If you often feel a headache, you are not alone, no matter what type it is. Headache is a common occurrence that takes a significant toll on its sufferers’ social and family life. One of the most common approaches almost every one of us brings to treat our headaches is consuming aspirin or acetaminophen right away. No doubt, this approach works, but for a while. When the effect of the medication ends, you feel a headache reoccurs, and the vicious cycle of pain and medication goes on.
Now, the question is what you should do to break this cycle? The answer is pretty simple, i.e., treating the headache according to its diagnosis and root cause.
Let’s talk about the treatment options one can adopt to avoid a headache and where you can go in Delaware for comprehensive care.
How Should I Manage My Headache?
As a sufferer of frequent headaches, the very first step one should take is knowing what type of headache his/she has. This is because sometimes your headache has no cause; sometimes, it’s a symptom of any underlying health condition.
The following factors can help diagnose your headache:
- When does it occur?
- What are its triggers?
- How long does it stay?.
Headaches are of 150 types, and any form can affect you anytime.. Here are a few of the most common types and subtypes of headaches.
Tension-Type Headache
As one of the most common types of headache, tension-type headache affects three-fourths of the general population. If you have a tension headache, you may feel a tight band around your head, constant but dull pain on both sides of the head, and pain that spreads to or from the neck.
Cluster Headache
This type of headache occurs off and on for weeks over the course of a few or several months. You feel a severe ache in one side of the head which is often associated with other signs and symptoms, such as nasal discharge, nasal congestion, and tearing on the same side as the pain.
Migraines
As the third most common type of illness, migraines affect almost 16% of Americans. You feel pulsating and throbbing pain which often occurs on one side but can also switch sides. You may also experience nausea or vomiting, sensitivity to light, lightheadedness, and sensory disturbance.
Chronic Daily Headaches
If you have this type of headache, you will feel a throbbing pain in the head for 15 days or more a month. There are many subtypes of chronic headache, including:
Primary stabbing headaches: This occurs several times a day for a few seconds.
Primary exertional headaches: This occurs when you exercise or overexert yourself.
Hemicrania continua: This is a migraine-like headache that occurs on one side of the head.
Chronic paroxysmal hemicranias: This occurs as a sharp headache that affects only one side and causes nasal congestion or tearing.
Medication overuse headache: As the name indicates, this headache results from the overuse of medications. Pain occurs for at least 15 days a month and lasts for no less than three months.
Treatment of Headaches
Finding out the trigger of headaches is a crucial aspect of treating it or at least reducing the number of headache episodes you have. Following are the ways you can treat two common types of headaches.
Tension-Type Headache Treatment
Over-the-counter available medications like ibuprofen, aspirin, and acetaminophen can effectively treat occasional tension-type headaches (TTH). However, chronic headache requires daily prescription medications like tricyclic antidepressants.
Your doctor may also prescribe the following alternative therapies to manage the stress that causes headaches.
- Massage therapy
- Acupuncture
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Biofeedback (use of sensors to monitor involuntary physical response to headache)
Migraine Treatment
Migraine management involves recognizing the triggers and avoiding them to alleviate symptoms and prevent additional migraine attacks. The treatment option to manage migraine includes:
- Over-the-counter medications (e.g., aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, etc.)
- Prescription medications (e.g., sumatriptan and zolmitriptan)
- Preventive medications (e.g., topiramate, amitriptyline, propranolol, metoprolol, etc.)
- Rest away from noise and light
- Massage therapy
- Hot or cold compress to neck or head
Headaches Treatment Near Me in Delaware
If you suffer from headaches frequently, don’t hesitate to visit us at Delaware Back Pain and Sports Rehabilitation Centers. Our multidisciplinary team, including pain management experts will do a thorough evaluation and give a diagnosis. They offer evidence-based and personalized treatment to manage headaches.
To get treatment for your headache, schedule a consultation with our doctors by calling (302) 529-8783 or filling out our online appointment request form.
We look forward to having you!
