Headaches are a major cause of missed work and school. They also affect social and family life. For some people, the continued struggle with headaches causes anxiety and depression. Last column I described 5 types of the many types of headaches , today I will describe 4 more. Additionally, I will talk about triggers, how they can be prevented, and when you should see a doctor because of a headache.
6. The caffeine-related headache. Both excess caffeine – drink 400 mg. or the equivalent of 4 cups of coffee a day – such as stopping coffee suddenly, which would consist of stopping it suddenly after drinking 200 mg. daily or the equivalent of 2 cups of coffee daily for two weeks, can cause a caffeine-related headache. Symptoms may include:
- Fatigue
- Difficult to focus
- Irritability or bad mood and/or nausea.
Symptoms tend to disappear within an hour after drinking caffeine or after abstaining from coffee for a week. It varies from person to person. For people with chronic headaches and/or migraines, stopping caffeine may help.
7. Sinus headache. This is caused by an inflammation of the paranasal sinuses (sinusitis) caused by either infection or allergy. Symptoms may include:
- Bad mouth taste
- Deep, constant pain in the cheekbones and forehead
- facial inflammation
- Feeling of fullness in the ears
- Fever
- Pain that worsens with sudden head movement or exertion
- Mucus secretion.
If there are no nasal symptoms, it could be a migraine. It can be treated with over-the-counter pain medications, antihistamines, and nasal decongestants. Sometimes antibiotics or steroids are needed to fight an infection and/or combat inflammation. If it does not improve within a week, it is important to see a doctor. Sometimes it is necessary to go to an ear, nose and throat specialist.
8. Headache due to trauma to the head or neck. These pains are always a cause for concern. They may cause a headache immediately or shortly after the blow.
It is important to call an ambulance or go to an emergency room if you develop any neurological symptoms after a head trauma. These include:
- If you develop weakness
- If you develop dizziness
- If you develop loss of balance
- If you develop paralysis
- If you develop difficulty speaking
- If you develop changes in your personality or inappropriate behavior
- If you lose consciousness
- If you develop seizures
- If you develop vomiting
- If there is memory loss
- If there is confusion
- If there are problems with vision or hearing.
9. The hangover headache. This is the headache experienced from consuming excessive alcoholic beverages. It is a stabbing type and can appear that day or the next morning, but on both sides of the head and worsens with movement. Hangover headaches tend to go away within 72 hours and, although there is no cure, they are improved with over-the-counter pain medications, drinking plenty of water, and/or eating sweet foods.
Of course, it's best to prevent this by avoiding drinking on an empty stomach, drinking in moderation, and staying well hydrated (drinking water while drinking alcohol and before going to bed).
As you see, there are several types of headaches and this list covers the most common ones. Sometimes it's important to pay attention to your triggers because they can vary from person to person. For example, tension headaches can be triggered by:
- Stress
- Lack of sleep
- Fatigue
- Hunger
- Caffeine withdrawal
- Sudden stopping medications that contain caffeine, such as some pain medications such as ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol)
- Weather changes
- Foods and drinks, such as chocolate; processed foods containing monosodium glutamate (MSG); or alcohol.
When it comes to migraines, the triggers can be a combination of factors and some are shared with those of tension headaches. The list is longer:
- Stress
- Lack of sleep
- Fatigue
- Hunger
- Smoke exposure
- Exposure to certain odors
- Bright light, such as sunlight or flashing lights
- Eat foods, such as hard cheeses, avocados, bananas, chocolate, peas, pork, sour cream, nuts, peanut butter or peanut butter, or yogurt
- Drink alcoholic beverages
- Changes in estrogen levels for women
- Taking certain prescription medications, such as nitroglycerin (Nitrostat), for a heart problem; and estrogen, for birth control or menopausal symptoms
- Suddenly stopping caffeine
- Suddenly stopping medications that contain caffeine, such as some pain medications such as ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol)
- Food additives, such as monosodium glutamate (MSG) and nitrates (found in cured meats).
How can you prevent headaches?:
The key to preventing headaches is to discover what triggers them. Triggers, as I mentioned above, are very specific to each person: what gives one person a headache may not be a problem for another. Once you determine your triggers, you can try to avoid or minimize them.
For example, strong smells may be one of your triggers. Avoiding perfumes and scented products can make a big difference in the number of headaches you have. The same goes for other common triggers, such as problem foods, lack of sleep, and poor posture.
However, many people cannot avoid their triggers or cannot identify them. In that case, a more personalized multidisciplinary approach with a headache specialist is necessary.
When should you consult a doctor?:
In most cases, headaches are rarely serious and can be managed with over-the-counter pain medications. However, when they are severe, persistent, recurrent or worsen, you should consult a doctor immediately, some headaches may be due to life-threatening conditions that require emergency care.
A doctor should also be consulted in all cases in which neurological symptoms appear, such as in the case of people who have had head or neck trauma. But, even if they have not had trauma, if they have a headache and have neurological symptoms, it is important to seek medical help, sometimes emergency. This applies to children too. And anyone with a recurring headache should consult their doctor, as well as if they have questions. The specialist is the neurologist.
