According to the observations of doctors, periodic headaches torment at least 70% of the population of developed countries. But in fact, many more people are familiar with this condition, it's just that 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 diseases is a severe headache. What to do in this case, only a doctor can advise. And, despite the fact that now there are many means that can quickly alleviate suffering, you should not get carried away with them. After all, in order to get rid of headaches, you need to eliminate the causes that cause them, and not just the symptoms themselves. Therefore, before taking pills, you need to find out why you have such a condition.
What diseases can cause headaches
- the most common cause of them is vascular disease:arterial hypertension, atherosclerosis, vegetovascular dystonia and others;
- migraine is also quite common, especially among women;
- cervical osteochondrosis can lead to pinching of an artery, resulting in severe headache and nausea;
- often this condition is a symptom of viral diseases;
- sinusitis, tonsillitis and sinusitis also cause headaches;
- it will definitely occur after a traumatic brain injury;
- various vision problems 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 disease;
- constant severe headache and nausea may indicate the development of a brain tumor;
- some diseases of the endocrine glands, as well as quite rare diseases such as temporal arteritis and disorder of the temporomandibular joint can also cause it.
Other causes of this condition
But in many cases perfectly he althy people complain of severe headaches. What to do in this case, you can understand if you remember what events preceded this state. After all, pain is often caused by an unhe althy lifestyle and diet. What can cause them?
- most often it is stress, depression and psycho-emotional overstrain;
- nervous and muscular fatigue, as well as excessive mental stress;
- sedentary lifestyle andlack of fresh air;
- incorrect posture, the habit of tucking your legs under you and hunching your back;
- sleep disturbances, night work;
- change in meteorological conditions, sudden hypothermia or heat stroke;
- malnutrition: malnutrition, diets, predominance of nitrites, caffeine and histamine in food;
- poisoning with alcohol, chemicals and drugs;
- lack of certain vitamins and minerals, such as iron or vitamin B deficiency.
Types of headaches
Depending on the causes, the pain can be different. It can vary in intensity: strong, sharp, dull, aching, pressing or throbbing. The pain may increase gradually or with a change in 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 shingles, when the whole head hurts, or it can be localized in one place. It often depends on the reasons causing it. Most often there is pain in the temporal region. It can be caused by 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 on the left side of the head indicates the development of a migraine.
Diagnosis
It is already clear that notanalgesics can always be a salvation from suffering.
If you incorrectly determine the cause and do not eliminate it, then after the medication stops, the algia will reappear. Therefore, you need to know why a severe headache appears. 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, visual impairment 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: usually these are 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, dentist, neurologist and endocrinologist.
When you can treat yourself
Many people suffer from 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 every time, but apply the treatment that he prescribed for you. When is it necessary to visit a medical facility?
- It's the first time you've had a headache and you don't know what might be causing it.
- The pain came on suddenly, withoutfor no apparent reason, and gradually intensifies.
- The usual location and intensity of pain has changed.
- Additional symptoms appeared: nausea, dizziness, "flies" before the eyes, weakness.
Headache treatment
If you know your diagnosis and the cause of this condition, if you experience pain infrequently and pass after the use of medications, you can self-medicate. Most people try to manage their pain with pills. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics, and vasodilators usually help. But in many cases, you can do without these by no means harmless drugs, if you eliminate the causes of pain. Rest, a walk in the fresh air, a relaxing massage, or a warm bath often help. For many, the headache goes away after sleep, meditation or auto-training. Folk remedies help well: herbs, compresses and acupressure. When treating in a medical institution, physiotherapy can be prescribed: electrophoresis, s alt caves, magnetic and laser therapy. In any case, all methods of getting rid of pain should be directed primarily to its cause.
How to help yourself without drugs
If you understand why you have a severe headache, what to do at home to relieve an attack? If it is caused by overwork, you need to take a break 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, draw the curtains. You can turn on pleasant music and light scented candles. A warm bath with sea s alt or aromatic oils will also help you relax. It is good to massage the head with your fingers or a stream of warm shower. Sometimes the pain caused by tension disappears if you tightly bandage your head with a towel for 10 minutes, you can just press hard on the temple area for a short while. In some cases, relief comes from drinking 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 for osteochondrosis, massage. But in any case, measures must be taken in a timely manner, it cannot be tolerated if a severe headache appears.
What to do: what pills to take
All medicines for headache can be divided into several groups. Any of them without a doctor's recommendation can be taken only once - to relieve an attack.
1. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs will help with pain of any origin, in addition, they will relieve inflammation and fever. The best of them are Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Naproxen,"Nurofen", "Imet", "Ketorolac" and others.
2. Antispasmodics are used for tension pain, vasospasm, if NSAIDs do not help. "Papaverine", "Drotaverine", "No-shpa", "Spazgan" and others are recommended.
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, you need to take vasodilators or special hypertensive drugs.
4. These drugs may not help if you have a very severe headache. What to do, usually in this state, a person cannot decide. Combined preparations can quickly bring relief: Pentalgin, Solpadein, Brustan, Novigan and others.
Folk remedies
But sometimes taking medication is not possible for various reasons, and there is a severe headache. What to do in this case? Many are helped by various herbal preparations, compresses and other traditional medicine. You just need to choose a treatment method that is acceptable to 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 grate whiskey with lemon peel or garlic juice;
- you can make compresses with lemon, lavender or orange oil, or just inhaletheir scent;
- 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 of buckwheat husks;
- acupressure and acupuncture also help well.
Severe headache during pregnancy
What should women who are expecting a baby do, because most drugs are contraindicated for them? And pregnant women often have headaches. This is due to hormonal changes in a woman's body, toxicosis and circulatory failure.
If the headache is not very bad, you can try to cope with it without medication. Can help:
- rest and sleep;
- shower or warm bath;
- relaxing exercises or breathing exercises;
- neck and shoulder massage;
- a warm or cold compress on the bridge of the nose and forehead for pain in this area, as well as on the neck in case of a severe headache in the back of the head.
What if these methods don't work? You can take one painkiller tablet. If you do it infrequently, then it will not bring harm. What medicines are allowed to be taken by pregnant women? 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. "Whatdo: I feed the baby, but I have no strength to endure?" - women are often interested. There are drugs compatible with breastfeeding, mainly based on paracetamol. These are Calpol, Eferalgan or Panadol. They harm the baby the least, but often they are also not worth taking.
Headache in children
Little patients are much more difficult to treat because they often cannot accurately describe their condition. Therefore, in case of a headache, it is necessary to show the child to the doctor. Only by making a diagnosis can a doctor determine how to deal with the problem. In addition to pain associated with various he alth disorders, today's children often experience tension pain and even suffer from migraines. A light massage, rest and sleep, linden tea or a cool compress can help the baby. For a one-time removal of a strong attack, it is permissible to give the child medicines based on paracetamol. Most non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics are contraindicated for children under 12 years of age.
Prevention of headaches
As you know, all drugs are not safe for he alth. Therefore, it is better not to allow a state when you need to drink strong drugs. For those who are regularly bothered by headaches, it is very important to follow the correct daily routine, go to bed on time and walk more in the fresh air. It is necessary to lead an active lifestyle, spend less time at the TV and computer. It is also very important to monitor nutrition, because many foods can cause headaches.pain: coffee, chocolate, carbonated drinks, canned food and sausages. They are best avoided. You must also give up alcoholic beverages and smoking.
