regular migraine sufferers also perceive an "aura," which is marked by atypical sensory experiences that precede the actual migraine.
This particular type of headache can be absolutely debilitating, lasting for up to three days. Yikes! If you are experiencing a combination of these symptoms, then you should have a discussion with your doctor to get a more definitive diagnosis. If there are any particular triggers either internally or externally, be sure to list them and bring them up in your appointment.
If you don't have these signs, then you probably don't suffer from migraine headaches, although it is possible for an individual to develop a rogue migraine without having had very many--or any--in the past.
But not all severe headaches are migraines. Increased stress levels running rampant throughout the body can cause many unusual triggers, including severe headaches. Tension headaches do not typically interfere with daily life, but they are obnoxious, causing discomfort through the neck and shoulders in addition to the pressure felt on the crown and in the forehead.
Any sudden onslaught of pain without apparent precedence may be linked to an illness like the common cold or influenza. Monitor the way the rest of your body feels and treat with OTC drugs like aspirin, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen. If the pain interferes with your daily life, contact your doctor's office to set up an appointment. Listen to your instincts--you'll know when there's truly something wrong.
Headaches aren't always easily treated with a few simple pills. Persistent tension headaches have interrupted schooling and work for me in the past, so I opted to go for an acupuncture treatment. Acupuncture can relieve stress, which is a common trigger for headaches of all kinds, plus provide basic relief for the pain. Only you can decide which treatment will work best for you, but find the right one, and you can be headache free and back to doing the things you love!
Author Resource:-
Meridian Acupuncture (http://www.meridianacupuncture.com/) is a Portland acupuncture clinic that provide you with a safe, comfortable and positive therapeutic experience.
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