Headache – Treatment

Headaches are broadly categorised into two types, namely, tension-type headaches and cluster headaches. Migraine differs from the above two types of headaches. Head injuries also cause headaches, ranging from mild to very severe grades, depending on the severity of the injury and condition of the brain. Tension-type headaches are very common. It may last a few hours. It occurs more frequently in women than in men. This headache causes pain in both sides of the head. Neck muscles become tight and pressure behind eyeballs is felt. .

Cluster headaches cause severe pain on one side of the head. This headache repeats frequently. It spoils sleep in the night. The eye on the affected side becomes watery and inflamed. The nose on the affected side is blocked.

How tension-type of headaches are treated

Relaxation techniques can bring down the headache. Get a hot flannel and put it on your forehead or neck. You can do yoga or relaxing exercises. You can massage your shoulders and neck for relief. You can use the ordinary painkillers as an alternative. Following are the ways to treat tension-type headaches:

• Taking a full dose of paracetamol can give relief.
• If needed, you can take another dose after four hours.
• Anti-inflammatory painkillers like ibuprofen work well in some people.
• A short course of codeine is advisable for severe headaches, as it can cause addiction.
• Follow the instructions on the pack of any such medicines.
• Do not use painkillers very repeatedly. It can cause withdrawal headache. You can take it at the time of headache. It is not meant for preventing a headache.

Some times, the headache may persist for more than 24 hours. It may not be responding to self-treatment. Other symptoms such as vomiting and blurred vision may be there. In such cases, see your doctor immediately.

How cluster headaches are treated

The ordinary painkillers are not effective for cluster headaches. A drug, by name sumatriptan treats the cluster headaches effectively. It differs from the other painkillers. It interferes with 5HT, a brain chemical. It is believed that this chemical plays a role in causing cluster headaches and migraines. Sumatriptan is available in the form of an injection, which you can administer by yourself. It relieves the headache in ten minutes. Adults can take a 6mg injection. Only two injections should be taken in a span of 24 hours. It can cause side effects such as nausea, dry mouth, fatigue, and drowsiness. You can take it only after consulting a doctor, if you have heart disease, vascular disease or strokes.

Preventive treatments are essential, if cluster headache occurs frequently and continually attack for over three weeks. Start the treatment at the commencement of this period of headaches and stop it when this period ends. The following drugs can be used, but under the advice and monitoring of a specialist only:

• Verapamil is effective, but you should monitor the heard condition.
• Lithium usage is subject to monitoring of blood levels.
• Ergotamine can be used, but intermittently. It causes narrowing of blood vessels temporarily.
• Methysergide can be used only when other treatments are not effective. You cannot prolong it for over six months.
• Cortigosteroid gives temporary relief while one of the above preventive treatments is initiated.