Headaches & Migraines

An estimated 80% percent of the population suffer from headaches and migraines. With over 220 different types of headaches identified, the real reasons for a headache are still unknown. Most of the headaches are painful but harmless. As long as the reason for a headache is not a disease, a doctor is not required.

Medical attention however is immediately required if your headaches are not vanishing, getting stronger or especially when you suffer additional symptoms like sight problems, neuralgia or memory problems. There are several diseases which need medical treatment like sinus infections, teeth problems, meningitis, brain tumors, abnormal expansion of blood vessels and others.

Headache and Pain Relief Treatment

What are headaches

Headaches rank amongst the most common and frequent ailments. A headache is not a disease, but may be indicative of other underlying problems. Although common and generally not serious, headaches are common in about 50-75% of all teens. However, recurrent headaches can upset and worry an individual to a great extent. The most common types of headaches that people in their teens and early twenties have are tension headaches and migraines. In some cases these problems may require a visit to a medical provider.

Treatment of an uncomplicated headache is usually symptomatic with over-the-counter painkillers although, headaches like migraines may require specific treatment. The occurrence of migraine headache could also be the result of particular allergic triggers like stress or some unambiguous foods which should then be avoided.

Do I Have Migraine Headaches

If you have headaches and are wondering if they could be
migraine headaches we can probably help you figure that out.
There are some very distinctive characteristics of migraine
headaches that can differentiate migraines from other types of
headaches such as tension headaches, stress headaches, cluster
headaches or other types of headaches.

Migraine headaches are more often than not one-sided, meaning
the pain is felt on only one side of the head. Most of the time
the pain of a migraine headache can be felt in the temple area
or behind one of the eyes or ears. Migraine headaches can become
severe and disabling. Nausea is a common symptom of this type of
headache as is vomiting or sensitivity to light or sound. About
20% of patients with migraine headaches experience an aura. An
aura is a disturbance in vision that can consist of bright
blinking colored lights that move across the field of vision.

Headache & Migraine Treatments – What Really Works

There are many different ways to treat headaches. Here is a list of headache pain remedies for different types of headaches and migraines.

For normal headaches or migraines try these treatments

1. Lie down in a dark room, relax and breath slowly.

2. Put a cold wet towel around your head, especially at your forehead, temples and neck. Some people have more success with hot towels.

3. There are many triggers for headaches. Run a diary for a few days to get aware what possibly triggers your headache. Certain foods like red wine, milk products, too much salt and refined sugar in any form can trigger migraines. Also stress and overstrain.

Natural Prevention of Headaches & Migraines

Even though there are many types of migraines and headaches, the reasons why they occur are fairly common and are usually easy to prevent. If they are a problem for you, try these natural methods of curing or preventing them.

First of all, it is worth noting that doctors report that as many as 90% of migraines and headaches may be caused by dehydration. What this means is that consuming water at regular intervals can be enough to prevent the majority of problems. You should also try to avoid coffee, soft drinks, and other sources of caffeine, as these will make you more, not less, dehydrated.

The importance of sleep in relieving almost every kind of pain and chronic condition should not be underestimated. Sleep is essential for your general peace of mind, and equally important for preventing headaches and migraines. You should get a minimum of 6 hours sleep per night, with 8 hours being ideal.