According to the observations of doctors, at least 70% of the population of developed countries suffer from periodic headaches . But in fact, a lot more people are familiar with this condition, just many do not go to the doctor, preferring to cope with it on their own. But we must remember that the only symptom of many serious illnesses is precisely a severe headache. What to do in this case, only a doctor can advise. And, despite the fact that now there are many tools that can quickly alleviate suffering, do not get carried away with them. Indeed, in order to get rid of headaches, you need to eliminate the causes that cause them, and not just the symptoms themselves. Therefore, before drinking pills, you need to find out why you have such a condition.
What diseases can cause a headache?
- the most common cause of them are vascular diseases: arterial hypertension, atherosclerosis, vegetovascular dystonia and others;
- Migraine also occurs quite often, especially among women;
- cervical osteochondrosis can lead to pinching of the artery, resulting in severe headache and nausea;
- often this condition is a symptom of viral diseases;
- sinusitis, tonsillitis and sinusitis also cause headaches;
- surely it will occur after a traumatic brain injury;
- various problems with vision, ranging from increased intraocular pressure and glaucoma to the wrong selection of glasses can cause headaches;
- This condition is sometimes caused by otitis media and dental diseases;
- constant severe headache and nausea may indicate the development of a brain tumor;
- It can also be caused by some diseases of the endocrine glands, as well as quite rare diseases such as temporal arteritis and disorder of the temporomandibular joint.
Other causes of this condition
But in many cases, absolutely healthy people complain of severe headaches. What to do in this case can be understood if we recall what events preceded this state. After all, pain is often caused by an improper lifestyle and diet. What can cause them?
- most often these are stresses, depressive states and psycho-emotional overstrain;
- nervous and muscle fatigue, as well as excessive mental stress;
- a sedentary lifestyle and a lack of fresh air;
- incorrect posture, the habit of tightening legs under oneself and hunching one's back;
- sleep disturbances, night work;
- change in meteorological conditions, sudden hypothermia or heat stroke;
- improper nutrition: malnutrition, diets, the prevalence of nitrites, caffeine and histamine in food;
- poisoning by alcohol, chemicals and drugs;
- lack of certain vitamins and minerals, for example, a deficiency of iron or vitamin B.
Types of Headaches
Depending on the reasons, the pain may be different. It can vary in intensity: strong, sharp, dull, aching, oppressive or throbbing. The pain may increase gradually or when changing position, from sounds and smells. Sometimes it subsides when in peace and quiet, during sleep. Depending on this, you need to choose the means to combat it. Headache is also classified according to the place of its occurrence. It can be girdle when the whole head hurts, and can be localized in one place. It often depends on the reasons that cause it. Most often there is pain in the temporal region. It can cause various diseases, stress and poisoning. Pain in the back of the head occurs due to pressure surges or cervical osteochondrosis. Eye strain and infectious diseases can cause such sensations in the forehead. Sometimes they are localized on one side. For example, a severe headache in the left part of the head indicates the development of migraine.
Diagnostics
It is already clear that the reception of analgesics may not always be a salvation from suffering.
If you incorrectly determine the cause and do not eliminate it, then after the cessation of the action of the drug, the allergy will occur again. Therefore, you need to know why there is a severe headache. What to do to get rid of it, the doctor can advise after the examination. He will find out where the pain is localized, how frequent it is, and when it hurts more. The doctor should definitely tell about additional symptoms: dizziness, nausea, blurred vision and others. You will need to remember what preceded the onset of pain, what medications you took and how you ate. If necessary, the doctor will prescribe additional laboratory tests: these are usually blood tests, magnetic resonance imaging, an electroencephalogram of the brain, and an x-ray of the cervical spine. You may also need to consult other specialists: an ophthalmologist, a dentist, a neurologist, and an endocrinologist.
When you can be treated independently
Many people have severe headaches. What to do in this case, some decide on their own. But you can do without visiting a doctor only when you have already passed the examination and know your diagnosis. If headaches torment you periodically, and you know their cause, you can not go to the doctor each time, but apply the treatment that he has prescribed for you. When is it necessary to visit a medical facility?
“Your head fell ill for the first time, and you don’t know how this can be caused.”
- The pain arose suddenly, for no apparent reason, and is gradually increasing.
- The habitual localization and intensity of pain has changed.
- There were additional symptoms: nausea, dizziness, "flies" in front of the eyes, weakness.
Headache treatment
If you know your diagnosis and the cause of this condition, if your pain does not occur often and disappears after using medications, you can self-medicate. Most people try to deal with the pain with pills. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics, and vasodilators are usually helpful . But in many cases, you can do without these by no means harmless drugs, if you eliminate the causes of pain. Often helps to rest, walk in the fresh air, a relaxing massage or a warm bath. For many, headaches go away after sleep, meditation, or auto-training. Folk remedies help well: herbs, compresses and acupressure. During treatment in a medical institution, physiotherapy may be prescribed: electrophoresis, salt caves, magnetic and laser therapy. In any case, all methods of getting rid of pain should be aimed primarily at its cause.
How to help yourself without drugs
If you understand why you have a severe headache, what to do at home to relieve the attack? If it is caused by overwork, you need to distract from work, take a walk in the fresh air or just relax. It is useful to drink a decoction of chamomile, valerian, linden or mint.
Then you need to lie down and try to relax. To do this, turn off the computer, TV and radio, close the curtains. You can turn on pleasant music and light
scented candles. A warm bath with sea salt or aromatic oils will also help. It is good to
massage your head with fingers or a stream of warm shower. Sometimes the pain caused by tension goes away, if you tightly bandage your head with a towel for about 10 minutes, you can simply put strong pressure on the temple area for a short while. In some cases, relief comes if you drink warm tea with lemon and honey or just sweetened water. All other treatments should be chosen depending on the reasons for which a severe headache appeared. What to do - in each case, the doctor can advise. For example, with high blood pressure, you need to take drugs to reduce it, during infectious diseases - antiviral and antipyretic drugs, and with osteochondrosis do massage. But in any case, measures must be taken in a timely manner, one cannot tolerate if a severe headache has appeared.
What to do: what pills to drink
All medicines for headaches can be divided into several groups. Any of them without a doctor’s recommendation can be taken only once - to relieve the attack.
1. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs will help with pain of any origin, in addition, relieve inflammation and fever. The best of them are Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Nurofen, Imet, Ketorolac and others.
2. Antispasmodics are used for pain, tension, spasm of blood vessels, if NSAIDs do not help. Recommended "Papaverine", "Drotaverin", "No-shpa", "Spazgan" and others.
3. If the pain is caused by pressure fluctuations or other vascular disorders, analgesics will help well in this case: Analgin, Nebalgin and others. But in combination with them, vasodilating or special hypertensive agents should be taken.
4. These medications may not help if a very severe headache occurs. What to do, usually in this state, a person cannot decide. Combined drugs can quickly bring relief: Pentalgin, Solpadein, Brustan, Novigan and others.
Folk remedies
But sometimes taking medications is not possible for various reasons, and a severe headache has occurred. What to do in this case? Various herbal preparations, compresses and other traditional medicine help many. It is only necessary to choose a treatment method acceptable for you, which will really alleviate the condition.
- you can drink warm decoctions of herbs: St. John's wort, coltsfoot, oregano, mint, valerian and some others will help;
- sometimes it is recommended to rub whiskey with lemon peel or garlic juice;
- you can make compresses with lemon, lavender or orange oil, or just inhale their smell;
- you need to drink the juice of potatoes, spinach or viburnum berries;
- Ginger tea or cinnamon tea helps a lot;
- It is recommended to sleep on a pillow made of buckwheat husk;
- Acupuncture and acupuncture also help well.
Severe headache during pregnancy
What should women expecting a baby do, because most drugs are contraindicated for them? And pregnant women often have headaches. This is due to hormonal changes in the body of a woman, toxicosis and circulatory failure.
If the head does not hurt very much, you can try to cope with it without medication. Can help:
- rest and sleep;
- shower or warm bath;
- relaxing exercises or breathing exercises;
- massage of the neck and shoulders;
- a warm or cold compress on the bridge of the nose and forehead for pain in this area, as well as on the neck if a severe headache in the back of the head is disturbing.
What if these methods do not help? You can take one tablet of pain medication. If you do this infrequently, then it will not bring harm. What medicines are acceptable for pregnant women to drink? In small doses, Citramon or Paracetamol is allowed, there is also a little-known drug - Acetaminophen. It is strictly forbidden to drink "Nurofen", "Aspirin" and analgesics. The same rules must be followed during lactation, if there is a severe headache. "What to do: I feed the child, but there is no strength to endure?" - Women are often interested. There are drugs compatible with breastfeeding, mainly based on paracetamol. This is “Kalpol”, “Eferalgan” or “Panadol”. They least harm the child, but often they are also not worth taking.
Headache in children
Small patients are much more difficult to treat, because often they cannot accurately describe their condition. Therefore, in case of headache, you must definitely show the child to the doctor. Only by making a diagnosis, the doctor can determine how to cope with the problem. In addition to the pain associated with various health disorders, modern children often experience tension pains and even suffer from migraines. A light massage, rest and sleep, linden tea or a cool compress can help your baby. To remove a strong attack once, it is permissible to give the child medications based on paracetamol. Most non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics for children under 12 years of age are contraindicated.
Headache Prevention
As you know, all medicines are unsafe for health. Therefore, it is better not to allow a condition when you need to drink strong drugs. For those who are regularly worried about headaches, it is very important to observe the correct regimen of the day, go to bed on time and walk more in the fresh air. It is necessary to lead an active lifestyle, spend less time on the TV and computer. It is also important to monitor nutrition, because many products can cause headaches: coffee, chocolate, carbonated drinks, canned food and sausages. They are best avoided. It is also necessary to refuse alcoholic drinks and smoking.