Types of Headaches & Migraines
Medical Point Of View
Medications for Headaches
A number of medications can help treat and prevent migraines and tension headaches.
Most tension headaches can be helped by taking pain relievers such as aspirin, Aleve, Tylenol, or Advil. But be careful! Taking too many of these easy-to-buy pills is a major cause of new, more-difficult-to-treat headaches called rebound or pain reliever-induced headaches. If you need to take these drugs often, see your health care provider. Do not use aspirin in anyone under the age of 19 since it may increase the risk for Reye’s Syndrome.
A class of drugs known as triptans have become the mainstay of migraine treatment. These drugs include naratriptan (Amerge), sumatriptan (Imitrex, Zecuity), rizatriptan (Maxalt), zolmitriptan (Zomig), and others. These drugs come in several forms, including pills, injections, and skin patches.
Wholistic Point Of View
Headaches come in a number of forms, differentiated by their causes and specific symptoms. The appropriate treatment depends on the type of headache. The table below lists some of the more common types of headaches and possible treatments for them.
Headaches Types & Migraines
Caffeine
headache
Throbbing pain caused by blood vessels that have dilated.
Causes: Caffeine
withdrawal.
Treatment: Ingest a small amount of caffeine, then taper off.
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Classic
migraine
Similar to common migraine, but preceded by auras such as visual disturbances, numbness
in arms or legs, smelling of strange odors, hallucinations.
Causes: Excessive
dilation
or contraction
of
blood
vessels
of the brain
FEMALE COMFORT if hormonal caused.
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Eyestrain Headache
Usually bilateral, frontal pain.
Causes: Eye muscle
imbalance;
uncorrected vision,
astigmatism.
Treatment: Correct vision.
Fever Headache
Headache develops with fever due to inflammation of blood vessels of the head.
Causes: Infection.
Treatment: Reduce fever, apply ice packs.
Hangover Headache
Migraine-like, with throbbing pain and nausea.
Causes: Alcohol causes dehydration
and dilation of blood
vessels in the brain.
Treatment: Drink plenty of quality water (Evian or Celtic is fine) and fruit juices. Apply ice to neck.
Hunger Headache
Strikes just before mealtime due to low blood sugar, muscle tension, and rebound dilation of blood vessels.
Causes: Eye muscle
imbalance;
uncorrected vision,
astigmatism.
Treatment: Correct vision.
Eyestrain Headache
Usually bilateral, frontal pain.
Causes: Skipping meals;
too-stringent
dieting.
Treatment: Eat regular meals with adequate amounts of complex carbohydrates
and protein.
Hypertension Headache
Dull, generalized pain affecting a large area of the head and aggravated by movement or exertion.
Causes: Severe
high blood pressure
Treatment: Get blood pressure under control
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Menstrual Headache
Migraine-type pain shortly before, during, or after menstruation or at midcycle, at time of ovulation
Causes: Variation in
estrogen levels.
Treatment: Take supplements of VITAMIN B6 and extra POTASSIUM as well as MAGNESIUM COMPLEX
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Sinus Headache
Gnawing, nagging pain over nasal/sinus area, often increasing in severity as the day goes by. Fever and discolored mucus may be present.
Causes: Allergies, infection, nasal polyps, food allergies.
Often caused by blocked
sinus ducts or acute
sinus infection.
Treatment: Increase intake of VITAMIN A use moist heat to help get sinuses to drain....and VITAMIN C Also SINUS SUPPPORT
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Temporal Headache
Jabbing, burning, boring pain; pain in temple or around ear on chewing; weight loss; problems with eyesight. Usually seen in
people over 55.
Causes: Inflammation of
temporal arteries.
Treatment: Correct vision.
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Tension Headache
Constant pain, in one area or all over the head; sore muscles with trigger points in neck and upper back; lightheadedness, dizziness. The most common type of headache.
Causes: Emotional stress,
anxiety, worry,
depression, anger,
food allergies,
poor posture.
Treatment: Apply ice packs on neck and upper back; take supplements of C WITH BIOFLAVONOIDS, bromelain, MAGNESIUM COMPLEX
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