Headaches: When to be Alarmed and What to Do
03:45What to do when a headache strikes
Almost everyone has had to deal with a headache. Most of the population have even had it a number of times. Still, when and if they do happen, they are usually minor. They can be a nuisance, yes, but it’s usually nothing that a pain reliever that can be bought over-the-counter can resolve.
However, if you are suddenly getting an unusual headache or a severe one, you might want to take a closer look at what causes it. It can be a blood clot, a tumour, or a can be the signs of an impending stroke. Of course, these problems are rare. But being aware when you should take a headache more seriously is important to ensure that you know how to better deal with it.
What causes it
Even with the advanced technology present today, doctors do not really have a full understanding as to what really causes most headaches. What is sure though is that the skull nor the brain tissue are considered responsible for it as these parts of the anatomy do not really have the necessary nerves needed to register pain. However, blood vessels along the neck and head have the nerves for signaling pain. The same is true for the tissues around the brain and some of the nerves that originate there.
When to take it seriously
Most types of headaches can be taken care of by yourself. For the tougher ones, you can always seek your doctor’s help to get a prescription. However, there are certain types of headaches that do need immediate medical care.
A headache is worrying when it only started developing after you have reached 50. A change in its pattern is a cause for concern too. The same is true for the sudden escalation of its severity. An increase in pain that is followed by movement or coughing is alarming. Call your doctor if a headache causes changes in your mental function and in your personality. It is also a cause for alarm when your headache causes a red eye that is painful or if it has been caused by a head trauma. If it prevents you from doing all the things that you usually do in normal life, then you need to take a closer look at it.
Headache categories
There are over 300 types of headaches. However, only about ten percent of this is considered to have a known cause. Tension headaches are considered the most common. There is also migraine which can be more severe in nature. There are also cluster headaches which tend to plague men more than women though they tend to be more uncommon.
Dealing with headaches
If you think that your headache is something that should be cause for concern, you can always refer to your doctor. You may need to undergo tests to determine what is the true cause behind it. Most of the time though, dealing with the issue means popping up some over-the-counter painkillers.
Watch the video below to learn more.
Learn more about headaches and if it is about time that you should be more concerned about yours by reading about Dr Toby Ikwueke online. You can also like and follow
2 comments
I get headaches, and this was really insightful. Great advice and very well written post Dr Ikwueke
ReplyDeleteNice post, Toby. It's a very usual question we all ask ourselves when our head starts hurting.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing with us.