Why head throbs

Treatment: Ice packs; isometheptene; mucate; combination products containing caffeine; ergotamine; DHE injectable and nasal spray; 5-HT agonists; analgesics or medications, which constrict the blood vessels.

Symptoms: Best described as the rapid development less than three days of unrelenting headache. Typically presents in a person with no past history of headache. Precipitating Factors: Does not evolve from migraine or episodic tension-type headache. It begins as a new headache and may be the result of a viral infection.

Treatment: Can resolve on its own within several months. Other cases persist and are more refractory. Prevention: Does not respond to traditional options, but anti-seizure medications, Topamax, or Neurontine can be used. Symptoms: Localized or generalized pain, can mimic migraine or tension-type headache symptoms. Headaches usually occur on a daily basis and are frequently resistant to treatment. Precipitating Factors: Pain can occur after relatively minor traumas, but the cause of the pain often difficult to diagnose.

Treatment: Possible treatment by the use of anti-inflammatory drugs, propranolol, or biofeedback. Symptoms: Gnawing pain over the nasal area, often increasing in severity throughout the day. Pain is caused by acute infection, usually with fever, producing blockage of sinus ducts, and preventing normal drainage. Sinus headaches are rare. Migraine and cluster headaches are often misdiagnosed as sinus in origin.

Precipitating Factors: Infection, nasal polyps, anatomical deformities, such as deviated septum that blocks the sinus ducts. Treatment: Treat with antibiotics, decongestants, surgical drainage, if necessary. It is an infrequent cause of headache. Precipitating Factors: Caused by malocclusion poor bite , stress, and jaw clenching. Treatment: Relaxation, biofeedback, and the use of a bite plate are the most common treatments.

In extreme cases, the correction of malocclusion may be necessary. Symptoms: Dull, non-throbbing pain, frequently bilateral, associated with tightness of scalp or neck. The degree of severity remains constant. Treatment: Rest; aspirin; acetaminophen; ibuprofen; naproxen sodium; combinations of analgesics with caffeine; ice packs; muscle relaxants; antidepressants, if appropriate; biofeedback; psychotherapy; temporary use of stronger prescription analgesics, if necessary.

Prevention: Avoidance of stress; use of biofeedback; relaxation techniques; or antidepressant medication. Symptoms: Short, jab like pain in trigger areas found in the face around the mouth or jaw; frequency and longevity of pain varies. It is a relatively rare disease of the neural impulses and is more common in women after age Precipitating Factors: Cause unknown, pain from chewing, cold air, touching the face.

If under age 55, may result from neurological diseases, such as MS. Symptoms: Sudden and severe pain that may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, fever, seizure speech problems, weakness, confusion, visual disturbances. Precipitating Factors: Thunderclap Headache may be due to a benign syndrome or a potentially life-threatening condition. Treatment: Since the nature of the headache by itself cannot allow the distinction between benign and serious causes, it is essential to seek out an emergency medical evaluation if the onset of a headache is sudden and severe.

Symptoms: Pain progressively worsens; projectile vomiting; possible visual disturbances speech or personality changes; problems with equilibrium; gait, or coordination; seizures.

It is an extremely rare condition. Treatment: If discovered early, treat with surgery or newer radiological methods. The Complete Headache Chart. Allergy Headache Symptoms: Generalized headache; nasal congestion; watery eyes Precipitating Factors: Seasonal allergens, such as pollen, molds. Treatment: Antihistamine medication; topical, nasal cortisone-related sprays; or desensitization injections Prevention: None Learn more about the relationship between allergies and headaches.

Aneurysm Symptoms: May mimic frequent migraine or cluster headaches, caused by balloon-like weakness or bulge in the blood vessel wall. Precipitating Factors: Congenital tendency; extreme hypertension Treatment: If an aneurysm is discovered early, treat with surgery. Prevention: Keep blood pressure under control. Caffeine-Withdrawal Headache Symptoms: Throbbing headache caused by rebound dilation of the blood vessels, occurring multiple days after consumption of large quantities of caffeine.

Precipitating Factors: Caffeine Treatment: Treat by terminating caffeine consumption in extreme cases. Prevention: Avoiding excess use of caffeine. Cervicogenic Headache Symptoms: Pain on one side of the head or face, stiff neck, pain around the eyes, neck, shoulder, and arms, nausea, blurred vision, sensitivity to light and sound.

Precipitating Factors: Injury to the neck, malformations of the cervical vertebrae, arthritis of the upper spine Treatment: Treatment varies depending on the severity of symptoms, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories aspirin or ibuprofen , nerve blocks, physical therapy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation TENS , neuromodulation surgery Prevention: Without treatment, a cervicogenic headache can become debilitating.

Chronic Daily Headache Symptoms: Refers to a broad range of headache disorders occurring more than 15 days a month; two categories are determined by the duration of the headache less than four hours and more than four hours.

Chronic Migraine Symptoms: Headache occurring more than 15 days a month, for more than 3 months, which has the features of migraine headache on at least 8 days per month. Cluster Headache Symptoms: Excruciating pain in the vicinity of the eye; tearing of the eye; nose congestion; and flushing of the face. Precipitating Factors: Alcoholic beverages; excessive smoking Treatment: Oxygen; ergotamine; sumatriptan; or intranasal application of local anesthetic agent Prevention: Use of steroids; ergotamine; calcium channel blockers; and lithium Depression and Headache Symptoms: People with painful diseases tend to become depressed.

Eyestrain Headache Symptoms: Usually frontal, bilateral pain directly related to eyestrain. Back to Health A to Z. Most headaches go away on their own and are not a sign of something more serious. Also get an urgent GP appointment or call if your child is under 12 and has any 1 of the following:.

The typical tension headache produces a dull, squeezing pain on both sides of the head. People with strong tension headaches may feel like their head is in a vise. The shoulders and neck can also ache. Some tension headaches are triggered by fatigue, emotional stress, or problems involving the muscles or joints of the neck or jaw.

Most last for 20 minutes to two hours. If you get occasional tension-type headaches, you can take care of them yourself. Over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen Tylenol, other brands and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories NSAIDs such as aspirin, naproxen Aleve, other brands , or ibuprofen Motrin, Advil, other brands often do the trick, but follow the directions on the label, and never take more than you should.

A heating pad or warm shower may help; some people feel better with a short nap or light snack. If you get frequent tension-type headaches, try to identify triggers so you can avoid them. Don't get overtired or skip meals. Learn relaxation techniques; yoga is particularly helpful because it can relax both your mind and your neck muscles.

If you clench your jaw or grind your teeth at night, a bite plate may help. If you need more help, your doctor may prescribe a stronger pain medication or a muscle relaxant to control headache pain. Many people with recurrent tension-type headaches can prevent attacks by taking a tricyclic antidepressant such as amitriptyline Elavil, generic. Fortunately, most people with tension-type headaches will do very well with simpler programs.

Migraines occur less often than tension headaches, but they are usually much more severe. Neurologists believe that migraines are caused by changes in the brain's blood flow and nerve cell activity. Migraine triggers. Although a migraine can come on without warning, it is often set off by a trigger. The things that set off a migraine vary from person to person, but a migraine sufferer usually remains sensitive to the same triggers.

The table lists some of the most common ones. Migraine symptoms. Migraines often begin in the evening or during sleep. In some people, the attacks are preceded by several hours of fatigue, depression , and sluggishness or by irritability and restlessness.

Because migraine symptoms vary widely, at least half of all migraine sufferers think they have sinus or tension headaches, not migraines. Visual complaints are most common. They may include halos, sparkles or flashing lights, wavy lines, and even temporary loss of vision. The aura may also produce numbness or tingling on one side of the body, especially the face or hand. Some patients develop aura symptoms without getting headaches; they often think they are having a stroke, not a migraine.

The majority of migraines develop without an aura. In typical cases, the pain is on one side of the head, often beginning around the eye and temple before spreading to the back of the head. The pain is frequently severe and is described as throbbing or pulsating. Nausea is common, and many migraine patients have a watering eye, a running nose, or congestion. If these symptoms are prominent, they may lead to a misdiagnosis of sinus headaches.

P is for pulsating pain O for one-day duration of severe untreated attacks U for unilateral one-sided pain N for nausea and vomiting D for disabling intensity. Without effective treatment, migraine attacks usually last for four to 24 hours. When you're suffering a migraine, even four hours is far too long — and that's why early treatment for a migraine is so important.

Migraine treatment. If you spot a migraine in its very earliest stages, you may be able to control it with nonprescription pain relievers. Acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, and a combination of pain medications and caffeine are all effective — if you take a full dose very early in the attack.

When prescription drugs are needed, most doctors turn to the triptans, which are available as tablets, nasal sprays, or as injections that patients can learn to give to themselves. Examples include sumatriptan Imitrex , zolmitriptan Zomig , and rizatriptan Maxalt. Some patients require a second dose within 12 to 24 hours. Patients with cardiovascular disease and those who take a high dose of certain antidepressants need to discuss the risks of using them with their doctor.

Work with your doctor to find the migraine treatment that works best for you. Remember, though, that overuse can lead to rebound headaches and a vicious cycle of drugs and headaches. So, if you need treatment more than two or three times a week, consider preventive medications. Migraine prevention. Some people can prevent migraines simply by avoiding triggers. Others do well with prompt therapy for occasional attacks.