What Is Causing Your Blurry Vision and Headache?

What Is Causing Your Blurry Vision and Headache? Symptoms like blurry vision, headache, dizziness, and fatigue may bother many people. These non-specific symptoms are common and may be caused by a wide range of conditions, which may or may not be serious. Here are some of the most common conditions that can cause both blurry vision and headache, among other things.

10 Explanationsfor Your Blurry Vision and Headache
1. Nearsightedness

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Myopia or nearsightedness is a common visual disorder that affects people of all ages. You can see near objects clearly, but looking at objects that are farther away can give you blurry vision, headache and discomfort. Nearsightedness often develops gradually during childhood or adolescence, especially if you have a family history of the condition.

Other symptoms may include:

• Squinting or partially closing the eyelids to see more clearly


• Eyestrain that often leads to headaches


• Difficulty driving a car, especially at night

Symptoms of myopia often improve when corrective lenses are used and when other reading habits, such as using adequate lighting, are practiced.

2. Stroke


Interruption of the blood supply to your brain can cause gradual or sudden changes such as blurry vision, headache, body weakness, dizziness and in severe cases, loss of consciousness. This condition is commonly known as a stroke, which causes your brain cells to be deprived of oxygen and other nutrients, leading to cell death. It is a medical emergency, so prompt treatment is important to prevent permanent brain damage and other complications. Other symptoms of stroke include:

• Difficulty speaking and/or understanding


• Weakness/numbness in one side of the face, an arm or a leg


• Trouble seeing in one/both eyes


• A sudden, severe headache accompanied by dizziness, vomiting, or loss of consciousness


• Trouble walking or moving an arm

3. Ocular Migraine

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Ocular migraines cause temporary blindness, which may last for less than an hour, accompanied by a migraine headache. It usually affects one eye, causing blurry vision, headache, flashing lights, or blind spots. Symptoms may last for up to several hours. Your headache may affect one side of the head and may be pulsatile or throbbing in character, usually getting worse with activity.

Other symptoms of ocular migraine include:

• Unusual sensitivity to light/sound


• Nausea


• Vomiting

4. Type 2 Diabetes


Diabetes is a common condition that occurs when your body does not use insulin as it should or does not make enough insulin to facilitate the absorption of sugars. Normally, the body breaks down food into glucose, the cells' main source of energy. A hormone called insulin facilitates the absorption of glucose from the blood into the cells of the muscles and brain. In diabetes type 2, the body produces insulin but the cells may be resistant to its effects, thus glucose accumulates in the blood, causing high blood sugar levels.

Over a long time, diabetes can lead to organ damage and other complications, leading to a wide range of symptoms such as blurry vision, headache, loss of weight, and body weakness. Here are some of the symptoms caused by diabetes type 2:

• Dizziness


• Increased thirst


• Excessive urination


• Weight gain/Loss of weight


• Erectile dysfunction


• Double vision


• Frequent infections

5. Acute Sinusitis


Acute inflammation of the sinuses (sinusitis) is often caused by infection and can last for less than four weeks. Sinusitis develops when inflammation, swelling, and Mucus blocks your nasal passages, making it easier for bacteria, viruses or fungi to grow. These organisms produce gas, which accumulates in the spaces (sinuses) in the head causing a build-up of pressure and spread of infection. Allergies may also cause acute sinusitis. Symptoms often include blurry vision, headache, runny nose, and tenderness over the forehead or cheek, where the sinuses are located. Other symptoms may include:

• Swelling over the forehead/cheek


• Difficulty breathing through nose


• Pain when moving eyes


• Cough


• Fever


• Decreased sense of taste/smell


• Post nasal drip


• Nasal Congestion


• Bad breath


• Sore Throat


• Fatigue

6. Acute Angle-Closure Glaucoma


Glaucoma is a serious condition that can cause blindness, and therefore it is considered a medical emergency. In this condition, fluid gets trapped in the eye, causing a build-up of pressure that can destroy the optic nerve. Acute angle-closure glaucoma often causes sudden eye pain, eye redness, blurry vision, headache and nausea. Symptoms often develop within hours. Other symptoms include:

• Pain/discomfort


• Vomiting


• Blindness


• Seeing halos around lights


• Loss of peripheral vision


• Tearing in one eye

7. Acute Stress Reaction


Acute stress disorder is a common condition that can affect anyone. Sometimes, the body’s response to a stressful situation is physical, causing rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, blurry vision, headache, and Anxiety. These reactions may occur after a severe or stressful event such as a natural disaster, physical violenceor the death of someone you love. Other symptoms include:

• Rapid breathing


• Throat tightness


• Giddiness


• Palpitations


• Hyperactive behavior


• Flushed skin


• Tremors/Trembling


• Reduced work productivity


• Fatigue


• Nervousness


• Mood swings


• High Blood Pressure


• Grinding teeth


• Restless


• Difficulty falling asleep

8. Caffeine Withdrawal


Regularly drinking caffeinated drinks such as coffee or tea can make your body get used to their stimulating effects. If you stop taking these at once, you may get symptomsof caffeine withdrawal, such as blurry vision, headache, fatigue, and bad moods. Fortunately, these problems fade within a few days. Other symptoms include:

• Drowsiness


• Restless


• Irritability


• Difficulty staying awake at daytime

9. Sleep Apnea


If you have sleep apnea, you stop breathing many times while sleeping. These short episodes can last a few seconds but may happen up to 30 times or more in an hour. When your breathing stops, your airway collapses and blocks the flow of oxygen into and out of your lungs. Sleep apnea may cause you to wake up frequently throughout the night, and lead to daytime symptoms blurry vision, headache, daytime sleepiness and fatigue. If not treated, it can raise your risk for Heart disease or other serious health problems. Other symptoms include:

• Snoring


• Memory problems


• Frequent urination at night


• Difficulty staying asleep


• Difficulty waking from sleep


• Overweight


• Disorientation


• Drowsiness


• Erectile dysfunction

10. High Blood Pressure


High blood pressure is a common condition that often occurs with age. However, some factors can increase your risk such as having a family history, being overweight, heavy drinking, poor diet, and lack of exercise. If left untreated, it can damage your arteries, heart, and Kidneys and increase your risk for stroke and Heart Attack. Symptoms include:

• Headache


• Changes in vision


• Flushed skin


• Lightheadedness/Dizziness


• Erectile dysfunction

Morning Headache – Causes, Treatment, Home Remedies, Prevention

Morning Headache – Causes, Treatment, Home Remedies, Prevention






Headache can be simply defined as pain in your head. Pain can be dull, throbbing pain and sharp unbearable pain. Headaches can occur on any part of your head like front head, sides or on the back of your head. Some kinds of headache are limited to particular spot on the head (if there is any Tumor inside) and sometimes the pain would radiate across the head.

Headache in the morning can change the course of entire day. It is unpleasant to wake up with a headache. Number of factors can cause headache ranging from Stress, Anxiety to more severe causes like tumor etc. All you need to do is to identify the nature of pain, its intensity and discuss with your doctor to find a solution. Headaches are of many types like Migraine, tension headache and cluster headache. And headaches can be short lived (acute) or chronic (long period).

Morning Headaches often attack you between 4-8 AM when the body is preparing for major physiological changes. Adrenalin hormone is produced in bulk during the early hours of the day during which headache can occur. And the body is in a condition to secrete lesser amounts of natural painkillers like endorphins during morning hours. This can also cause morning headache.

Morning Headache Causes :

• As said earlier, headache comes in any intensity ranging from dull pain to staggering one. By describing the symptom properly, your doctor would be able to diagnose the root cause easily.


• Daily headache in the morning can be caused due to physiological as well as psychological factors.


• Some of the physiological factors causing morning headache include infection in the brain (Meningitis), swelling or inflammation in the blood vessels of the brain, excess of pressure (intracranial pressure), presence of tumor in the brain and any other brain injury.


• Excess usage of medications like analgesics, pain killers can also cause headache. It is not wise to take OTC drugs for pain for more than a week.


• Headaches associated with other symptoms like nausea or vomiting can be due to digestion related problems.


• Tension (stress) headache can sometimes produce symptoms similar to migraine causing dull pain and pressure like feeling on the forehead and back of your head.


• Many people can get headache when they are not sleeping properly at night. Insomnia or Sleeping Sickness can weaken the brain’s function disrupting its normal activities. Morning headache can get triggered due to lack of quality sleep and sleep apnea and the person would wake up feeling heavy.


• Wrong sleeping posture can also cause headache in the morning. Sleeping in the same position or awkward position can produce a crick in your back along with morning headache. When you are putting excess of pressure to particular muscle in the neck or shoulders the entire night, it can cause considerable pain in that part.


• Very low blood sugar levels can cause morning headache for sure. People with prolonged Diabetes often experience headache in the morning when the sugar levels have dropped down due to deprivation of food for hours together.


• Some people are in the habit of grinding their teeth during sleep which can produce vibrations that affects your head, neck and even shoulder producing morning headache and pain throughout the body.


• Cluster headaches can wake you up in the middle of sleep causing throbbing pain. Cluster headaches occur in episodes for days or weeks together.


• In addition to the above causes, headaches can occur without any apparent cause in millions of people.

Tests :

Based on the symptoms, intensity of pain and its origin, your doctor would get cues for physiological problems like infection or other neurological issues. He may request for various tests including CT scan or MRI scanning of brain. The report of MRI brain can give precise picture ruling out any other abnormalities. In case your headache is stress induced, you will be referred to a professional psychologist to identify the underlying problem.

Morning Headache Treatment :

Treatment for headache depends on the underlying cause. In case of infection, your doctor may suggest suitable antibiotics to destroy the bacteria/virus causing it.

Medications :

• Antidepressants are prescribed for headaches of chronic type. Nortriptyline group of drugs are often given for chornic headaches. These drugs are effective in giving quality sleep getting rid of anxiety and stress.


• SSRI medications like fluoxetine can also give relief in treating headache.


• Beta blockers like atenolol or metoprolol are prescribed for treating Hypertension that induces headache.


• Anti-seizure medications like sodium valporate are given for controlling headache.


• Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like Anaprox or naprelan are prescribed for treating headaches in the morning. These drugs are effective for getting rid of side effects of pain-killers.


• Botox injection can give some relief from morning headache where no other options are giving console.

Prevention :

Several types of headaches can be prevented if they are of psychological origin. You need to join yoga and meditation classes for practicing relaxation techniques. Deep breathing exercises can give significant relief from headache and many kinds of pain also.

Morning Headache Home Remedies :

Hot and cold compression can give quick relief from any kind of pain and swelling. Hot bag can be placed on the forehead and back of your neck to get some comfort from headache. Similarly you can try using ice packs on the skin to get instant relief from aches. This simple remedy is effective for treating headaches caused by stress and sleeping in awkward posture.

Try eating some cereals or oats porridge in the mornings to drive away the morning headache. Diabetic patients have the problem of sudden drop in blood sugar levels in the morning. They can eat something as soon as they wakeup which can provide comfort from headache. Drink two glasses of plain water in empty stomach in the morning.

Do regular exercises at least for 30 minutes a day. Aerobic exercises can induce your brain to secrete “feel good” hormones that can reduce the morning headache. Further doing exercises daily can give you sound sleep.

Always follow sleeping schedule. Go to sleep same time everyday and wakeup at the same time. Your bedroom should be dark and bedding comfortable. Use soft pillows that help in keeping your head in neutral position. The temperature in the bedroom should be optimal and during winter use thick blankets and sleep shirt to keep you warm.

Alternative Treatment :

Morning headache can be treated with various other methods like acupuncture, homeopathic medicines and massage. But remember to check with your doctor before starting any therapy. Coenzyme supplements like Q10 are used by some people for managing morning headache.

Support :

You need to understand the triggers to control headaches. Identify the things that increase stress in your mind and completely avoid them. Pay attention to your headaches and talk with your spouse. If necessary, seek help from a therapist to manage stress. Practice yoga and meditation regularly.

Tips For Prevention :

• Get quality sleep.


• Do not overuse any medication since it can cause chronic headache.


• Choose healthy foods and don’t skip meals since leaving your stomach empty can induce headache in the morning.


• Do not drink coffee/tea after evening and avoid taking any caffeine products during dinner since it can interfere with your sleep.

Home Remedies for Headache

Home Remedies for Headache






Headache is really a nuisance causing discomfort. Headache can develop due to many factors. When the blood vessels in the brain tighten for some reason it causes headache. Abnormal flow of neurons in the brain can be the reason. For some people, headache is caused due to lack of water balance, excessive sleeping, using painkillers for long term and due to neck strain. Smokers and regular drinkers also get headache. Headache can be relieved by taking OTC medications. It is also possible to get quick relief from headache by simple home remedies suggested here.

1. Fresh Ginger

Ginger has many medical properties required for healing and to reduce inflammation. Headache caused by constriction of blood vessels can be treated with fresh ginger.

• Apply a paste of dry ginger powder mixed with few drops of water on your forehead. Headache will disappear within few minutes.


• Crush fresh ginger pieces and squeeze it to make juice. Mix some lemon juice for taste and drink it.


• Inhale the vapor of water that contains ginger powder to get quick relief from headache.


• Ginger not only is effective for headache but also for many other issues of digestion.

2. Mint Juice

Mint leaves can be crushed to prepare juice and applied on the forehead to get relief from headache. You can also apply mint tea compresses on your forehead alternatively since mint contains menthol it can give relief from discomfort.

3. Peppermint Oil

Add 2-3 drops of peppermint oil to boiling water and inhale the steam. Peppermint oil can be applied on the forehead and this flavor reduces headache and relief from discomfort.

4. Basil Leaves

• Basil is an analgesic and muscle relaxant and hence good for treating headache.


• Prepare tea with fresh leaves of basil and add few drops of honey for taste before drinking.


• Inhaling the steam of basil leaves can produce calming effect giving relief from headache.

5. Lavender

Lavender oil and spray is considered to produce fresh aroma and relieves you from discomfort caused by headache. It is effective for treating Migraine also. Gently massage few drops of lavender oil on the forehead to get instant relief from headache. Inhalation of vapor of lavender oil is highly recommended for relieving muscle tension.

6. Cool Water

Drinking a glass of cold water will help in treating headache caused due to Dehydration. Lack of water molecules in the body can trigger headache. Simply drink 2 glasses of cool water and see the difference within few minutes.

7. Ice Pack

• Apply few ice cubes wrapped in a towel on the forehead. Ice cubes are effective in numbing the pain and gives quick relief from headache.


• A towel dipped in cold water can be placed on your head for few minutes.


• For migraine, you can place ice packs on the back of your neck.


• If ice cubes are not available readily, you can make use of frozen peas or vegetable packs for getting the cooling effect.

8. Rosemary Oil

Rosemary oil also has the same anti-inflammatory nature like that of lavender oil. You can massage few drops gently on your forehead. Alternatively, you can prepare tea by adding rosemary leaves to boiling water and drink it.

9. Cloves

The fragrance of cloves is highly effective for headache. You can carry 2-3 cloves in a soft cloth and inhale the smell while having headache. Clove oil can also be applied on the forehead by gently massaging it.

10. Apple

Apple is rich in vital nutrients and is a healthy diet. By taking an apple you feel comfortable and full which in turn drives away the headache. Include fresh fruits in your daily meal.

The above home remedies are meant for mild headache. However you can check with your doctor if you have regular headaches with other symptoms.

Pressing The Acupressure Point :

Give firm pressure on the palm area between the thumb and forefinger. Several acupressure points lie in our hand and legs. By applying pressure on the right point, you can get relief from headache.

Hot Water Therapy :

Take hot water in a bucket and simply soak your feet in it for few minutes or until the water becomes warm. More blood flows through your feet by soaking it in hot water. This will relieve the pressure from the blood vessels constricted in your head. Alternatively, you can place a towel dipped in hot water on the forehead.

Coffee :

Sip a hot cup of coffee. It is considered that caffeine present in coffee helps in reducing inflammation of blood vessel in your head thus giving relief from headache.

Tip : Eat a healthy balanced diet that contains plenty of vegetables and fruits. Drink lot of water daily. Do regular exercise. These 3 basic things can help in preventing many medical problems and Stress.

Why Do I Keep Getting Headaches?

Why Do I Keep Getting Headaches?

Headache – an uncomfortable condition that everyone may experience once or twice in a year. It’s OK if you don’t suffer headaches more often, which often occurs if you miss to take enough sleep in the past weeks, you put up with cold or you build too much Stress lately. But if you consider it normal to have headaches as often as 2-3 times in a week and you just take pain medications to kill the pain – don’t, because you might just make things worse.

Not asking your health care provider “why do I keep getting headaches” will not solve the problem. The symptom stay as it is and may become even more complicated. Knowing the root cause of your headache is very important to be able to prevent or minimize attacks in the future.

Why Do I Keep Getting Headaches?

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1. Toxins Build Up
Pain is often associated to signs of low oxygen. Most headaches indicate decrease of oxygen level in the brain area due to toxins overload. Some drugs can even trigger headache to strike as a side effect.

2. Food or Seasonal Allergy
Headaches occur due to lack of nutrients and oxygen since the oxygen within the body is used to reduce the effects of some allergens which later become toxic.

3. Circulation Problems
Due to stress, nutrient deficiencies and hormonal imbalance may result to headaches. In effect, spasm of blood vessels occurs which lead to decrease in oxygen supply and blood flow in the brain. In extreme circulation problems, too much deficiency of oxygen and blood supply can lead to a Stroke.

4. Alcohol
Many people suffer headache after drinking alcohol, even if they only sip a few shots. The only way to know if this is the main cause of the pain is to write it down in a journal in which you can keep a record of what you eat and drink and if you suffer a headache afterwards. If you find alcohol a problem, you’ll view and evaluate the trend as soon as possible.

5. Lack of Sleep
Are you not getting enough sleep lately? Not being able to give yourself enough sleep is one of the common causes that trigger headaches. Since sleep is the best time to rejuvenate and restore your body, falling short can greatly affect your normal bodily functions such as controlling pain.

6. Brain Disorders
If you suffer a brain disorder, it is inevitable to experience headaches more often than at sporadic occasions. Should you have this condition, it’s critical to contact your doctor because it can be a sign of a brain Tumor, a blood clot, or an Aneurysm which will amount to a serious ailment that needs immediate medical help.

7. Medical Overuse
Why do I keep getting headaches when I take medications immediately? This may be the case of rebound headaches or medication-overuse headaches. They occur to anyone who suffers tension-type headaches, migraines, or other severe headaches and takes pain relievers for more than 2 or 3 days a week. Medical overuse may:

• Cause pounding, throbbing, achy or dull pain


• Leave you awake first thing in the morning and persist all through the day


• Start with a severe pain at first and wears off as the medication begins


• Strike every day or almost every day


• Involve irritability or nausea

The best way to cure medication-overuse headaches is to ask your doctor if there is a need to stop or reduce taking the medication that cause headache as a side effect.

8. Migraines
Migraines occur by as many as three times to women than men. They may:

• Involve increased sensitivity to sound or light, vomiting or nausea


• Strike at one side of your head


• Involve pain that aggravates with routine activity


• Usually take 4 to 72 hours when untreated

Treatment against migraine includes:

• Medications that can be brought over the counter


• Medications that requires prescriptions


• Quiet, dark room for resting


• Cold or hot compress applied to your neck or head


• Drinking small amounts of caffeine


• Massage

These treatments are intended to provide you relief against symptoms and prevent attacks in the future.

9. Tension-Type headaches
Some of the most common tension-type headaches are those that:

• Often tighten like a band around the head


• Create weak to average level of pain on either side of the head


• Usually brought about by insufficient sleep, anxiety, Depression, hunger, neck strain or stress


• Strike at occasional times or over half of a month (chronic)


• Take 30 minutes to weaken on a whole week

Treatment: Occasional tension-type headaches are often treated easily using over-the-counter medications such as:

• Acetaminophen (Tylenol, and others)


• Ibuprofen (Motrin IB, Advil, and others)


• Aspirin

Other treatments that may help to reduce stress include:

• Massage


• Biofeedback


• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)


• Relaxation training


• Meditation

10. Cluster Headaches
In rare cases, cluster headaches strike occasionally for a couple of weeks. A cluster period often lasts several months with at least one episode at the same time of day or night. In a day, you would suffer at least one or more clusters headaches, which may occur more often in men and in smokers. These headaches:

• Usually start abruptly without any sign and tends to intensify within minutes


• Strike at one side of the head only


• Typically involve a limp eyelid on the affected area, redness or tearing of the eye and stuffy or runny nose


• May take 15 minutes to 3 hours


• May trigger agitating sensations

Treatment: Due to the sudden attack and termination of the pain of a cluster headache, pain relievers available over-the-counter aren’t effective. Treatments that may help include:

• Injectable medication for fast relief when attack strikes such as sumatriptan


• Preventive medications


• Triptan nasal sprays prescribed by your doctor


• Head rubbing, rocking or pacing when feeling restless during a cluster headache


• Inhaling 100% oxygen using a mask

When to see a Doctor
Why do I keep getting headaches? Should you see your doctor, he or she can definitely provide you a more detailed answer to this question. But, when is the right time to call your doctor? The American Headache Society suggests keeping in mind the word “SNOOP” which is spelled out as:

• ŸSystematic symptoms: Apart from headache, you may have other symptoms like Weight Loss, loss of appetite, or fever. These are secondary risk factors that require immediate help from your doctor, particularly if you have Cancer or Hiv, and suffer a headache at the same time.


• ŸNeurologic symptoms: Neurologic symptoms involve blurry vision, confusion, personality changes, sharp facial pain, numbness or weakness on one side of the body.


• ŸOnset: This refers to the sudden attack of headache without any warning. Onset or “thunderclap” headaches occur when there is bleeding in the brain.


• ŸOlder: For people who are already more than 50 years old and suffer new or progressive headaches, they have to call their doctor as it may be a sign of a brain tumor or giant cell arteritis.


• Progression: Immediate medical attention may be significant if your condition progresses into a different type of headache, such as if headaches are more frequent or gets stronger than ever before.

Headache Between Eyes

Headache Between Eyes

Headaches have medical classifications but most of us describe them based on their locations, symptoms, nature of pain, and triggers. Instead of saying we have Migraines, tension-type or cluster headaches, we describe it as a throbbing headache or headache between eyes. So, what does it mean to have a headache between your eyes? Read on and find all the answers.

Headache Between Eyes, What Could It Be?

1. Migraine Headaches
Migraine headaches have numerous triggers that vary from one person to another. However, each trigger interferes with a certain neurological activity in the body leading to a migraine. Unlike tension headaches, migraine headaches cause pain on one side of the head. Sometimes they affect both sides.

You may experience pain at the back of your head and behind the eyes. Other effects of migraine headaches include nausea, sensitivity to noise and light, and vomiting. Some patients experience a visual aura before migraine headaches. The aura may include blurred vision or seeing light flashes. Migraine headaches persist for a few hours to days and may recur one or two times in a year. Some people may suffer several times in a month.

2. Cluster Headaches
Cluster headaches are more common in men than women. The real cause is unknown. However, they are often linked to the "biological clock" or circadian rhythm. They are referred to as cluster headaches because of the grouping of attacks and not their location in the head.

Some people experience cluster headaches in episodes every day, which may last for six months. The attacks stop and then recur later. Cluster headaches cause the most intense pain, which occurs suddenly behind and around the eyes, and on one side of the head. The pain worsens and lasts for about 30 minutes to three hours. Cluster headaches sufferers may also experience a Running Nose, eye swelling, a blocked nose, redness and tearing.

3. Glaucoma
Glaucoma refers to increased pressure in the eyes, which is painful and may cause a headache between eyes. Persistent glaucoma damages the optic nerve, which leads to blindness. Although the cause of this condition is unknown, the process of draining the liquid in the eyes is associated with angle-closure and open-angle glaucoma. These result from the increase in pressure in the eyes when the fluid does not drain properly.

4. Blood Vessel Complications
A headache could result from conditions affecting blood vessels or nerves in the eyes. For instance, inflammation of the temporary artery causes temporal or giant cell arteritis. An Aneurysm is a condition where a blood vessel's dilation is abnormal. If aneurysm affects the nerves in the skull that serve the eye, the blood vessel exerts pressure on the nerves, which is painful. The enlarged blood vessels may burst. Such a condition requires immediate medical attention.

5. Increased Pressure in the Skull
If pressure in the skull increases, it is likely to cause pain throughout the head or concentrated pain near the eye. Any condition that occupies any space in the skull will increase its pressure and cause a headache between eyes. Hence, conditions such as a brain Tumor or an intracranial Abscess will increase pressure. A brain tumor results when a cell in the brain grows abnormally. An intracranial abscess refers to a localized infection in any part of the skull.

6. Sinusitis
Acute sinusitis may cause pain behind and around the eye. Acute sinusitis results from an allergic reaction or infection in the paranasal sinuses. Sinusitis leads to congested, swollen, and inflamed tissue lining of the sinuses. The location of the pain varies depending on the affected sinuses. You will experience pain in your cheek below your eyes if maxillary sinuses are affected. For frontal and sphenoid sinuses, the pain is located above and behind the eyes respectively.

7. Traumatic Head Injury
Head injuries lead to many conditions that include increases intracranial pressure from swelling or bleeding and fractures in skull bones. They may cause a headacheand pain behind the eyes. Head injuries are common after falls, injuries from contact sport, assaults, and motor vehicle accidents. Traumatic head injuries require immediate medical attention to rule out any underlying problems.

When to Worry About a Headache
You should see a doctor if you experience any of the following signs:

• If some activities such as lifting weights, straining, sexual activity, or coughing intensify the headache. Such symptoms indicate an underlying problem in the brain like a Stroke.


• Headaches are related to neurologic problems such as speech problems, numbness or weakness on one side, and impaired vision. These complications may result from a brain tumor or stroke.


• A sudden headache between eyes, which is a common sign for bleeding in the brain.


• Your headaches start or change after you are 50 years old. Some conditions such as inflamed blood vessels in the skull worsen with age and may cause headaches. They may also cause sudden changes in headache patterns.


• Headaches are associated with other conditions such as a Stiff Neck or any other symptoms. These could be symptoms of Meningitis or the Lyme Disease.

Headache Won't Go Away

Headache Won't Go Away

People get headaches every day and they can be very uncomfortable. The most common headache type is tension headache and it usually lasts for about 4 hours. For some people, however, the headache hangs on for days at a time. These long-lasting headaches can lead you to become very anxious. When you have these kinds of headaches, it is important to know what to do when your headache persists for s very long time.

Possible Reasons Why Your Headache Won't Go Away
1. Migraines
Headaches that last more than one day are usually migraine headaches.

Migraine headaches are often throbbing that are moderate to severe in intensity. They can be located on single side of the head or both sides. Many are located about the eyes or in the area of the temple or forehead. Migraines are more common among women and usually happen in people who have a positive family history of migraine headaches. The migraines usually come on when you are between the ages of 10-25 years.

Migraines are associated with loss of appetite, light sensitivity, noise sensitivity, and nausea or vomiting. They often happen about 1-4 times a month and improve during sleep.

2. Tension Headaches
When your headache won’t go away, it might be a tension headache. These come on most commonly when you are in middle age. It can feel like a squeezing sensation around your head. The feeling of pressure on the head can be minimal or very intense. You can get these kinds of headaches every day. Fortunately, they only last a few hours and only last for a few days before they resolve.

3. Cluster Headaches
Cluster headaches are more common in men and have been found to be related to smoking and alcohol use. When a cluster headache won’t go away, the most common symptom is a pain that is located around one of the eyes, which can be tear-filled and bloodshot. Cluster headaches usually resolve after about an hour but come back many times in a given day.

4. Sinus Headaches
You can get inflamed sinuses from allergies, resulting in situations when a sinus headache persists for a long time. The pain may occur over the cheeks, where the maxillary sinuses are located, or it can be across the bridge of the nose or on your forehead area.

5. Hormone Headaches
When a hormone headache won’t go away, it is usually from changes in bodily hormones during pregnancy, menstruation or menopause. If you get hormonally-related headaches, you might need to have the levels of your hormones tested. Some of the hormones can be lacking and can be replaced using natural hormone replacement therapy.

6. Rebound Headaches
Rebound headaches happen when you use over the counter or prescription medications. If you use these medications for more than a couple of days a week, they can trigger withdrawal symptoms that feel like withdrawal from caffeine. You can take turmeric extract, feverfew, or magnesium instead, which won’t result in rebound headaches.

What Can You Do to Treat It?
The type of treatment you use when a headache won’t go away depends on the type of headache you have. There are some great techniques that you can use over the long term or short term that can stop the pain before it gets out of control.

1. Have a Good Rest
When your headache strikes, lie down on a bed or couch for half an hour. Shut the lights off, close the blinds and pay attention to your breathing. This is a sensory reduction technique that can help relaxation and healing. Make sure you ask for people to be quiet around you. Tell them you are having a headache and can’t be disturbed. Try to take a quick nap in a bed or couch that is easy to lie on and that supports your neck.

2. Compress with Cool Things
When the headache won’t go away, it is a good idea to put a cold compress over your eyes and forehead. This can cause blood vessel constriction and will lessen the inflammation that causes your headache to occur. Just lay a damp cloth over the area that hurts and let it cool the area. Another technique is to put a damp washcloth inside a plastic bag and freeze it for a half hour. Put this compress on your head for icy comfort.

3. Do a Face and Scalp Massage
If you are suffering from a tension headache, you should massage your face and scalp in order to relax the muscles beneath the skin. Use a firm type of pressure and rotate your fingers in circular motions from the temple area to the middle of your forehead. You can also massage the bridge of the nose for headaches related to migraines or sinus headaches.

4. Take Some Herbs
There are herbal remedies that are good when a headache won’t go away. Some common herbal remedies for headaches include butterbur, ginger, coriander, feverfew, willow bark, and tea made from rosemary, passionflower, or lavender. Chamomile tea or peppermint tea can also be effective in relaxing a headache.

When Should You Go to Hospital?
When you have pain, your body may be telling you that you are suffering from an illness or injury. While headaches from tension or migraines rarely are serious, a headache might, on occasion, reveal the presence of a significant medical condition like an Aneurysm or Tumor. Headaches that are serious often have the following symptoms:

• The headache is linked to neurological symptoms like dizziness, weakness, loss of balance, speech problems, seizures, personality changes, confusion, or visual disturbances.


• The headache is sudden or very severe.


• You have a headache that wakes you up during the night.


• You have a headache associated with shortness of breath, a Stiff Neck, a rash, or a fever.


• You have a headache following an accident or injury to your head.


• The headache is associated with significant vomiting or nausea.

Headache When Standing Up

Headache When Standing Up

Episodic headaches are classified among the most frequently reported complaints that may affect individuals of all ages. It is imperative to mention that most cases of headache are not diagnosed and treated properly. This is mainly because individuals usually tend to overlook the seriousness of symptoms by ignoring the headache episodes altogether; while others use their own skills to manage the symptoms.

Headaches can be classified in several categories; with each type suggesting a particular pathophysiology. Knowing particular symptoms of each type can help in reducing the intensity, severity and frequency of headaches. For example, headache can be a nonspecific symptom of an impending cold or may occur after a tiring and exhausting day at work; but in some rare cases it may also be a sign of a serious underling disease.

Why Would I Have Headache When Standing Up?
There are several scientific reasons that may explain headaches when standing up. Most commonly, the pain atthe base of the skull is mainly attributed to the stretching of blood vessels as a result of receptor hyper-stimulation. The pain is sometimes also sensed in the meninges (which are delicate membranes) and are designed to cover the brain matrix from sudden trauma or shock.

1. Postural Hypotension
In postural hypotension, also known as orthostatic hypotension, the Blood Pressure suddenly drops abruptly upon standing up from sitting or lying posture. Blood pressure is the force with which heart pumps blood to the periphery and can be measured by the force experienced by the arterial wall.

Experts explain that the blood is pulled into the legs due to the effect of gravity in some susceptible individuals upon standing suddenly from a lying posture. This may result in a drop in the blood pressure. The ultimate effect is, compromised reflexes and compensatory tachycardia (faster pumping action of heart to restore circulatory pressure by constriction of blood vessels). Postural hypotension can be due to intake of certain drugs or as a result of physiological aging.

Other symptoms of postural hypotension include dizziness and headache when standing up. This condition could stay for few minutes after standing up. Some individuals may also experience episodes of faintness or loss of consciousness.

2. Blood Pressure Abnormalities
Circulatory disorders such as hypotension (low blood pressure) and Hypertension (high blood pressure) are very frequently presented with headaches and may include other symptoms like nausea and blurriness in vision. An abrupt change in position such as suddenly standing up from sitting position can trigger dizziness and visual defects due to hypotension. Likewise, an increase in the blood pressure can presents with headaches in addition to visual defects, vomiting, nausea and other symptoms.

3. Intracranial Hypotension
It is also known as "PseudoTumor cerebri" or "Benign Intracranial hypotension". Individuals who experience intracranial hypotension develop headache due to a rise in the intracerebral pressure. The pathophysiology revolves around diminished resorption of cerebrospinal fluid in the intracranial space and resulting in a rise in the pressure. Characteristic symptoms include presence of papillEdema without any sign of tumor or mass in the head.

Some symptoms that are seen in severe cases include blurring or dimming of vision (known as transient visual obscuration) that may stay for some seconds or up to a minute (particularly on standing up). Other symptoms include visual field's concentric constriction which is not identified by the patient due to unawareness; horizontal diplopia along with restriction of eyes sideway gaze caused by the displacement of brain and stretching of Abducens nerve due to high intracranial pressure.

4. Exertion Headaches
This is characterized by headache when standing up just after or during a vigorous session of exercise that requires a lot of strength. Exercises that may cause headaches include running, tennis, swimming, rowing, weightlifting, etc.

Exercise headaches are divided into two types by the experts.

• One isprimary exertion headaches, in which headaches are undisruptive and are not due to any underlying problem. Such cases are easily treated with medications.


• While secondary exercise headaches are due to an underlying severe problem usually associated with brain. Some examples include internal brain bleeding, tumor or surrounding vascular issues like coronary or cerebral artery disease. These headaches are usually managed with emergency medical treatments.

5. Migraine
Migraine is a special kind of one-sided headache that is often accompanied with other symptoms such as flashes of light, visual defects, numbness, tingling sensation, nausea and vomiting.

Migraine attacks are usually triggered by Stress and certain foods such as chocolates and cheese. Once you identify triggering factors, do your best to avoid them altogether. People prefer taking pain killers including aspirin and paracetamol as soon as they feel headache when standing up, without avoiding triggers such as caffeine.

For prevention and treatment, you can take anti-migraine pills. In case of an ongoing attack of migraine, make sure to stay in a dark and calm place to avoid aggravation of headache.

6. Tension Headache
It is the most common variety of headaches. Statistics indicate that millions of people suffer from tension type headaches. A typical episode of tension headache is characterized by persistent feeling of a band of pressure around the head. People who suffer from tension headache also feel tenderness over the scalp. It is different from migraine as the sufferers doesn't feel nausea or hyper-sensitivity to bright light. In addition, tension type headaches are generally unpredictable; some episodes may last for hours while other may take days or even weeks.

Tension headache can be caused due to stress, noise, strain on eyes (such as due to TV or excessive use of computer), Dehydration or even fumes and you particularly feel headache when standing up. But after all, it is not dangerous or life threatening.

7. Poor Posture
Prolonged sitting in poor posture can result in build-up of tension in the upper back, shoulders and neck region which may lead to severe headache when standing up. The pain usually originates from the lower side of the skull and sometimes may radiate to the face and forehead region.

This headache can be managed by frequent changing of posture, mild stretching exercises of neck and lower back, etc. If you are mostly busy on phone, use a headset to reduce strain on the muscles.You may consult a physical therapist to better identify and correct your posture.

Should I Worry?
You cannot identify the reason behind your headaches with symptoms alone. So it is always better to consult a neurologist to reach the actual diagnosis. Describe the headache to your physician to learn more about triggers, relieving factors and management options. It is also advised to learn what triggers your headache when standing up and seek appropriate treatment to avoid further complications.

See a doctor if your headache is unbearable or if:

• You have difficulty speaking, seeing or walking.


• You feel nauseated.


• You neck is stiff or you feel the one side of your body is numb and weak.


• If you feel like fainting.


• If you develop a fever that is higher than 39°C to 40°C.

7 Causes of Headache While Sleeping

7 Causes of Headache While Sleeping

Experiencing headaches while sleeping can be the start of a very frustrating journey since a good sleep quality is tantamount to being healthy and being able to perform well during the day. The reasons can range from drinking too much alcohol just before bedtime or being overly Stressed out. The first step is to recognize the triggers that cause the headaches and subsequently avoiding them. If you continue to experience them even after avoiding the stressors, consult your doctor for a full evaluation.

Causes of Headache While Sleeping
1. Sleep Apnea
This common cause of headaches is when normal breathing patterns are interrupted while asleep. After the person falls into deep sleep, there is a change to the airway which partially obstructs air moving into and out of the body. The person may awake partly as he or shegulps for air. Sleep apnea increases headaches either during the night or felt upon awakening. Sleep apnea is quite common in obese people.

2. Hypoglycemia
This condition occurs when the glucose (sugar) levels in the blood are lower than normal. Hypoglycemia will cause headaches at night accompanied by Night Sweats. You can counteract the hypoglycemia by eating a small snack just before bedtime. This snack should be light but balanced to regulate your blood sugar levels. Do not resort to sweets or processed foods as your night-time snack because you will experience a spike in blood sugar levels with a resulting low glucose level as your body tries to regulate it.

3. Sleep Position
Sleeping in an awkward position or using an inappropriate pillow can also cause headache at night.

4. Tension and Stress
Some people experience headache while sleeping at the end of a long and stressful day. If you are on the go the entire day without giving your body a chance to rest and recover, tension headaches may arise. Stress in the form of worry and tiredness can also cause a lack of sleep which will cause more headaches. If you manage your stress build-up during the day, you can minimize your night time headaches.

5. Sinus Headaches
The pain in this type of headache is centered around the front of the face–the forehead and nose. This may be triggered by a Sinus Infection or being allergic to Dust Mites in your pillows or your other bedclothes.

6. Migraine Headaches at Night
You could be exposing yourself to your trigger at night. Investigate your night-time activities to see what triggers your migraines. It could be the chemicals in the room air freshener or a type of food you're consuming before bedtime. The best mode of attack is to keep a record of every food you consume before bedtime and even the environment you spend time in before you retire for the night. Recognizing your trigger will allow you to avoid it and minimize your chances of a headache at night.

7. Hypnic Headache
This type of headache occurs while sleeping and is also referred to as "alarm clock" headaches because they occur at the same time every night. Causes range from changes in small vessels in the cerebrovascular system to previous head injuries. This type of headache is more common in people over the age of 50.

How to Relieve Headache While Sleeping
1. Hypnic Headache
A medicine called lithium carbonate is prescribed by your doctor. 300 mg of this medicine is taken at bedtime. Be aware of all the side effects and the special precautions associated with this medicine. Other types of medication that may be prescribed are:

• a calcium channel blocker


• caffeine


• topiramate (Topamax®)


• anti-inflammatories, like indomethacin (Indocin®)


• melatonin that controls your sleep cycles

2. Sinus Headache
Consult your doctor to check if your sinus problems are allergic in nature or due to an infection. Once the sinus problems are sorted out, the headaches should resolve. If your headaches while sleeping are caused by poor sleeping position, experiment with different pillows and try to sleep in a good position.

3. Stress Headaches
Manage the stress during the day. Exercise regularly and take up activities like yoga or meditation. Schedule some time to relax.

Other People's Experiences on Night-Time Headache

"I experience headache while sleeping which, wakes me up from my sleep. The pain is so bad that I cannot move. I have to lie there in bed waiting for the pain to pass. Thereafter I usually fall right back to sleep. These incidents have been happening for over a year now. My doctor has requested an MRI scan which did not definitively show anything. My doctor doesn't seem to be very concerned at all. At this point I am just enduring my pain."

"My doctor suggested a CT scan but nothing concrete was found to be causing the pain. My headaches occur during the day as well but mostly at night while I'm sleeping. I have taken every migraine tablet available but find that the Topamax is best for relieving the pain. I have had these types of headaches for a few years now."

"I have been getting headaches while sleeping for a while now. These headaches interfere with the quality of sleep I get and I am constantly tired. I have often woken up in tears because the pain is so unbearable. I have been prescribed some medication which allowed me to sleep the night through without any headaches but the side effects are unbearable. I am going to visit my doctor again to change my prescription to something I can bear."

Headache After Crying: Causes and Relief

Headache After Crying: Causes and Relief

When you have an intense cry, you might feel really awful when it’s done. This can include burning eyes, dry mouth, runny nose and headache after crying. These things are all perfectly normal, so while you might feel better emotionally, you are probably going to be aching a bit physically. Here’s why so many of these things happen, and what you can do to feel better fast.

Why Do You Have Headache After Crying?
When you cry, your body is doing all sorts of things that work together to make you feel awful when it’s done. Here’s why you get a headache and other symptoms.

Stress Hormones

When you start sobbing, stress hormones are released. These hormones naturally cause changes in your body, including headaches. For some it is a light headache, for others, it’s as bad as a Migraine.

Becoming Dehydrated

Tears flowing down your cheeks are filled with water, so you are losing a little bit of hydration with each one. The problem starts when you have a really hard, long cry. That’s when Dehydration might set in, no matter how slight, and give you a headache.

Sinus Issues

Tears wind up going into the nasal cavity, which is why you feel that stinging and burning that often comes with crying. They can also lead to a runny nose. Some people are very sensitive to things like this, and the result is a headache.

Inflammation

Crying releases those stress hormones, and it also leads to inflammation in the body, which then irritates the facial nerves. These facial nerves are often associated with migraine and other serious headaches. As the inflammation in your body increases, you feel awful all over, which explains the aches and pains of a good crying session.

Home Remedies to Get Rid of Headache After Crying
Having a good cry can be a great release of stress and anxiety. It can help alleviate sadness and fear. But it can also leave you with a pounding headache. Here’s how to prevent a headache after one cries.

1. Rest if You Can
If you can sleep, now is the time. Sleeping it off will help you get rid of the headache and when you wake up, you will probably feel refreshed from the cry.

2. Drinking

Water
Remember that point about dehydration? Now is the time to hydrate like crazy. Drink water to help you get over that pounding that comes from dehydration. Never drink alcohol after a cry, as it will make you feel worse.

3. Analgesic Medicine
Take over the counter medications for headaches, such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen and the like. But do this only occasionally, as constant crying can be a sign of something more serious, such as Depression, and that deserves treatment – not just popping a pill.

4. Head Massage
Sometimes a firm massage on the temples will help ease the stress and relieve the headache. You can even get in the shower and shampoo your hair, using your fingertips to really massage your scalp, and get comfort that way.

The video shows for massage techniques to relieve headache after crying:

5. Meditation
Close your eyes and breathe deeply. Try to find a quiet space where you can simply focus on your breathing. This might help the headaches ease, and give you time to clear your mind, too. Eat Well

6. Eat Well
There is a reason that comfort food is so popular. Go back to the things that you loved as a kid, like mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese. These things will make a big difference in how you feel, and the food will help ease your headache.

7. Exercise
Take a long walk to help alleviate the crying and the headache. You can also do some slow stretching exercises while taking slow, measured breaths. Sometimes just getting outside to breathe in the fresh air can give you a new perspective.

8. Play to Divert Attention
It sounds counterintuitive, but it works: Play jigsaw puzzles or brain games to get your mind off what made you cry, as well as help you forget about the pain of the headache. With a little time, the ache will be gone.

Headache Behind Left Eye

Headache Behind Left Eye

Headaches have the tendency to develop at just about any time anywhere. It can affect you while working, in your home, or when you are doing daily activities. The pain of a headache can be throbbing or dull, sharp or located in a pinpoint area of the head. Headaches are miserable and all you want to do is to let the pain go away. If you can identify the cause of the headache, it can help manage the headache and can prevent getting other headaches in the future. But what about having a headache behind left eye?

What Causes Headache Behind Left Eye?
A headache behind left eye is not an uncommon condition. There are many people who have these kinds of headaches for various reasons. The pain may originate in the head or in the eye. While you can have both conditions at the same time, a headache behind eye doesn't mean you are suffering from simultaneous eye pain and head pain.

In many cases, if the headache is due to eye problems, it would mean that there is some kind of disease of the eye or surrounding tissues, including the muscles that make the eyeball to move, the nerves around the eye, and the eyelid. In some situations, eye pain is unrelated to problems with the eye at all, regardless of the location of the pain.

Possiblecauses include the following:

1. Migraine Headaches
Migraine headaches are a type of headache with no definable cause. It is thought to be the result of an abnormal flow of blood to the brain. While the exact reason behind getting a migraine headache is unclear, there are identifiable triggers, including a lack of sleep, psychological Stress, hormonal changes, and eating certain types of foods. Most will complain of pain behind one or both eyes as well as sensitivity to light.

2. Cluster Headaches
Cluster headaches are considered to be one of the severest types of headaches, but they are less common than migraine headaches. Those who suffer from them describe a stabbing, throbbing or intense burning type of pain that occurs frequently throughout the day for several days or weeks, but then it goes into remission and doesn't occur for many months or years later. Most people complain of headache behind left eye or right eye and it usually does not travel to the other eye.

3. Eyestrain
Eyestrain is a very common cause of pain located behind the eyes. It is more common now because people spend a lot of time using computers and watching television. It can be due to not blinking enough as well as straining of the muscles that move the eyeballs. Eyestrain is more prevalent in people who have refractive disorders of the eye, such as those with Astigmatism, nearsightedness or farsightedness and who don't wear their eye glasses as directed. Other symptoms include excessive tearing, dryness of the eye and eye redness along with blurry vision, tired eyes, and pain in the eye. Eyestrain is also associated with tension headaches.

4. Sinusitis
Sinusitis is a common cause of headache behind left eye. The problem is due to an allergic reaction or infection in the paranasal sinuses. The tissue that lines the sinuses becomes swollen, congested, and inflamed, leading to the pain. Exactly where the pain is located depends on which of the various sinuses are involved. For example, maxillary sinusitis leads to pain in the cheek, whereas sinusitis in the fontal sinuses leads to pain right above the eyes. And sinusitis in the sphenoid sinuses leads to pain located behind the eyes.

5. Orbital Cellulitis
This is an infection of the eye that is usually related to the eyelids. It is more common in children as a complication of having a Sinus Infection. This can be a dangerous infection that can result in blindness if not treated promptly. Besides the eye pain, there is visible swelling of the eye tissues, including the cheeks, eyebrows, and eyelids. The eyes may actually be bulging and moving the eyes is difficult with extreme pain.

6. Optic Neuropathy
This is a medical condition in which there is disease or damage to the optic nerve in the eye. It is a dangerous eye condition that can lead to total blindness in the affected eye. The various causes of optic neuropathy include toxic exposures, nutritional problems, infections, neurological diseases, and certain hereditary conditions. It can also be a complication of having a sinus infection. There are obvious disturbances in vision along with eye pain that worsens when the sufferer moves the eyes.

7. Head Injury
A head injury can cause secondary complications of a fractured skull or increased pressure within the brain from swelling or bleeding. A typical symptom of head injury is a headache behind left eye, right eye, or both eyes. Head injuries are commonly associated with sports related injuries, motor vehicle accidents, assaults, and falls from a great height. If a person is suffering from a traumatic head injury, this should be thoroughly evaluated to make sure there are no secondary complications.

8. Glaucoma
This is a condition that happens when the pressure within the eye itself becomes too high, causing damage to the affected eye. Common symptoms include pain behind the eye and damage to peripheral vision. Eventually, the optic nerve can be damaged and blindness can ensue. This condition occurs at a higher rate among African Americans aged 40 and above.

9. Aneurysm
An aneurysm in the brain can be a cause of headache behind left eye. This occurs when there are damaged blood vessels within the brain that burst completely or leak blood, causing a hemorrhagic Stroke. Other causes of hemorrhagic stroke and headache include having a subarachnoid hemorrhage, which is bleeding between the brain tissue and the arachnoid lining of the brain. The headache is usually very severe and can be located anywhere on the head.

10. Tumor or Brain Infection
While these conditions are very rare, they can be the cause of pain behind left eye. The brain tissue itself is generally not the source of the pain, instead, the pain is caused by Cancer, a brain Abscess, infection or Encephalitis, which can damage blood vessels and associated nerves near the eye, leading to the eye pain.

This is not the full list of causes of headache behind left eye. Whenever you or someone near you experiences such kind of condition, see a doctor for early diagnosis and treatment.

Belowis a video that helps to relieve the eye strain that almost everyone may experience, please follow the instructions to reduce the stress on them.

Headache

Headache






Headache is one of the most common types of pain that is felt on your head or on the upper neck portion of the body. Headache is categorized into primary, secondary and other types. Migraine, cluster headache and tension headache belongs to primary type. Any headache arising due to underlying illness or injury is called secondary headache. Most of the primary headaches can be managed with OTC medications like pain-killers. If you have headache with fever, stiffness in the neck you need to seek immediate medical care.

The pain of headache may originate from the tissues of the brain or the nerve endings of the brain. Sometimes the muscles that surround the skull, eyes, ears or sinuses can develop inflammation (swelling) causing pain felt as headache. Headache pain can be anything ranging from dull ache to sharp staggering pain.

Types and Symptoms :

Headaches are classified into primary and secondary type. Headaches caused by tension, stress, migraine headache and cluster headaches are of primary type. Tension headache is the most common type of headache that occurs 1 in every 20 people around the world. Migraine headache occurs in adults as well as on children. Women have more of migraine headache than men. Cluster headache is a rare type of headache affecting adolescent men.

Secondary headache is caused due to injury or underlying illness in the neck or head. Sometimes medical conditions like dental pain, Sinus Infection can also cause secondary headache. It can also be caused due to serious conditions like Meningitis or brain infection. Another type called traumatic headache includes headache caused by substance abuse or due to overuse of medications for treating headache.

Acute headache is one which is felt on many occasions and is short-lived. Chronic headache would be felt daily requiring long term treatment. Chronic type of headaches can occur for few days, 15 days or even for months together. There are many types and divisions of chronic headache based on the time of occurrence. Chronic migraine headache can originate from tension or migraine and may last for few days or more. The person having chronic migraine will have pain only on one side of his head and the intensity of pain may range from moderate to severe. Some people may have nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light.

Chronic tension headache would last for few hours and pain will be felt on both sides of your head. The pain may be felt as pressing pain and the affected person may have nausea and sensitivity to light/sound. Persistent headache would occur daily hurting both the sides of your head causing mild to moderate pain. Very often, headache is felt on both sides of the head with dull or throbbing pain.

When to see a doctor?

If you have persistent headache for more than a week with mild/moderate fever or if your headache pattern changes after few days, you need to seek immediate medical care. Further you need to consult your doctor immediately if you have sudden/severe headache with Stiff Neck, seizure or double vision or numbness in the hands and legs.

Causes :

Most of the time, there is no underlying cause for chronic persistent headaches. It may originate from stress/tension or sometimes headache is just a response of pain signals in your brain. Some areas of the brain that suppresses pain signals are not working properly you may get headache.

Headaches can be caused due to underlying diseases like infections (meningitis or encephalitis), inflammation of blood vessels or tissues of the brain, due to severe intracranial pressure, due to brain tumor or any other injury or trauma to the brain. Many people can develop frequent headaches due to the rebound effect of taking pain killers or analgesics very often.

Who are at risk?

People with problems of anxiety, Depression, sleeping problems, obese people, and those who are taking too much of caffeine or those who are using too much of pain medications are at high risk of developing headache.

Diagnoses :

Physical examination of the body is the first step your doctor would take if you are recognized with chronic headache. He may ask you few questions about your eating/drinking habit and sleeping pattern. He may request for blood culture, urine analysis and in case of serious problems he may order for CT/MRI scan for ruling out any inflammation or infections in the brain.

Treatment :

For tension headaches you can take over the counter medications like aspirin (only for adults), ibuprofen, acetaminophen or naproxen. You can also try alternative therapy like massage or biofeedback for relieving the headache symptoms. You can do yoga and meditation techniques regularly to get rid of tension and to know more about stress management.

In case of secondary headaches treatment lies in detecting the underlying illness or conditions. For some people headaches can be prevented if they stop overuse of medications like pain killers or analgesics. To prevent headaches your doctor may prescribe antidepressants like nortriptyline for managing chronic headaches. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors SSRI like Prozac or Sarafem is also given for treating depression/anxiety.

Beta blockers like atenolol, metoprolol are given for managing high Blood Pressure which in turn prevents chronic migraines. Anti-seizure drugs like Topamax, Sodium Valporate is also used for preventing migraine. NSAID’s and Botulinum toxin are also used for managing chronic daily headaches.

Alternative Therapy :

Acupuncture technique uses thin needles for pricking the areas of the skin at selected points for reducing/preventing episodes of headache. Biofeedback is yet another method used for managing headaches related to tension. Meditation and yoga therapy is highly beneficial for managing stress related headaches and also used as muscle relaxants. Light massage is recommended for relaxing the muscles of your head and neck portions. Vitamin supplement can be useful for repairing any deficiency of brain cells thus managing headaches. Electrical stimulation method is used for stimulating the occipital nerve located at the base of the neck.

Pictures of Headache :

Images, Pics, Pictures and Photos of Headache

Prevention :

Avoid factors that trigger headaches. You can note down the daily events in a notebook for managing the stress level which helps in preventing headaches. Avoid taking lots of medications for treating pain since it can trigger headache as rebound effect. Eat healthy balanced diet and exercise regularly so that you would get quality sleep. Reduce the intake of caffeine and practice relaxation exercises like yoga and meditation.