Need headache relief? How to treat the 4 most common types (BPT) — It can be easy to dismiss head pain as a regular headache, but in fact there is no such thing. More than 300 types of headache exist and the likelihood you’ll experience one in your lifetime is high. Worldwide nearly 40 million people have some form of headache disease. “Each headache comes with its own set of symptoms and a different approach to treatment,” said Dr. Vincent Martin, president of the National Headache Foundation and professor of Clinical Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. “A physician trained in headache medicine is the best person to diagnose the type of headache you’re experiencing but since symptoms usually come on gradually, you should record your symptoms and triggers over a few weeks.” The National Headache Foundation is sharing information on the four most common types of headache and the best treatments for relief.
can be treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin or ibuprofen, as well as stretching and regular exercise. Chronic forms can be treated with amitriptyline or regular non-medication treatments including relaxation, developing coping strategies, acupuncture, massage therapy and physical therapy.
2. Sinus What is it: Common when you are sick or suffer from allergies, this type of headache is caused by inflammation in the sinus passage with pain usually presenting in the forehead, browbone, cheeks, eyes and nose. They are often accompanied by nasal congestion, sinus drainage or fever.
describe the pain as relentless stabbing sensations and experience attacks several times throughout a day for weeks at a time. During Treatment: Monitoring a cluster headache series, your allergies can play a major part in avoiding the pain is always on a sinus headache. When the same side, usually allergens are high, you around the eye, and can can take an antihistainclude nasal congesmine. NSAIDs can also tion, sinus drainage help relieve pressure by or a drooping eyelid. reducing the inflamma- Research indicates they tion in your sinuses. If can be more active in the 1. Tension you’re sick and suffering spring and fall due to What is it: Typically from a sinus headache, the changes in daylight these originate in the NSAIDs plus a deconneck or back of the head gestant can often be your and disruption in the sleep cycle with the time with muscle tension and best option. You may change. Unfortunately, creep forward. Tension need your health care some people will expeheadache can be trigpractitioner to prescribe rience chronic cluster gered by poor posture, an antibiotic if the sinus headache. lack of movement, eye infection is caused by strain, stress and hunger. bacteria. Treatment: Preventive They can be chronic or treatments are available infrequent. 3. Cluster for cluster headache once a person is in an What is it: People with Treatment: The occaattack series. During an sional tension headache cluster headache often
How to stay fit when social distancing Many people consider their gyms much more than a place to exercise. A gym can be a great place to socialize while trying to stay healthy. Having friends or fellow fitness enthusiasts around also can provide the motivation many people need to stay the course and achieve their fitness goals. The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association says more than 70 million consumers visited health clubs in 2017. That marked a record high since IHRSA began tracking data in 1987. Fitness memberships also are popular in Canada. GoodLife, the largest fitness club in Canada, has 400 different locations and more than 1.5 million members. Fitness centers were among the many non-essential businesses forced to shutter as a result of COVID-19, forcing fitness enthusiasts to find new ways to stay mentally and physically fit. Many creative ideas have surfaced. • Online classes: An internet connection is all that’s necessary to find a number of workouts that can be streamed from the comfort of home. The
streaming website YouTube can be a gold mine for free workouts. Some cable service providers also may have On Demand fitness channels or rentals that can mirror some of the classes taken at the gym. • Social apps: Gym-goers can inquire whether their gyms are offering alternative programs. For example, Jersey Strong, a fitness chain in New Jersey, began live-streaming many of its popular group fitness classes via a special Facebook page. Class instructors guide classes from their own homes or from empty gyms. Other gyms may provide links to subscriber-based gym training workouts free of charge. • The great outdoors: Even though some parks, beaches and trails have been closed, workouts can take place in and around the neighborhood. Jogging or walking can be excellent cardiovascular exercises, as can taking a bicycle ride for a few miles down neighborhood streets.
People who live in rural areas can run through forested land or even farmland. Pushups, sit-ups, planks, and other body weight exercises can be done right in the backyard. Before making a decision about whether or not to be active outside, be sure to check the latest guidance from your local health department and community or state leaders. • Remote sports: Videos of city dwellers playing tennis across roof tops for much-needed air and exercise have emerged in recent weeks. Similar benefits can be achieved with a game of catch, volleyball or racquet sports over fences with neighbors, provided limits on participants are placed and social distancing is maintained. Staying fit during COVID-19 restrictions takes some ingenuity, but it’s certainly possible to maintain your overall health. In fact, some people have found they now have more time to exercise than they did before.
acute attack, inhaling pure oxygen by mask is helpful.
4. Migraine What is it: Migraine disease is believed to be due to a hypersensitive nervous system that results in debilitating and recurring attacks of pain that can be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, dizziness or sensitivity to light and sound. Some migraine attacks are preceded by disturbance in vision or smell, known as an aura. For some, other symptoms begin 24 to 48 hours before
the attack and can range from dizziness and fatigue to mood swings or extreme hunger. Known triggers of migraine include stress, hormonal changes, certain foods (cheeses, chocolate, preservatives), and beverages (caffeine, alcohol).
with lifestyle changes, prescription and overthe-counter medications, and non-drug therapies such as acupuncture, biofeedback training and relaxation therapy.
“The next time your head pain strikes, make note of the pain location, Treatment: Maintaining any potential triggers a regular sleep schedand have an honest ule, not skipping meals conversation with your and hydration can health care practitioner help prevent migraine so they can help you get attacks. Keeping a record back to living your life,” of triggers can help you said Martin. and your health care For more information practitioner correctabout headache disease ly diagnose and treat or to find help, visit: your migraine disease www.headaches.org.
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